Blue Ribbon Commission on Four-Year Higher Education Story Archives

College Policy Oversight Agency Chairman Counters Criticisms

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s board chairman is defending the agency against criticisms from West Virginia University President Gordon Gee.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports board Chairman Michael Farrell sent members of the governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Four-Year Higher Education a letter this week defending the Policy Commission and countering Gee’s disapproval.

Farrell’s letter says the urgency and brevity of time the Policy Commission has to complete its mission, including implementing the state accountability system over colleges’ funding, has deprived the Blue Ribbon Commission the opportunity to objectively learn about the value the Policy Commission has added to schools.

West Virginia University News Director April Kaull said in an email Tuesday afternoon that Gee was still reviewing the letter. She didn’t say why Gee considers the Policy Commission burdensome.

Group Asks Governor to Add Two-Year Colleges to W.Va. Education Study

A group reviewing West Virginia’s higher education system wants two-year community and technical colleges added to the study.

News outlets report the Blue Ribbon Commission on Four-Year Higher Education voted Friday to draft a response to Gov. Jim Justice’s executive order that created the commission.

Commission co-chairman Gordon Gee, the president of West Virginia University, says he has no issues with including the two-year schools as part of the study. He says the governor’s office wants four-year institutions to be the initial priority.

Justice has said the goal is to help the higher education system run more efficiently. The governor wants the panel’s work to be completed by legislative interim meetings in December.

University President Calls Proposed Funding Model 'Flawed'

A co-chair on a state education panel has accused the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission of being an agency of regulations rather than oversight.

West Virginia University President Gordon Gee, who co-chairs the Blue Ribbon Commission on Four-Year Higher Education, cited the commission’s proposed funding model.

The Register-Herald reported Friday that Gee opposes a model that would base general revenue appropriation on factors weighed by academic discipline, course level and high-risk student status. The “Student-Focused Funding model” would cut funding at three state institutions.

Gee claims the commission came up with a model without further examining the institutions’ needs.

He says the panel and the commission will examine the state’s funding and sustainability in making sure that every student in the state has access to great opportunities.

Amid Review, West Virginia Higher Ed System Taps New Chief

An interim chancellor has been appointed for West Virginia’s higher education system as it undergoes a review.

West Virginia University Institute of Technology President Carolyn Long was appointed Tuesday at a special meeting in Charleston to lead the Higher Education Policy Commission. The commission also voted to have retiring chancellor Paul Hill stay on for six months as an adviser.

Separately, WVU announced in a news release that Gerald Lang has been named interim campus president at WVU Tech in Beckley.

Last month Gov. Jim Justice created the Blue Ribbon Commission on Four-Year Higher Education. Justice says the goal is to help the higher education system run more efficiently.

The governor wants the panel’s work to be completed by legislative interim meetings in December.