Associated Press Published

WVU President Says its Talent Obligates Economic Leadership

GordonGee.jpg

West Virginia University President Gordon Gee says he’s committing the school to innovation and research, supporting local business, talent expansion and alumni outreach as part of a statewide economic initiative.

In his state of the university address Monday, Gee says WVU and its affiliated medical center are West Virginia’s largest employer and economic engine, and its collective talent obligates its leadership in advancing the state.

He also notes that the Legislature has cut support more than $38 million the last four years, and WVU has enrolled a record 6,200 first-time freshmen on its Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser campuses.

That class has higher test scores, grade averages and international students, and the largest honors class in history in Morgantown with 921 students.

Gee says that happened while substantially raising admissions standards.