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Get involved in Campus Conversations

Dear Campus Community,

As I mentioned in my State of the University address on March 1, West Virginia University must think differently about higher education. We need to implement strategies that lead to effective management of resources and provide for transformative growth. We face an increasingly competitive enrollment market for students, as well as an ever-dwindling State appropriation. It is time to move forward in a new direction.

To be innovative in our thinking, we have created several Transformation Teams. The goal is to identify at least $45 million in cost savings and revenue generation over the next five years. We will make this happen by being creative, collaborative and bold. This is not a time to be risk-averse. Rather, it is a time to be strategic risk-takers in order to position West Virginia University as a progressive leader known for its commitment to education, healthcare and broad-based prosperity.

I firmly believe it is important that the entire campus community get involved in the discussions and idea generation. That is why we will be holding Campus Conversations. Open to faculty, staff and students, these hour-long gatherings will feature different topics each month.

The first Campus Conversation is “WVU Budget 101: Challenges and Opportunities.” Narvel Weese, vice president for administration and finance, and Russ Dean, vice provost, will discuss:
  • how the University budget is structured;
  • how enrollment growth affects the bottom line;
  • managing tuition discounting to ensure tuition revenue growth;
  • the reduction in State appropriations and its effect on the University; and
  • strategies to transform the University.
This Conversation is designed to explain the fiscal challenges we face, but also to discuss the opportunities we have before us to change how we do things at the University. I encourage you to join in, ask questions and share your ideas. We must all be engaged if we are to truly become an example of transformation.

Let’s Go!

E. Gordon Gee
President, West Virginia University


Campus Conversations
  • Monday, April 18 from 2-3 p.m., Mountainlair Ballrooms
  • Thursday, April 21 from 10-11 a.m., Erickson Alumni Center
RSVP to the Event

You can also watch the Campus Conversation live online at webcast.wvu.edu. Send questions to social@mail.wvu.edu prior to and during the session. A video of the Conversation will be available at bureaucracybusters.wvu.edu following the first presentation.