MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Board of Governors got an update on student retention rates and the presidential search.
Preliminary fall 2024 enrollment figures are very close to projections, and the freshman retention rate is the highest it has ever been.
“We just learned last week that our preliminary freshmen retention rate is 83.2%, which would be our highest freshmen retention rate ever, achieving the five-year goal we set for ourselves in 2019 and putting us in line with some of our Big 12 peers,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed during her final report to the BOG. Reed will begin a phased retirement from the university at the end of September.
Final enrollee and retention numbers will be available after they are submitted to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
A total of 292 financially at-risk students received $1,500 Maier Foundation completion grants of up to $1,500 a semester. Of those, 73 percent have graduated, 22 percent continued classes, and only 5 percent did not receive a degree or return to campus.
Co-Chair of the BOG and Chair of the Ad Hoc Governance Committee managing the presidential search, Patrice Harris, said the listening sessions are complete. Virtual and in-person sessions were held and included input from campuses in Keyser, Beckley, and Morgantown.
“We had over 34 unique listening sessions and meetings with faculty, staff, students, alums, and community members in person and virtually,” Harris said.
The listening session input is being used to develop the leadership profile search firm WittKieffer will use to find the next president of the institution. Harris said stakeholders at all levels had the opportunity to participate in a listening session or provide input through the online survey.
The leadership profile will be reviewed and endorsed by the BOG during a special meeting during the first week of October. The profile will be available online and will signal the beginning of the official application period.
“I think it is safe to say we have provided ample opportunity for input, and that was objective,” Harris said. “And I believe we met that objective.”
Harris said nominations can be made through an email to [email protected] by any member of the public. She said those suggestions can help WittKieffer understand examples of the type of leadership the community wants in Morgantown.
“You can nominate one, or you can nominate 100,” Harris said. “WittKieffer is very interested because they get a sense from the nominations the type of leader the community wants to see,” Harris said.
When the interview process begins, Harris said they will have clear expectations from the candidates based on the information they submit to be considered for the position. An ideal candidate will be able to show how their experience has created benefit and progress in previous leadership positions held.
“Not only are we interested in folks saying they have a vision or they meet that qualification or criteria, but we want to see proficiency in those areas,” Harris said.
President Gordon Gee is under contract through the end of June 2025. Harris expects to introduce the finalists to the community in the spring of 2025.
“Finalist interviews will be in the spring,” Harris said. “And an announcement of our next president is expected in the spring of 2025.”