MORGANTOWN, W.Va. State Senator Mike Oliverio (R, Monongalia, 13) is watching the WVU transformation and reflecting on how lessons learned at a recent Seattle economic conference could direct the future of the institution. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Oliverio said during a recent Choose West Virginia tour, presidents of Marshall and WVU, state lawmakers, officials, and economic leaders met with companies like Boeing, Amazon Business Services, and Microsoft.
The delegation heard from major companies considering their own brand of higher education. Post-secondary training is created in-house and tailored to the needs of each company. Studies show the practice prepares employees for the tasks needed by the company, but it also establishes the expectation for continuing education.
“I think it was an eye-opening experience through that process as to how the world is really changing, the business world in particular, and how we need to align ourselves,” Oliverio said.
Despite low confidence in higher education, a Gallup poll released in July said 38 percent of people have a great deal of confidence in higher education, compared with 48 percent in 2018. Oliverio said a four-year college provides depth in learning that can’t be matched by earning a certificate within the framework of a single corporation.
“The certificate program helps you get a job, but training beyond that and the liberal arts experience on top of that ends up putting you ahead five, eight, or ten years from now,” Oliverio said. So, there is real value there.
Oliverio has high praise for the path Marshall University has taken with cyber security. State lawmakers recently approved $45 million for the construction of what is being called the “East Coast Hub” for a cyber security center. In addition to cybersecurity specialists, industry experts predict that all information technology workers will have some level of proficiency in cybersecurity.
“Realigning our institutions with the jobs of the future and positioning our students to be able to be successful, to be able to leave these campuses without an enormous amount of debt is really important going forward,” Oliverio said.
On the transformation, Oliverio said President Gee is doing exactly what he has said he intended to do and what the Board of Governors has asked. Oliverio said the drastic cuts are indeed life-changing, but the process has included a few surprises.
“What he promised was that we’re going to make these changes, and we’re going to get a lot of input from faculty and students, but we’re going to do it quickly,” Oliverio said. “We’re not going to leave people hanging out there for years with fear and worry about the future of their department and their job; we want to let people know quickly.”
Unlike the corporate world, the university is a democracy, encouraging staff, faculty, students, and the community to express themselves. But Oliverio stressed that in the end, faculty and staff will have to accept the recommendations and final vote of the BOG.
“I don’t know that a vote of no-confidence in the president at this point really serves any purpose,” Oliverio said. “I think the BOG has demonstrated just last month that they have the confidence in the president to continue to lead the institution for the next two years.