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Breakdown of WVU's Board of Governors Save Email Print
Posted: 10:40 PM May 20, 2008
Last Updated: 10:40 PM May 20, 2008
Reporter: Amanda Barren
Email Address: amanda.barren@wsaz.com

A | A | A

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The governor's daughter got a Master's Degree from West Virginia University, even though she didn't earn it.

Since that revelation, the president's job at WVU is up for debate.

It's all in the hands of Mike Garrison's bosses, the people who make up the WVU Board of Governors.

Now, more than ever, their job is tricky. The university's reputation is damaged and any future repairs are really up to them.

WVU President Mike Garrison is the face of WVU. He’s the man on the news and at university events.

But it's the universities Board of Governors, the ones you don't see, who make the major decisions from WVU Morgantown, WVU Tech Montgomery, WVU-P Parkersburg Branch and
Potomac State College.

The board’s duties include the review of all academic programs and the appointment of the president of West Virginia University.

There are 14 men serving on the board right now and four women.

6 of them are lawyers. 6 of them are businessmen.

The spectrum runs from coal mines to property development, engineering to newspaper ownership.

Member Thomas Clark is retired from Mylan Pharmaceuticals. That is the same company where the Governor’s daughter, Heather Bresch, is the chief operating officer.

12 of the board’s appointments are made by the Governor of West Virginia.

Amanda Barren talked with board member Andrew Payne Tuesday. He told her that those board members appointed by their peers at the university say that Garrison has truly opened the lines of communication for them since his controversial appointment back in 2007.

Garrison's appointment was controversial because of his close ties to the state government and because he was a lawyer and had only a short background in education.

The Board of Governors meets again June 6th and will discuss Garrisons' future.

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Posted by: Doug on May 21, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Yes, there is a breakdown of the board it's called favoritism and corruption. This is also only the tip of the iceburg, these practices are and have been established through out the state under this governor. If the voters and taxpayers would check with state employees of all state agencys they would find it's consistant and common practice now ! The working Taxpayers should do the impeaching in this fall election and would if they only knew how bad it really is now. The cost of correcting this problem could be done efficiently in time and money by voting for Russ Weeks in this comming fall election. In the place of crying and paying the bills start voting for efficiency and ethics.

Posted by: Pete on May 21, 2008 at 08:15 PM
This is worse than the Spike Maynard-Don Blankenship fiasco. The make-up of this board should reveal to everyone that nothing and nobody will ever be punished. Nice work Governor...a delegation you can actually control. I rank this administration right up there with Arch Moore and Wally Barron. They thought we were to naive or ignorant to notice also.

Posted by: Janette on May 21, 2008 at 01:54 PM
I'm looking forward to this fall election so I can proudly walk in and vote for Russ Weeks.. I know then I will feel better having done my part to rectify a great injustice.

Posted by: Fred on May 21, 2008 at 11:30 AM
The article states "WVU President Mike Garrison is the face of WVU. He’s the man on the news and at university events". THE MAN had to miss many of the graduation related events due to this scandal, and the ones he went to the students, parents and faculty alike wouldn't even shake his hand per the AP. It sounds like not only does he need replaced, but the board members as well if they can't separate their relationship to The Gov. from their sword responsibility to the University. Anyobdy find those phone records yet???

Posted by: Anonymous on May 21, 2008 at 08:54 AM
This was favoritism, plain and simple. They should all be booted and Gov Manchin impeached. The powers above are making fools of all of us.

Posted by: dean on May 20, 2008 at 10:57 PM
I want a degree that I didn't earn. Where do I sign up? Oh, wait, my dad isn't the governor. I guess I'll have to stick it out and actually earn a degree.

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