NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University Board of Governors Chair Rick Pill addressed the university community with a letter reflecting on the institution's achievements and challenges as the year comes to a close. Pill highlighted several key accomplishments, including record-high retention rates and strong financial health.

Pill noted that WVU has seen improvements in student success metrics, with a historic freshmen retention rate of 83.4% this fall, marking a 2% increase from last year. Graduation rates have also improved, with four-year graduation rates rising by 1.3% and six-year rates increasing by 2.7%.

The WVU Foundation achieved record fundraising levels in 2024, raising $282.6 million and setting new records during the annual Day of Giving. Financially, WVU maintains stable bond ratings from S&P and Fitch and received a clean audit from CliftonLarsonAllen.

Efforts to keep education affordable were also emphasized, with WVU degrees costing 29% less than the national average for four-year schools according to U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, 43% of graduates had no federal student loan debt in May 2024.

A new initiative involves an annual health check on academic departments to optimize resources and align programs with demand in fields like forensics, robotics, cybersecurity, neuroscience, and nursing.

Research at WVU continues to thrive under its Research 1 designation. Notable contributions include biochemistry major Zach Ellis' research on Huntington’s disease and faculty-led projects funded across six continents.

Pill acknowledged that enrollment numbers fell slightly short of targets but clarified misunderstandings about data presentation. A reported decline was attributed to differences in data sets used for financial planning versus public reporting.

WVU is addressing enrollment challenges through recruitment strategies and partnerships with community colleges under the WVU Degree Up program.

Looking ahead to 2025, Pill expressed optimism about recruiting a new university president who will lead WVU into the future while maintaining its land-grant mission.