WVU advances presidential search, adopts new rule

MORGANTOWN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On Monday, the West Virginia University (WVU) Board of Governors took significant steps in the search for the university’s next president.

In a unanimous decision, the Board approved BOG Governance Rule 1.3 — Presidential Selection, Contracts, and Evaluation, following a comprehensive 30-day public comment period.

During this period, submitted comments and the University’s responses were made available online for the required 10 days leading up to the special BOG meeting.

The rule, which will become effective 15 business days from now, delineates the fundamental principles guiding the selection, employment, and evaluation of WVU’s president.

Stephanie Taylor, Vice President and General Counsel, expressed appreciation for the submitted comments, noting that each one was meticulously reviewed.

“We appreciate the comments that were submitted and each one was carefully reviewed. Several resulted in revisions, including to the Presidential Search Committee nomination process and soliciting feedback,” Taylor said.

“We also clarified that the Board has not given itself any new authority regarding the selection of a new University president; rather, it is exercising the authority previously given to it under West Virginia law and as required by State Code.”

Taylor clarified that the Board has not assumed any new authority but is exercising its existing authority under West Virginia law, as mandated by the State Code.

Interested parties can find the Rule, along with a timeline, updates, and details about the Presidential Search Committee, on the presidentialsearch.wvu.edu website.

Currently, a slate of Presidential Search Committee nominees from various stakeholder groups is under development and will soon be recommended to the full Board for endorsement.

Additionally, the Ad Hoc Governance Committee aims to finalize the Request for Proposal (RFP) and announce the selection of a presidential search firm later this month.

A series of comprehensive listening sessions is expected to take place throughout the summer. These sessions will provide crucial input to the search firm and the Presidential Selection Committee as they proceed through the fall and winter, with the aim of naming a new WVU president by spring 2025.

The Board plans to convene another special meeting on May 29 to address the next steps in the presidential search process, with the next regular BOG meeting scheduled for June 21.