Mountain State University students who, up until yesterday, didn't know where to turn after learning their school had lost its accreditation now have a place to go.
The University of Charleston announced Aug. 1 that it would take over MSU's Beckley and Martinsburg campuses after MSU's accreditation expires Dec. 31. The Higher Learning Commission announced in June it would revoke Mountain State's accreditation because of leadership and integrity problems. The school must submit a teach-out plan to the HLC that outlines the schools plans for graduating its last class of students by Dec. 31.
But those students who aren't close to graduating now have options, UC President Ed Welch said.
"We can help students have an avenue that didn't exist before we said we were willing to (takeover MSU)," Welch said.
UC will evaluate and assess MUS's programs and employees to determine what it will keep. Welch said current employees will be given first consideration, but they must reapply for their positions with the University of Charleston.
The plan ensures a four-year, private institution will remain in Southern West Virginia, something Welch and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin noted is important to the area.
"I'm pleased the University of Charleston has partnered with Mountain State University, working to enable students to earn their degrees while remaining in their communities," Tomblin said in an Aug. 1 statement. "Additionally, Beckley and the surrounding areas will benefit from the future establishment of a new campus. Thanks to UC, knowledge-driven opportunities are returning and students can confidently turn their attention back to their studies."
More than 1,400 students attend classes at UC's Charleston campus, a record high according to a March 2011 news release. A student living on-campus pays about $28,500 in tuition, room and board, according to UC's website. At MSU, undergraduate students pay between $320 and $375 per credit, depending on the program, while graduate students pay between $400 and $700 per credit depending on the program.
Welch said he's not worried about the financial risks associated with the move because infrastructure is already in place and students will provide a revenue stream.
"The financial risk then is not significant because there isn't a large infrastructure we have to support," Welch said. "We can develop infrastructure primarily thinking about human resources as it is necessary to meet the needs of the students. As always, students would pay tuition and provide revenue, and we can pay faculty and staff to provide them the services they need. The financial risk should not be significant at all."
MSU is expected to submit its teach-out plan later this month. The University of Charleston will take over operations Jan. 1, 2013.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WOWK. All Rights Reserved.
