Magrath: WVU’s Figures Say It All
By JOSELYN KING and HEATHER ZIEGLERArticle Photos
WHEELING - The fall semester starts at West Virginia University next week for about 27,000 students - including the largest freshmen class ever to enter the university, according to interim WVU President C. Peter Magrath.
He sees that as proof that WVU's academic reputation wasn't damaged by a scandal pertaining to an unearned master's degree awarded to Mylan Pharmaceutical Chief Operating Officer Heather Bresch, the daughter of Gov. Joe Manchin.
"I want to assure everybody who cares about the state of West Virginia and West Virginia University, both internal staff, students, faculty and alumni, we're OK. Everything that happened will be taken care of. ... Let's all take a deep breath and move ahead."
Magrath said the enrollment figure is just one barometer measuring the well-being of the university.
"If we had seen a large drop in enrollment, then we would be in trouble," Magrath said.
Magrath was in Wheeling on Friday to attend a meeting of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors.
He cited figures indicating that WVU's record-breaking incoming freshmen class will number more than 5,000, and that about half of these students are in-state residents.
As a result, Magrath acknowledged, there will be some overcrowding in the dorms.
"But that's a good problem," he said. "I'm guessing there will be some doubling up."
It's expected that about 80 percent of the students will complete at least two years at WVU, Magrath added, and that about 55 percent will go on to obtain degrees. He estimates that 5 percent to 10 percent of the students are first-generation college students, which he said was typical at a land grant college.
But Magrath - who is on leave from the College Board - noted he was involved in a research study there that examined the student enrollment at a typical community college, such as West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling.
Results indicated that about 50 percent of those entering community colleges across the nation are first-generation college students, and many are minority students. He added that most of the people who attend to our emergency needs - first responders - are enrolled in community colleges at some point.
"About 80 to 85 percent of our first responders are trained at community colleges," Magrath continued. "Many of the students there go on to attend four-year colleges. Community colleges provide education often calibrated specifically to certain businesses."
Magrath said he appreciates community colleges despite being "a land grant man."
As for the economics of running a state university, Magrath acknowledged that two-thirds of the operating costs at WVU are on the "human side."
"Financing an education is a huge, national issue. I would imagine that the number of first-generation students at WVU remains high," Magrath commented.
When asked if he had any immediate plans for structural changes at WVU, Magrath suggested that the Health Sciences Department at the university was "too fragmented." He said he would like to review the organizational components of the department to best "maximize the structure of resources."
"Take any organizational structure - if you have good men and women in the key slots, it will work," he said.
A political scientist with a bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire and a doctorate from Cornell University, Magrath served as president at the University of Missouri from 1985-91. From 1974-84 he was president of the University of Minnesota; and from 1968-72 he was president of the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Over time, Magrath said he became familiar with WVU and some of its former presidents - Gene Budig, E. Gordon Gee and David Hardesty.
Most recently, Magrath held the job of senior presidential adviser for the College Board, where he worked under College Board President Gaston Caperton - a former governor of West Virginia.
Magrath was asked by Budig to take the WVU presidency on the heels of the resignation of former WVU President Michael Garrison. Magrath has served in that role since Aug. 1.
Magrath said he intends to return to the College Board and doesn't plan to remain WVU's president for more than a year.
He said the university's Board of Governors will meet Sept. 12, and at that time he hopes a "strong, credible process" will be established for picking his successor.
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CTMountaineer
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08-18-08 11:34 PM
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Todd, Earp's Brother, etc. Every public institution is connected to politics. It is no different at West Liberty or anywhere else. Even private schools have their own form of politics with governing boards appointed by religious leaders and so forth. What got attention here is that it was the Governor's daughter in need of special treatment. Remove Manchin corruption and this probably doesn't take place. Obviously there is some political connection with the McGrath appointment, but it is definitely an improvement over the last one. What really needs to be changed is to remove the Governor from the selection process for boards at public institutions. Until that takes place, there is always potential for improper interference.
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CTMountaineer
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08-18-08 11:34 PM
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Todd, Earp's Brother, etc. Every public institution is connected to politics. It is no different at West Liberty or anywhere else. Even private schools have their own form of politics with governing boards appointed by religious leaders and so forth. What got attention here is that it was the Governor's daughter in need of special treatment. Remove Manchin corruption and this probably doesn't take place. Obviously there is some political connection with the McGrath appointment, but it is definitely an improvement over the last one. What really needs to be changed is to remove the Governor from the selection process for boards at public institutions. Until that takes place, there is always potential for improper interference.
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hope4valley
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08-17-08 9:07 PM
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How about this question -- who earned the other fake degrees mentioned by former president Mike Garrison?
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EllisWyatt
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08-17-08 3:21 PM
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Questions for Mr. McGrath: 1. Will all the WVU employees involved in the granting of this false MBA be terminated forthwith? 2. Does the average WVU student have access to the University President to ask for favors? 3. What kind of controls and procedures are in place to prevent a re-occurance? 4. What kind of disciplinary measures are in place in the event of a similar problem in the future? 5. Why won't WVU publicly admit wrongdoing re: fixed grades, altered transcripts, political pressure as well as public lies from the university and Ms. Bresch? 6. Will Ms. Bresch suffer any public rebuke from WVU for her part in the scandal? 7. Does Mr. McGrath realize that West Virginia already has to overcome negative stereotypes? I wish Mr. McGrath would show some integrity and address these important issues.
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atoddh
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08-17-08 2:59 PM
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Make no mistake. Magrath is a political appointee - with improved academic credentials - obtained via Caperton by the WVU BOG to protect the parties involved in the counterfeit MBA award.Once again WVU is under political control. Nothing has changed. However,the constant efforts by WVU at distracting the public from this issue suggests the political establishment may have concerns.If it was not a problem,why even mention it or be defensive?
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atoddh
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08-17-08 2:19 PM
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Mr. Magrath has announced Sunday that tens of thousnads will be spent by outside "consultants" to correct the "record keeping" errors and problems at WVU that resulted in the counterfeit MBA.This suggests the bogus MBA was just a clerical error.But the report stated that grades were simply "made up out of thin air" to fabricate an academic record to support the degree.This was not a "clerical error" but rather intentional fraud. Every effort is being made by Mr.Magrath to cover up,downplay and distract the public from the real facts of this serious criminal activity.
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bekbekket
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08-17-08 1:57 PM
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Katabatic- Not "parading" here... just expressing my feelings about the school. I don't live in Mo-town either. I AM sorry we disagree, too. Besides local colleges, I have ONLY attended WVU... but hey, I have only had one wife, and, like WVU, am very happy... no need to compare. Are there better schools? Sure. Are there better women than my wife? Absolutely not! But they both have done wonders for me, so I feel it necessary to speak highly of them. :)
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hope4valley
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08-17-08 12:59 PM
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May I remind everyone that this is the same newspaper that proclaimed in an editorial that Heather Bresch DID earn her degree. Since that day, I have believed nothing this company writes about WVU.
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robojock
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08-17-08 11:06 AM
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Quietly revoked, how interesting.
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wvforsale
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08-17-08 9:03 AM
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Interesting system of law we have in the US when it takes this kind of money for interpretation of a signed legal document. The bill for WVU against Rodrezuez. Their bill, which was filed with WVU last week, totaled $332,859. About $294,000 was for professional services. The rest - about $38,000 - went to expenses.
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robojock
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08-16-08 10:55 PM
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Coming from someone who worked in political circles, it is amazing regarding the amount of political corruption in this state. I have watched people fired for political reasons while true pieces of crap excelled, even after convicted of crimes. I have also watched individuals given jobs with good salaries, for doing nothing as they were not required to come to work and summarily didn't. I have also watched elected officials live out of state and not actually work for months, while making over $70,000.00 yearly. I have also watched officials work 4 hour days and not use vacation time. The list goes on and on.
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robojock
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08-16-08 10:50 PM
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WVU is an excellent school. The problem is that politics were allowed to sway policy. There also was not a true investigation, because and idiot could see that Manchin was involved. It is not a mystery regarding what happened and I challenge WVU to revoke the degree.
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Katabatic
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08-16-08 9:04 PM
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Bekbekket, not to rain on your WVU parade, but I am curious if you have ever attended any other institution of higher learning so you could have something to compare WVU to. I think it's great that you love Morgantown. Frankly, I hated it. The weather was terrible. Whenever two clouds would come over the Star City ridge, it would hang over Morgantown and rain. I found it to be very depressing.
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atoddh
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08-16-08 8:58 PM
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correction:no investigation has been done
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bekbekket
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08-16-08 8:54 PM
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Not sure how your remark was meant Melvin, but , believe it or not, I'm not for cronyism either. All I'm saying is the school isn't bad at all. Furthermore, like everything in life, it's all what you make of it. Send me to a uppity private school or a down and out public school... I will succeed... just get me the interview. Maybe the big difference is the "connections" the uppity school brings. Not that bad behavior excuses bad behavior, but cronyism abounds and flourishes just about everywhere. My school got caught at it. Do I like it? No. Will the sky fall because of it. No. The sun WILL rise tomorrow... even on West Virginia University.
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Patterson
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08-16-08 7:53 PM
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Well commented atoddh.
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atoddh
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08-16-08 6:49 PM
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Patterson: The degree was quietly revoked. However,no investigation as to how the degree was fabricated - "from thin air" - and who ordered it has not been done.As things stand it is an "unsolved mystery." No matter how many credentials Mr.Magrath may have,that will not change what happened and the players involved. His mission seems to be to downplay the seriousness of the crime. He is a Caperton appointee.
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Patterson
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08-16-08 4:02 PM
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Until something is made public about the issues that surround Ms. Bresch (Gov's daughter) such as revoke her so-called MBA then the "integrity" of future academic programs will be always be raised. Many average income & hard working students of WVU will never have the same "even playing field" as compared to current and/or future students of WVU who come from 'privilege' environments. Because the "privilege" will always have the "perception" of hidden advantages such as what's occurred for the Gov's daughter. McGrath and WVU must take action and revoke the Gov's daughter's MBA & that would show that WVU "SAYS IT ALL".
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eToothman
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08-16-08 3:18 PM
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No Katabatic, WVU isn't selective. The two factions working within the school are those who acknowledge a need for improvements, who work to elevate the reputation, raise standards; raise rankings, attempt to hire outside talent..............and those who don't. The second group is the majority, making up the internal WVU machine--born, bred, and sustained by WV and WVU loyalties. These entrenched loyalists see negatives as disloyal, rather than realizing there is much needed improvement. And so WVU continues...proud of numbers, rather than ever realizing the deeper prestige of quality.
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Melvin
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08-16-08 3:11 PM
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bek: We just don't like the cronyism that occurred and don't want to see it continue. You may think it is good, but it could be a lot better.
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bekbekket
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08-16-08 2:49 PM
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Are all of you from the Ohio Valley? From the tone, you must be. I have NEVER seen so much consistent negativity. Anyone can judge that school as being poor because of the "incident." But my wife and I earn a good living because of WVU, and frankly... we are both proud to call it our school. We had other choices... this is STILL America, but we CHOSE WVU... and we are glad for it. Maybe it's trult not good enough for all of you and your ilk, but for me and my family... it works just fine. But, of course, some of us just aren't as good (or smart) as others. Oh well.
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Melvin
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08-16-08 2:37 PM
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Mr. Magrath: I don't understand where your analysis and conclusions come from. Most academics would suggest that there is more than one indicator of a university's image and strength. When total enrollment is controlled by the university, and statistics on average ACT/SAT scores are not provided, then total enrollment by itself is meaningless. Just so you understand, those who control enrollment could have lowered their standards. It is a shame to suggest that "doubling up" is a good thing. That is very stressful for those entering, when the university does almost nothing to eliminate or reduce this problem, or accomodate the inconvenience in other ways. In case you didn't know, many students drop out after the first semester, which doesn't say much for the selection process. Good luck, With your limited analysis and conclusions, you will need it.
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atoddh
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08-16-08 2:07 PM
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The WVU Medical School and Law School have, this year, been dropped from the nation's top 100 by the US News report. This has occured simultaneously with the various Forbes Reports placing WV at the bottom of all their surveys. The WV Legislature has given themselves a big raise for their excellence.In their view things are going well. Mr.Magrath was hired through Caperton(see article) mainly to protect the Democratic WV administration from an investigation into the degree matter.He is a political appointee.
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Katabatic
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08-16-08 12:21 PM
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Etoothman, has anyone ever NOT been accepted by WVU ? When I watch some of those mindless, knuckle-draggers from WVU's football team interviewed on TV, not only can they not spell English......these "urban" Americans can't speak it, either. (Nice graphic work PCGS70.)
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eToothman
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08-16-08 9:59 AM
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WVU accepts those who apply. Comparative size schools w/ higher national recognition are selective --quality, not quantity is the priority. As long as Magrath looks at quantity of students as the success measure and sees that as the example of the Bresch scandel having no impact, WVU will stay the same. For those who think it's already a great school will be pleased to know it will remain the same in the future.
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