WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 20, 2021 — West Liberty University’s Board of Governors met today in Shaw Hall in a special meeting to address issues surrounding faculty accusations of plagiarism against the president.
After calling the meeting to order and pursuant to West Virginia Code section 6-9A-4, Chairman Richard Lucas requested a motion to retire to executive session. The motion was made and passed unanimously.
The Board exited executive session at 6 p.m. and reconvened. No action was taken during the executive session. Action emanating from the executive session is as follows.
A motion for termination of the president was made by Richard Carter and seconded by Jason Metz.
It failed by a vote of 7-5. The nay votes were from Student Government President Mackenzi Jones, Chairman Rich Lucas, board members Jamie Evick, Arlene Brantley, Michael Baker, David McKinley and Stephanie Shaw. The yea votes were from Carter, Metz, Jack Adams, Thomas Cervone and Ryan Glanville. (Complete board list below.)
Chairman of the Board, Rich Lucas then motioned to place Dr. Evans under disciplinary actions, stating that “Evans will report directly to the Board of Governors regarding this discipline. We will exclude our internal Human Resources Department from this action. Detailed items will be developed with the assistance of the Higher Ed Policy Commission Human Resources Department (West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission). The Board of Governors will meet and decide all disciplinary actions.”
The motion was seconded and moved to a vote that passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:09 p.m.
Besides Lucas, Board of Governors include members: Jack Adams (vice chairman), McMurray, Pa.; Michael J. Baker, Wheeling; Arlene Brantley, Atlanta, Ga.; Richard Carter, Wheeling; Thomas Cervone, Knoxville, Tenn.; Dr. Jamie Evick (secretary), Glen Dale, W.Va.; Ryan Glanville (WLU staff member), Wheeling; Mackenzi Jones, (student government president), Weirton, W.Va.; David H. McKinley, Wheeling; Jason Metz (faculty member), Pittsburgh; and Stephanie Shaw, Columbus, Ohio.
The West Liberty University Board of Governors, created by the West Virginia Legislature as its governing body, consists of nine members appointed by the Governor of West Virginia and three elected representatives by students, faculty, and staff. For more information visit westliberty.edu/bog.
On Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, President Evans issued the following brief comment:
“I am grateful to the Board of Governors for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve as president of West Liberty University, and I look forward to completing whatever actions and steps it deems appropriate to move the university forward in carrying out the vision and mission of this great institution,” said Dr. W. Franklin Evans, WLU president.