WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 4, 2021 — “It has come to my and the Board Governors attention that Dr. W. Franklin Evans, president of West Liberty University, did not give proper attribution to the original authors in his recent speeches,” said Rich Lucas, chairman of the WLU Board of Governors.
“The board believes that this was an oversight by Dr. Evans. Dr. Evans has apologized to the faculty and has vowed that in the future he will be more diligent in giving proper attribution when drafting his speeches,” he continued.
“There are many important issues that all universities across the country are facing at this time. The WLU Board of Governors believes Dr. Evans is the right person to lead and grow WLU now and for our future.”
Evans began his tenure as WLU’s 37th president in January 2021.
The WLU Board of Governors is led by Chairman Lucas and includes the following members: Jack Adams (vice chair), McMurray, Pa.; Wheeling; 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); Mackenzi Jones (student government president); David H. McKinley, Wheeling; Dr. Jason Metz (WLU faculty member), Wheeling; and Stephanie Shaw, Columbus, Ohio.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education. For more information, please visit www.westliberty.edu or call 1.866.WESTLIB.
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Additionally, the Board of Governors Chairman Rich Lucas made this statement a few days later:
Oct. 6, 2021 Statement in Regards to President’s Accusations of Plagiarism
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 6, 2021 — “The West Liberty University Board of Governors is not ignoring the problem and we will address this matter in the appropriate manner, at the appropriate time, at the next Board of Governors meeting,” said Rich Lucas, chairman of the board.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of WLU’s Board of Governors takes place at 4 p.m., Wednesday, October 13, 2021 in Shaw Hall (second floor).
The board meets six times annually in its regularly scheduled meetings.
Created by the West Virginia Legislature as WLU’s governing body, the board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor of West Virginia and three elected representatives by students, faculty, and staff.
The board is the principal policy-making and advisory body on all matters relating to, and affecting the university’s mission.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education.
For more information visit westliberty.edu/bog.