The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is seeking comments on a new proposed funding model and below is an explanation, complete with links, for educational purposes and thoughtful comment if you are so inclined.
According to the numbers, West Liberty University has historically been underfunded by the State of West Virginia.
“The current funding model actually rewards state institutions that are losing enrollment and penalizes institutions, like West Liberty University, that experience enrollment growth. As an example, during the last two years, WLU’s enrollment has grown. In the same two years another state institution saw significant declines. Last year that same institution received $900 more per student than West Liberty University. This year, following another enrollment decline, that same institution is receiving $1,200 more per student, while we have been cut further. We need and deserve the new funding model to correct this inequity,” explained Dr. Stephen Greiner, WLU president.
Student Focused Funding for West Virginia Public Higher Education, the proposed new funding model unveiled at the March 23, 2018 meeting of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, could benefit West Liberty University by adding $1.6 million to the university’s operating budget for FY20, a 21.6 percent increase from the FY18 budget (a total of $9,236,448 in FY20, up from FY18’s base budget of $7,592,683).
WLU Needs Your Help
Please send a letter of support via email to the Office of the Chancellor at chancellor@wvhepc.edu. Deadline is April 27.
“The legislatively mandated funding model sets benchmarks and uses a formula to assess the effectiveness of each state college and university. The model rewards those institutions that make good use of state taxpayer dollars to educate state residents. Colleges and universities that don’t meet those benchmarks will have their state funding reduced,” explained Greiner.
In addition to rewarding schools that educate West Virginia residents, the proposed funding model rewards institutions that help students finish their degrees on time and that provide training in high-demand fields (healthcare, education, and engineering).
To view President Greiner’s video, requesting comments, please click here.