West Liberty University President Robin C. Capehart delivered an encouraging evaluation of the state of the university at this week’s opening convocation. He told the assembled faculty, staff and students that the institution’s transition from “good college to great university” is well on its way. The university has added a number of academic programs and continues to be fiscally sound, he said.
The annual early-semester event is a forum for the president to set the tone for the academic year, as well as to honor faculty and staff for outstanding performance years of service. Provost Anthony Koyzis joined the president in distributing awards of excellence to a number of WLU professors and employees.
President Capehart explained that enrollment at West Virginia’s oldest degree-granting institution of higher education is up for the sixth consecutive year. The figure of 2,655 represents a 2.2 percent increase over last fall’s enrollment.
“These increases are significant – they reflect a growing confidence among our students and recognition of our commitment to our mission to provide our students the opportunity for a high quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education,” Capehart said. The number of international students has doubled and this year’s freshman class is over 10 percent larger than in 2010.
He explained that the road to WLU becoming a great university would be marked with the following guideposts:
• Presenting the opportunity and a positive environment for a high quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education
• Offering the academic programs necessary to meet the professional and career needs of an evolving, contemporary society
• Proving a comprehensive and significant liberal arts foundation that prepares students to communicate effectively, think critically and assume productive roles as citizens of their communities
• Pursuing pursuit of excellence in all facets of university life including academics, student experiences, athletics and visual and performing arts
• Serving as a vigorous and vibrant source for the creation of knowledge through innovative and creative research and scholarly activity
• Actively contributing to the community through social, civic and economic engagement activities, including productive partnerships with schools, businesses and nonprofit organizations
• Maintaining strong and enduring relationships with alumni, benefactors and the wider community
“These attributes are memorialized in the vision statement we constructed and adopted as a part our strategic plan,” Capehart said, as he explained how the university was reaching each of the goals.
New programs in social work, music, a master of business administration degree and the proposed master of science in physician assistant studies represent the high quality academic endeavors that a part of that plan. The rate at which WLU science students are being accepted into graduate schools is a sign of excellence, he said, as is the basketball team’s number one ranking last year.
In the past year, the university has invested in faculty professional development, he added, supporting 80 faculty awards including publications, exhibitions, and presentations at state, regional, national and international conferences. The West Liberty University Research Corporation helps procure grant monies for faculty and students to engage in significant research projects.
“We have made significant investments in programs that will fuel our ability to proceed further down the road to becoming a great university, Capehart said, describing not just enhancements to academic programs but faculty salary increases and improvements made to campus facilities. The return on that investment, he said, is the university’s healthy financial position.