WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors

CONTACT: WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors has advanced implementation of the college's classified staff salary schedule to 75% of its total funding.

At its regular meeting Wednesday (August 12), the board moved forward an initiative to fully fund the staff salary schedule by approving $61,892 in additional funding of the schedule.

WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage noted that the board's action will result in the schedule being 75% funded. "We want to be able to sustain the college's commitment to the schedule," she noted.

The increases are effective October 1.

In other action, the Board of Governors approved the 2009-2010 budget as well as the institution's undergraduate tuition and fee waivers' list. The Board heard a report from David Underwood, president of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation. Underwood spoke of the Foundation's commitment to the institution. An agreement and rules of engagement memorandum between the college and the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation was continued. The document defines services and protocol for the college and the Foundation.

President Gnage said that the college is experiencing "a bumper crop" of students for the fall semester and enrollment is expected to be up significantly. She advised the Board that the college has been notified that its state budget appropriation is expected to be reduced by 5% for the next fiscal year. Also in her President's Report, she noted the recent retirements of two long-time faculty members, Gary Waggoner, professor of biology, and Lewis Rutherford, professor of speech.

In other items, the Board endorsed a resolution in support of President Obama's American Graduation Initiative which sets the goal of increasing the number of community college graduates by 5 million by 2020. The Board also voted to support the membership of President Gnage to the Higher Education Research and Development Institute, which unites the business community with community college leaders to provide better products and services for community colleges.

New board members Teresa Wamer, president of the Student Government Association, and Psychology Professor Matthew Santer, faculty representative, were given the oath of office.

cd08/13/09