WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors

April 28, 2009

WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors to conduct on-line survey, open forums regarding college's name and future.
CONTACT: Marie Foster Gnage, WVU Parkersburg president, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

At an emergency meeting April 27, the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors held a lengthy open discussion regarding the college's options related to the institution's name and its affiliation with West Virginia University.

In a prepared statement, Board Chair Joe Campbell noted that three documents need to be negotiated and implemented between the Parkersburg campus and WVU, including a Memorandum of Understanding, a Service agreement and a Trademark/Licensing agreement. WVU's Board of Governors approved the MoU and the trademark licensing documents April 24. Campbell said the MoU will likely be acted on at the Parkersburg Board's regular June meeting. The service agreement is still being developed.

Campbell noted that the trademark agreement which covers the college's use of the name and related trademarked logos has created concern because it puts the Parkersburg campus in a position "of negotiating our name every two years."

"We appreciate WVU’s confidence in granting the continued use of the name through this trademark agreement," he added. "Now we have to decide as a college, community, and Board how we will proceed."

Following discussion by members of the Board, it was suggested by Board member Keith Burdette that an on-line survey be made available regarding the college name and that open forums be conducted over the next few weeks to provide the Board with additional input. Board constituent representatives for faculty, staff and students assumed responsibility for setting up the campus forums. Administrative staff were asked to coordinate the on-line survey development.

The Board's gathering of input follows recent legislation now in effect which established a network of independent state community and technical colleges, including WVU Parkersburg, and removed WVU's governance responsibility for WVU Parkersburg. The law allows WVU and WVU Parkersburg to continue an affiliation. As part of the provisions of the legislation, the WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors has until June 30 to decide whether to keep the institution's current name or adopt a new name.

The Parkersburg Board of Governors will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m., May 18 to consider feedback from the survey and forums.