CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Wearing his trademark bow tie and making an appearance at a WVU Meet event at the Culture Center of the State Capitol Complex, WVU President Gordon Gee said he’s comfortable with the recent decision by the Board of Governors to move WVU Tech’s Montgomery campus to Beckley.
“It was not a great decision from the point of view of having to make it. It was the right decision from the point of view as to what is best for the people of the state,” Gee said.
Both Bluefield State College and Concord University in Mercer County have stressed in the wake of the WVU Tech Beckley announcement that they will remain independent and interested in a collaborative agreement with WVU. Gee has strongly suggested that all three institutions work together.
“We are great colleagues and great friends. And we would welcome any relationship we could possibly have with both Concord and Bluefield,” said the president.
On the agenda at Thursday evening’s Kanawha County Commission meeting will be a discussion on a state law requiring that WVU Tech headquarters remain in Montgomery, with Fayette County Commissioner Matthew Wender making a guest appearance. Gee said the law can be altered.
“This is the right thing to do for the state,” he affirmed. “Therefore, any kind of rule or regulation that exists we will just have to make sure we get that changed.”
Residents and businesses of Montgomery, which straddles the Kanawha-Fayette County line, have expressed deep concerns as to what the removal of WVU Tech will do financially to a city which is already struggling.
Gee was complimentary of the class of 2019, calling the group the best prepared group of students academically in the history of WVU. He discussed wanting to keep more of the Mountain State’s best and brightest high school students coming to Morgantown.
“I want every talented student in West Virginia to stay here. We’re going to build a fence, and not let them out,” Gee said half jokingly. “Then we’re going to have a couple gates to let people in and close the gates behind them. The future of West Virginia is based on the talent of our people, and our students staying here and being with us.”
WVU will be hosting several “Meet” events over the next month for prospective students.