MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a letter sent Thursday to the WVU community, WVU President Gordon Gee said plans were to “continue to move our University forward and maintain our commitment to continuing to focus on excellence” despite another state budget cut.
The budget state lawmakers passed and Gov. Jim Justice will allow to become law without his signature, will cut WVU’s state appropriation by 6.6 percent or $8.7 million.
“Clearly, we had hoped for less of a reduction, but we will make the most of the investment we have been provided,” Gee wrote.
Gee thanked Gov. Justice and lawmakers for “their hard work during the session.”
Gee said a WVU budget, working in the new numbers, will be presented to the university’s Board of Governors for approval in a few days.
“I know this has been an unsettling time for many of you, and I want to personally thank you for patience, understanding and cooperation as we move forward,” Gee told WVU faculty, staff and students.
The full text of the letter:
Dear faculty, staff and students:
As you have heard by now, the state legislature late Friday adopted a budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. The budget contained an approximate 6.6 percent, or $8.7 million, reduction in appropriations to the University over the initial appropriation for the previous fiscal year.
Gov. Jim Justice has indicated that he will allow the budget bill to become law without his signature, and the possibility of a government shutdown has been averted. I want to thank Gov. Justice and the legislative leaders for their hard work during this session and the investment in West Virginia University.
Clearly, we had hoped for less of a reduction, but we will make the most of the investment we have been provided. While the reduction will have an impact, we will continue to move our University forward and maintain our commitment to continuing to focus on excellence.
We are still at work incorporating the final numbers into the budget to present to the Board of Governors for its approval. We anticipate that will come within the next few days, but prior to July 1.
I know this has been an unsettling time for many of you, and I want to personally thank you for patience, understanding and cooperation as we move forward.
Let’s go …
E. Gordon Gee
President, West Virginia University