CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Plans to move the West Virginia University Institute of Technology from its Montgomery campus to Beckley are being discussed through a bill in the House of Delegates.
The bill, HB 4310, removes the current language from state code that requires WVU Tech to be headquartered in Montgomery. The law says administrative offices must remain there, but university president Gordon Gee said they can’t operate that way.
“If we are to build and grow our campus at Beckley we need to make certain that our leadership is there and that we are not split between two campuses,” Gee said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Several people spoke out about the legislation Wednesday during a public hearing at the state Capitol. The decision to move Tech has not been well received in the Upper Kanawha Valley and continues to raise some eyebrows.
Chuck Smith, former Montgomery mayor, told members of the House Education Committee the original legislative intent was for Tech to stay where it is.
“The Legislature and their wisdom and this law fully intended for Tech to remain in Montgomery,” he said. “I beg this committee not to pass a law that would let West Virginia University and Gordon Gee to break the law.”
But Drew Lytton, a Tech student, disagreed. He said the move would provide a lot of opportunities in a more attractive location.
“Keeping the school in Montgomery would be depriving the school of a large potential of growth due to the resources and campus improvements offered by the Beckley campus. The school has struggled to return to its glory days when the facilities were cutting edge, student life was enjoyable and the town was lively. By moving to Beckley, all these problems are solved,” Lytton said.
In Sept. 2015, The WVU Board of Governors unanimously backed a proposal to move WVU Tech to Beckley, which is 45 minutes from the Montgomery campus. The decision wasn’t easy, according to WVU Tech President Carolyn Long.
“This is not a decision that anybody made joyfully, but it was a decision that was that’s the right thing to do,” Long told the committee.
Gee said they couldn’t afford to operate Tech in its current location, which is why the BOG moved quickly to approve the proposal. Efforts are currently being made to consider new ideas for the Montgomery property. Gee said they have leads, but didn’t disclose anything just yet.
“I’m very confident that we will have a substantial use of the buildings as to how confident I am that everything’s going to be full? I’m not there yet, but we have some interesting possibilities,” he said.
Kanawha, Fayette County Commissions and town of Smithers each signed an agreement with WVU that would prevent them from suing the university for Tech’s move. Montgomery City Council members denied signing the document.
First year students will be admitted to the Beckley campus beginning this fall.