HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall President Brad Smith says it’s important for the university to pause and celebrate recent achievements as students get ready to begin the fall semester.
Smith told the Marshall Board of Governors this week that student enrollment is up.
“Our fall 2024 enrollment is once again on pace to outperform our internal projections and what we understand to be occurring around us, building on a strong fall 2023 that reversed a 13-year enrollment decline,” Smith said.
Smith said they’ve also seen strong growth in their programs that help cut financial burdens for students attending college.
“We’re admitting our second 100 students into the Marshall For All program with the promise of no student loan debt, building on last year’s successful cohort of students who proved the success of the program through their academic and civic performance,” he said.
Smith said they are also working to help employees with pay raises.
“Together, we have begun to excel our momentum. We’re working to reduce that structural deficit. We’re award our employees with pay increases as we strive to deliver on our commitments of a positive financial position with pay levels at market rates by 2027,” he said.
The university has leaned into artificial intelligence with a presidential task force to ensure Marshall leads the way in the most innovative way as possible, Smith said.
“I will tell you our story is resonating and the interest in supporting Marshall’s journey is increasing,” he told the board.
The BOG on Tuesday approved the purchase of two separate pieces of property along 4th Avenue necessary to construct the new Institute for Cyber Security along the newly planned Innovation Corridor.
The two lots, 1530 and 1540 4th Avenue, are currently vacant apartment structures and will be demolished. Construction on the new Cyber Security Center is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
The first day of classes at Marshall is Aug. 19.