MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –WVU President Michael Benson, says that WVU’s branch campuses and local communities will play a central role in his leadership, starting with regular visits, a new reporting structure, and an ambitious statewide Welcome Home Tour.
Benson said on MetroNews Talkline last week that he has visited WVU Tech in Beckley and Potomac State College of WVU in Keyser since becoming the 27th president of the university.
He added that he told WVU Tech President Terrence Stuart and Potomac President Jerry Wallace, that he plans on visiting the campuses at least once a month during his tenure.
Benson also noted that there will be a change in communication moving forward.
“We’re actually changing the reporting line, they will no longer report to the provost, they will report to me, that’s not just symbolic, you look at what are those communities are without those campuses, I understand what they mean,”
He also commended both campuses for implementing a metro rate, which has attracted students who might not have otherwise considered attending WVU Tech or Potomac State.
He added that he plans to ensure both campuses feel fully integrated into the WVU community.
“I’m going to pay a lot of attention to both institutions and make sure they feel supported, and they feel a part of our large university,” Benson said.
Since visiting those campuses, Benson has announced plans to embark on his inaugural ‘Welcome Home Tour.’ The tour will span 18 counties and include visits to historical sites, businesses, and local communities.
Those counties include Barbour, Braxton, Brooke, Clay, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Marshall, Ohio, Pleasants, Randolph, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Wetzel, and Wood.
Benson said that his team organized the tour, and that it gives him the opportunity to visit historical places across the state.
“I wish I could take credit; all the credit goes to Travis’s team and other folks that helped put it together,” he said. “You learn a lot about a place by seeing these historical sites and how they’re valued and what they mean to a community.”
Counties he’ll visit during the first week include Ohio, Wood, Lewis, Harrison, Barbour, and Taylor.
His goal is to make it to all 55 counties.
The full schedule is listed below:
-Monday, July 28: WVU Alumni Association, Mountaineer Parents Club and University student reception, Oglebay Resort, 465 Lodge Drive in Wheeling from 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
-Tuesday, July 29: WV Independent Hall tour, 1528 Market St, Wheeling 9 a.m. -10 a.m. and then Blennerhassett Hotel, 320 Market St., Parkersburg, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
-Wednesday, July 20: Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park tour, 137 Juliana St., Parkersburg, 10 a.m. -11 a.m.
-Thursday, July 31: WVU Jackson’s Mill tour, 160 Jackson Mill Road, Weston, 2:30 p.m. -3:45 p.m. and Pete Dye Golf Club, 801 Aaron Smith Drive, Bridgeport, 6-8 p.m.
-Friday, Aug. 1: Historic Philippi Covered Bridge visit, 200 North Main St., Philippi, 3:45 -4:30 p.m. and the Mother’s Day Shrine tour, 11 East Main St., Grafton, 5-5:45 p.m.
More dates and places will be announced as they are finalized.