MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU President Michael T. Benson announced a significant long-term goal Monday during his first State of the University address: Get the university into the Association of American Universities.
Benson told a crowded Fitzsimmons Hall at the WVU School of Law that this was a “think big” goal, but he thinks it can be done over time.
“This is a really seminal moment for our institution and it’s one of those stretch goals that I know is going to push us. I see ourselves in there with any of those other institutions,” Benson said.
“I’m going to say it. It’s a goal that we can accomplish. I don’t know when, but the process of doing it is going to make us better. It’s going to make us a stronger and more academically focused institution with support for our faculty and our staff,” he continued.
The Association of American Universities (AAU) is a group of 71 universities that lead in research, innovation, economic development, and other key areas within academia.
According to Benson, institutions in the AAU received 61 percent of all federal university research and development spending in fiscal year 2024.
During his address, Benson showed the audience four schools in the Big 12 conference that are among the 71 in the AAU: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Kansas.
“Why can’t West Virginia University be on this list?” Benson asked. “The institutions circled are members of our very own Big 12 conference.”
Benson also pointed to the University of South Florida, who WVU knew very well during its time in the Big East conference.
“If South Florida can do it — which is a member of the American Athletic Conference that’s not even a Power 4 conference and was in the Big East years ago with us — why can’t we?” he asked.
Benson pointed to the fact that the WVU Medicine system has 25 hospitals in four states and brings in annual revenues of around $8 billion.
Another focus in Benson’s address was improving the university’s outreach in its own backyard. He says a big focus is winning over middle and high schoolers in West Virginia.
“We are going to win West Virginia,” he said. “We are going to increase our market share of high school students who want to stay in the state and come to our university. One way we do that is we go and visit high schools.”
“We want students to tell us no to our face if they don’t want to come to West Virginia University. We’re going to do everything we can to get into these high schools and make a case.”
As part of his statewide tour, Benson has already visited multiple high schools including George Washington High School and Lincoln County High School.