MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An ongoing evaluation of positions that are currently vacant at West Virginia University is now looking at positions that may not be filled in the near future.
WVU Provost Beverly Wendland addressed the WVU Faculty Senate Monday. She said an academic review of vacant positions from the more than two dozen university departments will not result in a full hiring freeze.
“Given that some searches are moving forward, it should be clear that we are not in a hiring freeze, but we are also not going to assume that every vacancy should automatically be refilled,” Wendland said. “As we think about WVU’s academic future, and I want to make sure that we make those investments strategically.”
According to Wendland, WVU academic departments will need to address nearly a half dozen different points of criterion as part of the performance review. The points will range from student demand for courses under question to long-term priorities for the university. Those discussions are expected to take place over the next several months.
“Can the college support the position within its budget, and what do enrollment and student demand tell us? Is there a compelling instructional or research need, and does the position advance a strategic priority?” Wendland said.
Wendland added that WVU also plans to continue efforts to develop academic policy around the rise of AI technology. This is amidst growing concerns regarding possible effects on job placement and teaching across all academic departments. This will include ongoing work through the General Education Revision Committee. The hope is to have a model with adjustments for AI to be presented to the faculty senate in the coming months, she said.
“As we do that, I also want us to have a broader university-level conversation about AI,” Wendland said. “Not only about policies, but also about the opportunities and challenges it creates for teaching and about the resources that faculty need to navigate those changes.”
Wendland said faculty members will remain consulted as the process continues over the next several months. This will include frequent updates with department heads as well as conversations with members of the faculty senate before a decision is formally made.
“I also want to be clear that this will not simply be an administrative exercise conducted without faculty participation,” said Wendland. “It’s very important to me that this be a collaborative process.”