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THE DA STAFF PICK Cheese Louise
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WVU’s Independent Student Newspaper
1. News 2. WV History/Crime 3. News 4. Culture 5. Chill 6.Photo Story
THURSDAY APRIL 12, 2018
danewsroom@mail.wvu.edu
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission proposes $9.2 million cut BY KAYLA GAGON STAFF WRITER WVU could lose $9.2 million of its state funding. A recent proposed formula by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission would distribute funding to state universities based on the amount of high-risk and in-state students. The only state colleges slotted to lose money are WVU, Glenville State and the WVU Institute of Technology. “We at West Virginia University remain concerned that the proposed Funding Model has been neither collaborative nor transparent,” WVU Provost Joyce McConnell said. WVU’s student population is 48.1 percent instate students, according to the HEPC’s proposal. The high-risk students include racial and ethnic minorities, adult students and financially challenged stu-
“The legislature is asking us to take the money that they’re already giving to our state institutions and make sure it’s being given proportionately based upon some fair measure.” - Dr. Chris Treadway, senior director of research and policy at HEPC dents. These students will be given greater weight than those that have “a greater chance of success.” McConnell said that the administration is currently reviewing the draft proposed by the commission. “We know from our own research that when other states have implemented a performance-based funding formula, best practice is to give schools and other stakeholders a year or two to offer input for the plan and to appropriately recognize the different missions
of the institutions and the value they provide,” she said. The HEPC is having an emailed comment period until April 23, and plans on presenting the final proposed model to the state legislature in October. This would not be the first time in recent year that WVU lost state funding. If the formula is approved, there would be a three year “Hold Harmless Provision,” where the colleges will not lose any money. After three years,
this provision will be phased out in a two-year span. “The legislature is asking us to take the money that they’re already giving to our state institutions and make sure it’s being given proportionately based upon some fair measure,” said Dr. Chris Treadway, senior director of research and policy at HEPC. “We understand that all of our state institutions are deserving of additional funding. [The proposal] is not suggesting that any institution is receiving too much funding.” The University has lost more than $38 million in state funding over the past four years, according to a June press release by WVU Today. Last year, the state legislature cut $8.7 million from WVU, causing tuition to be raised by 5 percent in 2017, according to the press release.
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Eight colleges would receive an increase in funding and three that receive a decrease in funding. WVU- would lose $9,210,847
A LOOK INSIDE
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WVU Institute of Technology- would lose $3,285,064 Glenville State Collegewould lose $976,595 Marshall Universitywould gain $1,449,322 Potomac State College of WVU- would gain $361,932 Shepherd Universitywould gain $3,404,176
National grilled cheese day, April 12 Cheese Louise is offering free grilled cheese today in celebration of National grilled cheese day
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Make sure to check out our photographers’ work on pages 8-10 Meet the photographers:
Illig provides big hits Caylie Silveira
Kristian Davis
Abby Lawhead
Temitayo Adesokan
Samantha Kalinoski
Chase Illig has had a couple of crucial hits during WVU’s recent win streak
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