MORGANTOWN, W. Va. —WVU President Gordon Gee addresses the campus network in a letter to kick off categories for the fall semester.
It’s the start of the final year in WVU for Gee, who announced his retirement for next summer.
Dear West Virginia University Faculty, Staff, and Students:
When my adventure as a leader in higher education brought me back to West Virginia University in 2014, I noticed the skill of the faculty, staff, and scholars who were so passionate about making the hopes and dreams of West Virginians a reality.
A decade later, as we begin a new educational year, I again feel the same feeling of energy, enthusiasm and determination. This sense of purpose has led to groundbreaking discoveries, broken records, and countless personal achievements.
West Virginia University is the flagship R1 land-grant university in the state and one of five flagship R1 land-grant and network-grant universities in the country.
Our educational systems provide a forum for critical reflection and the improvement of essential skills, while paving the way for a dynamic career. We invest in the systems our academics and industry need and need. During the more than 10 years, our robotics groups have obtained first place in nine national or foreign competitions, adding the University Rover Challenge 2023. Now, thanks to the new Robotics Engineering program, academics can specialize in this area in constant expansion while gaining valuable hands-on experience. And it recently won $1 million in investment from NASA for this new program.
Our world-class medical care saves lives and performs studies that can replace a person’s life trajectory. We’re very proud that studies from the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute were featured in this year’s “60 Minutes. “The life-changing discoveries of Dr. Ali Rezai and his team about Alzheimer’s disease and opioid addiction are, indeed, remarkable.
And it’s just a study team. Teams at this university conduct important work in a variety of areas, including astrophysics, energy, forensic science, substance use disorders, and cybersecurity. And I am very proud to announce that for fiscal year 2024, West Virginia University broke its record for spending on externally funded studies with $275 million, up 82% from five years ago. That year, 2019, the University reported $152 million in study expenses, which is budget spent to carry out studies. This is a true testament to the hard work of our undergraduate and graduate faculty, staff, and scholars who engage in scholarship on this campus every day.
I make a percentage of all this to emphasize that we have many reasons to be proud of West Virginia University. As a member of a university or a researcher, we are committed to making this university a glorious position of research and discovery. As a staff, we try every day to make our university a welcoming place for our academics and guests. And as a student, you will make us better with your ideas, your energy, and the hobby you bring to campus.
As you start a new semester, take advantage of the opportunities our university offers us.
Faculty and staff participate in the various activities that take place on campus. Be sure to read the daily updates from the University in enews. wvu. edu. Welcome new college and staff members to Mountaineer’s circle of family and share your favorite spots on campus. and in Morgantown. And, as always, take advantage of the resources found in wvu. edu/info-for/college-and-staff.
Students, I inspire you to explore new activities and make new friends. Find your position in one of the more than 500 student organizations. Cheer on your favorite groups at one of our 12 major sporting events. Get to know your counselors and teachers. Go to Elegant and if you need help, you can access many resources (see Students. wvu. edu). Our talented and committed university and staff are able to help you every step of the way.
I also inspire everyone to check out the protection resources discovered at proteccion. wvu. edu. This can advise you on fitness classes, substance abuse recovery and stress management, as well as emergency information and the WVU alert system.
So let’s start this new semester with a renewed commitment to do our best. Whether you’re an amateur or experienced mountaineer, start a new adventure. Take this opportunity to learn and explore at this special booth. We call home.
Together we can achieve our goal and our potential.
Let’s go.
E. Gordon Gee