MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Michael T. Benson, new president of West Virginia University, urged faculty, staff, students, and alumni Monday to “think big” as the university works to strengthen enrollment, expand research, and raise its national profile.
Delivering his first State of the University address at the Fitzsimmons Event Hall in the WVU College of Law in West Virginia, Benson called for unity across the university system and outlined a vision centered on academic excellence, statewide engagement, and institutional renewal.
“West Virginia University changes lives,” Benson said. “We must think bigger — as educators, as researchers, and as a community — about what West Virginia University can accomplish for our state and beyond.”
Benson targets membership in national research group
Benson said one of his long-term goals is for the university to qualify for membership in the Association of American Universities, a group of leading research institutions in the United States and Canada.
“There is no reason West Virginia University cannot be part of this elite group,” Benson said. “It will be a challenge, but we must aspire to join the very best.”
Membership in the association is considered one of the highest distinctions in higher education. Achieving that goal would require expanding research funding, graduate enrollment, and faculty support.
Strategic planning effort underway
Benson said his administration has been developing a new “Strategic Compass,” a planning framework that will define the university’s mission, principles, and top priorities.
Since August, he has held 15 presentations across campus and collected more than 860 responses through an online survey that closed October 10. The final plan will be released in November, Benson said.
“This plan will guide how we make decisions, allocate resources, and pursue our goals,” he said. “Every member of our community will have a role in putting it into action.”
Historic Woodburn Hall to be relit
Benson announced that West Virginia University will relight Woodburn Hall for the first time in more than a decade. The restoration, funded by Huntington Bank, will be celebrated with a public lighting ceremony on December 2.
“Woodburn will shine once again, bringing generations of Mountaineers together in the warm glow of tradition,” Benson said.
The project is part of a broader effort to improve campus spaces and morale after several years of budget cuts and academic restructuring.
Outreach across West Virginia
Benson said he has visited 28 counties since July as part of a “Welcome Home Tour” and plans to visit all 55 counties by next summer. The goal, he said, is to strengthen ties between the university and residents across the state.
“This is their university,” Benson said. “It belongs to the people of West Virginia.”
The outreach campaign continues the university’s mission as a land-grant institution with programs in agriculture, health care, education, and economic development across the state.
Faculty reaction
Faculty Senate Chair Scott Crichlow said the president’s address offered a needed message of direction and optimism after a period of uncertainty.
“The university can only work effectively if everyone understands where we are heading,” Crichlow said in a statement released by the university. “President Benson has an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments while also setting a clear direction.”
Enrollment and budget challenges
The address came as West Virginia University continues to address enrollment and budget challenges that began under former President Gordon Gee.
Between 2015 and 2024, total enrollment fell by roughly 17 percent. The university also faced a $45 million budget shortfall, leading to the elimination of several academic programs and faculty positions.
Benson, who took office July 15 as the university’s 27th president, was selected by the Board of Governors in February. Board members cited his record of enrollment growth and fundraising at previous institutions, including Coastal Carolina University and Eastern Kentucky University.
Before joining West Virginia University, Benson served as president of four universities and oversaw record enrollment and fundraising milestones. He holds a doctorate in modern history from the University of Oxford and a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Research and statewide impact
Benson said West Virginia University must strengthen its research portfolio and leverage its statewide medical and economic footprint. The university is classified as a top-tier research institution and is affiliated with West Virginia University Medicine, the state’s largest health system.
“We must compete at the highest levels of scholarship and innovation,” Benson said. “That requires us to elevate our research output and our visibility.”
He said collaboration between academic programs, medical research, and community partnerships will be key to advancing the university’s mission.
Focus on collaboration
Benson said the coming months will focus on finalizing and implementing the Strategic Compass, which will include measurable goals for research growth, student success, and community engagement.
University officials said the plan will serve as a blueprint for decision-making beginning in 2026.
“Our success will depend on every Mountaineer,” Benson said. “Together, we will define what it means to be a great public research university in West Virginia.”
Benson closed the address with the university’s traditional rallying cry—“Let’s go, Mountaineers.”
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is the state’s flagship public institution, with campuses in Morgantown, Beckley, and Keyser. The university enrolls about 24,000 students and operates a statewide network of hospitals and extension offices.
Gee, who served two nonconsecutive terms as president, announced his retirement in 2024. The Board of Governors voted unanimously to hire Benson, calling him an energetic leader committed to public service and academic excellence.
The university’s next major milestone will be the release of the completed Strategic Compass in November.
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