West Virginia University may slash dozens of programs to offset budget shortfall of $45 million
Fox News
West Virginia University is facing a budget shortfall of $45 million, prompting the institution to consider cutting 32 programs including languages, literature, and more.
Lawmakers approved the Marshall project, heralded as the nation’s "new East Coast hub" for cybersecurity, in a hastily called special session last month but rejected calls to send WVU funds to address its budget deficit, currently about $45 million.
The Legislature's lack of interest in bailing out the state’s largest university comes as WVU struggles with the financial toll of dwindling enrollment, revenue lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasing debt load for new building projects. Administrators have pushed to take drastic action that raises questions about the responsibilities of states to offer diverse academic offerings — particularly at land-grant institutions in rural areas that traditionally lack access — and could be an early indicator of shifting priorities nationwide.