Submitted to The Dominion Post
Continuing its work implementing changes allowed by the “freedom agenda” adopted by the 2017 Legislature, the WVU Board of Governors issued a notice of proposed rulemaking Tuesday for an amended set of academic rules and one additional faculty rule.
These are the fourth set of rules changes in the wake of the state Legislature’s adoption of laws permitting more independence from the state Higher Education Policy Commission. Rules on governance and talent and culture were previously adopted; faculty rules are out for comment.
The rules issued for comment Tuesday govern areas such as residency requirements, grading, faculty employment and student rights and responsibilities.
There is little substantive change in the rules from the HEPC policies they replace. Generally, they clarify some areas — for example making it clear that the provost is the chief academic officer — and bring together in one place related practices and procedures that had been scattered in multiple places.
The board unanimously adopted the notice of rulemaking. The rules will be posted on http://policies.wvu.edu through April 5 for written comments using the online form for each rule. Questions should be directed to Valerie Lopez, special assistant to the governing board, at Valerie.Lopez@mail.wvu.edu or by mail to: Valerie Lopez; Office of the President; West Virginia University; PO Box 6201; Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6201.
Once the comment period has ended, all public comments received will be posted on the university’s policy website, and the proposed rules may be changed, subject to the comments. Once finalized, the BOG will approve the rules at a future regular meeting.
In other business, the board:
Approved a new bachelor of science major in cyber security, located in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Approved a new associate of arts degree in health informatics and information management at Potomac State College of WVU in Keyser.
Approved authorization to enter into an amended agreement related to food services and training table for athletics.
The next regular meeting of the board is set for April 20 in Morgantown.
