WVU president marks shift to new era in State of the University address

Highlighting student successes made possible by dedicated faculty and staff across the West Virginia University System, President Michael T. Benson is decisively leading the University into its next bold era.

"Propelled by Mountaineer momentum, we are galvanized, hopeful, and energized," President Benson said during his second State of the University address, delivered to the Faculty Assembly prior to the Sept. 14 Faculty Senate meeting at the WVU College of Law.

"We are in a state of intentional forward motion, living our mission to serve West Virginia and the world. Wherever you want to go - as an educator, a researcher, a student, an alum - you can go with West Virginia University."

Drawing on insights from the entire University community, Benson led efforts during the past year to develop the Strategic Compass, setting the course for the University's future by providing institutional guidance for direction, priorities, and decisions.

The next phase for the Strategic Compass will focus on the priority areas of Education, Discovery, Health, Service, and Experiences.

"Moving forward, we have activated - shifting to the foundational work necessary to support successful implementation," Benson said.

During the address, he encouraged faculty and other members of the University community to attend one of two upcoming campus sessions about the Strategic Compass scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 4 at the WVU Health Sciences Okey Patteson Auditorium, and 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre.

Emphasizing the pursuit of greater University academic excellence and distinction embedded within the Strategic Compass, President Benson invited Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Beverly Wendland to join him for the State of the University address.

"I came to WVU because I believe deeply in the potential of this University - as the flagship, land-grant, R1 University of West Virginia - and as a University that can compete and distinguish itself nationally," Wendland said. "Our challenge now is to turn that potential into measurable progress."

To do that, she noted four interconnected priorities: student success, educational innovation and differentiation, academic excellence and modernization, and research excellence and distinction.

"No other university is as important to its home state as West Virginia University is to West Virginia, a fact that was driven home for me repeatedly during our statewide 'Welcome Home Tour' in my first year as president," Benson said.

"Now in my second year, I am focused on making stronger campus connections with all of you, along with our colleagues, and our students."

He noted several recent College and Division achievements including:

• The WVU College of Law welcomed a first-year class of 123 students for the 2026-27 academic year, the largest since Fall 2012.

• For the 11th consecutive year, the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics increased post-graduate placements for alums in jobs, graduate school, or the military.

• The WVU Center for Community Engagement, part of the Division for Land-Grant Engagement, reported a record more than 110,000 total student service hours for 2025-26, expanding the University's positive impact on communities.

• With a focus on workforce training, WVU Potomac State College implemented "Learn and Earn" for students, providing paid internships through partnerships with local businesses to provide seamless career transitions after graduation.

To follow up on themes in his State of the University address and bring together all members of the University community for a symbolic transition into a new bold era with invested, stable leadership, Benson will be formally inaugurated during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Canady Creative Arts Center.

As a professor in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of History who returned to the classroom this semester to teach a course on World War I, Benson closed his speech with a look back at the founding days of West Virginia and WVU.

For the "Lincoln Walks at Midnight" statue that stands now at the State Capitol in Charleston, a Fairmont artist reinterpreted a previously written poem about President Abraham Lincoln, placing him in the context of debating West Virginia Statehood on New Year's Eve 1862.

When the statue was dedicated on West Virginia Day in 1974, a state order required that it be continually lit at night to "burn as long as West Virginians believe there is a future for our children in the state."

"We live that belief each day through our work with our students in classrooms, labs, lecture and residence halls, and field research spaces," Benson said. "These are the life-changing experiences that are preparing Mountaineers to serve others and lead in West Virginia and the world."

-WVU-

sj/9/14/26

MEDIA CONTACT: Shauna Johnson
Executive Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
304-293-8302; [email protected]

Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.