West Virginia University appears to have a clear, forward-focused mission for the future, judging by the speech given Monday by university President E. Gordon Gee.
WVU "will serve as the great connector -- building partnerships that drive industry, education and public sector growth," Gee said during his State of the University speech. "And we will create the great public square our society so desperately needs, providing a safe and nurturing place for civil discourse and debate for all ideas."
The changes that have taken place at WVU over the past few months -- a right-sizing of academic programs and staffing based on current enrollment and also future trends -- have positioned the university "to become the modern land-grant university of the future," Gee said. That's a bold statement, but one Gee and his administration seem prepared to tackle.
"We have always been -- and always will be -- a strong, vibrant university. What we are building today is a university that remains strong but is increasingly relevant to the needs of today's students and our global society."
That's exactly what WVU needs to be.
West Virginians must continue to believe in Gee's vision for WVU's future. This is the university where he started his higher education leadership career, and it's also the one that brought him home for its finish. He's heavily invested in WVU's success and his path should lead WVU to a brighter future.