ENGROSSED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 4690
(By Delegates Perry and Pino)
(Originating in the Committee on Finance)
[February 23, 2006]
A BILL to
repeal §18B-2-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as
amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new
article, designated §18B-1C-1 and §18B-1C-2
, all relating to
changing West Virginia University Institute of Technology to
the Montgomery campus of West Virginia University; making it
a fully integrated division of West Virginia University;
consolidating administrative and academic units; assigning
direction and support of such units to West Virginia
University; and establishing legislative findings and intent
regarding a collaborative engineering program between the
Montgomery campus of West Virginia University and the Dow
Research Park
.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18B-2-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be repealed; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new
article, designated §18B-1C-1 and §18B-1C-2,
all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1C. MONTGOMERY CAMPUS OF WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
§18B-1C-1. Legislative findings and intent.
(a) The Legislature recognizes that:
(1) The Montgomery campus of West Virginia University is a
vital part of higher education in southern West Virginia;
(2) The engineering program at the Montgomery campus of West
Virginia University plays a significant role in the continued
success of the students at the institution and to the state as a
whole; and
(3) A collaborative program between the engineering program of
the Montgomery campus of West Virginia University and the Dow
Research Park in South Charleston, West Virginia, would:
(A) Lead to a greater understanding and knowledge of
engineering research;
(B) Lead to greater opportunities for students to engage in
research that is directly connected to the research park; and
(C) Result in greater opportunities for participating students
to find gainful employment in future research or to continue
graduate level research and study.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the
development of a collaborative linkage between the Montgomery
campus of West Virginia University and the Dow Research Park that
provides significant educational opportunities to students.
(c) It is specifically the intent of the Legislature that:
(1) The baccalaureate engineering program offered at the Montgomery campus of West Virginia University be and remain a
permanent component of its curriculum; and
(2) A collaborative engineering program be established between
the Montgomery campus of West Virginia University and the Dow
Research Park; and
(3) Junior and senior level engineering students at the
Montgomery campus of West Virginia University are offered the
opportunity to participate in cooperative programs, internships,
stipend assisted research programs, research tutorials and small
group research with the Dow Research Park, but that the core
engineering program shall remain at the Montgomery campus of West
Virginia University in Montgomery, West Virginia.
§18B-1C-2. Montgomery campus of West Virginia University.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the
contrary, by the first day of July, two thousand seven, West
Virginia University Institute of Technology shall merge and
consolidate with West Virginia University, and become a fully
integrated division of West Virginia University. All
administrative and academic units shall be consolidated with
primary responsibility for direction and support assigned to West
Virginia University. The advisory board previously appointed for
West Virginia University Institute of Technology shall be known as
the board of visitors and shall provide guidance to the division in
fulfilling its mission.
(b) The fully integrated division formerly named West Virginia
University Institute of Technology is hereafter named the Montgomery campus of West Virginia University. The headquarters of
the Montgomery campus of West Virginia University shall remain in
Montgomery, West Virginia.
(c) The provisions of this section do not affect the
independent accreditation, administrative linkage nor continued
operation of The Community and Technical College at West Virginia
University Institute of Technology under the jurisdiction and
authority of the Council.
(d) Auxiliary enterprises shall be incorporated into the West
Virginia University auxiliary enterprise system. The West Virginia
University Board of Governors shall determine if operations at the
Montgomery campus can be operated on a self-sufficient basis when
establishing rates for auxiliary services and products.
(e) The Montgomery campus of West Virginia University has a
strong reputation in engineering and other scientific disciplines.
These programs shall be further cultivated and emphasized as the
sustaining mission of the Montgomery campus over the next decade.
(f) Beginning the first day of November, two thousand six, and
annually thereafter for a period of four years, West Virginia
University shall report to the Commission and Legislative Oversight
Commission on Education Accountability on progress being made to
implement the provisions of this section.