HB 4690 Text

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That §18B-2-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §18B-1C-1 and §18B-1C-2, all to read as follows: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.

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