SENATE RESOLUTION 52

(By Senators Plymale, Woelfel, Maynard, Ashley, Romano, Stollings, Prezioso, Williams, Unger, Laird, Kessler, Trump and Facemire)

[Introduced February 26, 2016]

Designating February 26, 2016, as Marshall University Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, The year 2016 marks the 179th anniversary of Marshall University, one of the oldest institutions of higher education in West Virginia founded in 1837 as Marshall Academy in honor of Chief Justice John Marshall; and

Whereas, Marshall University is one of the state’s premier institutions of higher education, and today educates more than 14,000 students at campuses in Huntington, Point Pleasant, South Charleston, Beckley, Logan and Gilbert; and

Whereas, Marshall University is composed of academic units that include the Colleges of Arts and Media; Business; Education and Professional Development; Information Technology and Engineering; Liberal Arts; Health Professions; and Science, as well as the Honors College; University College; the Graduate College; the School of Pharmacy; and the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, and

Whereas, Marshall University offers degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels; and

Whereas, Marshall University will soon graduate its first class of students from its School of Pharmacy, which opened in the fall of 2012, with approximately 80 to 85 students getting their degrees in May, 2016; and

Whereas, Marshall University has built a national reputation for research in biotechnology, forensics and medicine; and

Whereas, Marshall University opened its spectacular four-story, $56 million, 152,000 square-foot, 480-foot long Arthur Weisberg Family Applied Engineering Complex in 2015, a building that includes 72 miles of telecommunication wiring, and about one million feet of electrical wiring, which equals about 190 miles; and

Whereas, With every dollar the state invests in Marshall University, the University generates nearly $20 spent in the West Virginia economy, resulting in an estimated economic output of $1.5 billion per year; and

Whereas, The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI), Marshall University’s center for advanced manufacturing, innovation, and entrepreneurship, provides innovative products, services, and solutions; 3D printing, advanced technology and prototyping, workforce skills and world-class apprenticeships that are dedicated to the productivity, growth and global competitiveness of West Virginia entrepreneurs; and

Whereas, The Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute of Marshall University continues to set national standards in transportation; and

Whereas, Marshall University's Health Sciences train hundreds of West Virginians to serve as doctors, nurses, therapists and health technicians each year; and

Whereas, In 2015, the Marshall University football team, under the guidance of Coach Doc Holliday, won its fifth bowl game in a row by defeating the University of Connecticut, 16-10, in the St. Petersburg Bowl; and

Whereas, With that victory over U-Conn, the Herd clinched its third consecutive season of 10 or more wins, going 10-3 this season, 13-1 in 2014 and 10-4 in 2013, giving it 33 victories against only eight defeats in its past 41 games; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates February 26, 2016, as Marshall University Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby recognizes Marshall University for its tremendous contributions to the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Dr. Jerome Gilbert, President of Marshall University.