In the past few months, West Virginia University — the state’s flagship institution — announced it is seeking $75 million in budget cuts as the university projects 5,000 fewer students over the next decade. Marshall University’s Board of Governors recently approved that institution’s 2023-24 budget, which is $4 million less than the prior year. And, as we uncovered and reported Thursday, West Liberty University, which has a new president in Tim Borchers starting July 1, has slashed 14 faculty and staff positions to help deal with an expected $2.7 million budget shortfall in the coming year. These examples from our state are just the tip of the iceberg of higher education’s enrollment and budgeting challenge. The number of students choosing college nationwide is declining, with a 9.4% decrease from 2020 to 2022, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
https://www.theintelligencer.net/opinion/editorials/2023/06/time-to-rethink-higher-education/
