West Virginia University will host some 350 distinguished visitors this week when most of the Universitys visiting committees meet Friday, Oct. 4.

Every WVU college and school and many other programs rely on these friends of the University to give advice and assistance during committee meetings several times a year. In addition to attending meetings throughout the day, visiting committee members will gather for a noon luncheon in the Mountainlair Ballrooms, during which WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. will give a summary of his recent State of the Campus message.

Dean Christine Martin said the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalisms visiting committee assists in curriculum development, developing a strategic plan and providing insight into the skills required of entry-level journalists.

“They have really helped in building our Integrated Marketing Communications Program (IMC) and visual journalism curriculum,”she said. While many committee members are WVU alumni, Martin said some, such as retired _ USA Today_ executive editor Bob Dubill, are just”fans”of WVU and the School.

Likewise, the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources (CEMR) depends on its 29-member committee to assist in keeping curriculum up-to-date.

“As we go about the business of best preparing our students in a world of ever-changing technology, our advisory board members provide invaluable counsel and support,” CEMR Dean Gene Cilento commented.”They are entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, top executives and educators who feel a kinship to the College and the University, a kinship that offers a sounding board for implementing our initiatives. They are providing valuable advice to the College and Engineering Enterprise to help us ensure an exciting learning environment for engineering statewide.”

Establishing The Senior Year Experience program and changing dining services menus and services are just some of the ways Student Affairs visiting committee suggestions have influenced student life at WVU .

“Our visiting committee looks at our programs and services from a different perspective,”said Ken Gray, vice president for Student Affairs.”At each meeting, we arrange a session during which our visiting committee meets alone with a group of diverse students. The students feel comfortable sharing with the committee information about their experience at WVU , and the feedback we get from those sessions allows us to better serve our students and enhance the many programs we offer.”

The Oct. 4 gathering of visiting committees is special, said Virginia Petersen, special assistant to the president and provost, because many of the committees are on campus at the same time, giving members a chance to meet one another.

The fall visiting committee meetings also coincide with the October meeting of the WVU Board of Governors.