Speaking to alumni and congressional representatives today (June 10) during the 25th annual State of the University Address, West Virginia University President David C. Hardesty Jr. said WVU is poised to continue moving forwarddespite many challenges.

The National Capital Area Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association served as host for the speech and luncheon held at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill.

Hardesty noted that higher education institutions have had to contend in recent months with a sluggish economy, increased security concerns and costs, competition from private sources offering specialized education programs, higher insurance premiums for employees and lower reimbursements to the University (including its medical facilities), and a rapidly developing shift from state funding to tuition funding and private donations. These challenges, he said, are no worse than others in the history of our country, such as managing the University during the Great Depression or Vietnam War and addressing national concerns in the wake of Sputnik’s launch.

“Every generation has faced challengesthis is ours,”Hardesty said.

He described ways in which the University was gaining momentum, evidenced by:

• enrollment records of both entering freshmen and overall headcount, with more increases expected this fall

• exceeding the capital campaign goal of $250 million a year early, with $262 million in gifts and pledges to date

• bringing in record extramural funding ($134 million) last year in key focus areas such as biometrics, forensics, cancer research, neurosciences and energy

• garnering national attention for WVU ’s student life initiatives

• completing the first phase of the facilities master plan with a new library, student recreation center and life sciences building.

Hardesty thanked West Virginia’s powerful congressional delegationmost of whom serve in key leadership positions that have led to new industries in the state such as the FBI ’s Fingerprint Identification Center, NASA ’s IV&V Facility, the Biometrics Fusion Center, Neurosciences Institute, High Tech Consortium and othersfor helping to create”a new West Virginia..”

He also acknowledged WVU ’s many supportive alumni, a strong core of visiting committees and boards, exceptional faculty and staff, a diverse and talented administrative team and incredible student leaders for their help in tackling the challenges facing higher education.

“My hopes and optimism for WVU come from the experiences I have every day on campus, through the people I meet and the successes I see,”Hardesty said.

He ended his remarks by giving those in attendance a CD with sampling of video streams featured each week on WVU ’s Web site, including one with Basketball Coach John Beilein, who was in attendance.

While on the subject of athletics, Hardesty recapped the lawsuit brought by five Big East schools, including WVU , against the ACC , Miami and Boston College, stating,”Our five football playing universities have brought this lawsuit with great regret and only as a last resort. Unfortunately, the actions of the University of Miami and Boston Collegein concert with the ACC simply left us no choice but to bring this action because of the irreparable harm being done to our schools.”

Hardesty called it”a defining moment in intercollegiate athletics.”

“The question,”he said,”is whether partners of long standing can simply walk away from one another for a little bit more money, not withstanding their mutual commitments to one another.”

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit the John F. Nicholas Jr. NCAC Scholarship Fund, which offers financial assistance to many Washington-area students who attend WVU .