The West Virginia University College of Business and Economics will dedicate its new Mylan Professional Education Center on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Representing a major upgrade in the college’s distance-education technology, the new center will serve its expanding graduate programson- and off-campusand will also provide an executive board room.

The facility has been made possible by a gift from Mylan Pharmaceuticals and the Mylan Charitable Foundation. Located on the B&E building’s first floor, the center employs the latest technology for campus-based graduate classes and distance-learning executive MBA classes. This includes four plasma screens, which allow students and faculty at distant locations to see each other in real time while classes are taught over broadband connections.

The room also employs advanced audio technology and a new instructor tracking system, which allows cameras to follow professors as they deliver lectures to distance-education sites around the state. This technology will be demonstrated during the dedication.

B&E delivers executive MBA courses throughout the state through its distance-education facilities. Dean Jay Coats said the center will allow the college to significantly expand enrollment and further its global reach through the increased enrollment of international students.”We’ve reconfigured two rooms, which doubles our seating capacity, and we’ve upgraded our technology,”he said.”I don’t think you’ll find a better facility for on-campus and distance education anywhere in the state. Thanks to the generosity of Mylan Pharmaceuticals and the Mylan Charitable Foundation, we’re now better equipped to serve our students and the state’s businesses.”

The gift was made in conjunction with the Building Greatness Campaign, which is being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University and has generated more than $262 million. The WVU Foundation is a private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.