The latest teaching addition to West Virginia Universitys Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program will never go up for tenure, but it did get 28 miles a gallon back in its day.

And its got a nifty stereo, too.

A donor who wishes to remain anonymous has offered up a well-worn 1985 Toyota Corolla to the popular program, where students learn crime scene investigation and other high-tech sleuthing techniques.

After two decades of quiet life, my Corolla gets to retire in a blaze of teaching glory,the donor said.

Because there are lots of clues to be found on four wheels, the car will be used in a variety of crime scenarios at the programs forensic garage on the Evansdale campus.

That means, WVU forensic facilities manager Michael Bell said, everything from scenarios depicting drive-by shootings and bank heists, to kidnappings and hit-and-run fatalities.

Around 400 students take classes in the program, which has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education and on cable televisions E! Entertainment Network.

Well use it for fingerprinting, blood spatter analysis and trace evidence,said Bell, a former crime scene analyst with the New Mexico State Police.Itll be its own classroom in the driveway. Were very grateful for the donation.

The car is valued at $990, and the tax-deductible donation was made through the WVU Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.

The Toyota is now part of a two-carteaching fleetfor the program. Four months ago, Carol Henry donated her late husbands car. Dr. Michael Henry, a mathematics and computer science professor, died earlier this year.

Two cars, Bell said, mean miles of teaching possibilities.

The Henry vehicle has already been blasted with a shotgun and it will eventually be set on fire so students can learn how to process arson cases, Bell said.

The now-former Toyota owner, meanwhile, is pleased that his Corolla is going to college.

It just seemed like a useful way to recycle an old vehicle and support the forensic program at the same time,he said.

The program is housed in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. To learn how to donate a car or an in-kind donation, contact Dr. Rudolph Almasy at rudy.almasy@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-4611.