Enrollment growth at West Virginia University and Fairmont State University accounted for 96 percent of the overall fall 2005 enrollment gains within the state system, members of the Higher Education Policy Commission learned Friday (Dec. 9)

At WVU , full-time equivalent enrollment for fall 2005 increased by 945 students from fall 2004, or 3.8 percent. At Fairmont State, FTE enrollment went up by 450 students, or 12 percent.

System-wide, four-year institutions across the state saw an average fall 2005 FTE increase of 2.6 percent., or 1,448 more students.

Statutory change proposals

Commissioners will urge lawmakers during the 2006 regular session to expand the annual experience increment to include higher education faculty.

Currently, all state employees with three or more years of experience, except higher ed faculty, receive an annual experience increment equal to $50 multiplied by years of service each July.

HEPC also is recommending a statutory change that would bar classified employees from utilizing a job family review and reclassification as evidence that they have been misclassified in the past.

In return, HEPC staff will work with the classification systems job evaluation committee to restart classification reviews, beginning with the office support and information systems/technology job families.

Commissioners also plan to ask the Legislature to exempt higher education from a statute requiring all telecommunications invoices be processed by the state Department of Administrations Information Services and Communications Division before being sent to universities and colleges.

Last year, telecommunications invoices arrived at institutions, on average, four months after they otherwise would have, had institutions been billed directly.

Its believed an exemption would enable invoices to be received and paid in a timely manner.

Presidential compensation

HEPC approved presidential compensation increases proposed by the boards of governors of WVU , WVU Institute of Technology, Fairmont State University and Concord University.

In September, WVU s BOG approved a three-year extension of President David C. Hardesty Jr.s contract from 2007 to 2010, and a salary increase for the presidentfrom $250,008 to $275,000. The WVU Foundation will pay one-half of the salary increase from private funds.

Chancellor search

HEPC Chair Mary Clare Eros reported that advertisements seeking a permanent chancellor are now running in national publications as well as state newspapers.

The search committee hopes to conduct initial interviews in early February.

Former Chancellor J. Michael Mullen announced in August plans to retire Jan. 31, 2006, after serving in the position for nearly five years.

In September, HEPC reassigned Mullen to the role of chancellor emeritus and appointed Bruce Flack interim chancellor.

The next regular meeting of the state Higher Education Policy Commission is scheduled for February.