West Virginia Universitys Board of Governors meeting Friday (June 1) in Charleston approved the addition of two new majors to the masters degree program in educational psychology and the establishment of a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in kinesiology.

The panel also approved a Fiscal Year 2008 working spending plan.

Academic Programs

The new majors will be in program evaluation and research, as well as child development and family studies, said WVU Provost Gerald Lang. The masters program in education psychology is offered within the College of Human Resources and Education.

Skills in these two areas are in high demand,Lang noted.The addition of these two majors will increase enrollment in the program, and offer citizens of the state and region a broader range of opportunities for career development.

In addition, a cooperative arrangement with the psychology department in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will allow students interested in becoming eligible for certification as behavior analysts to complete a five-course sequence.

Establishment of the Ph.D. in kinesiology through the School of Physical Education comes as industry standards have changed, Lang noted.

The Ph.D. is now the norm for disciplines in physical education which formerly granted a doctor of education degree (Ed.D.),he said.

Currently, WVU provides the Ed.D. in two major areas: physical education teacher education and sport and exercise psychology. Those Ed.D. programs will now be converted over to Ph.D. programs in kinesiology.

The Ph.D. reflects the research focus of both areas, and is now the industry standard for doctoral degrees in physical education teacher education and sport and exercise psychology,Lang said.

No additional faculty or physical resources will be required to make the change, he added, and no new courses will need to be developed for the program transition.

University Spending Plan

The board approved a $734 million 2008 working spending plan for the main and regional/division campuses. A final budget will be presented for BOG approval in September.

Vice President for Administration and Finance Narvel Weese said the plan is balanced, and includes new revenues from enrollment growth, auxiliary funds and additional state appropriations.

Weese also provided the board with a current fiscal year financial update, showing the University ending FY 07 June 30 with positive operational margins.

He also gave a status report on capital projects under way or planned. On the

Downtown Campus alone, three major construction projects totaling more than $50 million will be completed by the start of the fall semester. A renovated Oglebay Hall will house WVU s premier forensic and investigative science program. A pedestrian bridge across University Avenue will link Oglebay to classroom buildings in and around Woodburn Circle. A modernized Brooks Hall will house the departments of geology and geography, including West Virginias Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Center.

C&TC at WVUIT Report

Beverly Jo Harris, president of the Community and Technical College at WVU Tech, reported increases in full-time equivalent credit enrollment and in non-credit customized training offerings over the past year.

Higher retention and graduation rates were also noted, along with an 89.7 percent job placement rate for graduates who remained in West Virginia.

Industry partnerships were highlighted, including those resulting in new degree programs such as diesel technology and building construction. The National Publishing Innovation Center and the Prototype Design Center were recognized as other examples of collaboration with employers.

Other Action:

The board also:

• swore in Sally C. Smith, an attorney with the Charleston law firm of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff&Love. Smith is the new chair of the Community and Technical College at WVU Institute of Technology board of advisors and replaces Thomas W. Dover on the WVU governing board.

• re-elected the following officers: Stephen P. Goodwin, chairman, and Robert A. Wells, vice chairman. John T. (Ted) Mattern was elected secretary, replacing Elizabeth E. Chilton (Betty).

• approved a new major in psychology at WVU Tech

• approved a policy establishing guidelines for annual increment pay for faculty and staff

• received written annual reports from the vice presidents for academic affairs and research; health sciences; student affairs; administration and finance; human resources; and university advancement and marketing

• received the annual promotion and tenure report

• okd additional capital funds for the Boreman Bistro renovation project at WVU and the Potomac State ADA Connector Building

• recognized outgoing board members Betty Chilton, Douglas J. Leech, faculty representative Michael Lastinger and student representative Jason Gross for their service.

The next WVU Board of Governors meeting is Sept. 6-7 in Morgantown.