West Virginia University Provost Gerald Lang has issued the investigation charge to the panel of independent educators who are reviewing the records of WVU s Executive MBA program.

Last Wednesday (Jan. 2), Lang announced the creation of a team of independent educators to investigate, audit and attest to the accuracy of WVU s recent decision regarding a retroactively issued degree. He cited the public concerns regarding the issuance of an Executive MBA degree to a student where WVU had a discrepancy in the historical records as the reason for his request of an independent audit. After much research by the College of Business and Economics, WVU resolved the records discrepancy in favor of the student.

In the academic environment of shared governance at WVU , it is important to note that faculty have a long history of review and evaluation of academic matters,said Lang.In particular, the curriculum of the university is designed, approved and monitored by the faculty of WVU . As such, the faculty review and approve course content, evaluate all syllabi, authorize all new programs, determine the appropriateness of the curriculum for each degree, certify students for graduation and assess programmatic compliance. Since the accuracy of a WVU degree is at issue, it is only right that WVU faculty investigate the matter at their own institution as they do for any other curricular issues. It is the faculty who know what to look for as they have a knowledge and history of administrative processes.

Charge to the Special Investigative Panel for Review of Executive MBA (eMBA) Program Records:

1. The panel is charged to review all records relating to the issuance of an eMBA degree to Heather Bresch. This review should include:

i. Establish a complete understanding of the requirements of the Executive MBA degree in 1998,

ii. Conduct an examination of the circumstances surrounding the original authorization of the earning of the degree in 1998,

iii. Determine the issues related to the loss of records in the College of Business,

iv. Evaluate the actions undertaken in fall 2007 in reconstructing the student’s record from 1998 and transferring her record from the College to the University’s central records,

v. Determine if the degree was appropriately earned as originally authorized in 1998 and subsequently issued in 2007,

vi. Issue a report on the Review along with recommendations for future consideration regarding the issuance of degrees for the WVU Faculty Senate and WVU senior administration.

2. Specifically, the panel is to ascertain whether Ms. Bresch earned her eMBA degree in 1998. Were the records of all students handled appropriately in 1998 and 2007? Was Ms. Bresch treated differently than other similarly situated students in the eMBA program in 1998 or in 2007? Based on the panels findings, a second charge is to recommend if any actions should be taken by the University and what those actions might be.

Process Recommended to the Panel:

The Panel will have access to the students record, the records of other students who were in the same degree program, administrative documents in 1998 within the College of Business and Economics, access to all professors teaching in the Executive MBA program, and to any of the administrators, faculty or other people involved with this process.

The Panel is encouraged to seek the involvement of others within and outside of the University as it deems necessary and appropriate. For example, the Panel may wish to avail itself of the assistance of the Universitys Auditor, Mr. William Quigley, and/or the Universitys Academic Integrity Officer, Steptoe and Johnson Professor of Law Marjorie McDiarmid. The Panel may also wish to consult with or involve other academics familiar with AACSB approved eMBA degree programs, either inside or outside of the University. The Panel may wish to discuss the findings with the AACSB accreditation review committee or any other body that provides oversight to Executive MBA programs on the national level.

The Panel will be open to receiving input from any member of the University community.

The University will provide any support as needed, including clerical and organizational assistance, travel reimbursement, space for members to examine documents and interview people, and other requested resources.

The Panel will submit its report to Provost Gerald Lang who will then share the findings and any forthcoming actions with the WVU Faculty Senate and the Universitys Board of Governors. All findings will be a matter of public record except those protected by federal privacy laws. A public disclosure will be made after the WVU Faculty Senate and the WVU Board of Governors has reviewed the findings.

Panel Member Selection Was Endorsed by WVU Faculty Senate Leadership:

Three highly respected members of the academic community within West Virginia have agreed to serve on this investigative panel.

Professor Michael Lastinger is a former Chair of the WVU Faculty Senate and a former member of the WVU Universitys Board of Governors. Dr. Lastinger is a professor in the Department of Foreign Languages in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at WVU .

Professor Roy Nutter is a former Chair of the WVU Faculty Senate, currently a member of the WVU Faculty Senate, and serves as WVU s representative to the state-wide Advisory Council of Faculty, a body which he also chairs. Dr. Nutter is a professor in the Lane Computer Science Department at the College of Engineering and Mineral Sciences.

Dr. Bruce Flack is the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and has served as the former Academic Vice President at Glenville State College, former Interim President at Glenville State College, and former Interim Chancellor for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Vice Chancellor Flacks academic expertise and training is in History. Dr. Flack will chair the Panel.

Professors Lastinger and Nutter were elected to their Faculty Senate positions by the faculty at WVU and as such are highly respected individuals, known for their independence of thought, integrity and objectivity. Dr. Flack is equally well respected throughout higher education in West Virginia. Current Faculty Senate Chair and Member of the Board of Governors Steve Kite and Chair-elect Virginia Kleist recommended panel members to the Administration and thus fully endorsed the membership of this Panel.

Gerald E. Lang

Provost, WVU

January 8, 2008