Sunday, December 27, 2015
Chuck Smith: Tech community still reeling; Beckley plan too expensive
By Chuck Smith
From its founding in 1895, West Virginia Institute of Technology has fulfilled a unique and special mission to foster the very best in science and practical research to serve the greater needs of our state and nation.
Tech succeeded and over time expanded its scope to encompass other highly successful programs, such as accounting, education, nursing and the nationally-renowned printing technology program.
Tech engineers, faculty and graduates have always been at the center of the growth of the mining and petro-chemical industries and the economic development of the entire Kanawha Valley. Their knowledge and work ethic helped transform the economy of West Virginia during the great post-war expansion.
Tech graduates have been prized worldwide for their useful blend of theoretical and applied knowledge and have risen to the top of their fields. Graduates were proud to say they went to West Virginia Tech, and employers were eager to hire them.
Unfortunately, from the 1980s to 1996, West Virginia Tech experienced a growing problem of underfunding by the West Virginia Legislature. Legislators and policymakers never quite appreciated that the highly-specialized, science-based programs at Tech could not be adequately funded with declining state support.
While all of higher education felt the financial squeeze, none did so nearly as much as Tech — essentially because the expense involved in educating an engineering student is 2.5 times that of educating a liberal arts student.
Consequently, in 1996, the Tech administration and Board of Directors sought affiliation with West Virginia University, hoping that WVU would appreciate more fully the great value that Tech presented. Tech leaders hoped that the program synergy between the two schools, the opportunity to refer and share students, and WVU’s great influence would lead to greater attention and, consequently, increased funding.
Those hopes were quickly dashed. The relationship that evolved was more colonial in nature than fraternal. This resulted in outdated laboratories, improperly maintained buildings, stagnant faculty salaries and a host of other related problems that grew more acute each year. Only rarely did the WVU leadership even visit Tech, and the sharing of resources never materialized to the stage of being profitable for Tech.
The Tech administration, faculty, staff and students became very disillusioned. Responding to outrage from Tech loyalists and the regional community, the Legislature began to take notice of the growing problems at Tech. Legislative leaders began to make first-hand visits to the campus. Many were shocked by the deteriorating conditions of the laboratories, dorm rooms and other critical facilities.
As a result of the investigation, the Legislature appropriated an additional small infusion of new money for Tech, plus Tech took out loans in hopes of improving the deficiencies on campus and to set Tech on a better course.
In 2007, the Legislature awarded Tech an additional $3.2 million. That amount was used for renovations in its engineering buildings and facilities. Additionally, during that time period, Tech took out loans in excess of $15.3 million for renovations to Maclin Hall and the Student Union. Those loans were made possible through a bond issued through WVU. According to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request on January 31, 2010, Tech still owed close to $12 million on those loans.
In 2012, the WVU Tech Revitalization Committee requested $7.8 million for much-needed facility improvements on the Tech campus to start the revitalization process in accordance with Senate Bill 486 (2011). As of today, no portion of the requested $7.8 million has been received from any venue — the Legislature, WVU or any other sources. In the meantime, WVU has made an initial investment of $8 million for the Beckley campus.
On August 31, 2015, President Gordon Gee and Counsel Rob Alsop visited the Tech campus in Montgomery to deliver the sad news that Tech would be closed. The surviving programs would be shifted to the campus of the defunct Mountain State University in Beckley. A stunned campus and the region and communities Tech serves are still recoiling from this decision.
There is more than a cruel irony that the same WVU, whose callous neglect led to Tech’s decline, now seeks to close Tech and abandon the campus. The same pattern of neglect has been experienced at other branch campuses, as well as at hospitals that affiliated with WVU.
Whatever the WVU rationale might be, its justification for closing the Tech campus in Montgomery is riddled with errors and based upon faulty judgments.
First, the decision was made in a malicious, high-handed and secretive manner with no participation with the elected officials representing the area, community leaders, students, faculty or staff.
Second, the claim that the restoration at Tech would cost $117 million is totally bogus. The Revitalization Project for West Virginia University Institute of Technology Team Report, dated October 7, 2012, the report that was mandated in SB486 for revitalization of the campus, quoted a $30 million to $35 million need.
Third, the cost of moving Tech to Beckley, to a campus that lacks dormitories, appropriate laboratories, classrooms, sports facilities and parking will be far more costly than improving the existing campus in Montgomery.
Fourth, the “Gee Plan” leaves the upper Kanawha Valley of West Virginia, already reeling from the decline in mining and petro-chemical industries, in a state of utter devastation. The economic loss to the region, especially to the community of Montgomery, the cost of moth-balling the state’s huge investment in Tech, and the debilitating human toll defy calculation. In the long run, it could prove to be far more costly to retrofit an entire campus than to improve the existing one.
Finally, WVU’s empire-building grab is designed to give Morgantown control over southern West Virginia. The decision to close Tech is a part of its long-term strategy to marginalize Marshall University and gradually swallow up the remaining four-year schools across the state.
Gordon Gee has traveled the state talking about all of his “big ideas” that will help West Virginia’s economy. After all of his travels, and from listening to all of the advice he has received from his top management team, the only big idea that Gordon Gee could think of was to put the final nail in the coffin of the Upper Kanawha Valley and surrounding areas in a move that will devastate the region. This move to Beckley will be both WVU and Gordon Gee’s lasting legacy on the Upper Kanawha Valley, and I sincerely hope they are proud of that legacy.
Chuck Smith is a business owner in Montgomery, a former mayor of Montgomery, the former chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party and a graduate of West Virginia Tech.
- See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazett...ckley-plan-too-expensive#sthash.wKXb3bdE.dpuf
Chuck Smith: Tech community still reeling; Beckley plan too expensive
By Chuck Smith
From its founding in 1895, West Virginia Institute of Technology has fulfilled a unique and special mission to foster the very best in science and practical research to serve the greater needs of our state and nation.
Tech succeeded and over time expanded its scope to encompass other highly successful programs, such as accounting, education, nursing and the nationally-renowned printing technology program.
Tech engineers, faculty and graduates have always been at the center of the growth of the mining and petro-chemical industries and the economic development of the entire Kanawha Valley. Their knowledge and work ethic helped transform the economy of West Virginia during the great post-war expansion.
Tech graduates have been prized worldwide for their useful blend of theoretical and applied knowledge and have risen to the top of their fields. Graduates were proud to say they went to West Virginia Tech, and employers were eager to hire them.
Unfortunately, from the 1980s to 1996, West Virginia Tech experienced a growing problem of underfunding by the West Virginia Legislature. Legislators and policymakers never quite appreciated that the highly-specialized, science-based programs at Tech could not be adequately funded with declining state support.
While all of higher education felt the financial squeeze, none did so nearly as much as Tech — essentially because the expense involved in educating an engineering student is 2.5 times that of educating a liberal arts student.
Consequently, in 1996, the Tech administration and Board of Directors sought affiliation with West Virginia University, hoping that WVU would appreciate more fully the great value that Tech presented. Tech leaders hoped that the program synergy between the two schools, the opportunity to refer and share students, and WVU’s great influence would lead to greater attention and, consequently, increased funding.
Those hopes were quickly dashed. The relationship that evolved was more colonial in nature than fraternal. This resulted in outdated laboratories, improperly maintained buildings, stagnant faculty salaries and a host of other related problems that grew more acute each year. Only rarely did the WVU leadership even visit Tech, and the sharing of resources never materialized to the stage of being profitable for Tech.
The Tech administration, faculty, staff and students became very disillusioned. Responding to outrage from Tech loyalists and the regional community, the Legislature began to take notice of the growing problems at Tech. Legislative leaders began to make first-hand visits to the campus. Many were shocked by the deteriorating conditions of the laboratories, dorm rooms and other critical facilities.
As a result of the investigation, the Legislature appropriated an additional small infusion of new money for Tech, plus Tech took out loans in hopes of improving the deficiencies on campus and to set Tech on a better course.
In 2007, the Legislature awarded Tech an additional $3.2 million. That amount was used for renovations in its engineering buildings and facilities. Additionally, during that time period, Tech took out loans in excess of $15.3 million for renovations to Maclin Hall and the Student Union. Those loans were made possible through a bond issued through WVU. According to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request on January 31, 2010, Tech still owed close to $12 million on those loans.
In 2012, the WVU Tech Revitalization Committee requested $7.8 million for much-needed facility improvements on the Tech campus to start the revitalization process in accordance with Senate Bill 486 (2011). As of today, no portion of the requested $7.8 million has been received from any venue — the Legislature, WVU or any other sources. In the meantime, WVU has made an initial investment of $8 million for the Beckley campus.
On August 31, 2015, President Gordon Gee and Counsel Rob Alsop visited the Tech campus in Montgomery to deliver the sad news that Tech would be closed. The surviving programs would be shifted to the campus of the defunct Mountain State University in Beckley. A stunned campus and the region and communities Tech serves are still recoiling from this decision.
There is more than a cruel irony that the same WVU, whose callous neglect led to Tech’s decline, now seeks to close Tech and abandon the campus. The same pattern of neglect has been experienced at other branch campuses, as well as at hospitals that affiliated with WVU.
Whatever the WVU rationale might be, its justification for closing the Tech campus in Montgomery is riddled with errors and based upon faulty judgments.
First, the decision was made in a malicious, high-handed and secretive manner with no participation with the elected officials representing the area, community leaders, students, faculty or staff.
Second, the claim that the restoration at Tech would cost $117 million is totally bogus. The Revitalization Project for West Virginia University Institute of Technology Team Report, dated October 7, 2012, the report that was mandated in SB486 for revitalization of the campus, quoted a $30 million to $35 million need.
Third, the cost of moving Tech to Beckley, to a campus that lacks dormitories, appropriate laboratories, classrooms, sports facilities and parking will be far more costly than improving the existing campus in Montgomery.
Fourth, the “Gee Plan” leaves the upper Kanawha Valley of West Virginia, already reeling from the decline in mining and petro-chemical industries, in a state of utter devastation. The economic loss to the region, especially to the community of Montgomery, the cost of moth-balling the state’s huge investment in Tech, and the debilitating human toll defy calculation. In the long run, it could prove to be far more costly to retrofit an entire campus than to improve the existing one.
Finally, WVU’s empire-building grab is designed to give Morgantown control over southern West Virginia. The decision to close Tech is a part of its long-term strategy to marginalize Marshall University and gradually swallow up the remaining four-year schools across the state.
Gordon Gee has traveled the state talking about all of his “big ideas” that will help West Virginia’s economy. After all of his travels, and from listening to all of the advice he has received from his top management team, the only big idea that Gordon Gee could think of was to put the final nail in the coffin of the Upper Kanawha Valley and surrounding areas in a move that will devastate the region. This move to Beckley will be both WVU and Gordon Gee’s lasting legacy on the Upper Kanawha Valley, and I sincerely hope they are proud of that legacy.
Chuck Smith is a business owner in Montgomery, a former mayor of Montgomery, the former chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party and a graduate of West Virginia Tech.
- See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazett...ckley-plan-too-expensive#sthash.wKXb3bdE.dpuf
