This document discusses West Virginia University's role in economic development in West Virginia as a "super land-grant" university. It summarizes WVU's history and strategic plan to improve education, healthcare, and economic opportunity through collaboration between its academics, research, health sciences, extension, and engagement with the state, nation, and world. Examples are provided of WVU initiatives in shale gas utilization, education, healthcare, and public health that contribute to the state's economy through partnerships across different divisions of the university.

1. #UEDASummit

2. Michele G. Wheatly
Provost and Vice President for
Academic Affairs, West Virginia
University
#UEDASummit

3. West Virginia University:
Economic Development
at a “Super” Land-Grant
in a Rural State
University Economic Development Association Conference
Pittsburgh, PA  October 29, 2013
Michele G. Wheatly, Ph.D.
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
West Virginia University

4. Bridging
the
Gap
New River Gorge Bridge  Fayetteville, West Virginia
3,030 feet long  876 feet high  1975  Bridge Day

5. West Virginia:
A State of
“Communities”
• 1.8 million residents
• 55 counties
• 5 cities > 30K
residents

6. COLLABORATION
Tribal trade and rugged terrain
created social, political, and
economic cultures of collaboration.
INNOVATION
West Virginia became a state in 1863
when 50 northwestern counties of
Virginia decided to break away
during the Civil War.

7. Access to
Education
Access to
Healthcare
Economic
Opportunity

8. WVU: A Brief History
1862 • Morrill Act created landgrant universities
1867 • WVU was founded
1914 • Smith-Lever Act created
Cooperative Extension
1903 • Medical education began
with Maryland partnership
1951 • University Hospital opened
1962 • Medical degrees awarded

9. “Super Land-Grants”
Land-grant universities with comprehensive
health sciences under a single president
West Virginia
Arizona
The Ohio State
University
Wisconsin
Missouri
Minnesota
Connecticut
Florida
Tennessee Kentucky

10. State of West Virginia:
Population and Rankings
State
Population
(millions)
Economic
Educational
Attainment
Health
Outcomes
(undergraduate)
West Virginia
1.9
48
50
47
Florida
19.3
40
31
34
Ohio
11.5
23
38
35
Arizona
6.5
31
29
25
Tennessee
6.4
14
41
39
Michigan
6.0
19
33
42
Wisconsin
5.7
28
28
16
Minnesota
5.3
39
10
5
Kentucky
4.3
17
47
44
Connecticut
3.6
43
4
6

11. WVU Bureau of Business
& Economic Research
• GDP expansion: WV ranks 10th with 3% growth.
• Natural resources and mining: Natural gas
production has doubled in two years.
• Construction: A 2.3% increase is forecasted.
• Exports: Exports such as coal are increasing.
• Health services: A 2.1% increase is forecasted.
• Jobs and Income: Even with 1% growth per
year, $34K income per capita still ranks low.
• Aging in Appalachia: An aging population
requires increased healthcare.
• Education: Only 30% of West Virginians have
some college education.

12. WVU: Bridging the Gap
Access to
Education
Access to
Healthcare
{
{
{
Economic
Opportunity
• Well-informed population
• Versatile and capable workforce
– Achieves career success
– Attracts industry & commerce
• Preventative well-being
• Health and dental care
• Extension Service
•
•
•
•
Government and legislature
Translational initiatives, IP, etc.
Community engagement
Global outreach

13. WVU2020 Strategic Plan
Developed in
2010 with broad
constituency
engagement
Endorsed by the
WVU Board of
Governors in 2011
Implementing
goals and
realizations
WVU’s mission contributes to all aspects of economic development
➡ Deliver high-quality education.
➡ Excel in discovery and innovation.
➡ Model a culture of diversity and inclusion.
➡ Promote health and vitality.
➡ Build pathways for the exchange of knowledge and opportunity
between the state, the nation, and the world.

14. Reimagining
the Land-Grant
Mission
WVU2020
Strategic Plan for the Future
Academics Research
Health Sciences
Extension
Lifelong Learning
State Relations
Associate
Provost for
Engagement &
Outreach
Chief
Global
Officer

15. Economic
Development:
State
Relations
Global
A broad concept
that requires
multiple leaders and
shared responsibility
for effective coordination.
Engagement
& Outreach
Academic

16. Shale Gas Utilization Example:
Economic Development
• Governor’s
Marcellus Shale
Advisory
Commission
• Business &
economic
research
• Partnerships
in Poland and
China
• Extension
Service’s gas
education
State
Relations
Global
Engagement
& Outreach
Academic
• Faculty hiring
• Energy research
• LIINC (Linking
Innovation, Industry, &
Commercialization)

17. Example: Access
• Higher Education
Policy Commission
• Community and
Technical
College
State
System
Relations
• Pre K-12
Global
• Global
competency
to Education
• 4-H
• Extension
Service
• Adult learners
Engagement
& Outreach
Academic
• Academic
Innovation

18. Example: Access
to Healthcare
• Extension
Service
• Rural health
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Affordable
Care Act
State
Relations
Global
• Global
health
Engagement
& Outreach
Academic
• WVU
Healthcare

19. Example: Raising
the Health
Status of West Virginians
School of Public Health
Mountain of Excellence:
Eliminating Appalachian
health disparities
Clinical and translational
research grant of $53M
over 5 years

20. WVU Healthcare:
State Economic Impact
$2.6B (direct) + $2.8B (indirect) = $5.4B
• With a hospital expansion,
impact is anticipated to grow to
$6.6B by 2017.
• WVU Healthcare constitutes 8%
of West Virginia’s economy.
• WVU Healthcare and its
employees paid $95M in taxes
and generated $483M in total
state tax revenue.

21. “Super Land-Grant”
Health
Sciences
State Relations
Engagement &
Outreach
Academic
Global
Economic
Development
Collaboration
Innovation
Strategic Planning
Extension
Service
Lifelong
Learning
Access