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Why State Schools in West Virginia Should Be Treated as Nonprofits

Robin Capehart, West Liberty

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With extensive experience in the government, academic, and legal fields, Robin Capehart served as the president of West Liberty University for nearly a decade. Since leaving his position at West Liberty, Robin Capehart has dedicated his time to the Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia, where he works as a senior resident scholar. As such, he has focused on, among other matters, reforming West Virginia’s public colleges and universities.

Mr. Capehart believes that instead their current treatment as state institutions state schools subject to a myriad of state rules and regulations, public colleges and universities should be treated as state supported, not-for-profit entities, which would give them greater autonomy than their current status. Currently, these institutions are under the authority of the Council for Community and Technical College Education or the Higher Education Policy Commission. As state supported nonprofits, colleges and universities could instead create governing bodies and operating processes that make them more competitive in the educational marketplace.
While some governing boards will likely choose to operate according to rules similar to those currently in place, others could adopt new programs and procedures that would be more beneficial for education and thus help attract more students. Ultimately, it would be the decision of each governing board to figure out how to allocate funds most effectively.