A university's credibility, like many institutions, relies upon perception. Institutions and people have credibility when what they produce carries a substance that society considers to be worthy. A West Virginia University degree within this state has almost always carried substance; the real fight for this institution has been to convince those outside the state of that fact.
West Virginia University faculty, and I know this through personal experience, work very hard to teach and produce solid research. They do not receive the same pay as many of their peers, but they carry a sense of pride. Unlike other institutions, the faculty love their school and cheer on its sports teams. The school has always proved worthy of that kind of devotion.
Positive perception can be fragile. This truth applies to businesses, politicians, and universities. Questions of credibility and honesty can destroy a well earned reputation in an instant. Efforts to cover up a small problem can lead to huge messes. Just ask Richard Nixon.
The independent panel ruled on Tuesday that Governor Joe Manchin's daughter Heather Bresch was improperly awarded an M. B. A. despite her protests to the contrary. When last year the story broke in the Pittsburgh media that she did not earn the degree she claimed to have, the university scrambled and granted one to her. To make the story more complex, she is an executive for Mylan, a major donor to WVU and supporter of Manchin.
Now that it is clear that her degree was improperly granted, an investigation must begin into why the university did this and who, if anyone, played a role in influencing this poor decision. As for those who have worked so hard to build up the university's credibility whether they be distinguished faculty or alumni, who will end up apologizing to them when a WVU degree becomes a target not for respect, but ridicule?
No comments:
Post a Comment