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2025 State of the University radio spot - October 17, 2025
Transcript
Shauna Johnson: This is West Virginia University.
Michael T. Benson: We are going to win West Virginia, we are going to increase our market share of high school students who want to stay in the state and come to our university.
Shauna Johnson: That pledge, from President Michael T. Benson, in his first state of the university address.
Michael T. Benson: I will tell every single West Virginia high school student, there is a place for you at our university, at your university.
Shauna Johnson: He's calling on all members of the WVU community to join him in recruiting, retaining, teaching, training, and graduating students, welcoming them into the Mountaineer alumni family, as curious, employed citizens.
Michael T. Benson: I love to learn as much as anybody, but my parents were even happier that I got a job after I graduated, and that's what we're in the business of doing.
Shauna Johnson: In that business, he says, "Rankings matter." So, do the other higher education institutions WVU calls its peers. That's why he's setting membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities as one of the primary goals of his presidency.
Michael T. Benson: This is a really seminal moment for our institution, and it's one of those stretch goals, but I see ourselves in there with any of those other institutions, that's a goal that we can accomplish. I don't know when, but the process of doing it is going to make us better.
Shauna Johnson: Better, he says, by being, "A stronger, more academics-focused institution, providing critical support to faculty, staff, and students while working in service to the mountain state."
Michael T. Benson: This university belongs to the state of West Virginia, it belongs to the citizens of the state. We make them proud every single day with the work that you all do.
Shauna Johnson: So, let's go, follow our stories at wvutoday.wvu.edu.
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