West Virginia University (WVU) has long positioned itself as the state’s flagship academic institution. However, its relationship with its regional campus, WVU Tech, has been fraught with tension. This article argues that WVU deliberately marginalized the Montgomery campus of WVU Tech. This was done to avoid internal competition with its Morgantown-based engineering programs. WVU leveraged the collapse of Mountain State University (MSU) in Beckley to facilitate the relocation. By analyzing institutional decisions, financial pressures, and historical context, this piece contends that WVU prioritized consolidating resources and eliminating redundancy. This was over preserving the legacy of WVU Tech in Montgomery.
Historical Context: From Independence to Absorption
WVU Tech, originally founded in 1895 as the Montgomery Preparatory School, evolved into a standalone institution renowned for its engineering programs. By 1952, it began granting engineering degrees, earning a reputation as one of the nation’s top technical schools. However, financial struggles and declining enrollment plagued the institution in the late 20th century. This led to its absorption by WVU in 1996. Critics, including Fayette County Commissioner Matthew Wender, argued that WVU’s stewardship “lessened the quality of education at Tech” and failed to address systemic issues like aging infrastructure.
The 2011 WVU Tech Revitalization Project law marked a turning point. A state-mandated report recommended administrative restructuring and hinted at relocation. This framed the move as a solution to deferred maintenance costs exceeding $100 million. Yet, this justification obscured deeper motives. Eliminating competition between WVU’s Morgantown engineering department and WVU Tech’s historically strong programs was one.
- Cost Efficiency: The Beckley campus required minimal investment compared to Montgomery’s aging facilities.
- Geographic Advantage: Beckley’s proximity to major highways (I-64, I-77) and a larger population base promised higher enrollment potential.
- Program Consolidation: Relocating WVU Tech to Beckley allowed WVU to rebrand the campus as “West Virginia University at Beckley, Home of WVU Tech,” effectively subsuming its identity under the flagship institution.
Internal communications revealed WVU’s urgency. In 2015, then-President Gordon Gee dismissed concerns about Montgomery’s economic survival. He stated, “We’re going to continue to use [WVU’s] Extension Service… to develop programs of value for Montgomery”. However, this rhetoric masked the systemic neglect of the campus.
Deferred Maintenance as a Pretext
WVU consistently cited Montgomery’s infrastructure costs as the primary reason for relocation. A 2015 report highlighted $100 million in deferred maintenance, framing the move as financially unavoidable. Yet, this narrative ignores WVU’s failure to invest in the campus during its two decades of oversight. Faculty and local leaders accused WVU of intentional disinvestment to justify closure. For instance:
- The Montgomery campus’s sewer upgrade debt ($1 million) was left to the city after relocation, risking bankruptcy.
- WVU’s acquisition of the Beckley campus preceded the official relocation vote, suggesting premeditation.
By contrast, Beckley’s campus required no such investment, allowing WVU to redirect resources toward its Morgantown programs.
Avoiding Internal Competition
A key motive for relocation was reducing overlap between WVU Tech’s engineering programs and those in Morgantown. WVU Tech had historically offered nine ABET-accredited engineering degrees, rivaling Morgantown’s offerings. Post-relocation, WVU Tech’s engineering programs were rebranded under the “Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering,” but enrollment and funding priorities shifted toward Morgantown.
The timing of the move is telling. In 2015, as WVU faced declining enrollment statewide, consolidating engineering programs under a single administrative umbrella became strategic. This allowed the university to streamline budgets and avoid internal competition. This aligns with broader trends in higher education. Flagship institutions often absorb or shutter regional campuses to centralize prestige and resources.
Community Impact and Institutional Priorities
The closure devastated Montgomery, a town of 1,600 residents. Local businesses reliant on student traffic shuttered, and the city inherited unusable infrastructure. Meanwhile, Beckley’s enrollment surged from 1,106 in 2017 to 1,622 by 2019, validating WVU’s economic calculus.
WVU’s actions reflect a pattern of prioritizing institutional growth over regional equity. The 2023 budget cuts—which targeted humanities and language programs—further underscore this trend. WVU shifts focus toward “high-demand” STEM and healthcare fields.
Conclusion
WVU’s relocation of WVU Tech to Beckley was not merely a response to financial pressures. It was a strategic maneuver to eliminate competition and centralize authority. The collapse of Mountain State University provided a convenient opportunity to acquire infrastructure on the cheap. Deferred maintenance in Montgomery served as a scapegoat for long-standing neglect. By subsuming WVU Tech under the Beckley banner, WVU ensured its Morgantown programs remained unchallenged. This perpetuated a cycle of resource consolidation at the expense of rural communities.
Bibliography
- “UPDATE: Montgomery votes against WVU Tech relocation agreement.” WSAZ, August 31, 2015. https://www.wsaz.com/content/news/WVU-Tech-Community-Learns-of-WVUs-Plans-to-Move-School-to-Beckley-323468601.html.
- “West Virginia University Institute of Technology.” Wikipedia, last modified April 20, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_University_Institute_of_Technology.
- “WVU chief says Montgomery won’t be abandoned.” WV Press, May 2017. https://wvpress.org/copydesk/wv-press-videos/wvu-chief-says-montgomery-wont-be-abandoned/.
- “General Information – WVU Tech.” WVU Catalog. http://catalog.wvu.edu/westvirginiauniversityinstituteoftechnology/.
- “State of the University Address: Moving West Virginia University Forward.” WVU President’s Office, October 23, 2023. https://presidentgee.wvu.edu/speeches/moving-west-virginia-university-forward.
- “WVU faces cuts amid budget deficit: Here’s what to know.” Mountain State Spotlight, August 8, 2023. https://mountainstatespotlight.org/2023/08/08/wvu-budget-cuts-deficit-faculty-layoffs/.
As always, thank you for riding with me!
Visibility: Partly Cloudy
*GPS Coordinate Data Provided on bottom left corner with date and speed*
Destinations in West Virginia by appearance:
South Charleston
Dunbar
I64W – Institute (10:00)
Cross Lanes
Nitro
WV25/1st Avenue – Nitro (15:00)
Saint Albans
US60/MacCorkle Avenue – St. Albans (20:00)
Kanawha Turnpike – South Charleston (30:00)
Southridge (40:00)
Thomas Hospital Rear Entrance – South Charleston (50:00)
I64W – Nitro (1:00:00)
I64E – Dunbar (1:10:00)
US60/MacCorkle Avenue – South Charleston (1:20:00)
Kanawha Turnpike – South Charleston (1:30:00)
Tad (3:00:00)
US60/Midland Trail – Dupont City (3:15:00)
Cedar Grove (3:30:00)
Montgomery (3:45:00)
WVU Tech Campus (Abandoned) – Montgomery (4:00:00)
US60/East Dupont Avenue – Glasgow (4:15:00)
US60/Kanawha Boulevard East – Malden (4:30:00)
Listen while you ride: My Spotify Playlists
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FI2WfzKqFIz5dD0BOA1iw?si=4f12084e12b247ec – Mix
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5IWoDtlir7k6eww0PNVdGh?si=dca253ebf4e94ac1 – Chill
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