WVU PROVOST RESIGNS FOLLOWING BRESCH REPORT

(04/28/2008)
West Virginia University Provost Gerald Lang has resigned in the face of criticism over his handling of a master's degree improperly awarded to Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter.

Lang sent a memo to WVU deans yesterday saying the criticism found in a report released Wednesday has forced him to step down from the university.

His resignation will take effect on June 30th.

Lang has been provost for 13 years, and has spent the last 32 years at the university.

The report that caused Lang's resignation faulted him for helping to award a master's degree to Mylan Incorporated executive Heather Bresch.

Bresch is Governor Manchin's daughter and a friend of WVU President Mike Garrison.

The report concluded she didn't earn the degree, and WVU officials should not have retroactively given it years later.

Bresch's company has donated millions to WVU.

The head of the math department had called for the Faculty Senate to censure the university's president and provost.

The motion will also call on the Senate to offer a vote of no confidence in the two men.

Some members of the faculty think that won't be enough.

They argue that those officials should resign, along with the business school dean.