WVU DEGREE PROBLEMS WILL BE AUDITED - Special Legislative Committee Investigating

(08/30/2008)
An educational consulting group is coming to West Virginia University in September to review the school's degree-granting practices.

WVU spokeswoman Becky Lofstead said the university has asked the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers to review an internal audit of the Business and Economics College.

A WVU audit has found that 70 executive master's of business administration degrees have potential problems.

That audit was conducted in the aftermath of a scandal involving a degree improperly awarded to Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter, a situation which led to the resignation of the WVU president.

The consulting group will also review university-wide academic record policies and procedures.

Meanwhile, a legislative commission is investigating how Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter got a master's degree she didn't earn from WVU.

The investigation will probably renew calls for the Legislature's joint Judiciary Committee to probe the matter.

Republican lawmakers said Thursday the probe is too secretive.