Marshall Board of Governors approves budget and tuition rates for FY25

The Marshall University Board of Governors today approved a $345 million budget for the next fiscal year, including a nominal increase in tuition and fees, and plans to increase employee salaries.  

Approval was given for an overall 2.5% increase to in-state undergraduate and graduate fee rates, as was a three percent increase in housing and dining rates.  The increase equals about $220 more a year for undergraduate students and $230 more annually for resident graduate students. Tuition and fee rates for non-resident, international and metro undergraduate and graduate students will stay flat.  

Marshall University President Brad D. Smith said the university remains dedicated to its enduring financial principles.  

“We are grounded in our principle to grow students and not fees, so the tuition and fees increase that was approved today is very modest, below current inflation,” Smith said. “And in support of the principle to invest in our team, we are awarding the state funds for a pay increase.  Every employee will get a $1,000 lump sum payment and a one percent base salary increase.”  

Additionally, Smith said that a market equity study has been concluded. As a result, $1 million, sourced by the university’s “Save to Serve” program, will be allocated to employees who deviate furthest from market norms.  Read More

Marshall dedicates Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation

Marshall University officials, faculty, staff and students celebrated Wednesday afternoon the official dedication of the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation, located at 1425 4th Ave. in Huntington.

The new facility housing the Lewis College of Business, Brad D. Smith Schools of Business is about 78,000 square feet and features some of the latest technology to educate 21st Century business students and serve the business community, including a 360-seat auditorium with the latest technology, a finance lab that will house 12 Bloomberg terminals, a computer lab, and nine classrooms with ThinkHub Education technology that includes an instructor station and student stations that can work both collaboratively and independently.

“The Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation was necessary to overhaul Marshall’s business education, emphasizing teamwork, innovation and local economic integration,” said Marshall Provost Avinandan “Avi” Mukherjee, former dean of the Lewis College of Business. “This new facility serves as a nucleus for this transformation, providing Marshall students with cutting-edge resources, technology, and collaborative spaces vital for success in today’s business landscape. For faculty, it offers an environment conducive to interdisciplinary collaboration, research advancements, and fostering a culture of excellence, thereby enhancing their ability to deliver top-tier education.”… Read More

Marshall theatre students to present ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ by Neil Simon

Marshall University’s School of Theatre and Dance will present the Neil Simon play “Brighton Beach Memoirs” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, through Saturday, April 13, in the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse.

The play is a coming-of-age comedy about Eugene Morris Jerome, a Jewish teenager growing up in Brooklyn, New York, in 1937 and is the first in a trilogy of Simon’s plays that also includes “Biloxi Blues” and “Broadway Bound.”

“It’s a show that speaks to anyone who remembers what it’s like to come of age at the onset of extraordinary times and how family bonds last a lifetime,” said Samuel Kincaid, box office and public relations manager for the School of Theatre and Dance.

The play is directed by Marshall University School of Theatre alumnus T. Michael Murdock, who is also the co-founder and artistic director of The Alchemy Theatre in Huntington.   The play stars George Kinley as Eugene; Camden Gleason as Stanley; Jimi Lawson as Jack; Samantha Phalen as Kate; Nikki Riniti as Blanche; Eliza Aulick as Nora and Kate Kennedy as Laurie.

Tickets are available at the door and by contacting 304-696-ARTS. They are free for Marshall students with a valid MU ID. They are $22 general admission and $15 for seniors aged 60 and older and Marshall employees. The production is sponsored by the School of Theatre and Dance in the College of Arts and Media.

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Renowned entrepreneur and motivational speaker Chris Gardner to address graduates at Marshall University’s 2024 Commencement 

Marshall University officials are pleased to announce that Chris Gardner, acclaimed American businessman, motivational speaker and author will serve as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2024.  

The commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, April 27, at the Marshall Health Arena in Huntington.  

Gardner’s remarkable journey from homelessness to success has inspired millions around the globe. As the founder and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC, he has demonstrated exceptional resilience, determination and compassion throughout his career. His bestselling autobiography, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” was made into a movie starring Will Smith in 2006.  

Marshall University President Brad D. Smith expressed his excitement about Gardner’s selection as the commencement speaker.

“Chris Gardner embodies the spirit of Marshall University. His personal story, professional accomplishments, grace, and compassion resonate deeply with our mission to educate students, many of whom are from overlooked and underserved communities,” Smith said.  “Marshall University is proud to celebrate individuals who, like Chris, have overcome adversity to achieve extraordinary success.” 

The commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., allowing graduates, families and friends to join in the celebration of the significant milestone. All guests should be aware of the following when planning to attend the events.  

Parking Read More

Marshall University Sustainability Department Hosts Earth Day Fair

The Marshall University Sustainability Department will host an Earth Day Fair, an event dedicated to promoting environmental consciousness, fostering community engagement, and celebrating planet Earth.

Everyone is invited to join the Marshall community from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Wednesday, April 10, at the Memorial Student Center Plaza and Buskirk Field for a day filled with educational workshops and other activities, and opportunities to make connections.

The following are a few of the opportunities on campus.

Forty student and advocacy groups will set up booths to share their passion for sustainability. Those who stop by can engage in conversations, learn about eco-friendly initiatives and discover ways to make a difference. Groups will host interactive workshops covering topics such as recycling, energy conservation and sustainable living. Organizations will have giveaways and raffles. Students and members of the public can grab some eco-conscious swag and enter raffles for a chance to win sustainable goodies. An EV car show and ride-along opportunity will be part of the event. Participants can experience the future of transportation by checking out electric vehicles up close and even taking a ride. A wildlife rehab exhibit will offer a chance to learn about local wildlife conservation efforts.

All Earth Week activities are free and open to the public. Students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to join in celebrating a shared commitment to a greener, healthier world.… Read More

Alys Smith Symposium on Women Professionals Spotlights Women of Journalism

Marshall University will host the Alys Smith Symposium on Women Professionals, featuring Women of Journalism, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Shawkey Dining Room of the Marshall Memorial Student Center. 

This semester’s symposium will feature Susan Nicholas, an alumna of Marshall University from the class of 1990, and currently serving as a news anchor at WSAZ. Nicholas will deliver the keynote address, sharing insights and experiences from her career in journalism. 

The symposium aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements and contributions of women in the field of journalism. It will feature a diverse panel of accomplished women professionals who have made significant strides in journalism. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists through a thought-provoking discussion and a Q&A session. 

 The event is free and open to the public, welcoming all individuals interested in learning from the experiences of women in journalism. Following the symposium, attendees are invited to join a reception, providing a networking opportunity to connect and interact with fellow attendees and panelists. 

 The Alys Smith Symposium on Women Professionals, featuring Women of Journalism, is sponsored by The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program and the Office of the President at Marshall University. 

For more information contact Dr. Hillary Brewster at brewsterh@marshall.edu 

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Marshall’s last Amicus Curiae Lecture  for Spring 2024 is Thursday, April 11

Marshall University’s Amicus Curiae Lecture Series on Constitutional Democracy will end the 2023-2024 academic year with a lecture by POLITICO editor, author and lawyer Peter Canellos titled “John Marshall Harlan and the Power of Dissent.”

The event, which is free and open to the public, is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.

Canellos’s lecture will focus on the meaningful judicial career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan, a Kentuckian who served on the court during a time of deep division in the United States, 1877-1911.  Harlan made his mark by dissenting from U.S. Supreme Court rulings that denied African Americans the rights they had won in the Civil War, including its famous “separate but equal” ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson that effectively created two separate societies for Black and white Americans. The majority also made rulings depriving Congress of the tools it needed to fight monopolies and rejected state efforts to protect workers’ rights. Justice Harlan dissented in these cases, articulating powerful reasoning and views that eventually became the law of the land.

Canellos explores those cases and the man himself, a Civil War veteran from a slave-owning family, who fought for the Union. Canellos is author of the “The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America’s Judicial Hero,” which Publisher’s Weekly named one of the top 20 nonfiction books of 2021.

“Peter Canellos’s book about Justice Harlan illuminates an era that is relevant to our… Read More

Marshall University to Host April Green & White Day 

Marshall University wraps up its 2023-2024 Spring Green & White Day Open House events tomorrow, Saturday, April 6.

Green & White Day events provide students the opportunity to get a preview of what their Marshall Moment could look like. Events include an academic showcase to help prospective students find their academic path. Students and parents will hear from faculty, staff, students and other Marshall parents from a variety of insights related to the college experience. 

 WHO:   Marshall University Office of Recruitment 

WHAT:  Green & White Day Open House Event  

WHEN:  Saturday, 8 a.m.– 3 p.m. (Academic Showcase 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Rec Center) 

WHERE: Marshall University Memorial Student Center 
                    1 John Marshall Drive
                     Huntington, WV, 25755  

 For more information visit, www.marshall.edu/admissions/greenandwhiteday/.   

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2024 Charles Hill Moffat Lecture: “Ten Years Past Galileo’s Middle Finger”

The 2024 Charles Hill Moffat Lecture promises an engaging evening with Dr. Alice Dreger, esteemed historian, journalist, and author. Dreger will deliver her thought-provoking lecture titled “Ten Years Past Galileo’s Middle Finger: What Have We Learned from a Decade of Campus Conflicts?” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the Shawkey Dining Room of the Memorial Student Center.

“We are especially excited to have such a renowned and relevant scholar as this year’s Moffatt Lecturer,” said Greta Rensenbrink, chair of the Department of History.

In Dreger’s work, Galileo’s Middle Finger, she delved into the early history of what we now recognize as “cancel culture” within the fields of anthropology, psychology, and gender medicine.

“Alice Dreger’s book, Galileo’s Middle Finger, shows us the moral and scholarly reasons why we have to follow the evidence, wherever it leads us, even if it offends,” said Chris White, a professor in the Department of History.

Dreger is a Guggenheim Fellow, and author of “Galileo’s Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and One Scholar’s Search for Justice”, published by Penguin Press. The book was named a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Her work championing free speech and open inquiry in academia led to her receiving the Heterodox Academy’s inaugural Courage Award, and she now serves on that organization’s Advisory Council. Learn more at her website, alicedreger.com.

The lecture is free and open to the public.… Read More

Marshall, co-sponsors create special online courses program to mark centennial of Negro History Week/Black History month

Marshall University announces a Call for Proposals to help create an Online Black History Courses Program commemorating the centennial of Negro History Week/Black History Month, which began in 1926 as a public-education program of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a graduate and former principal of Huntington’s Douglass School. Dr. Woodson also was a former dean at Howard University and West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University.)

The online courses program is a major focus and outgrowth of the observances planned for 2026 by the Negro History Week/Black History Month Centennial Committee that Marshall and its partners also announced today. The centennial is a collaboration among Marshall University, the City of Huntington and Marshall Health Network and represents cooperation involving many other supporting institutions.  Details of the announcement are located here.

The Online Black History Courses Program will involve instruction in entry-level, non-credit courses – much like Dr. Woodson’s Home Study Department, which offered correspondence courses on Black History in a variety of disciplines. The university plans to offer most courses free or at a nominal charge, regardless of age or educational background. However, enrollees may complete several related courses for certificates in Black History for a fee to be determined later. There are no prerequisites.

Instructors will be selected on the strength of their resumes and proposals. Academics are encouraged to offer courses as well as non-educators with expertise but who may lack degrees. Instructors will be compensated for their services.… Read More

Marshall Chamber Choir to perform at St. John’s Episcopal Church April 7

The Marshall University Chamber Choir will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at  St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3000 Washington Blvd. in Huntington, following the choir’s return from France, where members performed at several iconic locations.

Last month, the choir traveled to France and performed at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, built in the 13th Century; Eglise Saint Eustache in Paris, where they sang at a Sunday evening religious service; Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l’Assomption de Rouen, which is featured in more than two dozen paintings by Claude Monet; and Cathédrale Sainte Croix de Paris des Arméniens, where they sang in a joint concert with a Paris choir.

Dr. David Castleberry, the choir’s director and associate dean of the College of Arts and Media, and Adam Vidovic of the Paris Conservatory planned the concert in which each group performed and the two choirs sang several selections together.

The members of the Marshall choir performed music ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to newly composed works, along with some lighter selections. They also sang Negro spirituals, “always favorites among European audiences because they are among the most authentic works of American music,” Castleberry said.

In addition to concerts, the choir toured the Louvre Museum, visited the famous Latin Quarter, took a boat ride on the river Seine, and made a tour of the Palace of Versailles.… Read More

Marshall announces centennial celebration of Negro History Week/Black History Month

In a groundbreaking initiative to honor and rediscover a rich history, Marshall University is collaborating with the City of Huntington and Marshall Health Network to commemorate a great epoch in the American story – the centennial of Negro History Week/Black History Month.

Marshall also is partnering with other local and national institutions including West Virginia State University, the Library of Congress and Cabell County Schools to produce a  series of observances, entitled “Celebrating an American Milestone: The Negro History Week/Black History Month Centennial, 1926-2026.” The observances will recognize the contributions of African Americans and the achievements of the annual Negro History Week/Black History Month events – as well as the enduring legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), the revered Father of Black History who made his mark on our community before establishing this seminal work and reacquainting America and the world to Black contributions in history.

Marshall University President Brad D. Smith and Burnis Morris, the Carter G. Woodson Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and director of The Dr. Carter G. Woodson Lyceum, are serving as co-chairs of the Negro History Week/Black History Month Centennial Committee – an all-star cast of public servants, historians and other experts. (The full list of committee members can be found here) Read More