President Kopp begins by addressing the actions of the governor during this recession. He said the governor has taken a proactive approach to combating the obstacles before him. Instead of instituting government shutdowns or layoffs to balance the budget, he supported new programs like the Boy Scouts new adventure camp around New River Gorge and the Save the Children program encouraged by actress Jennifer Garner.
President Kopp follows the governor's example in his own address and initiatives. Instead of proposing teacher layoffs or salary decreases to combat the mid-year 3.4 percent reduction in State appropriations, he continues to support Marshall's growth. He said the university cannot stay the same and follow the same guidelines that it always has if it wants to continue moving forward. Taking new initiatives in this recession is about becoming better than we already are.
The programs for growth being instituted at Marshall right now are new physical therapy and pharmacy areas of study in the Marshall University School of Medicine. Kopp said these programs should increase enrollment, graduation rates and attract more students to the school. Another initiative is about the endowment-based research program that once fully funded, Marshall's Institute for Interdisciplinary Research will be fully self-sustaining through private proceeds. Finally, the university has a new Sustainability Department, which is in charge of finding ways to cut costs and make the university more efficient and environmentally friendly. So far, there has been conservation of water, reduced food waste because of the no tray rule in the cafeterias and a campus-wide recycling program has been started. Overall, Kopp said this work will save the university approximately $600,000.
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