Press Releases

Internal:

University President William Garrison has denied claims regarding the controversy surrounding Heather Bresch.

According to a university spokeswoman, Bresch has “completed all the requirements for an executive masters of business administration degree,” but did not receive her diploma because she failed to pay the fee required for graduation.

The spokeswoman further stated that the difficulties stemmed from a university failure to transfer much of Bresch’s coursework.

External:

William Garrison, President of West Virginia University, recently denied claims in the controversy regarding the accreditation of the daughter of Senator Joe Manchin.

Heather Bresch, whose father formerly served as West Virginia governor and now serves on the US Senate, retroactively received her Bachelor’s Degree on October 22, 2007.

According to a university spokeswoman, speaking just before Bresch received the degree, Bresch had “completed all the requirements for an executive masters of business administration degree,” but did not receive her diploma because she failed to pay a small graduation fee.

Garrison was Dean of the WVU’s Business School at the time, but has since been promoted to University President. The allegations made against him state that he allowed Bresch to receive a diploma unfairly in exchange for more state funding from her father, then-governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is now a state senator.  

The spokeswoman further stated that the difficulties stemmed from a university failure to transfer much of Bresch’s coursework.