About Marshall University

Brad D. Smith, President

https://www.marshall.edu/

Marshall University encourages individual growth by offering programs and instruction in attainment of scholarship, acquisition of skills, and development of personality. The university provides students with opportunities to understand and to make contributions to the culture in which they live; to develop and maintain physical health; to participate in democratic processes; to learn worthwhile moral, social, and economic values; to develop intellectual curiosity and the desire to continue personal growth; and to share in a varied cultural program. Professional, technical, and industrial career studies are available through the various departments of the university.

Marshall also recognizes an obligation to the state and community by offering evening, off-campus, and Internet classes, lectures, musical programs, conferences, forums, and other campus and field activities.

Mission of the University

Marshall University is a public comprehensive university with a rich history as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in West Virginia. Founded in 1837 and named after Chief Justice John Marshall, definer of the Constitution, Marshall University advances the public good through innovative, accredited educational programs. Marshall University’s mission, inspired by our Vision and Creed, includes a commitment to:

  • Offer a wide range of high quality, affordable, and accessible undergraduate, graduate, and professional education that prepares students to think, learn, work, and live in an evolving global society.
  • Create opportunities and experiences to foster understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity of thought and culture.
  • Maintain a dynamic intellectual, artistic, and cultural life by promoting and supporting research and creative activities by undergraduates, graduates, and faculty.
  • Contribute to the quality of life of the community, region, and beyond through applied research, economic development, health care, and cultural enrichment.
  • Cultivate the development of an inclusive, just, and equitable community.

Vision Statement

The vision of Marshall University: to inspire learning and creativity that ignites the mind, nurtures the spirit, and fulfills the promise of a better future.

The Marshall Creed

Inspired by the example of John Marshall, we the students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Marshall University, pledge to pursue the development of our intellects and the expansion of knowledge, and to devote ourselves to defending individual rights and exercising civic responsibility. We strive to exemplify in our own lives the core values of John Marshall’s character: independence, initiative, achievement, ethical integrity, and commitment to community through association and service. As Marshall University, we form a community that promotes educational goals and that allows individuals maximum opportunity to pursue those goals.

We are:

  • An Educational Community in which all members work together to promote and strengthen teaching and learning;
  • An Open Community uncompromisingly protecting freedom of thought, belief and expression;
  • A Civil Community treating all individuals and groups with consideration, decency, and respect, and expressing disagreements in rational ways;
  • A Responsible Community accepting obligations and following behavioral guidelines designed to support the common good;
  • A Safe Community respecting each other’s rights, privacy and property;
  • A Well Community respecting and promoting physical and emotional health;
  • An Ethical Community reflecting honesty, integrity and fairness in both academic and extracurricular activities;
  • A Pluralistic Community celebrating and learning from our diversity;
  • A Socially Conscious Community acting as citizens of the world and seeking to contribute to the betterment of people and their environments;
  • A Judicious Community remaining alert to the threats posed by hatred, intolerance and other injustices and ever-prepared to correct them.

Accreditations

  • The Higher Learning Commission accredits Marshall University as an institution of higher learning.

The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411
Toll-free 800-621-7440/312-263-0456/Fax: 312-263-7462/info@hlcommission.org
www.hlcommission.org

  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education accredits the School of Medicine’s Continuing Medical Education program. www.accme.org/
  • Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredits the School of Medicine’s Residency and Fellowship Programs. www.acgme.org/
  • AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits the College of Business. www.aacsb.edu/
  • AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredits accounting degree programs of the College of Business. www.aacsb.edu/educators/accreditation/accounting-accreditation
  • ABET accredits programs in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences as follows:
    • The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission
      of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Bioengineering and Biomedical and
      Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
    • The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of
      ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering
      Programs Program Criteria.
    • The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of
      ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science and Similarly Named
      Computing Programs Program Criteria.
    • The Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation
      Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Electrical, Computer,
      Communications, Telecommunication(s), and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
    • The Bachelor of Science in Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET,
      www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Engineering, General Engineering, Engineering
      Physics, and Engineering Science and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
    • The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission
      of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named
      Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
    • The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science
      Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Safety and
      Similarly Named Programs Program Criteria.
  • American Chemical Society certifies the Department of Chemistry. www.acs.org/
  • American Psychological Association accredits Doctor of Psychology degree program. www.apa.org/
  • The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics accredits the B.S. in Dietetics, the Dietetic Internship and the M.S. in Dietetics.

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
800/877-1600 ext. 5400
www.eatrightpro.org/acend

  • Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication accredits the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism & Mass Communications. www.acejmc.org/
  • Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredits the B.S. in Respiratory Care (cooperative program with St. Mary’s School of Respiratory Care). coarc.com/
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredits the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. www.capteonline.org/
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredit the Sonography program at St. Mary’s School of Medical Imaging. www.caahep.org/

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Telephone 727-210-2350

  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accredits the Athletic Training program. caate.net/

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
2001 K Street NW, 3rd Floor North
Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: 512-733-9700 or 844-462-2283

  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the West Virginia State Department of Education accredit the teacher education program (initial and advanced levels). caepnet.org/
  • Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association accredits the Communication Disorders graduate program. caa.asha.org/​

Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
Telephone 800-498-2071
Email: accreditation@asha.org

  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the M.A. in Counseling (School and Mental Health). www.cacrep.org/
  • Council on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education accredits the M.S. in Health Informatics. www.cahiim.org/
  • Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits the Master of Public Health program. ceph.org/
  • Council on Social Work Education accredits the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs. www.cswe.org/

Council on Social Work Education
333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone 703-683-8080
Email: info@cswe.org

  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) accredits the Radiography program at St. Mary’s School of Medical Imaging. www.jrcert.org/

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
Telephone 312-704-5300
Email: mail@jrcert.org

  • Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the American Medical Association accredits the MD program. lcme.org/
  • National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences accredits the Medical Laboratory Science program and the Medical Laboratory Technician program. www.naacls.org/

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018- 5119

National Association of Schools of Music
11250 Roger Bacon Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5248
703-437-0700
Email: info@arts-accredit.org

  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. accredits programs for the Associate in Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Clinical Doctorate in Nursing, and three post-master’s certificates. www.acenursing.org/

Effective November 20, 2023, this nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on November 20, 2025.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone 404-975-5000
www.acenursing.com/candidates/candidacy.asp

Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.
 
  • Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) through the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) accredits the M.S. in Forensic Science and the Forensic Science M.S. with areas of emphasis in Digital Evidence. www.aafs.org/FEPAC
  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education accredits the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. www.acpe-accredit.org/
  • The Commission on Dental Accreditation accredits the General Practice Dental Residency at Cabell Huntington Hospital. coda.ada.org/
  • The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. accredits the Physician Assistant Program (Master’s). www.arc-pa.org/ For further information, please refer to the verbiage below.

Accreditation of the Physician Assistant Program

At its June 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Marshall University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Marshall University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in June 2025.

Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation - Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.

Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-marshall-university.

Approvals And Recognitions

  • Federal Immigration and Nationality Act approves Marshall University for attendance of nonimmigrant international students.
  • Board of Certified Safety Professionals recognizes the B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health.
  • Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) recognizes the B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health is recognized as a Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) program.

Membership in Major Organizations

  • AACSB/International Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
  • American Association of State Colleges and Universities
  • American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
  • American Council on Education
  • American Library Association
  • Association of American Medical Colleges
  • Association of Departments of English, MLA
  • Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Association of Writers and Writing Programs
  • Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences
  • CUPA-HR
  • The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
  • International Council of Fine Arts Deans
  • NACUBO-SACUBO
  • National Association of Fellowships Advisors
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association
  • National Collegiate Honors Council
  • Founding Member of the Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education
  • Teacher Education Council of State Colleges & Universities

History

Marshall University traces its origin to 1837, when residents of the community of Guyandotte and the farming country nearby decided their youngsters needed a school that would be in session more than three months a year. Tradition has it that they met at the home of lawyer John Laidley, planned their school, and named it Marshall Academy in honor of Laidley’s friend, the late Chief Justice John Marshall. At the spot called Maple Grove they chose one and one-quarter acres of land on which stood a small log building known as Mount Hebron Church. It had been the site of a three-month subscription school and remained that for another term. Eventually $40 was paid for the site.

On March 30, 1838, the Virginia General Assembly formally incorporated Marshall Academy. Its first full term was conducted in 1838-39. For decades the fledgling school faced serious problems, most of them financial. The Civil War forced it to close for several years, but in 1867 the West Virginia Legislature renewed its vitality by creating the State Normal School at Marshall College to train teachers. This eased Marshall’s problems somewhat, but it was not until the tenure of President Lawrence J. Corbly during 1896-1915 that the college began its real growth.

In 1907, enrollment exceeded 1,000. Since then Marshall’s expansion has been consistent and sometimes spectacular. Marshall was granted university status in 1961. The College of Education and Professional Development, first called Teachers College, was organized in 1920 and the first college degree was awarded in 1921. The College of Arts and Sciences was formed in 1924, The College of Applied Science came into being in 1960; the School of Business was formed in 1969. These were merged into the College of Business and Applied Science in 1972. The School of Medicine and Associated Health Professions was established in 1974, which became the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in 2000. The Community College was organized in 1975 and became the Community and Technical College in 1991. In 2003, the Marshall Community and Technical College became an administratively linked, separately accredited institution. Effective July 1, 2008, the Community and Technical College became a separate institution.

The College of Science was authorized by the Board of Regents in 1976. In 1977, the Board approved a change of name for the College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Liberal Arts, and for the College of Business and Applied Science to the College of Business. In 1978, the School of Nursing was established as a separate entity and in 1998 was renamed the College of Nursing and Health Professions and again in 2004 became the College of Health Professions. The W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications was recognized as an independent school in 1998 and in 2013 became part of the College of Arts and Media. The College of Fine Arts (now the College of Arts and Media) was established in 1984. In 1999, the College of Information Technology and Engineering (now the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences) was established. The School of Pharmacy matriculated its first class in 2012. The School of Physical Therapy, a part of the College of Health Professions, matriculated its first class in 2012.

Marshall has taken the lead in delivering courses to off-campus sites throughout the state, nation, and world via distance learning with online courses. Since the formation of the West Virginia Board of Regents in 1969, then under the University of West Virginia Board of Trustees in 1988, and now the Higher Education Policy Commission, Marshall has progressed as an urban-oriented university with regional centers and a statewide mission. As a result of state system support, and because of its own active leadership and its location in the thriving Tri-State area, Marshall is a university with excellent prospects for future development.

Graduate Education

In October, 1938, the West Virginia Board of Education authorized Marshall University to conduct graduate instruction leading to the Master of Arts and the Master of Science degrees. Graduate work was first offered during the summer session of 1939, and the first master’s degrees were conferred at the commencement of 1940. The Graduate School on the Huntington campus was organized in 1948.

The Marshall University School of Medicine was established in the 1970s through federal legislation which authorized the creation of five new medical schools in conjunction with existing VA hospitals. The West Virginia Legislature appropriated funding for the school in 1975 and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted provisional accreditation in 1977. The first class of M.D. students entered in January 1978 and graduated in 1981.

Marshall continued to expand its doctoral degree offerings. The first Ph.D. degree at Marshall was conferred in 1992 in Biomedical Sciences (now Biomedical Research).  Marshall University began to offer a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in March 2002, as a transition from a cooperative agreement with West Virginia University which began in 1980. The clinical Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree began accepting students in Fall 2002.  The new School of Pharmacy began accepting students into the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree in Spring 2010. The Doctor of Management Practice in Nurse Anesthesia (D.M.P.N.A.) degree program began in Fall 2010 as a collaboration between the Lewis College of Business and Charleston Area Medical Center. The first Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree class began in Summer 2012. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree program began in Fall 2019. The Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A) degree program was founded in 2021. The Ph.D. in Engineering degree program began accepting students in Fall 2024.  By Fall 2024, Marshall offered five research doctorate and six professional doctorate programs, over 55 master’s degree programs, and two Education Specialist programs, as well as many graduate certificate programs.

Graduate education on the South Charleston Campus was born in 1958 when West Virginia University was authorized by the Legislature to establish the Kanawha Valley Graduate Center, which began offering courses in chemistry and chemical, mechanical and civil engineering in 1958-59. In July 1972, the Legislature established the college as a separate entity, the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies (COGS). Two years later, the Board of Regents further defined its mission by specifying geographical areas of responsibility, designating COGS to serve 16 counties of central and southern West Virginia with graduate programs—an area containing about 39 percent of the state’s population. On July 1, 1989, a restructured University System of West Virginia was implemented and COGS became the University of West Virginia College of Graduate Studies. With the advent of a new statewide mission approved by the Board of Trustees in 1991, the name was modified in March 1992 to West Virginia Graduate College.

On July 1, 1997, the West Virginia State Legislature authorized a merger of Marshall University and the West Virginia Graduate College, providing a new campus for Marshall University in South Charleston and a producing new college, the Marshall University Graduate College. Today the South Charleston campus is the home of the graduate Humanities and Psychology master’s programs as well as graduate programs in the College of Business and the College of Education and Professional Development.

In 2019, Marshall was recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions at the “Doctoral University:  High Research Activity” level (commonly known as “R2”). This change in status reflected the increase in programmatic offerings as well as growth in research. In 2020, Marshall reorganized the Graduate College into the Office of Graduate Studies. This office, housed within Academic Affairs, is led by the Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies.