And WVU's Next President Is...

West Virginia University's Board of Governors plans to choose the school's next president at its 8:30 a.m. meeting today in Morgantown.

Update: The Associated Press has a story setting the stage for the day's events.

Opinions abound as to whether the board will pick M. Duane Nellis, Kansas State University provost and former WVU dean, or recent Higher Education Policy Commission Chairman Mike Garrison.

Those opining include Hoppy Kercheval of MetroNews, in his online column today.

WVU's faculty senate has endorsed Nellis, with a resolution also seen as a no-confidence vote of Garrison's candidacy. WVU student government leaders are backing Garrison, a former student body president.

The Higher Education Policy Commission has scheduled an 11 a.m. special meeting at its Charleston office to approve the board's selection and compensation offer.

Garrison, who was a cabinet secretary and chief of staff to then-Gov. Bob Wise, resigned as commission chairman when he was selected as a finalist for president.