DaughterGate Update

• "Five members of West Virginia University's Academy of Distinguished Alumni have told the school's governing board that they deplore the decision to award an unearned degree to Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter, and say WVU President Mike Garrison must resign or be removed from office," The Charleston Gazette reports. MetroNews also has the alumni's "scathing letter."

• (Update) The Charleston Daily Mail reports that two of the alumni "expressed strong displeasure several months ago over the way the school treated ex-coach Rich Rodriguez," while another "was a candidate for the WVU presidency last year before Garrison got the job and continues to criticize the way the WVU Board of Governors conducted the presidential search." It also posts the aforementioned letter.

• WVU Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education Jonathan Cumming tells MetroNews (audio here) that "claims that as many as 70 eMBA degrees may be in question have not been fully reviewed," and that "discrepancies were found as part of an interim review but the nature of those specific issues with those degrees has not been completely investigated."

• (Update) The Associated Press also spoke to Cumming, and reports that "problems with record deficiencies, grading practices and inconsistent policies in West Virginia University's master's programs are not limited to the College of Business & Economics."

• AP reports as well that "pay cuts aren't in the picture for two West Virginia University administrators who were reassigned or relieved of some responsibilities after a master's degree scandal involving the governor's daughter."

• Public Broadcasting reports that Garrison recent presentation to the Board of Governors "mischaracterizes" remarks made to him by "WVU Professor Roy Nutter, the chairman of the independent panel that found Bresch did not earn the MBA degree retroactively awarded to her."