West Virginia University's New Civics Centre Enrols Only One Student

Only one student has enrolled in courses at West Virginia University’s new Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship, a programme created in part to challenge what Republican leaders have described as “woke” ideology in higher education. The low enrolment comes after state lawmakers allocated $3 million, or about Rs 28.6 crore, to the centre over the past two years ahead of its official opening in the fall.

Shauna Johnson, West Virginia University’s executive director of strategic communications, said that as of June 22, one student was enrolled in three separate courses offered by the Washington Center. A total of 24 courses were originally proposed or listed for the Fall 2026 semester, while 18 are now available. The centre has also hired new faculty members ahead of its formal launch.

Among the proposed courses are subjects titled “Woke”, “Nation and Migration” and “The New Right”. In 2025, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said the centre would focus on classics and American civics while seeking to counter “woke ideology” in schools and restore what he described as the core purpose of higher education. The programme has since drawn debate over its funding and academic mission.

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Erik Herron, a professor of political science at West Virginia University, questioned whether the initiative represented the best use of public funds. He argued that lawmakers and the governor should reconsider the programme, describing it as a government-imposed mandate on the university. Herron said the centre appeared to reflect some of the same concerns it had been established to challenge.

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, who co-sponsored the legislation that created the centre, defended the early enrolment figures. He said the university had not yet approved Washington Center courses to count towards credits for existing academic majors. According to Hanshaw, students are more likely to choose courses that fulfil requirements for their majors or minors, which could explain the limited initial interest.

Democratic state lawmaker John Williams also criticised the programme and the amount of public money allocated to it. He expressed concern that millions of dollars had been committed while only one student was taking advantage of the courses. The debate has placed fresh scrutiny on the Washington Center as it prepares for its official opening and attempts to attract more students.

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