At West Virginia University, we are determined to go first. Since our founding in 1867 as one of the original land-grant public universities, we have put the needs of our state and students first. We are among the top 15 public universities in the number of students earning Rhodes Scholarships 25 and have produced 44 Goldwater Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, 46 Fulbright Scholars, 28 Critical Language Scholars, 37 Gilman Scholars, 21 Boren Scholars, 5 Morris K. Udall Scholars and 2 George C. Marshall (British) Scholars. WVU is one of only about a dozen schools in the country that are land-grant, doctoral research universities with a comprehensive medical school. We offer 191 degree programs at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels through 15 academic schools and colleges, including five professional schools: dentistry, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and public health. Research focus areas where WVU excels include STEM education, healthcare in Appalachia, using shale gas responsibly, radio astronomy, and promoting stewardship of water resources. WVU partnered with the FBI to found one of the first accredited forensic science programs in the nation, and the FBI named us its national leader for biometrics research. With three crime scene houses and a forensic garage for vehicle processing, and an 18,000 square foot dedicated forensic lab, WVU has the largest crime scene training complex in the world. We also offer the countrys first and only graduate law degree program in forensic justice. The Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute at WVU is the only research center in the world dedicated to the study of human memory. WVU established one of the first individualized science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) tutoring programs for student-veterans in the United States, hosts one of only three puppetry degree programs in the country and is one of only three institutions that offers a joint petroleum and natural gas engineering ABET-accredited major. When not in class or a lab, students participate in over 400 student organizations and provide more than 61,000 hours of service. Helped by our students outreach to their community, WVU earned the Carnegie Foundations Community Engagement Classification, joining only 6% of all universities. Morgantown has been ranked as the #1 dreamtown in the country, and in 2014 Best College Reviews ranked Morgantown as #20 on their 50 Best College Towns in America list. A Student Recreation Center includes athletic courts, pools, and a 50-foot indoor climbing wall, and it is possible to rock climb, hike, bike, and enjoy white-water nearby. A member of the Big 12 Conference, WVU competes in 17 intercollegiate sports; a new baseball facility will share space with a minor league team in a breathtaking location overlooking campus and Morgantown. New students learn about themselves, WVU and West Virginia through Adventure WV, an orientation program available for only $95 (free to those Pell-Grant eligible). WVU also operates the first university-owned zipline canopy tour. All of these unique qualities highlight how Mountaineers go above, go beyond, and when everyone else goes back Mountaineers go first.

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