West Liberty University (WLU) is a public university in West Liberty, West Virginia. It is West Virginia's oldest institution of higher education. It offers more than 70 undergraduate majors plus graduate programs, including a master's degree in education and an online MBA. WLU's athletic teams, known as the Hilltoppers, are charter members of the NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference with nearly 400 student-athletes participating in 18 intercollegiate sports, including football, basketball, wrestling, track, tennis and baseball. History Established as West Liberty Academy on March 30, 1837 (26 years before the state was admitted to the Union) under the guidance of Reverend Nathan Shotwell, it was created to respond to the need for higher educational opportunities west of the Appalachian ridge. The institution, originally a normal school, or teachers college, is named after the town in which it is located. West Liberty was so named in the late 18th Century as the westernmost point of the new liberty provided through the Declaration of Independence. Under the direction of Dr. Paul N. Elbin (at age 30, the youngest president of a four-year college in the U.S.), the West Liberty Academy transitioned to West Liberty State Teachers College and eventually West Liberty State College. Under Elbin's 35-year leadership, the college developed a full curriculum, faculty, staff, student services, and activities including music and theatre. West Liberty was approved to become a university by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in November 2008. The West Liberty Board of Governors voted to change to West Liberty University on May 3, 2009. The bulk of its student body comes from the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. After Robin Capehart's tenure as first president of West Liberty University and a short interim presidency by the much-admired Dr. John McCullough, Dr. Stephen Greiner was selected unanimously on October 29, 2015 as president. Since then, the university has added eight graduate programs and new athletic facilities and has increased enrollment significantly. Colleges Gary E. West College of Business In 1938, West Liberty Teacher's College began offering courses in Business and Commerce – a two-year Secretarial Studies program and a four-year Business education degree. By 1963, the college had established a full Department of Business Administration offering curricula in accounting, management and marketing to 338 business students. It is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education IACBE and offers a Bachelor