Full Breakdown
West Virginia University’s “Washington Center” Opens With Only One Enrolled Student
7/10/2026, 4:49:29 PM
Center Launch and Enrollment
The Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship at West Virginia University opened this fall after Republican lawmakers mandated its creation in 2025 and allocated $3 million in state funding. According to university reports, a single student has enrolled in the center’s courses, which include studies on “wokeness,” the “new right,” and Western Civilization. Defenders argue enrollment will rise once the classes count for credit toward existing majors.
Political Background and Funding
The center was established amid a broader Republican effort to counter what officials describe as “woke” ideology in higher education. Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the hub in October 2025, linking it to a statewide push to restore “the values that made America great.” The initiative follows a national trend, highlighted by the Trump administration’s threats to withhold billions in federal funds from universities that do not comply with anti-woke directives and its move to sever military-university partnerships.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Morrisey emphasized that the program aims to teach students “how to think, not what to think,” positioning the center as a corrective to perceived ideological bias. Defense officials have echoed similar concerns, characterizing campuses that adopt diversity-focused curricula as “woke breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination.” University officials have not provided additional comment on the low enrollment figure.
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic state lawmaker John Williams expressed frustration, noting the mismatch between the $3 million investment and the single student currently taking advantage of the program. Critics also point to a recent $45 million budget shortfall that forced the elimination of 28 academic majors and resulted in hundreds of layoffs, suggesting the center’s funding may divert resources from core academic needs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Now we’re in a position where we’ve allocated so much money towards this program, and only one person is taking advantage of it.” — John Williams, Democratic state lawmaker
- “We said we wanted to teach students how to think, not what to think, and we wanted to ensure that the values that made America great are taught with honesty and pride,” — Patrick Morrisey, Governor of West Virginia
- “to push back on the woke ideology that has infected our schools and help return higher education to its true purpose.” — Patrick Morrisey, Governor of West Virginia
- “woke breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination.” — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary (as quoted in the source)
