What would Beckley be without Mountain State University?

Smaller? Less diverse? Perhaps even poorer?

The university announced this week that its latest growth spurt has come in the form of approval for a new doctoral degree program, plus new campuses outside the state. That’s good news, but it comes as no surprise.

Since Dr. Charles Polk took his position as the institution’s president in 1990, it has grown steadily. More students. More buildings. More degree programs. More campuses. More opportunities.

It was 1991, but it seems like only yesterday that this newspaper was reporting the good news that Beckley College was transitioning from a two-year to a four-year college called The College of West Virginia. The “Cow-V” cheer didn’t last long, though. By fall of 2001, we were reporting that it had become a master’s level institution and its name had changed to Mountain State University.

Whatever its name, for 76 years this institution of higher learning has been doing a tremendous service for Beckley — not just Beckley residents, but the community as a whole. MSU has benefited Beckley financially, educationally, culturally and in appearance.

Beckley is prettier because of MSU. As the campus has grown, so have the university’s beautification efforts. The MSU stretch of South Kanawha Street is something of which this community should be proud. Look downtown, too. Remember the dilapidated appearance of the former Heilig-Meyers building? MSU has turned it into an attractive anchor for the Neville Street area.

Beckley is smarter because of MSU. Many area residents have picked up an MSU class here or there, and many more have obtained degrees. Each one is a better person for it, and our community has benefited as a result.

Beckley is more culturally diverse because of MSU. Fifteen years ago, how many residents could say they’d ever spoken to someone from Nepal? Foreign students and Americans from all 50 states have shared much more with our area than tuition fees and housing rent. They’ve enriched our lives, and we hope we’ve done the same for them.

Beckley is financially better off because of MSU. It’s difficult to say exactly how much of an economic impact MSU has had on Beckley. But without a doubt, it’s been significantly positive. A growing campus means new construction, and that means jobs for local people. Need we mention the contributions of the 8,000 students enrolled there each year?

What would Beckley be without Mountain State University? We don’t want to find out.

Our community needs to get behind the growth of this campus. Take ownership in it, and be proud. Support the school’s athletics, and rejoice when our headlines deliver more good news from MSU. The university is bound to share more of it soon.