Riding the PRT, grabbing lunch in the Mountainlair or studying by the pylons – these are some of the everyday activities that define campus life in recent decades.
Common experiences and places that unite WVU students.
Riding the PRT, grabbing lunch in the Mountainlair or studying by the pylons – these are some of the everyday activities that define campus life in recent decades.
This computer-driven electric car system, called Personal Rapid Transit, has shuttled thousands of WVU students, locals and visitors across town along five stops every day.
The PRT began passenger service in 1975, and was built as a government-funded experiment in personal rapid transit systems. Samuel Elias, a WVU Engineering professor, had the idea to bring the experiment to Morgantown.
Around 83 million people have traveled the PRT since 1975. Approximately 15,000 people ride the PRT every day during the school year.
The Mountainlair student union opened on the Downtown campus in 1968 and draws an average of 27,000 visitors each day. It's a place for the University community to socialize, eat, study, and gather for events and meetings.
Over 9,000 events are hosted in the Mountainlair each year, including WVUp All Night, a weekend slate of late-night activities that include free snacks, games, activities and service projects.
FallFest is WVU’s official welcome to students at the beginning of each fall semester. The concert’s lineup isn’t announced until a few days before the event, leading to lots of speculation and excitement over who will appear.
The little strip of land for pedestrian crossing between the Mountainlair and Martin Hall is known as Grumbein’s Island. It's a very popular spot, especially during class changes.
Every year WVU welcomes thought leaders and public figures to Morgantown during the yearlong Festival of Ideas, a speaker series that has been free and open to the public since its revival in 1995 by WVU President Emeritus David C. Hardesty, Jr. Guests have included everyone from NBA and Mountaineer basketball star Jerry West to Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Ndaba Mandela.
The pylons at the entrance of the Medical Center on the Health Sciences campus have been a symbol of the healing arts for more than 50 years.
One of WVU’s biggest — and best — traditions is an annual celebration of students descending on Morgantown for the start of fall semester.
This week of nonstop events and experiences is meant to foster a strong academic and cultural connection to campus among some 5,000 new students and 24,000 returning students. During this week students get acclimated to campus, learn more about academics, volunteer in the community, go on adventures and make friends through activities like cookouts, lawn games, team trivia, bumper cars, yoga and a massive food festival and concert.
Adjacent to the Engineering PRT station, Evansdale Crossing opened in 2016 as a student life and transportation hub. The facility connects the upper and lower portions of Evansdale and offers dining options, a two-story Barnes & Noble, LaunchLab, Mountaineer Hub (a central location for student services), Media Innovation Center and classrooms.