This paper, by the president of West Virginia University (WVU), discusses the impact of the Brown decision on that institution and on higher education in general. Following the Gaines decision of 1938, WVU adopted a policy of admitting Black students to its graduate and professional schools because advanced educational programs were not available at the then strictly black West Virginia State College or Bluefield State. In 1954, after some initial hesitation, WVU followed the State attorney general's advice that the Brown decision applied to State institutions of higher learning. WVU integrated promptly thereafter, without the incident or public furor that occurred in other southern schools. As a land grant institution, WVU receives significant Federal funding and is therefore subject to Title VI non-discrimination requirements. Efforts to improve minority recruitment and retention include establishing a minority scholarship fund, outreach visits to potential applicants, and support activities on campus. Finally, WVU has made efforts to recruit and retain minority faculty and staff. (KH)