Overview

• Marshall University says the donation is the largest in its history and the largest personal gift by a sitting university president to their own institution.
• Funds will expand Marshall For All, which blends scholarships, grants, family contributions and paid work experiences so students can complete bachelor’s degrees without loans.
• The program currently runs two tracks: a debt‑free pathway with work‑study and internships for randomly selected students, and full tuition and fees for qualifying West Virginia families earning under $65,000.
• Early results reported by the university include nearly 400 participants in the debt‑free track, higher GPAs by 8%, higher retention by 9%, and 69% of participants being first‑generation students.
• Brad and Alys Smith framed the gift as a way to level the playing field in West Virginia and Appalachia, and Brad Smith told WBOY he hopes it jumpstarts a $350 million fundraising campaign.