(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, the West Virginia graduate college shall cease to be an individual higher education institution, as defined by subsection (h), section two, article one of this chapter and shall be merged and consolidated with Marshall university, effective July 1, 1994.

(b) The graduate programs of Marshall university shall be operated under the same procedures, policies, rules and practices utilized by Marshall university and the board of trustees in operating Marshall university: Provided, That the board of trustees shall assure that the president of Marshall university adopts policies, procedures and standards for its graduate programs that facilitate the multiple missions of the graduate college in serving traditional and nontraditional students and providing graduate instruction throughout the state. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to abrogate the power or responsibility of the board of trustees to approve and review graduate programs offered within the university system, nor to limit the statewide mission of West Virginia University or any other institution.

(c) The president of Marshall university shall appoint the head of the graduate college, who shall report directly to the president of Marshall university.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to authorize the provision or expansion of any four-year programs offered by Marshall university to any sites formerly offering graduate school courses by the West Virginia graduate college.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the program review and approval process for campus offerings for graduate education by the graduate college of Marshall university be separate and distinct from the process for the approval of undergraduate education program offerings.

(f) It is the Legislature's intent that, through the fiscal year 2000-2001, the proportionate share of the funds which would have been generated by the board of trustees resource allocation policy for the West Virginia graduate college shall be allocated to the Marshall university graduate college. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the merger and consolidation of West Virginia graduate college and Marshall university shall not result in any financial gain or loss to the board of trustees or any institution within the university system in the appropriation decisions by the Legislature.

(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that Marshall university and the Marshall university graduate college each receive any increase in state appropriated funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, set out in section one-c, article one of this chapter, and further, that they shall not be denied any increases because of the need for changes in their strategic plans necessitated by the merger and consolidation of the two institutions: Provided, That Marshall university shall prepare a revised strategic plan and submit it to the board of trustees for approval by November 1, 1997.

(h) Each valid agreement, obligation or claim entered into or incurred by the board of trustees on behalf of the West Virginia graduate college is hereby undertaken by the board of trustees on behalf of Marshall university.