Nine members of West Virginia University's board of governors, which meets tomorrow to consider the university's decision to retroactively award an M.B.A. degree to Mylan Inc. executive Heather Bresch, were appointed by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, Ms. Bresch's father.

Of the remaining nine members, three were appointed by Mr. Manchin's predecessor; three represent other state-funded schools; and three represent the faculty, student body and the university's union staff.

In their hands lies the fate of WVU President Mike Garrison, whose resignation is being sought by faculty, alumni and donors in the wake of the decision to award Ms. Bresch the degree in October.

Mr. Garrison is a longtime friend of Ms. Bresch and reported to her at one time when he was a lobbyist for Mylan. Milan Puskar, chairman of the Cecil-based generic drug maker, is WVU's biggest benefactor. Mylan employees, directors and their families have been major contributors to Mr. Manchin's 2004 and 2008 campaigns.

Mr. Garrison has said he did nothing to influence the decision to award the degree, explaining it "was made solely by the administrators" in the business school. Ms. Bresch's transcript had 22 credit hours added to it reflecting courses she did not register for, pay for or complete. Mr. Garrison has referred the revisions to WVU's Office of Academic Integrity.

Faculty members, who twice have voted to demand Mr. Garrison's resignation, point out that an independent panel concluded that his top aides were at a meeting Oct. 15 where the decision was made.

Board of governors Chairman Stephen P. Goodwin last week issued a statement supporting Mr. Garrison.

"The board believes there is no evidence whatsoever that President Garrison took any action to improperly influence" the decision to award the degree, the statement read.

Like governing boards at many state universities, a majority of WVU's board is appointed by the governor with the approval of the state Senate. Trustees for state schools in Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado and Michigan are chosen in statewide elections, said Richard Novak of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.

Mr. Novak said Virginia, North Dakota, Hawaii and Minnesota have nonpartisan advisory groups that screen and recommend board candidates to help elected officials select the best ones.

"The message is for the governor to take this seriously and not make these political appointments," said Mr. Novak, who declined to comment on WVU.

Mr. Garrison's supporters on the board cited his political experience as an advantage he had over other candidates who had stronger academic credentials.

Mr. Garrison's critics allege that his appointment illustrates how Mr. Manchin has politicized the university. That charge was made again in a letter sent Tuesday by five members of WVU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

They want Mr. Garrison to resign and want his replacement selected through a nonpolitical process.

"Is this board of governors able to execute this straightforward plan of redemption, or does it view its role as protecting the vested political and personal interests from which it springs?" the alumni wrote.

Mr. Manchin counters that the suggestion that board members follow his orders "simply is not true."

"WVU board of governors members are not under my control and remain free, as they always have been, to make their own individual and collective decisions on this or any other situation," he said May 19.