The arrival of a respected academic as West Virginia University's interim president is a sign that the institution may be serious about getting past the Heather Bresch M.B.A. scandal.

She is the Mylan Inc. executive, governor's daughter and friend of WVU President Mike Garrison who claimed to have a 1998 graduate degree. At first the university told the Post-Gazette she didn't have one, then it changed its mind. Eventually, our reporters learned that WVU officials last fall retroactively approved a degree, one that was not backed by the necessary credits and course work.

The Post-Gazette reports triggered an upheaval on campus and an investigation that now has the university president on his way out, its provost and business school dean gone from their administrative posts and other staff reassigned. Enter C. Peter Magrath, 75, interim president.

While the new administrator arrives at a challenging time, he comes with strong credentials: senior adviser to the College Board; former president of the University of Minnesota, the University of Missouri and the State University of New York at Binghamton; and former president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

His top priority will be to help the board of governors find WVU's next president. That is as it should be for the state's leading public university of 28,000 students. But there is more.

No one needs to tell Mr. Magrath that students, faculty and alumni want to see integrity and transparency become part of the daily mode of operation. It's the best way to restore WVU's reputation and attract the new leaders it needs. We wish Mr. Magrath well.