The Chronicle of Higher Education has picked up a story that's likely to generate some heat in the Mountain State.

According to a story in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, West Virginia University revised the academic transcript of Heather Bresch, the chief operating officer of a leading generic drugs company and daughter of West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III. The revisions make it appear as though she was awarded an M.B.A. by the university when, according to the Pittsburgh paper, she never completed the credits required for the degree.

Bresch became chief operating officer of the pharmaceutical company in October of this year. The Pittsburgh paper claims that it called WVU to ask about her credentials for a story on the promotion and was originally told that she did not hold an M.B.A. The university later "reversed itself," the paper says, and blamed the problem on a clerical error.

Milan Puskar, West Virginia University's biggest donor, chairs the company board for Mylan, where Bresch is now CEO. Bresch reportedly went to both high school and college with WVU President Mike Garrison.

Both of Charleston, WV's, daily papers have published stories on the accusations of favoritism. The Charleston Daily Mail reported that Governor Manchin's office is deferring all questions to WVU. The Charleston Gazette's article carried statements by WVU spokeswoman Amy Neil. Neil explained that records from the College of Business were not transferred to the registrar's office, creating the mix up. But the Pittsburgh Gazette's story looked closely at the process of recording students grade at WVU. The Gazette quotes experts who see problems with Neil's account.

The Chronicle's story has drawn almost two dozen comments.