Would-be MBA students getting ready to take the GMAT might be in for a little surprise when they show up at the testing center. In addition to all the usual security measures—including video monitoring and the computer adaptive test itself—test takers will soon be asked to submit to a new one: a biometric device that uses an infared light to capture the test-taker’s unique “palm vein pattern.”

Pearson VUE, the company that administers the GMAT for the Graduate Management Admission Council, plans to announce the new security effort tomorrow, but BusinessWeek got a sneak peak at it today.

The Fujitsu “PalmSecure” device will be rolled out next month at 16 testing centers in India and Korea for GMAT candidates. It goes live in the U.S. this fall, and when fully deployed will be used in 400 facilities in 107 countries by May 2009.

The announcement comes as the b-school world is embroiled in a cheating scandal involving the GMAT–users of a now-defunct test prep Web site, Scoretop.com, have been accused by GMAC of using it to post and access live test questions, and GMAC has said it will cancel the test scores of anyone who violated its rules.

But the new security measure is designed to stop a different kind of cheating–the use of professional test takers, or proxies, to take the exam on behalf of someone else. GMAC’s been burned by this type of cheater before. Back in 2003, it busted a half dozen people who took the GMAT for others for about $5,000 a pop. GMAC canceled 166 scores as a result, and five of the six imposters ended up at Rikers.

More : businessweek.com

The scandal is affecting everyone at West Virginia Univerity from students, to faculty, to alumni.

With more calls for President Mike Garrison’s resignation coming in on Thursday such as a full page advertisment running in The Dominion Post.

The College of Business and Economics has been doing some advertising of its own, with the purpose of recruiting a successful new class and moving the school forward.

Elizabeth Vitullo is the Associate Director of the Executive MBA program at West Virginia University.

While the ads say they are still accepting applications, she says enrollment is already up.

“Our inquiries have been up the last couple of months,” said Vitullo, “and we think we’re going to have a great class this upcoming August.”

Vitullo says the eight location, two-day-a week schedule attracts busy professionals.

As do the study abroad opportunities and future classmates.

“It’s the folks sitting beside you in the classroom,” she added, “Everyone bring their own expertise so you learn as much form your classmates as you do from your professors.”

While administrators say they are working hard to attract new students, current students say they are also working hard, to earn their degrees from a school they still believe in.

“Getting an Executive MBA degree from WVU is pretty prestigious,” said Kayla Baranowski.

Baranowski is currently an accounting and finance major.

She has been working toward her dream of earning an EMBA since she was sophomore in high school.

“It means the world to me,” she explained, “it means a prospective future, I’ve reached my goals, it’s going to be a really good feeling.”

Which is exactly what the EMBA program is all about.

“Why choose WVU?” Vitullo said, “Specifically this program because it’s set up so folks can succeed.”

The school will be accepting applications right up to the beginning of classes in August.

More : wvnstv.com