Gerald E. Lang has resigned as provost of West Virginia University, following the release of a harshly worded report that found that administrators at the university had violated procedures and displayed poor judgment in awarding an executive M.B.A. to Heather M. Bresch, the daughter of West Virginia’s governor, the Associated Press reported. Ms. Bresch had not completed her course work when she got the degree.

In a letter to the university, Mr. Lang cited his accomplishments during his tenure as provost, which included overseeing construction of new research facilities and raising the salaries of faculty members. But he said that the controversy surrounding the Bresch case had harmed the university’s reputation.

“Given my history with West Virginia University, I am very sorry that my one action in ratifying a dean’s decision in a single situation has had a negative impact on the institution,” he wrote. “I love this place and would never intentionally take an action that would reflect negatively upon it. Even though the panel looking into the Bresch case did not find any willful misconduct, their conclusion that the result was flawed and erroneous has convinced me to resign as provost and vice president for academic affairs and research. I hope this decision will begin the healing process and focus attention onto the future.”

The resignation is effective June 30. —Scott Carlson