January 7, 2022

Update from the President

Dear Wheeling Family, 

The new year brings excitement for the start of a new semester. This weekend our students will return to campus, and classes are scheduled to begin on Monday. But, unfortunately, the new semester also brings an increase in COVID-19 cases in our local region and across the country. This new variant, health experts say, is highly transmissible, with symptoms less severe among those who have been vaccinated. Therefore, I would like to remind all of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors that masks are required inside all buildings – this includes classes, inside sporting events, the Benedum Room, Troy Theater, lounges, offices, and other ‘public’ places throughout campus. Additionally, in December the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission informed all colleges and universities that all students enrolled for the semester must be tested for COVID-19 prior to the start of the semester. On Sunday, all students will be tested for the virus, regardless of their vaccination status. The University has updated its COVID-19 Policy for the Spring Semester. Please review this document and complete the survey(s) that relate to you.

Additionally, I encourage any students and employees who have not yet been vaccinated to please consider doing so. For those that have been vaccinated, please get the booster. Our collective efforts to mask and get vaccinated will provide an extra layer of protection against this dreadful virus.

Nearly 200 students from 15 states and 14 countries made the dean’s list for the Fall 2021 semester. I am so proud of our students for their hard work and dedication in the classroom. The complete list of students will be posted on the website soon, and I will send each student a congratulatory note and certificate in the mail. I’m a parent, so I know how important your accomplishments are and believe it is essential to celebrate your academic achievements.

Dr. Beverly Whelton, associate professor emerita of Philosophy and current adjunct, has been chosen and listed as one of the Top 100 Educators magazine, which was recently published by Top 100 Registry. The Top 100 Registry prints industry-specific quarterly magazines that recognize professionals in education and other professions. In the most recent magazine highlighting educators from across the country, Dr. Whelton is featured with a biography that talks about her remarkable career as an educator, articles and books she has written, lectures she has presented, and other honors she has received – such as inclusion in multiple editions of Who’s Who for being a pioneer in her field. Congratulations to Dr. Whelton on this prestigious recognition – thank you for your dedication to higher education.

Once again, I wish to thank those alumni, friends, parents, and companies who made donations to Wheeling University in 2021. Each gift made is an investment in our students and makes a difference in their educational journey at Wheeling. With 2021 in the books, we will ramp up our 2022 fundraising efforts through our partnership with Ruffalo Noel Levitz. Thank you again to everyone who made a gift in 2021.

The start of a new year is a chance to make a fresh start. I hope each of us will welcome this new year with energy and hope for what 2022 will bring. As the new semester begins, I encourage our students to work hard, have a positive attitude, and embrace learning new things. I offer my best wishes for a prosperous, blessed, and healthy Spring semester and new year to the Wheeling Community.

With gratitude,  

Ginny R. Favede
President, Wheeling University