November 11, 2022

Update from the President

Dear Wheeling University Family, 

Tomorrow our Cardinals take on Fairmont State in our final home football game of the season. VP Andrew Lewis and the Student Services Department will be at Bishop Schmitt Field promoting mental health awareness by distributing literature and other novelties during the game. Through a partnership with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the university has committed to promoting positive mental health throughout the year to Stop the Stigma associated with seeking care. In short, more college students, ours included, are living with mental health disorders but aren’t getting the professional help they need. To provide support and services to help our students, Student Services is building a community of hope for all those in need.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program welcomed about a dozen prospective students and their families to an on-site open house today. These students had the chance to tour facilities in Ignatius Hall and the PT Skills lab in the McDonough Center. Faculty members offered sessions on our Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model and service learning – both essential components of our DPT curriculum. In addition, current students held a Q&A session – giving the prospective students a chance to gain greater insights. Alumni, students, and parents of current students are the best recruiters, so if you know of a student that would fit our DPT program, please encourage them to email dpt@wheeling.edu or call 304-243-2432 to learn more. 

A group of students headed out on Kairos Retreat Weekend this afternoon at Lantz Farm in Jacksonburg, WV. The retreat center was gifted to Wheeling University from descendants of the Lantz family, who bought the property in 1826. The students and their leaders spend “special time” with the Lord, reflecting on their relationship with God, self, and others. This retreat allows students to take time to reflect on and grow in their relationships with God, discover their own identity, and build bonds with their peers. This year’s Kairos will be Fr. Praveen’s first, and I am anxious to hear his thoughts on the experience. Also, this year the students will have a special four-legged retreatant – Athena, our campus K-9. Athena belongs to Izaiha Browning and goes everywhere with the students. Please pray for these young men and women as they discover more about themselves and God’s role in their lives. 

Wheeling University students will take the Troy Theater stage on Monday, November 14th, at 8 p.m. to present a one-act comedy about getting a date. The actors in this production are Jenay Soumahro, Eva Tolliver, Divine Chikaeze, Runyararo Mukangure, Salem Mwelwa, and Chief Chipfumbu. Following the performance, members of the Oglebay Institute’s Left of Center Improv group – which includes faculty member William ‘Butch’ Maxwell and alumni Vera Barton-Maxwell, Mario Muscar, and Ryan Sears – will hold an improv workshop for the cast and audience to help them learn the types of theater experiences that are possible on our campus. Most importantly, there will be free pizza and refreshments for all attendees! 

Seeing an increase in COVID cases, newly updated COVID guidelines have been posted on the University website.  Continue to practice common sense health and safety measures – wash your hands often, monitor your health, and stay home if you are sick. We will continue monitoring conditions throughout the semester and communicate any changes to our current policies. 

I want to remind our students to please take a few minutes to complete the recent surveys sent to you from Student Life if you have not done so yet. You can find the dish on dining survey and the survey for student research on the effects of social media on depression, anxiety, and body image in your Cardinal email. 

On Veteran’s Day, we pay tribute to our nation’s veterans. This country’s greatness is built on the foundation of your courage and sacrifices. Thank you to all members of our military, in all branches, past and present, living and dead.

With deep appreciation and gratitude, 

Ginny R. Favede 

President, Wheeling University