December 2, 2022
Update from the President
Dear Cardinal Family,
I am always amazed at how much our alumni, employees, and friends are committed to Wheeling University. Tuesday proved this once again! Through the generosity of our Cardinal family, the University’s second annual Day of Giving was a huge success! Thanks to your support, we received approximately $64,500 on Tuesday – that coupled with the $50,000 in matching funds gives us a grand total to date of about $114,500. We continue to receive gifts in the mail, so I will be sure to update everyone once all the donations are received. Wheeling University is blessed to have so many benefactors who support our students. Your gifts allow us to provide a quality, mission-driven, Catholic education to this generation of Wheeling students. I am grateful to everyone who made a gift, and on behalf of everyone at the University, thank you again!
Friday morning, we welcomed some future Cardinals to campus for our Winter Open House. There were students from six different states – as close as Wheeling and as far away as Florida – who attended and learned more about our wonderful University. Admissions Rep and Alumnus Cameron Gibson gave a presentation about everything Wheeling has to offer – from an overview of the University to the various majors offered to the admission process. Kinsey Beaver from the Admissions Office lead the campus panel discussion, which featured current students, as well as representatives from Admissions, Athletics, Financial Aid, and Student Services who answered questions from the families. The students attended academic breakout sessions where faculty were on hand to explain the curriculum. It was a pleasure to meet these prospective students and their families. All of us at the University look forward to helping them transition from high school to Wheeling.
In the last two weeks, the University has embarked on two new partnerships that will benefit our Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This week, we signed an articulation agreement with Bethany College to offer students priority acceptance into the DPT program. This agreement calls for the program to admit at least two Bethany graduates a year. Wheeling now has four articulation agreements with colleges and universities in West Virginia (Bethany, Alderson Broaddus, Fairmont, and West Liberty) that offer students a seamless pathway into the physical therapy program. The partnerships will allow Wheeling University to produce more well-trained physical therapists to meet the healthcare needs of patients around the state and across the country.
I want to remind all members of the University that we are collecting toys in support of Operation Toy Lift, which will be held Saturday, December 10th at the Ohio Valley Mall. This is the sixth year businesses and organizations around the Ohio Valley have been called to donate toys for children in our area. This is an opportunity for the entire Cardinal Family to come together in support of this special event. Unwrapped toys and monetary donations (cash or check payable to United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley) can be dropped off at the Office of Academic Affairs, Center for Educational Technologies (CET) Room 216 through the end of the business day on Friday, December 9. On the day of the Toy Lift, members of the Wheeling University community will deliver the toys to the Mall, and I will have the honor of representing Wheeling University from the bucket at 11 a.m. This is a wonderful way to LIVE our mission by helping help those in need. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
With final exams approaching, we will once again host a Late Night Breakfast on Monday, December 12th beginning at 9 p.m. in the Benedum Room. This is a chance for students to refuel while studying and be served their favorite breakfast foods by faculty, staff, and coaches. The Student Activities Office will have activities and chances to win prizes that evening. For any employees who would like to help, please contact Christy Nieman in Student Services at 243-2350 or cnieman@wheeling.edu.
Finally, employees do not forget to make your reservations for the Christmas Party which will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, December 9th in Troy Theater. This will be an evening filled with fellowship and fun to celebrate our employee’s faithful service to this University. If you have not made a reservation, please email events@wheeling.edu.
As we enter the second week of Advent, a time of reflection before the birth of Jesus, please pray for our students – ask God to remove any distractions and anxiousness they may have, so they remain focused on those final assignments and finish the semester strong!
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Ginny R. Favede
President, Wheeling University