May 21, 2021

Update from the President

May 21, 2021

Dear Campus Community 

New guidance from the Center for Disease Control has many people wondering who must wear face coverings inside. After consultation with the senior leadership, Wheeling University will continue to require students, employees, and visitors to wear a face covering indoors when interacting with others in offices, classrooms, the Benedum Room or at Mass in the Chapel. We realize that many businesses have already begun to relax their face covering policy, but the University has decided to keep our plan in place at this time. We will revisit this policy in the very near future, but for now, please keep wearing a mask. 

This week, faculty and students participated in a photo project to capture photos that represent our campus today with the students that makeup our current student body. These wonderful members of our community were ‘models’ for photos that will be used to kick off our upcoming fund-raising campaign. I cannot thank each of them enough for giving of their time to help us with this project. The faculty members that participated were: Dr. David Edwards and Dr. Allen Marangoni (PT); Dr. Paula Makris (English); Dr. Derek Edwards (History); Dr. Dianna Vargo (Education); Professor Bob Yahn (Engineering); and Professor Troy Adamson (Biology). The students that participated were: Brian Gannon, Ayoub Jalli, Michael Muleya, Jose Oltra, Antonio Tangre, EJ Vidal, Joe Iye, Joe Howley, Colten Boyle, Mohamed Haddar, Josh Blankenship, Bailey Brunner, Elijah Byrd, Deshawn Mercadel, Santino Lasagna, Jamel Segar, McKenna Kuzma, Morgan Magers, Shanley Woods, Carli Codner-Pinto, Abby Bumbico, Natalie Stoner, Caroline Fodor, Savanaugh Anderson, Anya Ritz, and Kobey Quamina.  

Our students and coaches continue to amaze me. Amidst a global pandemic, with all of our athletic programs competing in the same semester our Volleyball team won its eighth-straight MEC Championship title; Women’s Golf placed third overall at the MEC Championships, both Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams made it to the MEC Championships; in its second year of competition Wheeling Football beat West Liberty, a program in existence for nearly 100 years; Women’s Track & Field won its third-straight MEC Outdoor Championship; Men’s Track & Field finished second at the MEC Outdoor Championships; senior track and field thrower Liz Fleming simply dominated the entire season and was named Athlete of the Year, AND she qualified for the NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the shot put; Track Coach Patrick Stanton was named the Co-Coach of the Year, Baseball Coach Ryan Lewicki was named Coach of the Year; and the Rugby (DI) rolled over its competition throughout the season and will compete in the prestigious Collegiate Rugby Championship, the highest-profile college rugby sevens competition in the United States, which is next weekend in New Orleans.  

Our students, both athletes, and non-athletes have excelled throughout the past academic year. They have exhibited a commitment to themselves, our University, their teammates, and their academics. Please join me in applauding each one of them. They are our pride and joy, and they make this University beyond proud. 

Students are reminded that registration for Fall semester classes is open.  To make your course selections for the Fall, go to Academus. Once again, this year, the University will offer its Summer of Purpose Program – a series of courses offered at a discounted rate to our current and incoming students, as well as regional high school students. A complete list of the courses to be offered during each summer session and how to register are available online. 

As we approach Memorial Day, let this special holiday be a day to count our blessings and remember those who serve to protect our country and our freedom.  We are forever grateful for the ultimate sacrifice of those who died to protect our country.  May their courage and dedication never be forgotten.  I offer my prayers for those who we have lost for keeping us safe and may God protect those who are currently serving.    

The next weekly update will be sent on June 4. 

With prayers and gratitude, 

Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University