June 10, 2022

Update from the President

Dear Wheeling University Family, 

If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it is that academic institutions and companies must find new and innovative ways to teach and conduct business. Since COVID-19 began in the Spring of 2020, our faculty and staff have sought out new methods to educate today’s students. This week, Wheeling’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program signed an agreement with Fairmont State University to allow a seamless transition for Fairmont’s Exercise Science majors to enter our program. Each year, up to three seats in the DPT cohort will be held for Fairmont graduates. The articulation agreement opens our DPT program to more students from West Virginia institutions so they can pursue an advanced professional degree without leaving the state. This partnership also allows Wheeling to educate more well-trained physical therapists who will be ready to serve patients in Appalachia and across the country once they complete their education. Our DPT program is working on similar agreements with other institutions in West Virginia. I am grateful to Dr. Alison Kreger, director of our DPT program, for all her work in forging this partnership with Fairmont’s team.  

New equipment for our health care simulation lab arrived this week funded by the $538,000 grant from West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice through the Nursing Workforce Expansion Program. The grant will provide for the development of a 16-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, establish a two-day summer Healthcare Careers Academy beginning in the Summer of 2023 to encourage more high school students to enter the field, as well as fund the installation of a new state-of-the-art medical care simulation laboratory. On Tuesday, an Anatomage Table arrived. This table is the market’s most technologically advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection tool available. This table will allow students to visualize anatomy exactly as they would on a fresh cadaver and allows for the learning of the human anatomy beyond what a cadaver could offer. Also arriving on Tuesday – an EKG machine and three vital sign carts. More equipment will be arriving in the coming weeks and will be ready for faculty and students to use when they return for the Fall semester. The addition of this medical simulation equipment will allow our students to learn using new state-of-the-art tools. Wheeling University hopes to attract, teach and graduate more nurses to help meet the health care needs of residents across our state. Anyone interested in learning more about the Nursing Program can contact Jill Emery at jemery@wheeling.edu. 

The Appalachian Institute continues to welcome high school students from across the country. Tuesday, 17 students and two chaperones from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati worked in our community garden before heading off to help at Grow Ohio Valley, the Seeing Hand Association, the Wheeling Soup Kitchen, and other local community partners. This high school usually sends an average of eight groups each summer. In addition to their work at local agencies, Tom Breiding, the Institute’s Coordinator of Immersion Trips, provides the student’s insights into the region’s energy and labor history, environmental and health issues of Appalachia, and our region’s rich culture. He also uses music to tell many of these stories. Assisting Tom throughout the summer are students Genesis Ramirez and Bethany Pharo, along with alumna Chelsey Ward. Next summer,​in addition to our regular partners, I am told that students from Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., and Loyola High School in Montreal (our first group from Canada) have planned immersion trips to the region.  

The University will hold its annual Employee Picnic – open to all employees and their families – on Saturday, July 9,beginning at 11 a.m. There will be games and activities for all those attending. I hope that our employees will circle this date on the calendar and plan to attend what will be a wonderful day filled with good food, fun, and fellowship. Kelly Klubert and Josie McAninch are busy planning activities for the day, and of course, Melissa Rose will be planning the menu, so I am sure it will be a fantastic day! The picnic will be held in the Munhall Library Plaza this year. If you plan to attend, email your reservation to kklubert@wheeling.edu. 

Finally, the University plans to honor our three Jesuits – Fr. James Conroy, S.J., Fr. Rich McCouch, S.J., and Fr. Hadi Sasmita, S.J. following the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 26. I hope that all members of the Wheeling community – employees, students, alumni, and friends – will join us for the Mass and a reception that will follow in the Benedum Room. This is our opportunity to thank these three men for their outstanding service to this University. 

With the weekend upon us, may you find time to relax and enjoy time with your family and friends! 

With deep appreciation, 

Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University