August 12, 2022
Update from the President
Dear Wheeling University Community,
It has been a very busy two weeks around the University! Fall student-athletes have arrived, two partnerships were announced, and our Campus Minister, Fr. Praveen Kumar Mallela, presided over his first Mass in the Chapel. Before we know it – all our students will be here, and classes will be in full swing.
Wheeling University has become the first university in the country to roll out a full campus energy reduction program. Sustainability is one of Wheeling Universities’ key values as we look to transform our campus into a more responsible space and adhere to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ on the care of our common home – planet earth. To mark this partnership, The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, along with Jim Owings, founder and developer of Tune, and Richard Peluchette, president of Liberty Energy Solutions of Triadelphia, Tune’s distributor, joined the campus community for a press conference. One of our speakers at the conference was David Anayo, an engineering student, who explained how he and his fellow engineering students were involved with a year-long pilot program to test the device before the university decided to go campus-wide. WU’s pilot project showed a 12.5% reduction in kilowatts per hour used at the CET building. In just one month, the university saved $1,581 on its electric bill. In addition, the Tune company plans to offer Tune to all Catholic universities and churches at a 10% discount. The offer has been named WU10 after the university. The technology that the Tune filter provides allows the university to see a reduction in consumption of electricity as well as reduce our electric costs. This reduces our carbon footprint.
I am proud to share Wheeling University has partnered with West Liberty University to offer WLU students an opportunity for a seamless transition into Wheeling’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. This agreement aligns with Wheeling’s strategic plans and meets the needs of our community. We are proud to participate in opening new doors of opportunity for students and our community. Much like our partnership with Fairmont State, Wheeling University will accept two WLU students per year into the DPT program, providing all academic criteria are met. This collaboration meets our mission by educating men and women to serve others and producing more well-trained physical therapists to serve the needs of patients in the Appalachian region and across the country.
Last Saturday, about 250 student-athletes from the Football, Volleyball, Cross Country Rugby, and Soccer teams returned to campus to begin training for their upcoming seasons. There was a steady stream of students and families in the McDonough Center, where various campus departments were on hand to check in the students and answer any questions. I appreciate the work from Student Services, Admissions, Nursing Center, Student Account, Registrar, and Financial Aid on a Saturday afternoon. Your commitment to our students ceases to amaze me. Seeing the faces of these young men and women brought so much joy to everyone at the University. I enjoyed seeing familiar faces and meeting many new students that day, and I loved seeing the activity of students everywhere on campus all week. This was phase one – next week, our RAs (resident assistants) and student leaders will move in and spend several days in training. Our new students arrive on August 26, with the remaining upperclassmen set to check in on August 28 – and the academic year officially begins on August 29th.
As we prepare for the Fall season to begin, the Athletic Department announced a partnership with Fox Sports Wheeling that will bring Cardinal Football and Basketball games into more homes in the Wheeling area. The radio station (1400 AM/103.9 FM) will broadcast live select games this year. Chris Thoburn, whose mother is a Wheeling alumna, will call the games. Five football games will be aired while our athletic department and the radio station are finalizing which basketball games will be broadcast. This coverage is in addition to games broadcast by Wheeling University on MEC.TV and our website. For those who cannot attend these games, this provides a wonderful way to tune in and follow the Cardinals.
Members of the campus community welcomed Fr. Praveen Kumar Mallela to the Cardinal family when he offered his first Mass at the Chapel of Mary and Joseph Sunday, August 7th. He looks forward to immersing himself in our University culture and meeting the members of this family.
Recent severe weather in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky has impacted the people of this region, and they need our help. In partnership with the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Wheeling University will take a special collection at Mass on Sunday, August 14. All donations will go to assist long-term recovery efforts spearheaded by Catholic Charities West Virginia and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Lexington (KY). In addition to the special collection, our Advancement Office will accept donations. Please make out checks to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston with “Disaster Relief-Wheeling University” on the memo line. Our mission calls us to be men and women in service to others, and this is an extraordinary way to support our Appalachian neighbors who have lost so much. Let us come together to support our brothers and sisters who are suffering deeply.
As we prepare for another academic year, I ask that you keep the Wheeling University community in your prayers. Please pray that our students are successful in the classroom and have a healthy and safe this year.
With deep appreciation,
Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University