September 24, 2021
Update from the President
Dear Wheeling University Community,
The cases of COVID-19 and the Delta Variant have been rising across the state of West Virginia and unfortunately, we have seen a slight uptick on campus. Local and state health officials had warned us back in August that the Delta Variant was expected to peak in mid-October. I encourage any student, faculty member, or employee who isn’t vaccinated to please consider getting vaccinated. To make it more convenient for our community, we will be hosting an additional vaccination clinic on campus and will share that date soon. As a reminder, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear a mask inside all University buildings, regardless of their vaccination status.
We have finalized our Family and Homecoming Weekend schedule of events that will be held October 22-24 and it features activities for every member of the Wheeling University family – students, parents, siblings, employees, and alumni. Do not forget, the University has blocked rooms at two nearby hotels – the Hampton Inn and Springhill Suites. When you call for reservations, make sure to mention you are attending Family and Homecoming Weekend to get the special rate they are providing. We will continue to send reminders, but feel free to contact the Advancement Office at 304-243-8141 or 1-800-888-2586 if you have any questions.
I invite all members of the University community to the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, which will be held at Noon, Friday, October 1 in Troy Theater. The Most Reverend Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, will celebrate this Mass and be joined on the altar by members of our Jesuit Community. We continue to observe this annual Jesuit tradition, in which the community gathers to thank God for the gifts of creation and salvation and to seek the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the coming year. Please remember that face coverings must be worn during the Mass.
Another of our student-athletes has received accolades from the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Congratulations to senior Volleyball player Audrey Francis who was named the MEC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week. She helped lead Wheeling’s defensive effort at the Atlantic Region Crossover last weekend, where the Cardinals went 4-0.
Fundraising calls have begun through our partnership with Ruffalo Noel Levitz. This is the first phase of our multi-faceted Annual Fund campaign. When you receive a call, I hope you will please consider making a gift, as your donations support our efforts to provide a quality, Catholic education, grounded in Ignatian principles, to a new generation of students. Look for more information about our Day of Giving, which will be held in November. Again, your gifts to Wheeling support scholarships, student services, academic programs, and campus improvements. Thank you in advance!
Finally, Saturday, September 25 marks an important date in our University’s history. On that day in 1954, Wheeling College was officially incorporated, and Saturday is the 67th anniversary of this historic day. One year and one day later, September 26, 1955, Wheeling College welcomed its first class, the co-founders, which consisted of 90 students. May we take time on Saturday to thank and remember two visionaries – the Most Rev. John J. Swint, Archbishop of the Diocese of Wheeling, who revived the idea of opening a Catholic college in the foothills of West Virginia in 1951, and Rev. Clifford Lewis, S.J., who conducted a feasibility study and was the first Jesuit assigned to Wheeling. It is through their leadership, vision, and hard work that this University became a reality.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ginny R. Favede, President
Wheeling University