Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

[timbertopper]

Lead story on local TV station's website:

Some major decisions are being made about the future of Wheeling Jesuit University.

The board of trustees began meeting early Wednesday morning, and that meeting will likely continue through the afternoon.

While we don't know what is being decided for sure, a name change for the university is a likely subject, as the Jesuit affiliation has to be removed.

The financial future of the school is also a topic of discussion.

The university declared a financial exigency in March before cutting numerous programs and jobs in April.

[CALUPA69]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Are the options 1) WU (WHATEVER U) continues as a minimal college with more sports than majors 2) folds their hand and starts a fire sale or 3) some unforeseen merger or entirely different direction ???

[CALUPA69]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Anything come out of yesterday's meeting ?

[boatcapt]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Are the options 1) WU (WHATEVER U) continues as a minimal college with more sports than majors 2) folds their hand and starts a fire sale or 3) some unforeseen merger or entirely different direction ???

I think it will be option 1 but it also could be 3.

Option 2 would be a viable option if WU actually owned anything of value. Remember that the church actually owns the buildings and the property so WU closing would net almost nothing (guess they could sell the desks, drapes and basketball nets).

Option 3 would only be viable as a merger. But as WU doesn't really own anything except it's name (whatever that turns out to be), why would another college want to merge with them? An established college would be taking on WU's debt (whatever that is) in exchange for nothing of value. Now what COULD happen is for an on-line college looking for a brick and mortar location to merge with WU (kind of similar to the Urbana/Franklin situation).

But if I were a betting man, I'd be willing to put a couple of bucks on #1...This meeting produces a name change only and the school tries to dig itself out through streamlining and cost cutting at least for this coming year. This coming year will go a long way toward answering the question of weather they can stay in business as an independent private college or weather they merge with an outside entity.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

I think it will be option 1 but it also could be 3.

Option 2 would be a viable option if WU actually owned anything of value. Remember that the church actually owns the buildings and the property so WU closing would net almost nothing (guess they could sell the desks, drapes and basketball nets).

Option 3 would only be viable as a merger. But as WU doesn't really own anything except it's name (whatever that turns out to be), why would another college want to merge with them? An established college would be taking on WU's debt (whatever that is) in exchange for nothing of value. Now what COULD happen is for an on-line college looking for a brick and mortar location to merge with WU (kind of similar to the Urbana/Franklin situation).

But if I were a betting man, I'd be willing to put a couple of bucks on #1...This meeting produces a name change only and the school tries to dig itself out through streamlining and cost cutting at least for this coming year. This coming year will go a long way toward answering the question of weather they can stay in business as an independent private college or weather they merge with an outside entity.

You guys sure as heck better not lose to them in the opener. That would be a riot.

[boatcapt]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

You guys sure as heck better not lose to them in the opener. That would be a riot.

Hey...given the state of our team, I wouldn't be shocked if it happened.

[UFOILERFAN]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Website has name changed to Wheeling University. Also, Men's wrestling has been removed from sports offered. No announcement from school as yet.

[BlueBlood]

[Tech Boys]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Website has name changed to Wheeling University. Also, Men's wrestling has been removed from sports offered. No announcement from school as yet.

Wrestling is the second sport to be removed; Men's Lacrosse was removed around July 8.

[BlueBlood]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

So added football and eliminated wrestling, lacrosse, swimming and diving?

Did they previously have tennis?

[UFOILERFAN]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

It's showing up everywhere, maybe it's supposed to be mountains? We don't even have hills in Findlay so I can't say for sure. :wink:

[ctrabs74]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

From WV Metro News:

http://wvmetronews.com/2019/07/18/wh...ng-university/

Sounds like the name change is officially unofficial ... if that makes any sense.

[timbertopper]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

New board chairman actually granted interview with local TV station. Insists they have enough money to make it through the year - "We know that right now we are okay for a year" - despite enrollment dropping to 400 students. Says they are looking at many options to bring in more money and are doing everything they can "to make sure it goes beyond that." Big sigh of relief from the rest of the MEC.

[Sportsnut]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Car washes, bake sales, bingo and sell Joe Corbi's pizzas!

[gr8ness97]

Re: Report: Wheeling Jesuit Board in Meetings About School's Future

Why does the school have to remove Jesuit from its name? Just curious.