Wheeling Jesuit University will remain open in 2019-2020
Staff, programs to be reduced due to financial strain
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WHEELING — The Wheeling Jesuit University Board of Trustees has decided the school will remain open for the coming academic year, continuing to operate under the existing declaration of financial exigency.
In a statement released shortly before 7 p.m. today university President Michael P. Mihalyo Jr. told the WJU community that “based on our analysis and planning to date, the Board believes that the University can marshal the resources necessary to sustain operations for academic year 2019-2020.”
Mihalyo noted, though, that changes are on the horizon.
“This plan, however, requires difficult decisions,” he stated. “Those decisions include a narrowed set of academic programs and co-curricular activities, and a reduction in faculty and staff. It is recognized that these changes in our program portfolio and campus community will be difficult.”
The board declared the state of financial exigency earlier this month. Defining "financial exigency" at that time, the president said, "Our faculty handbook contemplates that when the university is confronting a 'critical, pressing or urgent need on the part of the university to reorder its monetary expenditures,' the board can declare a financial exigency in order to maximize our ability to improve the university's financial condition."
In a letter to the WJU community about the situation, Mihalyo said, "Continued financial challenges have put our university in a position where we do not have the resources to bridge the gap between highly discounted enrollment, associated academic and athletic programming costs, and the revenue needed to support the institution's operational expenses."
According to information released today, WJU will use the coming year to evaluate how to restructure under a sustainable model.
“Those explorations will likely include consideration of new strategic partnerships that could allow the University to bring its mission forward in new ways,” the university stated.
In the coming days, Mihalyo and members of the leadership team will meet in both large and small group settings to share further details and address questions.