RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
College changes name
jstevens@observer-reporter.com
WAYNESBURG - Waynesburg College has become Waynesburg University, but it was made clear Monday during the historic announcement that 158 years of inspiring and challenging students to pursue lives of purpose through faith, learning and serving will not change.
President Timothy R. Thyreen said at a packed Performing Arts Center auditorium, "While changing our name better reflects the institution we have become, our core values, our mission and our personal attention to our students will remain the same."
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
He said by having a university designation, Waynesburg can move more aggressively into the recruitment of international students.
"The word 'university' in eastern Europe and Asia translates much better than the word, 'college,'" Thyreen said, "It will be beneficial to us when students in other countries see Waynesburg University rather than Waynesburg College. It will make a dramatic difference."
Thyreen recognized the board of trustees, senior staff, faculty and others who were instrumental in brining about the successful change in status.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Gerald L. Zahorchak approved the name change on Aug. 10. The final decision was preceded by an extensive application process and a successful site visit from an evaluation team led by Dr. David Black, president of Eastern University in St. Davids.
The decision to pursue the designation of university status was made as part of the strategic plan extension in the spring of 2005. With that decision, the process was begun to explore how that might take place and any necessary steps in order to prepare for that application.
Thyreen said the university has more than 900 graduate students. "We have the third largest MBA program in the Pittsburgh region; we have 200 masters in nursing and now we offer a doctorate in nursing and have 60 students enrolled this fall," he said.
With 2,300 students, the university provides education at its main campus in Waynesburg as well as three adult centers located in the Pittsburgh regions of Southpointe, North Hills and Monroeville.
The president touted the university's association with research companies such as the RJ Lee Group and Separation Design. He also singled out state Rep. Bill DeWeese, who has served on the board of trustees and has through his position in the state House, he has instrumental in securing funding for several campus projects.
"As the word university implies, it reaches out to broader horizons than just our local community," DeWeese said.
"That abolitionists were involved at the inception of this collegiate dynamic, further inspires me," he said. "Today, this is an exciting, bold and audacious opportunity for Waynesburg College to change and go forward with university status," he said.
And addressing many students in the audience, he then said, "And now its time to start thinking outside the box."
Richard L. "Skip" Noftzger, senior vice president for institutional planning, research and educational services, said, "Receiving this designation as university recognizes the comprehensive institution that we have become. Our commitment to serving the needs of our local community and engaging people around the world is visibly demonstrated through our service-learning programs, our scholarship and research initiatives, and our business outreach services," he said.
