WHEELING, W.Va. — A national accreditation agency has raised new concerns about the financial future of Wheeling University, assigning the institution a “Financial Issue” designation over concerns about its ability to sustain its educational programs.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which oversees accreditation for colleges and universities across the Midwest, issued the designation on July 14 following a 2023–2024 audit. That audit, according to the HLC, showed the university’s own financial reviewers had “substantial doubt” about the school’s long-term fiscal stability.
In a public disclosure, the commission said the designation is used to alert the public that current financial conditions could impact the university’s ability to meet HLC’s standards. However, Wheeling University remains accredited under the designation.
University officials said the audit referenced by the commission did not take into account significant steps taken since its completion. Wheeling University also announced the appointment of alumna and certified public accountant Lisa Simon as its new Chief Financial Officer on the same day the designation was made public.
The HLC has ordered an advisory visit to the university by December 2025. That visit will determine whether the Financial Issue designation can be lifted or if additional action is necessary.
This is not the first time Wheeling University has faced scrutiny over its finances. The school, formerly known as Wheeling Jesuit University until 2019, has eliminated multiple academic programs in recent years, including theology, engineering, and literature, amid ongoing budget cuts. In 2021, the HLC placed the university on probation for not meeting accreditation criteria, citing insufficient fiscal resources. That probation was lifted in 2023.
The school has also experienced leadership changes during a turbulent period. Dr. Dianna Vargo was officially appointed president in fall 2024 following the suspension and subsequent dismissal of former president Ginny Favede, who previously served as a Belmont County Commissioner in Ohio and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University. According Wheeling University’s website, Dr. Vargo has three advanced degrees: a Master of Arts in Science/Mathematics Education from Wheeling College (1987); a Master of Arts in Education Administration from WVU (1993); and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from WVU (2009) in addition to a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Ohio University.
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