RED & Wheeling Jesuit University Announce Expansion to Stone Center

Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) announced that Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU) plans to relocate its Doctor of Physical Therapy program to the Stone Center in Downtown Wheeling. Inside the Stone Center, the PT program will occupy 1 1/2 floors and house a free clinic, which will be staffed by WJU PT students.

“We’ve been working hard to fill the Stone Center with the right tenants, ” said Don Rigby, Executive Director of RED. “Having this program in the Stone Center is not only important to us, it is a great fit. With these students downtown, we will have more activity that will benefit the entire area.”

Father James Fleming, S.J., of Wheeling Jesuit stated, “…This move is in line with our tradition and will provide state-of-the-art educational facilities for our students that we cannot offer on our main campus. It also will help revitalize downtown Wheeling. It’s a win-win for Wheeling Jesuit and Wheeling.”

The University is preparing to move 90-100 students and 15 faculty members, both full-time and adjunct, into the building by the start of fall semester 2013 classes. The school also plans to offer a free phyical therapy clinic on the ground floor.

The move to downtown will allow WJU to increase the number of students in the program. Within the next several years, WJU hopes to add 20-30 students and about 10 instructors to the program, as phyical therapists continue to be among the most in-demand professionals in today’s work force.

The new location will provide added space for labs, study areas and classrooms, as well as the addition of a free clinic, providing better, more accessible service to the residents of Wheeling.

The City of Wheeling is also partnering on the project and will be making a major investment in the Market Plaza that will enhance the Stone Center and the surrounding outdoor area.