Wesley College (Delaware) Explained

Wesley College
Established: 
Closed:
Motto:Great Things Await
Country:United States
Campus Type:Small city
Former Names:
    • Wilmington Conference Academy
    • Wesley Collegiate Institute
    Sporting Affiliations:
      Colors:Blue and white
      Nickname:Wolverines

      Wesley College was a private liberal arts college in Dover, Delaware. It was acquired by Delaware State University (DSU) in 2021 and is now the DSU Downtown campus.[1] [2] [3]

      History

      The institution was founded in 1873[4] as Wilmington Conference Academy, a prep school.[5] During this period Annie Jump Cannon, a prominent astronomer who pioneered stellar classification, graduated valedictorian from Wilmington Conference Academy in 1880.[6] It became a two-year college in 1918 and renamed the Wesley Collegiate Institute. It was renamed again in 1941 as Wesley Junior College, and again in 1958 as Wesley College. The institution conferred its first four-year degrees in 1978.[7]

      In its last decades, the college experienced significant financial challenges and relied on state funding and grants. At one point in 2019, had the state not given Wesley $3 million, students would have lost access to federal financial aid and salaries would have been at risk. In early 2021, the college faculty voted "no confidence" against Wesley's last president, Robert E. Clark II, but Wesley College's board of trustees subsequently dismissed the resolution and supported him.[8] [9]

      On June 30, 2021, Delaware State University (DSU) began the formal process of purchasing Wesley College.[10] This made DSU "the first historically Black college or university to acquire another college." The acquisition was finalized one year later, on July 1, 2021.[11] Approximately 60 percent of the Wesley community were offered employment by Delaware State University. DSU took on Wesley College's debts and did not directly pay to purchase the university. All Wesley students with non-adverse records were permitted to become DSU students.[12] After the acquisition, the campus was known as DSU Downtown, while the Wesley name remained attached to the Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences housed at the campus.[13] [14]

      Academics

      Prior to ceasing operations, many of its students pursued a liberal arts program of study. At its close, Wesley College had 917 students.

      Athletics

      See also: Wesley Wolverines football. The institution competed in National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III athletics in the Atlantic East Conference. Its teams were known as the Wolverines.[15] [16]

      Notable alumni

      Notable faculty and staff

      See also

      External links

      Notes and References

      1. News: Delaware State University signs agreement to acquire Wesley College. Natalia . Alamdari. The News Journal. July 9, 2020. August 12, 2021.
      2. Web site: Delaware State University to officially acquire Wesley College . Amy. Cherry. July 9, 2020 . . October 13, 2020.
      3. Web site: Delaware State Univ. to make historic acquisition of Wesley College. Mark . Eichmann. July 9, 2020. WHYY. October 13, 2020.
      4. News: Tenured faculty challenge Wesley College acquisition by DSU. Associated Press. Randall. Chase. May 26, 2021. August 12, 2021.
      5. Web site: History. Wesley College. August 12, 2021. August 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210812160335/https://www.admissions.wesley.edu/campus/. dead.
      6. Web site: WE Celebrate: Annie Jump Cannon. Blog. Colonial School District. March 18, 2021.
      7. Web site: Kent County Markers. State of Delaware . Delaware Public Archives . June 16, 2016.
      8. Wesley College Board of Trustees Meeting Open Session Minutes - March 20, 2021
      9. Web site: Mar 8, 2021 . Wesley Faculty Vote "No Confidence" In President Clark . 2021-04-16 . en-US . April 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415191422/http://www.whetstone.wesley.edu/2021/03/08/wesley-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-president-clark/ . dead .
      10. News: Millions in Tax Dollars Went to Private Wesley College; Fallout From Sale Leaves a Lot of Questions . The News Journal. 29 March 2021. 26 July 2021. subscription .
      11. Web site: DSU & Wesley. Delaware State University. July 27, 2021.
      12. News: A Cross-Town Acquisition. Elizabeth . Redden . July 2, 2021. July 27, 2021. Inside Higher Ed.
      13. News: DSU Officially Closes Wesley Acquisition . Tabeling. Kate. July 1, 2021. Delaware Business Times. November 20, 2021.
      14. News: After acquiring Wesley College, what's next for Delaware State?. Neiburg. Jeff. July 16, 2021. November 24, 2021. The News Journal.
      15. News: Sale to DSU Spells End of Wesley College Sports. Tresolini. Kevin. February 16, 2021. November 21, 2021. The News Journal.
      16. News: Discontinuation of Wesley College Athletic Program impacting student. March 19, 2021. Anissa . Lopez. WDMT.com. July 26, 2021.
      17. Web site: Senator Colin Bonini. Delaware General Assembly. August 12, 2021.
      18. Web site: Brockson, Franklin . 2023-11-29 . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
      19. Web site: Wesley Unveils Annie Jump Cannon Historical Marker. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506073935/https://wesley.edu/news/wesley-unveils-annie-jump-cannon-historical-marker. May 6, 2016. Wesley College. April 20, 2020.
      20. News: 1966-10-14 . University of Pittsburgh to Honor Academy Visitors . 13 . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 2023-11-29 . Newspapers.com.
      21. Web site: GILCHREST, Wayne Thomas - Biographical Information. June 16, 2016.
      22. Web site: Jackson, William Purnell . 2023-11-29 . Biographic Directory of the United States Congress.
      23. Web site: Meet Charles Oberly. September 30, 2010 . mainjustice.com. June 16, 2016.
      24. Web site: Delaware Governor's - 1901 to 1949 . 2023-11-29 . www.russpickett.com.
      25. Robinson Standing Out For Philadelphia Soul. April 5, 2012. Wesley College. Dover, Delaware. August 11, 2021. August 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160814033918/http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20120405qe6m2l. dead.
      26. Web site: Delaware Governor's - 1949 to Present . 2023-11-29 . www.russpickett.com.
      27. Web site: Wolcott, Josiah O. . 2023-11-29 . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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