New Program Expected to Make Wheeling Jesuit More Affordable

Wheeling Jesuit University announced a new program this week that uses novel approaches to make college more affordable for some students, and prepares them more effectively to enter the workforce.

The program is called Jesuit STRONG (Scholars Trained and Ready for Our Next Generation). The university has been collaborating with Cristo Rey High Schools – a nation-wide network of 30 Catholic prep schools that cater to economically disadvantaged students throughout the U.S. Jesuit is taking a page from the Christo Rey model that collaborates with businesses and community to create paid internships.

WJU Admissions Recruiter, Danny Brosnan, said in a press release that two-thirds of tuition and fees will be covered by the University and Jesuit STRONG  benefactors, leaving one-third of the cost to the student. $1 million has been raised during the past 18 months from corporations, foundations and individuals to support the initiative.

During a press conference today the university’s president announced that about 70 Cristo Rey High School seniors have already been accepted into WJU’s Jesuit STRONG  program for the fall 2016 semester.

Jesuit STRONG is an expansion of an existing summer program that invites Cristo Rey students onto campus and into surrounding communities.