Growth on campus continues with renovations for updated Pathways Center

Construction is underway on a new and improved space for the Pathways Center, as Waynesburg University continues to celebrate its milestone 175^th Anniversary year.

Slated to open in the spring 2025 semester, the Pathways Center, formerly located throughout Eberly Library, will now have one centralized location on the lower level of the building dedicated to the comprehensive student support services it offers on campus.

“We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve students through a centralized location this spring,” Sarah Bell, director of the Pathways Center, said. “As a team that is truly student-centered, this space will allow us to meet a diverse range of student needs while offering holistic and collaborative care and support. As a one-stop-shop, the updated Pathways Center will lead to more collaboration and campus-wide understanding of services available to all students.”

As a one-stop-shop, the updated Pathways Center will lead to more collaboration and campus-wide understanding of services available to all students.”

Sarah Bell

The $1.4 million renovations have been funded by a generous donor and will benefit students across all disciplines during their time at Waynesburg. Within the updated Pathways Center, students will have access to a new community learning space, private testing and interview rooms, a restructured Career Closet storefront with changing rooms, a sensory room and staff offices.

Waynesburg’s Pathways Center offers services in academic support, academic mentoring, career development, disability services, library services, peer tutoring, student work study and the writing center all under one office as a means to promote better collaboration between staff across departments and a more holistic approach to support for students.

Additionally, the Pathways Center works to oversee programs including the Pennsylvania Act 101 Program, Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver Program and the MUM Early Alert System, a system which allows University faculty, instructors and staff to relay any student concerns and connect with students in need of support.

By having one physical location on campus to house the Pathways Center, the hope is to have the many services offered through it more easily identified and accessible for students seeking support.

This year has marked a year of tremendous growth for the University as it celebrates “175 Years of Light.” In February, the new Entrepreneurial Hub for Innovative Ventures and Endeavors (eHIVE), located on the first floor of Stover Campus Center, was unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony, demonstrations, competitions and activities. Made possible by generous donors, the new innovation hub houses equipment that supports student entrepreneurs in their prototyping efforts and enables them to make products to sell for their own small businesses.

Construction is almost complete on the University’s new Center for Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation. The Center, funded exclusively by generous donors, will include a large space that can be used for functions of up to 120 people while also being able to convert into three separate classrooms outfitted with state-of-the-art technology. It will also house a conference room, office space and large area for practical learning exercises.

In addition, two properties were recently donated to the University: the Alston Farm and the Thyreen Farm. These properties will allow the expansion of learning opportunities available for students as well as partnerships with local organizations for community outreach.

The year 2024 marks Waynesburg University’s 175th Anniversary. The theme of the year-long celebration, “175 Years of Light,” focuses on honoring the University’s mission as well as its motto, “fiat lux,” or “let there be light.” This milestone year is a time for reflection, but also a time for great anticipation as the WU community together looks forward to the next 175 years while celebrating generations of students, faculty and staff pursuing lives of leadership and purpose for the glory of God.

About Waynesburg University

Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University’s Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with an additional site for graduate and professional programs in Southpointe.