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{{aboutShort description|the formerPrivate college in the U.S. state ofDover, Delaware||Wesley, CollegeUS (disambiguation1873–2021)}}
{{about|the former college in the U.S. state of Delaware||Wesley College (disambiguation)}}{{use mdy dates|date=November 2012}}
 
{{more citations needed|date=November 2012}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Wesley College
| image = Wesley de.jpg
| caption = Wesley College, now part of Delaware State CollegeUniversity as DSU Downtown
| image_size = 250px
| established = {{start date and age|1873}} 
| closed = <br/>{{end date and age|2021}}
| type = [[Private college|Private]] [[liberal arts college]]
| academic_affiliation = [[Space Grant]]
| religious_affiliation = [[United Methodist Church]]
| motto = Great Things Await
| city = [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]]
| state = [[Delaware]]
| country = United States
| staff = =
| endowment =
| campus_type = Small city
| campus_size = {{Convert|50 acres|acre}}
| former_names = {{plainlist}}
*Wilmington Conference Academy
*Wesley Collegiate Institute
{{endplainlist}}
| sporting_affiliations = {{plainlist}}
*[[NCAA Division III]]
*[[Atlantic East Conference]]
{{endplainlist}}
| colors = Blue and white
| nickname = Wolverines
| website = {{url|https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.wesley.edu|wesley.edu}}
| logo =
}}
 
'''Wesley College''' was a [[private college|private]] [[liberal arts college]] in [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]], [[Delaware]]. It was acquired by [[Delaware State University]] (DSU) in 2021 and is now the DSU Downtown campus.<ref name= "set merge">{{cite news| url= https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2020/07/09/wesley-college-set-merge-delaware-state-university/5405291002/ |title= Delaware State University signs agreement to acquire Wesley College| first= Natalia |last= Alamdari| work= [[The News Journal]]| date= July 9, 2020| publisher= | access-date= August 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wdel.com/news/delaware-state-university-to-officially-acquire-wesley-college/article_c1419f00-c213-11ea-a506-aba294cb7e11.html |title=Delaware State University to officially acquire Wesley College |first= Amy| last=Cherry|date=July 9, 2020 |publisher= [[WDEL-FM]] |access-date=October 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-state-univ-to-make-historic-acquisition-of-wesley-college/|title=Delaware State Univ. to make historic acquisition of Wesley College| first= Mark |last= Eichmann| date= July 9, 2020| publisher= [[WHYY-TV|WHYY]]| access-date=October 13, 2020}}</ref>
 
==History==
[[File:Wesley Junior College, Dover, Del (74686).jpg|thumb|Postcard of Wesley Junior College]]▼
The institution was founded in 1873<ref name= "tenured">{{cite news| url= https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-4c44d1ce00c3e2d8048aad43d9f32ba3| publisher= Associated Press| title= Tenured faculty challenge Wesley College acquisition by DSU| first= Randall| last= Chase| date= May 26, 2021| access-date= August 12, 2021}}</ref> as '''Wilmington Conference Academy''', a [[University-preparatory school|prep school]].<ref name= "WHistory">{{cite web| url= https://www.admissions.wesley.edu/campus/| publisher= Wesley College| date= | title= History| access-date= August 12, 2021| archive-date= August 12, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210812160335/https://www.admissions.wesley.edu/campus/| url-status= dead}}</ref> During this period [[Annie Jump Cannon]], a prominent astronomer who pioneered stellar classification, graduated valedictorian from Wilmington Conference Academy in 1880.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/blog/we-celebrate-annie-jump-cannon/|work=Blog|publisher=Colonial School District|title= WE Celebrate: Annie Jump Cannon|date=March 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="cannon-hist-marker" /> It became a two-year college in 1918 and renamed the '''Wesley Collegiate Institute'''.<ref name= "WHistory" /> It was renamed again in 1941 as '''Wesley Junior College''', and again in 1958 as Wesley College.<ref name= "WHistory" /> The institution conferred its first four-year degrees in 1978.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://archives.delaware.gov/markers/kc/KC-71.shtml|title= Kent County Markers| publisher=State of Delaware |website= Delaware Public Archives | access-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref>
 
In its last decades, the college experienced significant financial challenges and relied on state funding and grants.<ref name= "tenured" /><ref name= "set merge" /> 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, members of 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.<ref>Wesley College Board of Trustees Meeting Open Session Minutes - March 20, 2021</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Mar 8, 2021 |title=Wesley Faculty Vote "No Confidence" In President Clark |url=http://www.whetstone.wesley.edu/2021/03/08/wesley-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-president-clark/ |access-date=2021-04-16 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415191422/http://www.whetstone.wesley.edu/2021/03/08/wesley-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-president-clark/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
On June 30, 2021, [[Delaware State University]] (DSU) began the formal process of purchasing Wesley College.<ref name= "misled">{{cite news |url= https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2021/03/29/millions-tax-dollars-went-private-wesley-college-many-say-they-were-misled/7010078002/| title= Millions in Tax Dollars Went to Private Wesley College; Fallout From Sale Leaves a Lot of Questions | website= The News Journal| date= 29 March 2021| publisher= | access-date= 26 July 2021| url-access= subscription }}</ref> This made DSU "the first historically Black college or university to acquire another college."<ref name= "set merge" /> The acquisition was finalized one year later, on July 1, 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.desu.edu/wesley/| publisher= Delaware State University| title= DSU & Wesley| access-date= July 27, 2021}}</ref> Approximately 60 percent of the Wesley community were offered employment by Delaware State University,. withDSU mostlytook visiting,on Wesley College's debts and did not directly pay to purchase the university. All Wesley students with non-tenureadverse trackrecords positionswere permitted to become DSU students.<ref name= "Redden">{{cite news| url= https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/07/02/delaware-state-university-finalizes-acquisition-neighboring-wesley-college |title= A Cross-Town Acquisition| first= Elizabeth |last= Redden | date= July 2, 2021| access-date= July 27, 2021|work=[[Inside Higher Ed]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/news/dsu-closes-wesley-acquisition/|title= DSU Officially Closes Wesley Acquisition |last=Tabeling|first=Kate|date=July 1, 2021|work=Delaware Business Times|access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eu.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2021/07/16/delaware-state-university-acquisition-wesley-college-complete-tony-allen-dsu-downtown-dover/7819472002/|last=Neiburg|first=Jeff|date=July 16, 2021|access-date=November 24, 2021|title=After acquiring Wesley College, what's next for Delaware State?|work=The News Journal}}</ref>
 
==Academics==
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==Athletics==
{{See also|Wesley Wolverines football}}
The institution competed in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]'s [[NCAA Division III|Division III]] athletics in the [[Atlantic East Conference]]. Its teams were known as the Wolverines.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://delawareonline.com/story/sports/2021/02/16/sale-delaware-state-spells-end-wesley-college-sports/6759066002/|title=Sale to DSU Spells End of Wesley College Sports|last=Tresolini|first=Kevin|date=February 16, 2021|access-date=November 21, 2021|work=The News Journal}}</ref><ref name= "discon">{{cite news| url= https://www.wmdt.com/2021/03/discontinuation-of-wesley-college-athletic-program-impacting-student/| title= Discontinuation of Wesley College Athletic Program impacting student| date= March 19, 2021| first= Anissa |last= Lopez| website= [[WDMT (FM)|WDMT]].com| publisher= | access-date= July 26, 2021}}</ref>
 
==Notable alumni==
* [[William N. Andrews]] (1898){{spaced ndash}} [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]
▲[[File:Wesley Junior College, Dover, Del (74686).jpg|thumb|Postcard of Wesley Junior College]]
* [[Steve Azzanesi]] {{spaced ndash}}college football coach
{{Category see also|Wesley College (Delaware) alumni}}
* [[Clarence Bailey]] {{spaced ndash}}professional football player
* [[William N. Andrews]] (1898){{spaced ndash}} lawyer and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] politician, including serving as [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for [[Maryland's 1st congressional district]] (1919–1921)
* [[Larry Beavers]] {{spaced ndash}}professional football player
* [[Bill Belleville|Bill Belleville{{spaced ndash}}]]<nowiki/>environmental writer, documentary filmmaker, and lecturer
* [[Colin R.J. Bonini]] (1991){{spaced ndash}} [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] politician, including serving as a member of the [[Delaware Senate]] from the [[Delaware's 16th Senate district|16th district]] (since 1995)<ref>{{cite web| url= https://legis.delaware.gov/AssemblyMember/151/Bonini| title= Senator Colin Bonini| publisher= Delaware General Assembly| date= | access-date= August 12, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Franklin Brockson]] (1890) {{spaced ndash}}[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brockson, Franklin |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000853 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref>
* [[CarolynJoseph BunnyL. WelshCahall]] (c. 1880s){{spaced ndash}} [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] politician, includingwho servingserved as sheriff of [[ChesterSecretary County,of Pennsylvania|ChesterState County]],of [[PennsylvaniaDelaware]]▼
* [[Joe Callahan (American football)|Joe Callahan]] (B.S. 2016){{spaced ndash}} [[quarterback]] for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)
* [[Annie Jump Cannon]] (1880){{spaced ndash}} Astronomer<ref name="cannon-hist-marker">{{Cite web|url=https://wesley.edu/news/wesley-unveils-annie-jump-cannon-historical-marker| url-status= unfit| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160506073935/https://wesley.edu/news/wesley-unveils-annie-jump-cannon-historical-marker| archivedate= May 6, 2016| title=Wesley Unveils Annie Jump Cannon Historical Marker| publisher= Wesley College|access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Martha E. Church|Martha E. Church{{spaced ndash}}]](B.A. 1952){{spaced ndash}}College president<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-10-14 |title=University of Pittsburgh to Honor Academy Visitors |pages=13 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-university-of-pi/135978969/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
* [[Steve Colavito]] {{spaced ndash}}professional football player
* [[Bill Collick]] {{spaced ndash}}college football coach and athletics administrator
* [[Ronald S. Dancer]]{{spaced ndash}}[[New Jersey General Assembly]]
* [[William D. Denney|William D. Denney{{spaced ndash}}]][[List of governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]] and [[Delaware House of Representatives]]
* [[Wayne Gilchrest]] (A.A., 1971){{spaced ndash}} [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] politician, including serving as [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for [[Maryland's 1st congressional district]] (1991–2009)<ref>{{cite web| url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=g000180|title=GILCHREST, Wayne Thomas - Biographical Information|access-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Matt Gono]] (2017){{spaced ndash}} professional football player for the [[Atlanta Falcons]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)
* [[John B. Goodman (industrialist)|John B. Goodman {{spaced ndash}}]]<nowiki/>polo player
* [[Charles M. Oberly, III]] (A.A., 1966){{spaced ndash}} lawyer and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] politician, including serving as [[Delaware Attorney General]] (1983–1995); [[U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware]] (since 2010)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/09/30/meet-charles-oberly/| title=Meet Charles Oberly| date= September 30, 2010 | website= mainjustice.com| access-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref>▼
* [[Bob Hannah (baseball)|Bob Hannah{{spaced ndash}}]]<nowiki/>college baseball coach
* [[Bryan Robinson (American football born 1986)|Bryan Robinson]]{{spaced ndash}} professional football player; awarded all-American football player<ref>{{cite press release| url= http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20120405qe6m2l|title=Robinson Standing Out For Philadelphia Soul| date= April 5, 2012| publisher= Wesley College| place= Dover, Delaware |access-date= August 11, 2021}}</ref>▼
* [[William P. Jackson|William P. Jackson{{spaced ndash}}]][[Treasurer of Maryland]] and [[United States Senate|United States Senator]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jackson, William Purnell |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/J000030 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Biographic Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref>
▲* [[Carolyn Bunny Welsh]]{{spaced ndash}} [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] politician, including serving as sheriff of [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]], [[Pennsylvania]]
* [[Thomas B. McCabe]] {{spaced ndash}}[[Chair of the Federal Reserve|chairman of the Federal Reserve]] and president and CEO of [[Scott Paper Company]]
* [[Ernie McCook]] {{spaced ndash}}college football coach
* [[Mark Meseroll]] {{spaced ndash}}professional football player
▲* [[Charles M. Oberly, III]] (A.A., 1966){{spaced ndash}} lawyer and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] politician, including serving as [[Delaware Attorney General]] (1983–1995); [[U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware]] (since 2010)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/09/30/meet-charles-oberly/| title=Meet Charles Oberly| date= September 30, 2010 | website= mainjustice.com| access-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Eunan O'Neill]] (non-degreed)[[William P. Jackson|{{spaced ndash}}]]Irish television presenter
* [[John Palermo]] (non-degreed) {{spaced ndash}}college football coach
* [[Simeon S. Pennewill|Simeon S. Pennewill{{spaced ndash}}]][[List of governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]] and [[Delaware Senate]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delaware Governor's - 1901 to 1949 |url=http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov4.htm#penne |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.russpickett.com}}</ref>
▲* [[Bryan Robinson (American football born 1986)|Bryan Robinson]]{{spaced ndash}} professional football player; awarded [[all-American]] football player<ref>{{cite press release| url= http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20120405qe6m2l| title= Robinson Standing Out For Philadelphia Soul| date= April 5, 2012| publisher= Wesley College| place= Dover, Delaware | access-date= August 11, 2021| archive-date= August 14, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160814033918/http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/20120405qe6m2l| url-status= dead}}</ref>
* [[Charles L. Terry Jr.|Charles L. Terry Jr.{{spaced ndash}}]][[List of governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]] and [[Delaware Supreme Court|Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Delaware Governor's - 1949 to Present |url=http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov5.htm#terry |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.russpickett.com}}</ref>
* [[Ebrahim Victory]] (nondegreed) [[Charles L. Terry Jr.|{{spaced ndash}}]]<nowiki/>mechanical engineer and television presenter
* [[Rebecca Walker (politician)|Rebecca Walker{{spaced ndash}}]] [[Delaware House of Representatives]]
* [[Carolyn Bunny Welsh]]{{spaced ndash}} [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] politician, former sheriff of [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]], [[Pennsylvania]]
* [[Josiah O. Wolcott|Josiah O. Wolcott{{spaced ndash}}]] Chancellor of the [[Delaware Court of Chancery]], [[United States Senate|United States Senator]], and [[Attorney General of Delaware]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wolcott, Josiah O. |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/W000669 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref>
 
==Notable faculty and staff==
 
* [[Bob Andrus]]{{spaced ndash}}head football coach
* [[Steve Azzanesi]]{{spaced ndash}}football coach
* [[Earl D. Brooks II]]{{spaced ndash}}executive vice president and professor of [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|science]] and [[Chancellor (education)#University president|president]] of [[Trine University]]
* [[Martha E. Church]]{{spaced ndash}}geography professor
* [[Mike Drass]]{{spaced ndash}}head football coach
* [[William N. Johnston]]{{spaced ndash}}16th president of Welsey College
* [[Tim Keating (American football)|Tim Keating]]{{spaced ndash}}head football coach
* [[Tripp Keister]]{{spaced ndash}}baseball coach
* [[Chip Knapp]]{{spaced ndash}}assistant football coach
* [[David Laganella]]{{spaced ndash}}music professor
* [[John Palermo]]{{spaced ndash}}football coach
* [[Clarence A. Short]]{{spaced ndash}}president of Wesley Collegiate Institute in 1926
* [[Leroy Thompson]]{{spaced ndash}}assistant football coach
 
==See also==
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==External links==
*{{Official websitewebarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.wesley.edu|title=Wesley State University site}}
*[https://www.desu.edu/wesley DSU & Wesley] - [[Delaware State University]]
 
{{Delaware State University}}
<!-- {{Atlantic East Conference navbox}} -->
{{Dover, Delaware}}
{{New Jersey Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{Education in Kent County, Delaware}}
{{Colleges and universities in Delaware}}
{{MethodistColleges}}
 
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[[Category:Two-year colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the United Methodist Church]]
[[Category:PrivateDefunct private universities and colleges in Delaware]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Delaware]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Delaware)"