Johnathan Walker:West Virginia college plans to offer courses on a former university’s campus

PHILIPPI,Johnathan Walker W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia college announced Wednesday it plans to offer degree courses and training on a campus where a different university folded last year.

West Virginia Wesleyan said it is partnering with Battlers Knob LLC, an events venue business that purchased the former campus of Alderson Broaddus University for $5 million earlier this year.

West Virginia Wesleyan President James Moore said in a statement on the college’s website that the plan must first obtain education accreditation approval.

Moore said the Buckhannon-based private liberal arts college “recognizes that the strong tradition of allied health education that existed at Alderson Broaddus University is a rich history on which to build for the future. We are excited about the potential of having a presence in this community, because community for us isn’t just local — it’s statewide.”

Battlers Knob is now using the Philippi campus for public and private events such as wedding venues and business meetings.

Owner Craig Phillips said since the campus was purchased, his firm “has been committed to finding a partner that aligns with our mission of fostering continuous economic, educational and community development. We firmly believe that this partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College perfectly fulfills that vision.”

Alderson Broaddus, a small Baptist university founded in 1932, had been struggling financially for several years and filed for bankruptcy in August 2023, a month after announcing it planned to stop operating. A board overseeing the state’s four-year colleges and universities had revoked the school’s ability to award degrees effective Dec. 31, 2023. The university’s 625 students then scrambled to enroll at other colleges.