This week in Christian history: English pope elected, PCA holds first General Assembly, OVU closes down
Ohio Valley University closes down – Dec. 8, 2021
This week marks the anniversary of when Ohio Valley University, a Christian school based in Vienna, West Virginia, voted to close the institution following the end of the fall semester.
Founded in 1958 and affiliated with the Churches of Christ denomination, OVU shuttered after years of financial woes, with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission voting to revoke the school’s authority to issue academic degrees around the same time.
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“I’ve had so many different meetings over the past month and especially the past few days. The meeting with students was horrible — just to make the announcement,” said OVU President Michael Ross at the time, as quoted by the Christian Chronicle.
“And the meeting with faculty and staff — some have given 30- or 40-plus years to OVU. As an alum, it seems like a time in my life is ending, and I don’t like those endings.”
While closed in 2021, it would be nearly two years before many former students of OVU were able to finally receive much-needed transcripts from school officials to further education and employment opportunities.
