State of Union Town Hall

David Saylor • March 4, 2026
Dr. Bob Helmer and Dr. Joshua Wilkey standing in front of a crowd in the Conway Boatman Chapel.

On February 25, 2026, Union Commonwealth University hosted its State of Union Town Hall, bringing together faculty and staff in two dedicated sessions at Conway Boatman Chapel to discuss the university’s financial realities, strategic direction, and long-term sustainability.


Many of these topics centered on national challenges facing higher education, UCU’s recent financial adjustments, and a forward-looking initiative supported by Rize Education and a Google-funded College of the Future grant.


The first half of the event focused on faculty, with Dr. Joshua Wilkey, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, and College of the Future Implementation Lead Dr. Bob Helmer highlighting both the opportunities and challenges facing the university. They framed Union’s work within the broader national landscape of higher education, noting declining enrollments, rising operational costs, and the increasing closure of small colleges nationwide. Helmer emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges proactively, explaining that many institutions fail because they respond too slowly to shifts in the educational environment.

“Gradually, then suddenly,” Helmer said, “schools are closing, and the ones that are closing are the ones that do not have a sense of urgency.”

Dr. Bob Helmer.

Building on that urgency, Helmer emphasized that Union is already acting decisively and cohesively to shape its future. Since January, he has regularly connected with campus leadership and the university’s steering committee established specifically for this partnership to review key data, evaluate long-term scenarios, and identify the most effective strategies for strengthening the university.


[PHOTO: College of the Future Implementation Lead Dr. Bob Helmer]


Wilkey explained that Union is approaching this moment with intentional focus and strategic action. “We want to be one of the institutions that not just survives, but thrives,” he said, pointing to efforts aimed at strengthening the university’s academic foundation. “If you look at the last 12 months here as an institution, we've worked on optimizing faculty workload, we've begun moving with agility through some of the restructuring done, and we have had more intentional focus on instruction quality and teaching evaluation.”

The second half of the event complemented the earlier discussion by focusing specifically on staff and the operational side of the university’s long-term sustainability. Dr. D.J. Washington, President of Union Commonwealth University, led the session, offering a candid update on the institution’s financial position and outlining goals for institutional growth in the coming fiscal years.

Washington highlighted the university’s continued progress toward greater financial responsibility and sustainability. Much of this progress is the result of strategic financial decisions, including the sale of the Aquatic Center, which provided a substantial opportunity to address past debt, and the continued support of alumni, generous donors and trustees funding key campus initiatives.

“Our burden is behind us, and we will continue to lead and operate in ways that are responsible, sustainable, and aligned with our mission,” Washington emphasized.

Union Commonwealth University President Dr. DJ Washington.

Looking ahead, Union is implementing a range of strategic initiatives designed to strengthen its academic programs and operational efficiency. New academic offerings, made possible through partnerships with Rize Education and support from the Google-funded College of the Future grant, are helping the university enhance student learning experiences, expand faculty development, and explore innovative approaches to higher education.


[PHOTO: UCU President Dr. DJ Washington]


Union is also investing in the student experience and campus infrastructure, including new housing, a new event center that will be available to the community, and several athletic facility projects and updates.


At its core, the town hall highlighted that Union’s progress is shaped by the collective efforts of its community and the student experience it provides.

“Every single person who's a part of the Union community makes an impact on recruitment, retention, and persistence, on the success of the university,” Helmer said.

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