Eastern University was abuzz with excitement and chatter on Tuesday after the Office of the President announced that Eastern would be acquiring 33 acres of land from Valley Force Military Academy & College (VFMAC). The agreement, which was settled this week, includes the once-shared football field, track and fieldhouse, as well as 16 pickleball courts and five apartment buildings.
“This expansion marks an exciting chapter for Eastern University,” President Ronald Matthews said. “It gives us room to grow as a community, creating more space for students to live, gather and pursue their relationships and gifts. I’m grateful for our partnership with VFMAC and the possibilities that will open for the overall enrichment of the Eastern experience. I look forward to seeing these spaces filled with students coming together to support each other, build lasting friendships and celebrate what makes Eastern so special.”
After Valley Forge announced it would be closing its military academy earlier this fall, many wondered whether the campus grounds would be bought out by another university. In the past two years, nearby Villanova University has bought the grounds of both Cabrini University and Rosemont University. In fact, according to data collected by BestColleges, 84 colleges have either closed, merged or announced an upcoming closure since 2020. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has suggested that even more closures are ahead. Yet as many small colleges have faced the risk of closing down, Eastern has nearly tripled its enrollment since 2019.
“Eastern University’s expansion signatures a strategic investment for the campus community and ensures a flourishing future where our programs, on-campus events and extra-curricular activities will continue to thrive,” Dr. Timothy Brown, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, said. “It is a testament to God’s faithfulness and how He always provides!”
“I was really pleased to hear about the acquisition of some property from Valley Forge,” Ellen Clune, Officer of Recruitment for the Templeton Honors College and former Eastern student, said. “I predicted this might happen when I heard that the school was closing, and I think it will be a blessing to our community, especially the additional housing down the road. That will ease a burden that Eastern has been facing for the past couple of years.”
Eastern first launched its football program in the fall of 2022, building a football field on Valley Forge’s campus with an agreement to share the space. Now in its third year as an official team, the Eagles claimed the MAC Championship title this season. The football team hasn’t been the only recent program addition, though; Eastern has also added flag football, wrestling teams and a marching band, while also launching several new academic programs in-person and online. With a continually-expanding list of programs, athletic teams and student life organizations, the university’s drive has never been stronger, but its small (albeit beautiful) 114 acres were beginning to feel even smaller.
“As President Matthews suggested in his community-wide announcement, this acquisition will strengthen our mission as a diverse, Christ-centered community. For that I am very grateful,” Dr. “JoMo” Joseph Modica, University Chaplain, said.
The acquisition of the athletic spaces comes as a huge relief to student-athletes, who have often run into scheduling issues for practice in the university’s single gym. In 2022, over 60% of the incoming class was comprised of student athletes, and those numbers have only grown as the university has added more teams.
“I’m excited to have more space!” Hannah Trautner, a sophomore on the cheer team, said. “[As an athlete], I feel like we’re very limited. We only have one gym, and we have a lot of sports teams. Having more availability really broadens the horizons for the athletic department.”
“Honestly, I think it’s cool that we own the field house and everything up there,” Mya Cherneski, a junior in the marching band, said. “It’ll allow us to be a little more expansive with our athletics, so I’m excited about that.”
And while the added athletic facilities certainly come as a great benefit to student athletes, they will also help serve the university as a whole.
“I think this is a great addition to the university as our institution is looking to build on our athletics and academics,” Nardo Murphy, a senior on the football team, said. “With that amount of space, we would be able to accomplish a lot as Eastern continues to build while also keeping the history and memory of Valley Forge within our community.”
“Owning these facilities strengthens everything we do,” Brian Bingaman, Eastern’s Interim Athletic Director, said. “It elevates the student-athlete experience, expands opportunities for extra and co-curricular activities for all of our student body and positions us to keep building something special here at Eastern.”
Other parts of campus have seen new developments in the past year, with the Templeton Honors College finishing construction on its new building and the Athletics Department completing its renovation of the baseball field. However, students were excited to hear about the new apartment buildings, as Eastern’s dorms have been at maximum capacity this year.
“I’m definitely looking forward to having students be more comfortable on campus with the living spaces,” senior Alice Van Eman said. “This will help establish to students that we have space for them and want them here.”
“[Seeing the email] was such an unexpected delight this morning,” senior Caroline Herrick said. “I’ll be graduating after this year, but as a transfer student from a larger state school, I’m really happy for the upperclassmen students to be able to have more apartment space. I know that for me, apartment living was a quintessential part of helping me grow up, so I’m excited for the new development.”
Some students expressed concern about the commute to the new campus location, especially since Eastern’s main campus has had an overflow of students parking on its limited space.
“The one problem is that there are no walking paths from here to there; it’s all blind curves that not many people know how to drive properly through,” junior RJ Thetga said. “We’ll need more shuttles and vans, which people don’t always like taking.”
“I am a bit worried about if Eastern’s transportation will be able to get students between the campuses,” freshman Tyler Conjura said. “I hope that it will be easily accessible to students, especially freshmen.”
However, the concerns can’t seem to bring down the excitement that students feel about this recent development. Freshman Kenza Gueye was sitting with friends when she heard about the expansion, shouted, “I’m excited for more space!” with joy at the news.
“This expansion represents a meaningful investment in the student experience,” Missy Bryant, the Vice President for Student Development, said. “The added space opens doors for new programmatic opportunities, enriched community life, and a strengthened residential environment for our growing student body. I’m excited for what it makes possible on our St. Davids campus as we imagine fresh spaces for connection and belonging. Overall, this step forward will help us serve students more fully and create even more places where they can thrive.”
“I think it’s just cool that Eastern is getting more space for students to do more activities,” senior Ni’Jir Greer said.
“The buildings over there are really pretty, and I don’t know how to play pickleball, but maybe I’ll learn to use one of the 16 courts,” sophomore Rosie Finegan said.
The 16 pickleball courts seem to be an exciting point for many, even getting a special mention from President Matthews in his initial announcement to the university.
“I’m excited to play pickleball!” freshman Joachim Bushelli said when asked about what he was looking forward to on the new campus space.
“I’m very excited [about the pickleball courts],” junior Jacob Shalev said. “I visit the courts frequently, and I’m glad to hear that they will now be a part of Eastern’s campus resources.”
For a small university intent on cultivating a memorable and supportive community experience for its students, this step in expansion will serve its many passionate groups well.
“This expansion isn’t just a new addition to our campus; it’s the creation of new opportunities for students to live, connect, and thrive as a community,” President Matthews said in his original announcement. “As Eastern continues to grow, this expansion ensures we have the room to support that growth while maintaining the close-knit, Christ-centered environment that makes our community so special. As we continue to celebrate Eastern’s Centennial year, this exciting milestone represents both gratitude for God’s faithfulness over the past 100 years and our commitment to a thriving century ahead.”
With many more changes and developments still on the way, this additional space is a great step forward in continuing to provide the learning and service that has kept Eastern alive and thriving for 100 years.
