Wheeling Jesuit University is currently in talks to rent the old Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy.

University officials said they two sides have been in negotiations for months are currently drafting an agreement with the Sisters of the Mount to rent space from the school.

Mount de Chantal closed at the end of the school year due to financial problems.

Rev. Julio Giulietti, president of Wheeling Jesuit, said the college is looking to expand some of their programs and possibly add some faculty. They are also exploring the option of looking putting a new building on the Mount's campus.

"We ultimately want to build what I'm referring to as the Mount de Chantal College of Healthcare Science at Wheeling Jesuit," Giulietti said.

A 1954 graduate of Mount de Chantal who was on-hand for the announcement Thursday said she was excited about the campus' role in continuing education.

"We were all so worried that maybe there would be a Motel 6 here," said Pat Buch.

Sister Joann Gonter said the eight sisters will continue to live on the Mount de Chantal campus and work with the university to define their role in the college's expansion.

"We're just extremely happy. We feel this is the best possible resolution of our situation and it's good for them," Gonter said.

The cost of heating at the school was one of the main reasons the large old building shut down. Wheeling Jesuit officials said they have a plan to possibly pipe heating from one of the university's buildings to Mount de Chantal.

As of Thursday, there was no formal agreement between the neighboring campuses. Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.