Academic Services

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Academic Services

The Advising Center works with all newly admitted students in academic advisement, course scheduling, and selection of a major. Upon the declaration of a major, students are advised in their academic department; however, their academic adviser in the Advising Center will continue to work with them in areas of university policy and personal advisement. Additionally, the Advising Center offers career planning as well as programs for students in academic difficulty.

The academic success centers at the university consist of the University Writing Center, the Mathematics Tutoring Center, the Student Technology Assistance Center, and the Catamount Academic Tutoring (CAT) Center. Services are available during fall, spring, and summer semesters and are offered to students without charge.

University Writing Center. A staff of graduate assistants and undergraduate peer tutors is available to assist students in developing skills for preparing essays, research papers, creative writing assignments, articles for publication, and other writing projects. Faculty members are encouraged to refer students to the center for general development of writing skills. Beginning with the writer’s initial ideas, tutors can help with brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, and revising. By offering the writer workable strategies, the tutor moves the student toward self-sufficiency. In addition to one-on-one tutorial help, the center regularly offers handouts, called mini-courses, tailored to specific writing needs. The center is located in Hunter Library. Visit the center’s Web site at www.wcu.edu/writingcenter for hours, online resources, staff information and helpful links. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 828-227-7197.

Mathematics Tutoring Center. A student peer-tutoring program is staffed by undergraduate and graduate mathematics students. Tutoring is available on a drop-in and individual appointment basis. Tutoring is offered in all lower-division undergraduate mathematics courses and beginning computer science courses. Tutoring experience is provided as a practicum for students majoring in mathematics education. The tutoring center has a small library of supplementary materials, including textbooks, computer-assisted instruction materials, and a few current periodicals in mathematics and computer science. The center is located in 294 Belk. Visit the Center’s web site at www.wcu.edu/mathlab.

Student Technology Assistance Center. The Student Technology Assistance Center offers assistance to students based on their individual needs. Students needing help with word processing, spread sheets, databases, electronic presentations, campus network tools (such as WIN, MyCat, VAX/VMS, etc.), or the Internet (such as web browsers, web page design assistance, newsgroups, e-mail, chat, etc.), can stop by or call for an appointment. Although appointments are not required, they can be beneficial for the student by ensuring one-on-one appointment time. Check the Web site at http://www.wcu.edu/techassist/ for more information and for dates and times of workshops.

Catamount Academic Tutoring Center. The Catamount Academic Tutoring Center, located in 135 Killian Annex, is designed to ensure the academic success of all Western Carolina University students by offering free peer tutoring, workshops, and other resources to improve learning. Trained peer tutors facilitate small-group sessions for most 100 and 200-level classes. Tutors offer strategies for effective study and efficient time management, and they facilitate collaborative groups in which each student is involved with actively exploring and learning the material. Visit the CAT Center website (http://www.wcu.edu/catcenter) or call 828-227-2274 to schedule a tutoring session or to learn more about workshop offerings in areas such as Time Management, Note Taking, Goal Setting, and Exam Preparation.

New Student Orientation. To make the transition to college life easier, Western offers orientation programs for new students and their families. Students attending orientation have a chance to meet other new students, talk to their professional academic adviser, and register for their classes. Orientation is the time for students and family members to become familiar with the academic demands of the university, to meet the faculty, and to learn more about the concerns that accompany campus life. For more information, call 828-227-7087.

The Office of Special Programs/Teaching Fellows Program. The Office of Special Programs/Teaching Fellows Program in the College of Education and Allied Professions assists in organizing special events in the college (e.g., student recruitment activities, scholarship awards) and coordinates the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program for the university.

The Office of Professional Examinations, located in 135 Killian Annex, oversees administrations of the Graduate Record Examination (subject tests only), the Praxis Series, Scholastic Aptitude Test, ACT, Law School Admission Test, and the National Counselor Examination. Visit the website at http://www.wcu.edu/catcenter/OPE.html for registration and exam-preparation information.

For information about the Miller Analogies Test, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Institutional SAT, Residual ACT, or the verbal portion of the SAT (for pre-nursing students), call 227-3264.