Graduate Student Life

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Residential Living. The university’s residence halls are an integral part of campus life, offering a variety of experiences that contribute to intellectual, personal, and social development. The residence halls are staffed by Resident Directors, professional staff responsible for both community and personal growth and development.

The residence halls are open to all students, undergraduate and graduate, to the extent available. Freshmen are required to live on campus. This requirement may be waived if the student is married or lives with parents in Jackson, Macon, Haywood, or Swain County. Waivers for other reasons are decided upon by the Assistant Director for Operations.

A variety of accommodations are available; however, most rooms are designated for double occupancy. Each room is furnished with computer data ports, single beds, study desks, chairs, dressers, and closets. Students provide their own pillows, bed linens, towels, lamps, clocks, wastebaskets, and telephones. They also bring radios, stereos, and televisions. Cable television is provided in student rooms, as well as designated public areas. Other amenities include vending machines, washers, and dryers. Mail service is provided to all residential students at the mail center located in Hinds University Center. Mailing addresses are assigned by the Department of Residential Living and will be provided when students receive housing assignments. Local telephone service is included in the housing fee. Long distance is not provided, but access can be obtained through the use of a personal calling card.

Room Reservations and Advance Partial Payment. Any new, transfer, readmitted, or graduate student may reserve a room in the residence halls by submitting the advance partial payment of $100 and a signed Residence Hall Agreement to the University One Stop. Returning students are to submit the signed agreement with $150 advanced partial payment. These payments for the fall semester should be submitted no later than June 1. Deadline for submission of the Residence Hall Agreement for Spring Semester is December 1. All checks should be made payable to Western Carolina University. Advance partial payments and Residence Hall Agreements received after the deadline will be accepted on a space-available basis. Financial aid awards may not be used to cover advance partial payments.

Students may move into the residence halls the weekend prior to August orientation and the beginning of classes. Information on the designated move-in day will be provided with assignment information. Unless the Department of Residential Living is notified of late arrival, reservations expire at 5 p.m. on the first day of classes.

Residence Hall Agreement. Each student residing in a residence hall signs the Residence Hall Agreement with the University for the entire academic year, or any part of the year remaining when the student moves into the residence hall. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of the student and the University, and is a legally binding contract. It may be cancelled by the student or the University under conditions outlined in the agreement.

Summer Terms. Students who begin their enrollment in summer terms (May, June, or July) are not required to submit the advance housing payment but must submit the Residence Hall Agreement if they wish to reside on campus.

Refund Policy. Students who have paid the advance housing payment and choose not to attend Western are eligible for a 100 percent refund if notification of cancellation is received prior to June 1 (December 1 for spring). Cancellations received after June 1 and prior to acceptance of residence hall room keys (or the first day of classes) will be subject to a $50 administrative processing fee. Students who move out of the residence halls after acceptance of keys will be eligible for a pro-rated refund, but they will be assessed a $400 breach of contract fee.

Housing for Married and Graduate Students. Robertson Hall is available for married students, and consists of 37 efficiency and 5 one-bedroom apartments. Madison Hall is available for graduate students and offers 41 private rooms with private baths and is an airconditioned, nonsmoking hall.

Residence Hall Regulations. The Department of Residential Living, in order to provide a positive environment conducive to individual and community living and learning, has established specific policies and regulations related to personal conduct. These policies are available in the Student Handbook and Guide to Residential Living. In an effort to meet a variety of student desires and needs, each residence hall may have variations of certain policies, including visitation hours and smoking options. Please refer to the Student Handbook upon move-in to familiarize yourself with these policies and regulations, as well as student rights and responsibilities.

Off-Campus Housing. Students who plan to live off campus must make their own living arrangements. Students who move from the residence halls to off-campus locations must officially check out of their residence hall rooms and are subject to a breach of contract fee of $400 if the move occurs during the period of the Residence Hall Agreement. Students living off campus are still governed by the rules and regulations of the University while on campus.

The Student Affairs Division has entered into an agreement with Off Campus Partners to list off-campus housing opportunities. OCP provides a site to link potential tenants with potential landlords/property managers. Users are provided a variety of online services, including but not limited to the capability to search a database of off-campus properties, to post properties for rent, and to post and search messages on message boards.

The link to this service is available at: http://www.wcu.edu/offcampus.

Dining

Western Carolina University provides food services for students at the following campus locations:

Brown (on the upper campus)
Cyber Cafe (Dodson)
Dodson (on the lower campus)

Einstein Brothers Bagels - Hinds University Center
Hinds University Center Food Court
Java City (Hunter Library) and Java City (University Center)
Convenience Stores located at Dodson, Brown, and Norton Residence Hall

Food service may not be provided when dining locations are closed during holidays and other periods when the university is not in session.

Students living in university residence halls are required to purchase a campus meal plan each semester. Participation in a food service plan is optional for commuting students. Special dietary requirements are accommodated by contacting WCU Dining at 227-7396.

The various food service plans offered are described in the fees section of this catalog. For additional information and frequently asked questions, visit the Dining Services Web site under Current Students at http://wcudining.wcu.edu.

Policy on Computer Abuse

The University provides computer access through the information technology division, college, and department computer systems. It is essential that computer systems be protected from misuse and unauthorized access subject to university policy and applicable state and federal laws. Computer abuse defined as, but not limited to, privacy issues, theft, vandalism, copyright issues, and harassment will be referred to the Office of the Chief Information Officer and/or college or department computer network and laboratory managers. Abuse involving theft or vandalism will also be reported to the director of the University Police Department. Penalties include, but are not necessarily limited to, suspension or revocation of computing privileges, reimbursement to the university for resources consumed, other legal action including action to recover damages, referral to law-enforcement authorities, and referral to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for disciplinary action. In connection with inquiries into possible abuses, the University reserves the right to examine files, programs, passwords, accounting information, printouts, or other computing material without notice authorized only by the Chief Information Officer. See University Policy #52, Use of Computers and Data Communications online at http://www.wcu.edu/chancellor/index/universitypolicy/policy52.html .

Electronic Mail Policy

University electronic mail accounts are provided and supported by the State of North Carolina to support the missions of the University.

The purpose of this Policy is to ensure the appropriate use of the University’s Electronic Mail System by its students, faculty and staff. The Electronic Mail System is provided by the University as one of its primary means of official communication. Users have the responsibility to use these resources in an efficient, effective, ethical and lawful manner. Use of the University’s electronic mail system evidences the user’s agreement to be bound by this Policy. Violations of this Policy may result in restriction of access to the University email system and/or other appropriate disciplinary action.

User Responsibilities

The Information Technology Division maintains the University’s official Electronic Mail System. Faculty, staff, and students are required to read their Electronic Mail System messages on a regular basis. Faculty, staff or students who choose to use another email system are responsible for receiving University-wide broadcast messages, notices and personal mail by checking the University’s official electronic mail system and the University’s World Wide Web homepage . An alternate method of receiving University electronic mail is to utilize the Forward Feature, which can be set to forward mail to an individual’s personal email account. An Electronic Mail System message regarding University matters sent from an administrative office, faculty, or staff member is considered to be an official notice. Supervisors must ensure that their University staff and faculty have access to the necessary or appropriate messages distributed via the University’s Electronic Mail System.

Personal Use of Electronic Mail System

The University’s Electronic Mail System may, subject to the foregoing, be used for incidental personal purposes provided such use does not violate either this policy or University Policy #52. In addition, personal use must not interfere with University operation of information technologies, including electronic mail services, generate a direct cost for the University or interfere with the user’s employment or other obligations to the University.

Privacy of personal electronic mail content residing on or transmitted through University equipment should not be expected. No University faculty member, staff member, or student should use a University Electronic Mail System account with the expectation that any particular Electronic Mail System content, whether personal or business-related, will be private.

Privacy of Email Files

The University does not inspect or monitor electronic mail routinely. To the extent permitted by law, however, the University reserves the right to access and disclose the contents of faculty, staff, students’ and other users’ electronic mail without the consent of the user. Access to electronic mail on the University’s computers that involves reading or disclosing electronic mail may occur only where authorized by the University and only for the following purposes:

• troubleshooting hardware and software problems, such as rerouting or disposing of undeliverable mail;
• preventing or investigating unauthorized access and system misuse;
• retrieving or reviewing for University purposes University-related information;
• investigating reports of violation of University policy or local, state, or federal law;
• investigating reports of employee, student or user misconduct;
• complying with legal requests for information (such as subpoenas and public records, requests); and
• retrieving information in emergency circumstances where there is a threat to health, safety, or University property involved.

Users of the Electronic Mail System also should be aware that, in addition to being subject to authorized access as detailed herein, electronic mail in its present form cannot be completely secured and is, therefore, vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification by third parties. Receivers of electronic mail documents should check with the purported sender if there is any doubt about the identity of the sender or the authenticity of the contents, as they would with print documents.

Users of the Electronic Mail System also should be aware that even though the sender and recipient have discarded their copies of an electronic mail record, there may be back-up copies of such electronic mail that can be retrieved on University systems or any other electronic systems through which the mail has traveled.

Access by authorized University employees to electronic mail stored on the University’s network of computers may be necessary to ensure the orderly administration and functioning of University computing systems. Such access, gained for purposes such as to back up or move data, ordinarily should not require the employee gaining access to the electronic mail to read messages. The University requires employees, such as system administrators, who as a function of their jobs routinely have access to electronic mail and other electronically stored data to maintain the confidentiality of such information.

Limitations on the Use of Electronic Mail System

The legal and regulatory environment surrounding the University’s Electronic Mail System creates a number of other limitations on the use of the University’s Electronic Mail System accounts. Most apply uniformly to the use of all State-provided resources. They may be briefly summarized:

• Electronic Mail System accounts are for the exclusive use of the individual to whom they are assigned
• No use is permitted that conflicts with the requirements of civil or criminal law, including but not limited to laws relating to the privacy of student and employee records, pornography, defamation, intellectual property infringement, and illegal discrimination, or conflicts with any applicable policy of the UNC Board of Governors or Western Carolina University (including University policy #52), such as use in support of partisan political activities.
• No use is permitted that constitutes the unauthorized exchange of proprietary information or any other privileged, confidential, or sensitive information.
• The knowing transmission of a message containing a computer virus or that misrepresents the identity of the sender is prohibited.
• The use of or attempt to use the accounts of others without their permission is prohibited.
• Personal use cannot interfere with a University employee’s obligation to carry out University duties in a timely and effective manner.
• The personal use cannot involve sending or soliciting chain letters or sending unsolicited bulk mail messages (e.g., “junk mail,” “spam,” or “MLM”), or otherwise overloading the University’s electronic mail system or negatively interfering with system performance.
• Uses that result in commercial gain or personal profit are not permitted, except as allowed under University intellectual property policies and external activities for pay policy; however, in no case may the University’s Electronic Mail System be used for solicitation of an unrelated, external activity for pay. See University Policy 54 for EPA employees and University Policy 87 for SPA employees.
• No personal use may state or imply University sponsorship or endorsement of its message.

Electronic mail created for business purposes by University employees is a public record and, as such, may not be disposed of, erased or destroyed unless permitted by law. Just as in the case of hard copies, individual employees are responsible for saving or archiving their Electronic Mail System messages. Electronic Mail System messages that have reference or administrative value but are of a temporary, ephemeral, or transient nature may be deleted when the user has determined that their reference value has ended.

Just as in the case of hard copies, the retention period for electronic mail that must be retained is determined by the type of document being retained. The North Carolina University Records Retention and Disposition Schedule followed by the University, contains required retention periods by category of record. If you have questions bout retention periods, please contact the Head of Special Collections in Hunter Library.

Electronic mail may be retained electronically or it may be printed and retained as a hard copy. Due to limited resources, the Information Technology Division has the right to restrict the amount of user space on the primary message server or archive older messages on other servers as necessary.

Electronic Mail System accounts of students who have not registered for a semester will be purged after 30 days. Accounts for faculty/staff who have left the University will be frozen within two working days after the person’s last day and will be deleted after 30 days. This period can be extended for up to three months for faculty and staff if requested by their supervisor before the employee’s last day.

Official University Electronic Mails

Not all written communication is appropriate for the Electronic Mail System. In fact, in certain limited situations, the law may require the use of paper originals delivered via regular mail. In other situations, good business practice may call for not only a paper original, but, for example, one that is sent by certified mail, receipt requested.

When using the Electronic Mail System as an official means of communication, students, faculty, and staff should apply the same professionalism, discretion, and standards that they would use in written business communication. Furthermore, students, faculty and staff must remember that matters communicated via the Electronic Mail System may become a public record, may become evidence in a lawsuit or may otherwise be shared with a broader audience than intended.

Students, faculty and staff may not inappropriately disclose University information in Electronic Mail System messages that they are privileged to access because of their position at the University.

Those wishing to transmit broadcast electronic messages, either to an on or off campus audience, containing essential University announcements to alumni, students, faculty, and/or staff must obtain approval from the appropriate administrative authority. Within the scope of their authority, only the Offices of an Associate Vice Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Provost, or the Chancellor may authorize the transmission of broadcast messages to a wide audience of students, faculty and staff. Appropriate broadcast of electronic messages may include, but is not limited to, the following types of announcements:

• Emergency or unforeseen campus-wide events notification (e.g., cancellation of classes or closing of the University due to inclement weather or emergency);
• Important campus deadline notification (e.g., last day of drop/add for students);
• Improved services to students, faculty, or staff that directly impact all members of the affected group.

By contrast, broadcast electronic messages should not be used for non-essential matters such as publicizing campus events. Broadcast email messages should be sent only to the affected group (students, faculty, or staff, or a subgroup of one of those groups) and should be of critical importance to that group.

Law Enforcement

The University Police Department is responsible for providing law enforcement, criminal investigation, and protective services on campus. University Police officers are certified by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office and meet all standards set by the Attorney General for law enforcement officers in this state.

All crimes that occur on the campus of WCU should be reported to the University Police Department. Emergencies should be reported by dialing 911 from a University telephone or by dialing 828-227-7301 from your cellular telephone; non-emergencies may also be reported by dialing 828-227-7301. Reports for crimes may be filed by visiting the University Police Department, located in the Camp Building Annex, or by contacting an officer on patrol. Officers may also be summoned for emergencies by activating any of the emergency blue-light callboxes which are placed at various locations throughout campus.

Information regarding crime statistics and crime prevention programs is available at the University Police Department. This same information is made available online at http://police.wcu.edu. For Clery Act Report information, see the Student Affairs homepage.

To better serve and enhance relationships with students, the University Police Department, in cooperation with Residential Living, maintains a substation in Leatherwood Hall.

Traffic and Parking. The University Police Department is responsible for the administration of Western’s parking system, vehicle registration, and traffic and parking regulations enforcement. State statutes provide that campus traffic and parking regulations have the full-authority of law, and violators may be subject to the penalties such law prescribes.

Everyone parking a vehicle on campus must register that vehicle with the Parking Services Office and display a current decal on that vehicle. Visitors who park a vehicle on campus less than three days per semester do not need to register their vehicle. Parking and traffic regulations literature is made available in the Parking Services Office, located in the Camp Building Annex. These same regulations are made available on-line at http://police.wcu.edu/parking.html.

The Parking, Traffic, and Safety Committee, composed of students, faculty, and staff, functions as an appellate board for faculty and staff members wishing to contest parking citations that they have received. Appeals concerning student violations are heard by a similar SGA appellate committee. The faculty and staff parking citation appeal form is available in the Parking Services Office. The student parking citation appeal form is available online at http://paws.wcu.edu/sga/. For more information, contact the University Parking Services Office at 828-227-7275 (PARK).

Shuttle Bus System (CAT-TRAN)
The shuttle bus system, or Cat-Tran, is operated through the University Police Department. Cat-Tran provides student shuttle service according to prescribed routes throughout the semester during day class hours. Reduced shuttle service is available during evening, weekend, and summer hours. The Cat-Tran does not operate during holidays, spring or fall breaks, or semester breaks. Cat-Tran is an on-campus service and is not available for off-campus or special event use. For information regarding routes, hours of operation, or other issues, please visit the Cat-Tran web site at http://www.wcu.edu/cattran/ or call the Cat-Tran office at 828.227.8726 (TRAN).

Health Services

The University Health Center (Bird Building) provides assessment and treatment of medical concerns. The center is staffed by physicians, physicians’ assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, a nutritionist, a wellness coordinator, and a laboratory technician. The telephone number is 828-227-7640. Additionally, the Health Center administers a student-run ambulance service that allows for on-campus coverage for emergencies. Specialty services offered include: comprehensive Women’s Health; Allergy and Immunization Clinic; nutrition consultations and weight-loss support groups; extensive wellness resources, and limited pharmacy services. The Wellness Center provides wellness programs, personal consultations, and is a primary advocate and co-advisor of the student peer educator organization C.L.A.W. (Campus Leaders Advocating Wellness). Students’ health fees support many services; some services require a reasonable charge. The University of North Carolina Consortium-sponsored health insurance offers excellent coverage. Health insurance coverage is mandatory if you are a full time graduate, undergraduate, or international student. Please visit www.studentinsurance.com to effect a waiver if you already have health insurance coverage. You may also visit this website if you are interested in obtaining health insurance for yourself, your spouse and/or dependents.

Counseling and Psychological Services Center. The Counseling and Psychological Services Center offers most of its counseling services at no cost to students seeking assistance with personal concerns and difficulties. Short-term goal-oriented counseling is provided along with emergency on-call, therapeutic consultations, psychiatric assessments, weekly groups, outreach presentations, and referrals. Appointments can be made by calling 828-227-7469. The Center is located on the second floor of Bird Building.

The Career Services/Cooperative Education Office is multi-faceted and student service oriented. We are committed to providing up-to-date services which: assist in career/major decision-making; promote career experiences, and job search learning; and then facilitate contact with employers and graduate schools.

Activities/services include the following:

• on campus student employment ( http://careers.wcu.edu/nws-jobs.asp )
• 4 on-line, web accessible job listings programs
• individual conferences with career counselors
• vocational and interest testing, both on-line and in person
• cooperative education and internship programs
• resume and cover letter critiquing service
• an on-line mock interview program
• a career library with a university-wide computer aided career guidance program
• career events (18)

The Career Services Cooperative Education Office is located on the 2nd Floor Killian Annex. For more information ( http://careers.wcu.edu ).

Educator Licensure Assistance. All students and alumni seeking initial or subsequent education licensure will find assistance in the Office of Field Experience and Licensure in Killian Building, 828-227-7314.

Bank Services. A branch office of BB&T is located in Cullowhee. ATMs installed by State Employees Credit Union and BB&T are located in the Hinds University Center. In addition, branch offices of Wachovia, Carolina Community Bank, Century South Bank of the Carolinas, First Charter Bank, First Citizens Bank and Trust, Community Bank and Trust Company, Jackson Savings Bank, Macon Bank, and the State Employees Credit Union are located in or near Sylva.

Books and Supplies. The WCU Bookstore offers students a wide variety of merchandise, including textbooks and course materials. WCU clothing and gift items are located at Catamount Clothing and Gifts in the University Center. An extensive selection of books is offered for class use and pleasure reading and books may be special-ordered if not in stock. All books for 500-, 600-, 700-, and 800-level courses are sold by the store. Books for graduate students taking courses numbered below 500 are sold by the book rental department located in the store. Graduation caps, gowns, invitations, and class rings also may be purchased at the bookstore. For more information visit the Web site under Bookstore at Current Students Link at www.wcu.edu.

International Programs and Services. The Office of International Programs and Services (IPS) coordinates and supports many types of international programs and activities, such as student and faculty exchanges through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), the University of North Carolina Exchange Program (UNC-EP), and WCU bilateral exchange program; K-12 International Outreach Program to the public schools; Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars; the Asian language program; international university linkages; International Education Week activities; International Festival; Diversity Week; and International Women’s Day. IPS provides services to international students on campus including visa issuance and counseling, student services, Host Family Association, and International Club. IPS is also the center for student F-1 and J-1 visas, visiting scholar visas as well as international faculty H-1B visa and Permanent Residence petitions. More information is available at 828-227-7494.

Mail Service. Students residing on campus are assigned a mailbox with their room assignment. All other students may rent a mailbox in the Cullowhee Post Office. U.S. postal regulations do not permit receipt of mail addressed as general delivery after an initial 30-day period. A postal commodity machine offering stamps, envelopes, post cards or aero grams, overseas services, and other features is located in the lobby of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

Recreation and Fitness. The facilities of Reid Health and Physical Education Building, including the Fitness Center, Breese Gymnasium, and A.K. Hinds University Center make possible a rich recreational program. Indoor and outdoor recreation includes tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, handball, softball, badminton, racquetball, table tennis, and kayak rolling.

The Fitness Center provides Cybex Circuit Selectorized equipment and a free weight room for strength training along with a complete line of cardiovascular equipment. Also provided by the Fitness Center are programs and activities such as land and water aerobics, personal training, body composition analysis and a variety of fitness related programs offered throughout the year.

Cullowhee’s location offers excellent opportunities for hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, skiing, hunting, golfing, boating, and camping. Students may easily visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and other nearby places of interest.

Schools for Elementary and High School Students. Cullowhee Valley School, located near the campus in Cullowhee, is a Jackson County school, grades K-8. Smoky Mountain High School and Fairview Elementary School, also Jackson County Schools, are located on the Sylva highway about five miles from the university.

Student Support Services ( www.wcu/cap/sss/sss.html ) is a comprehensive academic support program which assists eligible students in choosing and working toward their academic, career, and personal goals with programs tailored to meet individual needs. Services include academic advising, career and personal counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and services for students with disabilities. For those students who qualify, all services are free. To be eligible, participants must meet one of the following criteria: they are first generation college students; OR they meet U.S. Department of Education income guidelines; OR they have a documented disability.

The Kneedler Child Development Center provides affordable, accessible childcare for approximately 60 children of students, faculty, staff, and community members. The center operates four classrooms (ages 1-5) staffed by wonderful teachers who are committed to early childhood education. Each classroom offers developmentally appropriate activities designed to stimulate social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development. The facility is located in the remodeled west wing area of the Cordelia Camp Building. If you would like further information please visit our website (http://www.wcu.edu/studentd/kneedler/index.html ) or contact the center at (828) 293-1530.

The Multicultural Center strives to have programs that are fun as well as educational. Cultural awareness programs are great for learning about the heritage and customs of others. The Multicultural Center sponsors programs during nationally recognized celebratory months to highlight some of the many cultures represented on campus.

The center serves as resource, advocate and foundation of support for the Western community on issues of diversity and multiculturalism. The Multicultural Center works to promote an inclusive community for students with diverse needs. For more information contact: Tanisha Jenkins, Director, email: tjenkins@email.wcu.edu or call (828) 227-2276.

Wellness Program. The goal of the Wellness Program is to provide students, faculty, and staff a positive and healthy environment in which to live and grow. The program provides services on health and wellness issues, including health presentations; resources to help individuals with projects and personal issues; a wellness resource library; and events centered on national awareness topics such as sexual health, fitness, nutrition, AIDS, alcohol, and tobacco issues. For further information, call 828-227-3471.

Women’s Center and Women’s Programs. The Women’s Center provides resources, support and advocacy for women as they empower themselves and each other in their individual and collective pursuits. Opportunities include: leadership development, Women, Leadership and Social change class, programs about gender and women’s issues, book club, volunteering, internships, sexual assault awareness and education programs, student employment, and more! The Women’s Center is located at 334 University Center. For more information contact Sara Stoltenburg at (828) 227-7450 or womenscenter@wcu.edu.

The University Center (UC) is the hub of campus activity - the living room of campus. Included in the UC are a variety of programming groups such as Last Minute Productions (LMP), Lectures, Concerts and Exhibitions (LCE); Multicultural Center, Student Government Association (SGA),Women’s Center, and the University Center’s staff. Some of the programs sponsored by these groups include movies and film series, comedians, concerts, voter registration, performances on women’s issues, race, and gender, and conferences. In addition, Western Encourages Leadership Enhancement and Development (WE LEAD) provides leadership opportunities to enhance student development by sharpening their leadership skills. Conferences, meetings, and presentations are held in the Grand Room, movie theater, and conference room areas. In an effort to meet the needs of our guests, there is a food court and ATMs located on the first floor. The food court includes Chick-Fil-A, Fresh Market Smoothies, Montague’s Deli, and the Western Burger Factory. Adjacent from the food court is Einstein Bros. Bagel. Java City (serves coffee and pastries) is located on the second floor along with Catamount Clothing, Student Mail Center, email stations, copy and fax services, and student lounges. Base Camp Cullowhee provides great opportunities for outdoor fun and leadership as well. BCC also offers an excellent outdoor experience and has a great rental program that provides students with equipment for camping, rafting, climbing and other outdoor experiences. Also a vital part of the UC is the Student Media Center, a historic facility that houses student-run media groups that include radio, newspaper, television, and literary magazines.

Concerts and Entertainment: Western North Carolina’s most versatile entertainment complex, the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center provides quality programming for the entire community. The 8,000 seat arena hosts major concerts, national touring acts, commencement, and Catamount basketball and volleyball. Student tickets to major events are often available at a discount.

Event Services: The arena, concourse, meeting rooms, outdoor patios, and other reservable spaces are available to the public for banquets, trade shows, conferences, and meetings. Students may utilize the Ramsey Center’s full line of event services including event planning, equipment reservations, and room set-ups.

Fitness Activities: The Ramsey Center offers opportunities to enjoy regular fitness activity. Students have free access to five racquetball courts, two basketball courts, walking or jogging around the concourse, and a lighted outdoor rollerblade and skateboard area.

Job Opportunities:Students play a major role in the operation of the Ramsey Center. Student managers keep the Ramsey Center open for activity during evenings and weekends. Stage crew, lighting operators, and promotion and event staff help with concerts and other major productions. Utility crew and office assistants work closely with staff to handle day-to-day operations. Ramsey Center team members work flexible hours; gain leadership experience; and develop communication, teamwork, and time management skills.

For more information about the Ramsey Center and its programs and services, go online to http://ramsey.wcu.edu.