About the University and the Graduate School

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About the University

A member of The University of North Carolina, Western Carolina University offers courses in the arts, sciences, technologies, humanities, and professions. Students can elect degree programs at the bachelor’s or master’s level, or doctoral level study in educational leadership. As a regional institution, it serves the people of North Carolina from its residential campus at Cullowhee and through off-campus instruction in Asheville and other locations. 

Missions

Teaching and learning constitute the central mission of Western Carolina University. The University seeks to create a community of scholarship in which the activities of its members are consistent with the highest standards of knowledge and practice in their disciplines. The commitment of the community to service, research, and creative activities complements the central mission and extends the benefits of its scholarship to society. As a major public resource for western North Carolina, the university promotes regional economic development through its teaching, research and service. Western Carolina University seeks to provide an environment in which students, faculty, and staff jointly assume responsibility for learning, where free exchange of ideas, intellectual challenge, and high standards of scholarship prevail.

Aspirations

Western Carolina University aspires to provide an environment in which students, faculty, and staff jointly assume responsibility for learning where the free exchange of ideas, and in which intellectual challenge, and high standards of scholarship prevail. The university aspires to prepare students to become responsible citizens in a global community. By working both independently and collaboratively, graduates of the University should demonstrate:

• the ability to think critically, to communicate effectively, to identify and resolve problems reflectively, and to use information and technology responsibly;
• proficiency in the intellectual and technical skills of a disciplined study in the arts, sciences, humanities, technologies, or professions;
• an appreciation for the creative and performing arts; and
• a basis for continued personal development and lifelong learning.

To encourage and protect the free and open interchange of ideas, the university strives to provide experiences that foster the development of respect among all its members toward the larger communities of which it is a part. Accordingly, the university encourages its students, faculty, and staff to display the following traits of citizenship:

• behavior characterized by honesty, integrity, and responsibility;
• service to others;
• awareness of and sensitivity to the concerns of diverse people and cultures; and
• commitment to stewardship of the natural and cultural environment.

Location

Western Carolina University is located in the scenic Appalachian mountain ranges at Cullowhee, North Carolina. The university consists of the main campus in Cullowhee and resident credit centers in Asheville and Cherokee. A faculty of approximately 700 serves a student body of almost 9,000 in resident-credit and extension classes. The Cullowhee campus is in a rural valley between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, 52 miles west of Asheville and seven miles south of Sylva on North Carolina Highway 107. The location, at the southern end of Cullowhee Valley in the heart of the Tuckaseigee River basin, gives it an unusually attractive setting. The closest commercial airport to the university is located in Asheville, and there is airline service to Asheville. Private taxi service is available. The central campus consists of about 233 acres, including beautifully wooded areas and modern academic, student residence, recreation, and athletic facilities. The Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee Indian Reservation, Fontana Lake, and numerous resort areas offer golfing, skiing, fishing, hunting, hiking, water sports, and other recreational opportunities nearby.

Governance

Western Carolina University, a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, functions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University. Policies of the Board of Governors are administered by the president and the General Administration of The University of North Carolina. The Board of Trustees receives its authority by delegation from the Board of Governors. The chancellor is the chief administrative officer of the university. The Faculty Senate, the principal policy-recommending body of the faculty, operates under the provisions of a faculty constitution and bylaws.

Accreditation

Western Carolina University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone number 404-679-4501) to award bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist’s, and doctoral degrees. In addition to this institutional accreditation, other special accreditation by appropriate agencies includes these:

• AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• American Chemical Society
• American Council for Construction Education (candidacy status)
• American Dietetic Association
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in cooperation with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association, and the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Professions
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education - candidacy status
• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Council on Accreditation of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
• Council of Applied Masters Programs in Psychology
• Council on Accreditation of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• Council on Social Work Education
• Foundation on Interior Design Education Research (FIDER)
• National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Science and Protection
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• National Association of Schools of Music
• National Association of School Psychologists
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• National Council for Teachers of English
• National Kitchen and Bath Association Endorsement
• North American Society for Sport Management/National Association of Sport and Physical Education
• North Carolina Board of Nursing
• North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
• Project Management Institute, Inc.
• Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Electronics Engineering Technology)

The university is a member of appropriate state and national associations and organizations to which its professional programs are related. These include but are not limited to:

• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities
• American Council on Education
• American Society of Allied Health Professions
• Association for Theatre in Higher Education
• Association for Continuing Higher Education
• Association for Institutional Research
• Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
• College Entrance Examination Board
• Conference of Southern Graduate Schools
• Cooperative Education Association
• Council of Applied Masters Programs in Psychology
• Council of Graduate Schools in the United States
• Institute for International Education, Inc.
• International Council for Small Business
• Mathematics Association of America
• National Association of College and University Business Officers
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• National Business Education Association
• National University Continuing Education Association
• North American Association of Summer Sessions
• North Carolina Academy of Science
• North Carolina Association for Institutional Research
• North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities
• North Carolina Bar Association
• North Carolina Middle School Association
• North Carolina Political Science Association
• Southeastern Theatre Conference
• Southern Association for Institutional Research
• Southern Atlantic States Association for Asian and African Studies
• Southern Regional Education Board
• Southern States Communication Association
• Speech Communication Association
• United States Distance Learning Association
• United States Institute for Theatre Technology

 The Register

History of The University of North Carolina

In North Carolina, all the public educational institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees are part of The University of North Carolina. Western Carolina University is one of the sixteen constituent institutions of the multi-campus state university.

The University of North Carolina, chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1789, was the first public university in the United States to open its doors and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century. The first class was admitted in Chapel Hill in 1795. For the next 136 years, the only campus of The University of North Carolina was at Chapel Hill.

In 1877, the North Carolina General Assembly began sponsoring additional institutions of higher education, diverse in origin and purpose. Five were historically black institutions, and another was founded to educate American Indians. Several were created to prepare teachers for the public schools. Others had a technological emphasis. One is a training school for performing artists.

In 1931, the North Carolina General Assembly redefined The University of North Carolina to include three state-supported institutions: the campus at Chapel Hill (now the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University at Raleigh), and Woman’s College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). The new multi-campus university operated with one board of trustees and one president. By 1969, three additional campuses had joined the university through legislative action: the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

In 1971, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation bringing into the University of North Carolina the state’s ten remaining public senior institutions, each of which had until then been legally separate: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, Pembroke State University, Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem State University. This action created the current sixteen-campus university. In 1985, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential high school for gifted students, was declared an affiliated school of the university; and in 1996, Pembroke State University was renamed The University of North Carolina at Pembroke through legislative action.

The UNC Board of Governors is the policy-making body legally charged with the general determination, control, supervision, management, and governance of all affairs of the constituent institutions. It elects the president, who administers the university. The thirty-two voting members of the Board of Governors are elected by the North Carolina General Assembly for four-year terms. Former board chairmen and board members who are former governors of North Carolina may continue to serve for limited periods as non-voting members emeriti. The president of the UNC Association of Student Governments, or that student’s designee, is also a non-voting member.

Each of the sixteen constituent institutions is headed by a chancellor, who is chosen by the Board of Governors on the president’s nomination and is responsible to the president. Each institution has a board of trustees, consisting of eight members elected by the Board of Governors, four appointed by the governor, and the president of the student body, who serves ex officio. The North Carolina School of the Arts has two additional ex officio members. Each board of trustees holds extensive powers over academic and other operations of its institution on delegation from the Board of Governors.

Board of Governors

Officers of the University of North Carolina

Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University was founded in August 1889 as a semi-public school. Chartered as Cullowhee High School in 1891, it served the Cullowhee community and boarding students from neighboring counties and other states.

For Professor Robert Lee Madison, the institution’s founder, the aim of the school was teacher training. In 1893, with the first state appropriation of $1,500, a normal department was established. In 1905, the institution became Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School, a title it held for 20 years.

Beginning about 1912, the status of the school was gradually raised to that of a two-year normal school or junior college. With state support increasing and work at the secondary level discontinued, the name of the school was changed in 1925 to Cullowhee State Normal School.

In 1929, under a new charter authorizing the school to extend its work to the four-year level, the name Western Carolina Teachers College was adopted. Modifications in function and rapid growth climaxed in 1951 with the addition of the postgraduate year to the curriculum, and the granting of the Master of Arts in Education degree was authorized. Demands in the liberal arts, and for programs in other areas of learning, led to an expansion of its offerings and to a further change, in 1953, to the name Western Carolina College.

In 1967, the institution was designated a regional university by the North Carolina General Assembly and the name of the institution was changed to Western Carolina University.

In 1971, the state legislature reorganized higher education in North Carolina, and on July 1, 1972, Western Carolina University became a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina.

In 1996, Western Carolina University was approved by the University of North Carolina-General Administration and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer the Doctoral degree in education.

Board of Trustees

 The Graduate School

The Graduate School consists of a graduate faculty represented by the dean, who is the administrative officer, and the Graduate Council. The dean reports to the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor and is responsible for Graduate School and Research. Please see our Graduate Faculty & Staff web page, http://www.wcu.edu/1137.asp, for a current list of graduate faculty members.

Graduate Council

Graduate School members serving on Graduate Council are Scott Higgins, Dean and Chairman; Kathleen Brennan, Associate Dean; and Elizabeth Frazier, Student Services Manager. Please see www.wcu.edu/3021.asp for a current list of faculty and student members.

The Graduate Council formulates and recommends policies and standards for the Graduate School, reviews and recommends all teaching personnel for graduate courses, and appraises and recommends new graduate degree programs and changes in existing programs.

Research Administration

The Office of Research Administration (ORA) conducts a comprehensive sponsored research program to support teaching, research, and community outreach. ORA supports the pursuit of external funding from public and private sources, serving as the central administrative office for all sponsored programs.

Faculty Scholarship Advisory Committee.

The mission of the Faculty Scholarship Advisory Committee is to serve as an advisory body to the WCU Chief Research Officer and the Director of Research Administration on matters pertaining to the development of research and creative activities. The advisory group is charged with helping to nurture a climate that encourages research as one of the primary missions of the University. The group identifies needs of the faculty and other researchers; analyzes services, policies, and procedures that affect research; and makes recommendations which, in its view, will facilitate the research process and research productivity at the University.

The Graduate School and Graduate Study at Western Carolina University

Graduate study is a personal experience, and the selection of a graduate school is one of the most important decisions a student is called upon to make. At Western Carolina University, graduate study is characterized by small classes, personal interaction with faculty members, and a pleasant atmosphere conducive to the pursuit of individual educational goals.

Western Carolina University is a state-supported coeducational institution with a student body of almost 9,000, of which over 1,900 are graduate students. Including its credit and noncredit instructional courses, continuing education offerings, and workshop, conference, and service programs, the university serves more than 12,000 persons each year. The Graduate School offers programs leading to 17 master’s degrees in more than 50 professional and academic areas, the Education Specialist degree, the Specialist in School Psychology degree, and the Doctor of Education degree.

The Graduate School provides programs to prepare members of the teaching profession for licensure at the master’s and sixth-year levels, to prepare persons to teach in higher education, and to meet the needs of persons working in or preparing to work in other occupations and professions. A student interested in any of the following programs should request additional information from the Graduate School or the head of the appropriate department: accountancy, art, biology, business administration, chemistry, college student personnel, communication sciences and disorders, construction management, counseling, educational leadership, educational supervision, elementary education, English, entrepreneurship, health sciences, history, human resources,  mathematics, middle grades education, music, nursing, physical therapy, project management, psychology, public affairs, school administration, social work, special education, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), or  technology.

The university operates on a semester system, with two semesters making up the regular academic year. In addition, a summer semester offers a wide variety of courses for both graduates and undergraduates.

Further information may be obtained by emailing the Graduate School at grad@wcu.edu, writing the Graduate School at 110 Cordelia Camp Building, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723, or by telephoning 828-227-7398 or 800-369-9854.

Western Carolina University Programs in Asheville

Western Carolina University offers a broad range of instruction at the graduate level in Asheville. The programs of instruction, intended primarily for the adult professional student, are taught late afternoons, evenings and weekends. Western Carolina utilizes the educational facilities and resources of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

For a complete list of graduate degree programs and certificate and licensure programs offered in Asheville please visit the Programs Offered in Asheville website. Students enrolled in some programs will also need to enroll in coursework offered in Cullowhee.

Western Carolina University administers its programs in Asheville with offices located in Room 120, Karpen Hall, on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Additional information is available from WCU Programs in Asheville, 120 Karpen Hall, CPO #2160, UNC Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina 28804-3299, telephone 828-251-6642 or 828-227-7423, asheville.wcu.edu.

Western Carolina University Department of Nursing is located on the Enka campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 1459 Sand Hill Rd., Candler, NC 28715, telephone 828-670-8810.

Research and Service Facilities

Division of Educational Outreach. The Division’s primary mission is education outreach. As the instructional outreach unit of the University, the Division of Educational Outreach extends educational options regionally, statewide, nationally and internationally using a variety of educational delivery systems and formats. A wide range of degree programs are now available through distance learning, including a number of online degree programs.

The Division manages the Asheville Center, the Cherokee Center, and a variety of specialty courses and programs in addition to distance learning programs. The Division offers noncredit workshops, seminars and professional development programs and hosts a number of conferences on an ongoing basis.

To obtain information or to be placed on a mailing list call 828-227-7397 or 866-WCU-GRAD, or visit us at http://edoutreach.wcu.edu.

Military Education. Western Carolina University’s Office of Military Education provides support and guidance to students who are serving, or have served, in the military in any capacity. This support and guidance is provided from the point of inquiry through graduation, and it is extended to family members of these students. In order to ensure that military students and their family members are receiving prompt service and accurate information, the Office of Military Education coordinates regularly with the Advising Center, and with the offices of Undergraduate Admissions, the Registrar, Financial Aid, Residential Living, and the Graduate School. The Office of Military Education also works frequently with on and off campus government and private agencies, including Western Carolina’s Counseling Center, the Veterans Administration Hospital in Asheville, the American Council on Education, the Service members Opportunity College, NC county Veteran’s Services Officers, and various volunteer and non-profit veteran support organizations. These working relationships allow the Office of Military Education to provide solid support to military students on a wide range of issues, including transfer credit, credit for training and experience, use of GI Bill and military tuition assistance benefits, residential living, acclimation to university living, and other issues that affect military students. Increasingly, Western Carolina University is earning the distinction of being “military friendly “.

Contact Chuck Gross, the Director of Military Education by phone 828-227-7397 or toll-free 866-928-4723, by fax 828-227-7115, by email military@wcu.edu, or by mail to 138 Cordelia Camp Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723.

Highlands Biological Station. The Highlands Biological Station is a field station for biological research and education focused on southern Appalachian ecosystems and organisms. Since 1977 the station has been an Inter-institutional Center of the University of North Carolina. Thirty-three regional colleges and universities participate in the Station’s programs as member institutions.

The Station is located on the Blue Ridge Escarpment about 30 miles south of Cullowhee in the town of Highlands, North Carolina. The topography, latitude, and high rainfall of the area yields rich biotic and environmental diversity, making the Station an ideal locale for a variety of field studies. Its facilities are open to students and senior investigators engaged in research on the organisms and environments of the southern Appalachian region. Station facilities include housing (36 beds in several residences), a dining hall, well-equipped research space, and teaching classrooms and laboratories. The campus also includes the Highlands Nature Center, which offers educational exhibits and a diversity of public programs, and the Highlands Botanical Garden, which features a great many native plant species in a variety of southern Appalachian habitats.

The Station offers six courses each summer at the advanced undergraduate and graduate levels. Limited financial aid is available for these courses. A grant-in-aid program also provides financial assistance to graduate students conducting thesis research on the biota of the region. Since 2001 the Station has hosted a fall semester-in-residence undergraduate program in cooperation with the Carolina Environmental Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. WCU students majoring in biology or environmental sciences are encouraged to apply to this unique program.

To learn more about the programs and course and research opportunities at the Highlands Biological Station, see our website (http://www.wcu.edu/hbs) or write to Dr. James T. Costa, Executive Director, Highlands Biological Station, 265 N. Sixth Street, Highlands, NC 28741.

Hunter Library

The Hunter Library considers providing high quality service to students and faculty as its primary mission. Librarians provide both individualized research assistance and classroom instruction. The library is open more than 110 hours per week during the semester.

The collections and services that support student and faculty research include:

• Main book collection consisting of over 679,000 books and bound periodicals. This is augmented by the cooperative agreement with UNC Asheville and Appalachian State University through the use of a shared online catalog and delivery service. Students can readily borrow items from these other libraries and generally receive them in 2 days or less. The combined collection is approximately 1 million volumes.
• 95+ electronic databases and 8,000+ electronic journals that can be accessed remotely
• Free document delivery service that provides access to articles from approximately 25,000 journal titles that can be accessed remotely
• Electronic reserves collection that can be accessed remotely
• 1,200 print journal subscriptions
• Free interlibrary loan service for all students and faculty
• Microfiche collection of 1.5 million pieces
• Government documents providing access to over 227,000 government documents representing both the federal government and the North Carolina government
• Special Collections containing manuscript collections, books, photographs and other resources documenting the history of Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia, the history of the Cherokee Indians, and literary works and papers of Western North Carolina authors
• The Map Room collection contains more than 122,000 sheet maps and an extensive collection of digital mapping data with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to support it
• Media Collection, an extensive collection of CDs, videotapes, DVDs and other media in its Curriculum Materials Center (CMC)
• Curriculum Materials also maintains collections of state-adopted textbooks, curriculum guides, children’s literature and other classroom instructional materials in support of the university’s professional education programs.

Information Technology. Information Technology is responsible for providing technology assistance, information and services in support of WCU’s mission and aspirations. These services include providing information resources to students, faculty, staff and administration to support teaching, learning, research, administrative and regional engagement efforts. Information Technology provides advice, planning and technical guidance for the appropriate use of technology in support of the university’s educational endeavor. Information Technology is located in various campus buildings with assistance available at many of WCU’s facilities beyond the Cullowhee campus. The university is an active member of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

Information Technology has over 60 staff and is comprised of the following units: Applications Programming, Educational Technologies, Information Technology Services, Networking and Communications, Systems and Operations, Technology Service Center and Web Services. The University uses a state-of-the-art administrative system that allows students and faculty to do virtually all of their business with the university, such as register for courses or post grades, online. All students receive a WCU email account that allows them to communicate with their peers, faculty members, and university offices. The MyCat portal is the primary tool used by students to access email and other campus and course related information. WebCat, based upon the WebCT Vista software, is the primary instructional delivery system in support of traditional classroom and online courses.

There are over 3,000 microcomputers in offices, classrooms, and lab facilities all with connections to high speed broadband networks. Students enjoy high-speed network connectivity from their residence hall rooms, with two ports per room, or from the wireless network available throughout the Cullowhee campus. There are four general student computer lab facilities which are open at least 80 hours per week. The lab located in Hunter Library is open 24 hours from Sunday afternoon through Friday night during fall and spring semesters. Users may call the Information Technology Help Desk at 227-7ITS (227-7487) or 866-WCU-7ITS (866-928-7487) to request assistance with any Information Technology service or resource. Faculty routinely work with the Coulter Faculty Commons to integrate technology into their teaching activities.

Information Technology supports both Windows and Macintosh operating systems along with various software applications including a focus on Microsoft Office products. Office products are provided for faculty, staff and students along with the Windows operating system. Many software packages are centrally licensed with a limited number of licenses available in labs and classrooms. Statistical packages include SPSS, Minitab for Windows and SAS which is provided by a grant by the SAS Institute. Other specialized software found in labs includes digital media editing, geographical information system, and engineering design programs. Information Technology also provides computer virus protection software to all faculty, staff and students and is committed to keeping computers safe, secure and current in a highly networked campus computing environment.

The campus network interconnects with the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), which provides Western access to interactive videoconferencing as well as a very high speed network path to the Internet (655-megabit). IT’s Web Services unit supports the WCU website at http://www.wcu.edu and provides the campus with Web publishing assistance by providing departmental access to the Red Dot Content Management System. The Information Technology website at http://www.wcu.edu/IT provides a variety of useful technology information and self-help resources as well as links for downloading software and accessing computer purchasing information.

International Programs and Services. The Office of International Programs and Services (IPS) coordinates and supports many types of international programs and activities at Western Carolina University, 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 programs; K-12 International Outreach Program to the public schools; Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars; international university linkages; the Japan Global Partnership Program; and academic programming. The office also assists the Host Family Association, the International Club, and the sponsorship of the annual International Festival and International Education Week.

Mountain Heritage Center. The center collects, interprets, and disseminates knowledge about the southern Appalachian region and its people. Its research and artifact collections promote public awareness of the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage using publications, exhibitions, and demonstrations presented both on campus and throughout western North Carolina. The center also collaborates with public schools in preparing programs for educational enrichment and provides a learning experience for university students through internships.

Myron L. Coulter Faculty Commons for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The Coulter Faculty Commons provides services designed to assist and support all part and full-time faculty and Graduate Teaching Assistants in seeking, achieving and maintaining excellence in their teaching. Training and guidance are available for those who wish to use instructional technology in their teaching. The Coulter Faculty Commons’ website is located at http://facctr.wcu.edu/ and includes a GTA page.

Activities and services most relevant for GTAs include:

• The GATE Program (Graduate Assistant Teaching Experience), a program designed to enhance the graduate experience by providing a thoughtful and thorough preparation in the art of teaching
• Consultation on course syllabi, course development, teaching goals, active learning, and applications of instructional technology
• Faculty Sandbox <http://facctr.wcu.edu/sandbox.html>, a place where faculty and GTAs can develop instructional materials via computer
• Computer classroom orientation and training
  • Schedule <http://facctr.wcu.edu/learningops.html> of semester presentations and workshops
  • Training in the use of WebCT to enhance classroom courses
• Faculty Forum <http://facctr.wcu.edu/forum.html>, a monthly publication featuring evocative opinion pieces of WCU faculty
• MountainRise, an eJournal on the scholarship of teaching and learning
• Renaissance of Teaching and Learning Booklet Series published each semester
• A lending library of professional literature on college teaching that is located in Hunter Library 240

The Coulter Faculty Commons can be reached at 828-227-7196.

North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1985 as a statewide center to recognize and support outstanding North Carolina pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade school teachers and to enhance teaching as an art and profession. The center has two campuses, one located west of the WCU campus and one on Ocracoke Island. A center of The University of North Carolina, it is governed by a board of trustees, and its programs and activities are conducted by a professional staff of administrators and faculty.

Office of Regional Affairs. The Office of Regional Affairs serves as the University’s liaison with local, regional, state, and federal governments and agencies, and with regional civic and economic development organizations. The office seeks to enhance relationships and partnerships with public and private entities, supports initiatives to secure funding and legislative priorities, and focuses on local and regional economic development.

School University Teacher Education Partnership. The School University Teacher Education Partnership in the College of Education and Allied Professions works to coordinate university faculty and staff resources to assist local schools with the achievement of local and state education goals. The office disseminates information on services offered by the university, receives requests for assistance from school districts, and directs requests to the appropriate campus college, department, or unit. Reports of services provided by WCU are compiled annually.

Speech and Hearing Clinic. The Speech and Hearing Clinic’s (SHC) fundamental mission is to provide quality clinical education for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in the discipline of communication disorders. As a critical adjunct, the SHC provides diagnostic, treatment, and consultative services to citizens with known or suspected speech, language, and/or hearing disorders in its catchment area of western North Carolina. The SHC also strives to serve as a community resource for allied professionals and agencies requiring information about human communication and its disorders. The center derives its strength from a combined academic/clinical orientation that directly fosters the delivery of state-of-the-art services. The SHC’s services are available to persons of all ages. In addition to traditional speech/language/hearing services, the SHC offers the following:

• hearing aid evaluation and dispensing
• otoacoustic emission diagnostic testing
• brain stem evoked response screening for newborns
• augmentative communication evaluation
• interdisciplinary evaluation
• assistance with assistive technology
• training on various topics related to communication disorders

University Writing Center. The UWC recognizes the specific needs of graduate students, including the needs of graduate students for whom English is a second language. Trained graduate assistants work one-on-one to assist their fellow students across the curriculum with graduate-level composition and research. Visit the center’s website for hours and online resources. For more information or to make an appointment, call 828-227-7197 or visit the center in Hunter Library 161.

Centers and Institutes Affiliated with Graduate School and Research

Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines. The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) is a research and educational outreach center. The primary mission of PSDS is to conduct scientific research into coastal processes and to translate that science into management and policy recommendations through a variety of professional and public outreach mechanisms. PSDS personnel foster faculty and student participation in these areas of research through grant writing and active engagement of students in research projects.

Public Policy Institute. The Public Policy Institute is a multidisciplinary applied research and outreach arm of the University concerned with promoting effective public policy in the region. Faculty and students from across the University participate in the institute in a variety of ways. Interested students and faculty should contact the director for more information.

Graduate Student Life and Services

Services are provided at Western Carolina University to further each student’s academic and social development. The Division of Student Affairs has general responsibility in this area, and its functions include providing comfortable housing, offering counseling services and health care, and enhancing the college environment with recreational and leadership activities. The Division’s website is available at http://dsa.wcu.edu. 

On-Line WCU Student Handbook. Available at http://studenthandbook.wcu.edu, the WCU Student Handbook provides convenient links to Western Carolina University policies, procedures, and support for students, as well as general information about the University, and much more. The Student Handbook supplements the information found in this catalog.

Housing

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 and professionals responsible for both the residential community as well as each student’s personal growth and development.

The residence halls are open to all students, undergraduate and graduate, to the extent available. Freshmen and some transfer students are required to live on campus. This requirement may be waived if the student is married or lives with parents in a county contiguous to Jackson County. For full details regarding the residency requirement, please read University Policy #96 at http://www.wcu.edu/25379.asp. 

A variety of accommodations are available including, private and double rooms , suite style buildings, graduate housing, and married student housing. 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. (A list of suggested items to bring can be found on the Residential Living website.) 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 Student Mail Center located in the University Center. Mailing addresses are assigned by the Department of Residential Living and will be provided when students receive housing assignments.

Please visit http://housing.wcu.edu to learn much more about Residential Living and life in the residence halls at Western Carolina University.

Off-Campus Housing. Students that are eligible under University Policy #96 to live off-campus and choose to do so, are responsible for making those arrangements and the associated obligations. While the University does not endorse any off-campus housing, an on-line service is available to help University community members explore off-campus options: http://offcampushousing.wcu.edu/.  

Dining Services

Please review the Dining Services website at http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSSE/WesternCarolina for comprehensive information about eating on-campus.

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.

Student Activities and Services

A variety of programs, activities, and services identified with everyday living are available on campus. Students are encouraged to choose and participate in co-curricular activities wisely and balance them with their academic endeavors. The student activity fee helps to support many of these activities and services as well as a number of cultural programs. The fee also supports the campus media including the radio station, newspaper, literary magazine, and student television station.

Student organizations are recognized as an important part of the educational process. More than two hundred recognized campus organizations provide students opportunities to explore their religious, political, professional, social, or special interests and to be recognized for their academic and personal achievements. Learn more about the ways students can get involved on-line at http://www.wcu.edu/100.asp.

A.K. Hinds University Center

The University Center (UC) is your gateway to involvement at WCU! From programs and student organizations to dining options and conference rooms, the UC is the central facility for student participation! The UC provides a wide range of services, programs, and organizations aimed to improve student involvement and to provide a well-rounded collegiate experience for students. The A.K. Hinds University Center provides an inclusive student-centered community that supports and encourages student learning, leadership opportunities, personal development, and active learning, in a caring atmosphere.

Named for the late Anthony Keith Hinds, former dean and professor of mathematics at WCU, the University Center is the hub of student social life on campus. The UC features a two-story atrium, meeting rooms, a grand ballroom, a 170-seat movie theater, Club Illusions, Catamount Clothing, a food court, and the student mailroom. The additional space also includes the Intercultural Center, as well as the Center for Student Involvement with offices, workspace, and conference rooms for student clubs and organizations. Also a vital part of the UC is the Student Media Center, located in the historic Old Student Union, which houses student-run media groups that include radio, newspaper, television and literary magazines. The UC also works with the student leaders of Last Minute Productions (LMP) and Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) to provide student initiated programming for the entire campus. These groups work to bring concerts, speakers and a variety of performers to the campus community. The UC website is available at: http://univcenter.wcu.edu.

Base Camp Cullowhee

Although Base Camp Cullowhee (BCC) is not located in the University Center, BCC is a part of the UC and has a vital role in the UC’s mission. Located in Brown Hall, 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. For more detailed information, visit the BCC website: http://basecamp.wcu.edu. 

Campus Recreation and Wellness

The mission of the Department of Campus Recreation and Wellness is to create a campus-wide culture of wellness by providing programs, services, and facilities for individuals to engage and sustain the active process of healthy living.

Located in the 73,000 square foot Campus Recreation Center (CRC), our goal is to offer a wide range of quality facilities and programs that will support the university community in achieving a balanced quality of life. The CRC is home to the campus intramurals program as well as club sports. Please visit our website for current information about Campus Recreation and Wellness: http://reccenter.wcu.edu. 

Athletics

Western Carolina University is a NCAA Division I institution with membership in the Southern Conference. With over 300 student athletes competing in 16 sports, WCU students have many opportunities to support their Catamounts. The mandatory Athletic Fee provides support for WCU Athletics and so students have free tickets to all Athletic events. More information about Catamount Athletics is available on the official website: http://www.catamountsports.com/.

University Health Services

The mission of Western Carolina University Health Services is to meet the healthcare needs of the academic community and to enhance the physical, psychological, environmental and health education needs of the WCU campus community. The staff includes physicians, physicians’ assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and a laboratory technician. Additionally, the Health Service administers a student-run ambulance service that allows for on-campus coverage for emergencies. Specialty services offered include a women’s health clinic, allergy and immunization clinic, and some limited pharmacy services.

The mandatory Student Health Fee supports University Health Services, however some procedures require additional charges. WCU is part of the University of North Carolina System which requires all students to provide proof of immunizations and health insurance coverage. A student’s registration status may be held until these requirements are met. Students that do not have health insurance coverage are required to participate in the UNC System-sponsored health insurance plan.

More information about Health Services and the health insurance requirements are available on-line at http://studenthealth.wcu.edu. 

Counseling and Psychological Services. Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) offers many services to assist students, staff and faculty. CPS staff are available to help when problems arise or provide assistance in a crisis, but also work to promote healthy life styles and prevention through programs, training, and consultation. We work with many healthy, smart, and resilient students who chose to use our professional services to gain new insights, solve problems, and tap into personal resources for continued health and well-being. Please review the CPS website at http://counselingcenter.wcu.edu for more information about our services.

Career Services and Cooperative Education

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 see http://careers.wcu.edu.

Educator Licensure Assistance. All students and alumni seeking initial or advanced teacher or school professional licensure will find assistance in the Office of Field Experience and Licensure, Room 230 Killian Building, 828-227-2000.

Intercultural Affairs

The departments of Multicultural Affairs and the Women’s Center have merged to become the Department of Intercultural Affairs (ICA). This reorganization provides students with more opportunities to connect, and ensures an ongoing collaboration of programs and services to better meet the needs of our students, campus and surrounding communities. Intercultural Affairs sponsors programs during nationally recognized celebratory months to highlight some of the many cultures represented in the campus community. ICA staff serves as a resource, advocate and foundation of support for the Western Carolina community on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and tolerance for differences. Located in the University Center, Intercultural Affairs is a resource for all WCU students. WCU’s Diversity Initiatives website is at http://diversity.wcu.edu/ and highlights many of Intercultural Affairs programs and services.

Ramsey Regional Activity Center

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: 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.

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

Campus Safety Report and Emergency Preparedness

Western Carolina University Police work to keep the campus community safe and help prepare the campus for emergencies. An annual safety report is posted online at http://police.wcu.edu/ and http://dsa.wcu.edu/ in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (formerly the Campus Security Act). A link to an Emergency Information website is included at the bottom of all WCU web pages or can be opened at http://emergency.wcu.edu/ for details on campus preparedness and emergency notification systems. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to carefully review this information.

WCU Campus Police and 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 call boxes which are placed at various locations throughout campus. Information regarding crime reports, statistics and prevention programs is available at the University Police department and http://police.wcu.edu website.

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 Outreach Center Annex. These same regulations are made available on-line at http://police.wcu.edu.

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://sga.wcu.edu/. 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 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. The Cat-Tran buses are used for the daily shuttle routes and are not available for special event or group use. For information regarding routes, hours of operation, or other issues, please visit the Cat-Tran website at http://police.wcu.edu/ or call the Cat-Tran office at 828-227-8726 (TRAN).

Other Services and Facilities

Bank Services. A Wachovia ATM is located on campus. State Employees Credit Union and BB&T ATM’s are located in the Hinds University Center. Additionally, branch offices of Wachovia Bank, BB&T, State Employees Credit Union, Sun Trust Bank, Macon Savings Bank, Carolina First Bank, Mountain Credit Union, United Community Bank, First Citizen’s Bank, Jackson Savings Bank are located in or near Sylva.

Books and Supplies. The Catamount Bookstore offers students a variety of educational materials and supplies. An extensive selection of books is offered for class use and extracurricular reading. All books for graduate students, distance learning and supplemental text and course-related materials for undergraduates 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 website at http://books.wcu.edu/home.aspx.

Clothing and Gifts. The Catamount Clothing and Gifts store offers students a variety of clothing, gifts, greeting cards and miscellaneous items. The store is located on the second floor of the UC and for more information, call 828-227-7626 or visit our website at http://books.wcu.edu/home.aspx.

Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services facilitates the determination of appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. Accommodations are determined on an individual basis and may include but are not limited to housing accommodations, testing accommodations, sign-language interpreters, note takers, books in alternate formats, adaptive equipment and software, and priority registration. To receive services, students must submit current documentation of a disability. Disability counseling, career advisement, awareness activities, advocacy, and coaching are also available. Dr. Lance Alexis, Director, 828-227-2716. (www.wcu.edu/12789.asp)

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; an Intensive English 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. The Campus Recreation Center is considered the playground of Western Carolina University’s campus and home to a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Within the 73,000 square foot facility there is a 48 foot climbing wall, three lane indoor track, gymnasium, two multi-purpose studios, and full locker room amenities. The fitness area includes selectorized weight machines and an assortment of free weights and cardio equipment which provides options for every fitness level. Additional programs offered by the center include: personal training, fitness assessments, group exercise, and other wellness activities that contribute to health, well-being, and social development.

Housed in the Campus Recreation Center is the Intramural Sports Program which offers sports in more than forty individual, team, and co-ed activities allowing students an opportunity to participate in sports in a fun and competitive atmosphere. In addition, the Intramural Sports Program has 14 established sport clubs. These clubs are open to all students regardless of skill level. Students are also encouraged to develop new sport clubs.

Additional recreational facilities on campus include: Reid and Breese pools, Ramsey Center racquetball courts, tennis courts, and a 12-hole disc golf course.

Student Support Services (http://sss.wcu.edu) 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 (http://www.wcu.edu/7252.asp) 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 or contact the center at (828) 293-1530.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (http://multicultural.wcu.edu) 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 visit our website or call 828 227-2276.

Study Abroad. Graduate students are eligible to study for a semester and/or summer, with advisor approval, in 37 countries world wide through the following programs administered by the Office of International Programs and Services: the University of North Carolina Exchange Program (UNC-EP), the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), and several Western Carolina University exchanges. Graduate students pay Western Carolina University tuition and fees to WCU and comparable room and board charges to the host institution. Financial aid assists students with study abroad costs and scholarships are available through external grant agencies. Summer programs including intensive language courses and internships are available through many of our overseas partners and financial aid, grants, and scholarships are available. For more information call 828-227-7494. Summer abroad programs by Western Carolina University faculty are handled by the Division of Educational Outreach at 828-227-7397.

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 call 828-227-7450 or email: www.womenscenter@email.wcu.edu.