 | This articlerelies excessively onreferences toprimary sources. Please improve this article by addingsecondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Western Carolina University" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | |
Former names | Cullowhee Academy (1889–1905) Cullowhee Normal & Industrial School (1905–1925) Cullowhee State Normal School (1925–1929) Western Carolina Teachers College (1929–1953) Western Carolina College (1953–1967) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public university |
| Established | August 5, 1889; 136 years ago (August 5, 1889) |
| Founder | Robert Lee Madison |
Parent institution | University of North Carolina |
| Accreditation | SACS |
| Endowment | $130 million (2022)[1] |
| Chancellor | Kelli R. Brown |
| Provost | Richard D. Starnes |
Academic staff | 548 full-time and 228 part-time (spring 2023)[2] |
Administrative staff | 967[3] |
| Students | 11,877 (spring 2023)[4] |
| Undergraduates | 10,145[5] |
| Postgraduates | 1,732[6] |
| Location | , North Carolina ,United States 35°18′35″N83°11′00″W / 35.30972°N 83.18333°W /35.30972; -83.18333 |
| Campus | Distant town, 589 acres (2.38 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Western Carolinian |
| Colors | Purple and gold [7] |
| Nickname | Catamounts |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division IFCS –SoCon |
| Website | wcu.edu |
 | |
 | |
Western Carolina University (WCU) is apublic university inCullowhee, North Carolina, United States. It is part of theUniversity of North Carolina system.[8]
The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, WCU was founded to educate the people of the western North Carolina mountains.[9] Enrollment for the fall 2020 semester was 12,243 students.[10]
In 1888, the residents of Cullowhee desired a better school for the community than was offered in public schools of that day,[11] organized a board of trusteesand established a community school that came to be known asCullowhee Academy.[12] Founded in August 1889 as a semi-public secondary school and chartered asCullowhee High School in 1891 (also called Cullowhee Academy), it served the Cullowhee community and boarding students from neighboring counties and other states.[13] The founder, Robert Lee Madison, wanted to provide an education for the young people in the region and train teachers to spread education throughout the western part of the state.[14][15] In 1893, through the efforts of Walter E. Moore,representative from Jackson County, the North Carolina Legislature authorized an appropriation for the establishment of a normal department at the school "for the purpose of training teachers".[12] This designation became the first publicly fundednormal school in North Carolina.[16]
In 1905, the state assumed title to the school's buildings and property and made it a state institution. That same year, the school's name was changed toCullowhee Normal & Industrial School. In 1925, the school's name was changed toCullowhee State Normal School. During its years as Cullowhee Normal, the stated purpose of the school was to train teachers for the North Carolina public schools. A coeducational institution, Cullowhee Normal trained over two thousand teachers by the mid-1920s.[17]
Over the next forty years, the school expanded its curriculum and evolved into a junior college, and in 1929 it was chartered by the Legislature as a four-year institution under the nameWestern Carolina Teachers College. Called "the Cullowhee experiment", Madison's idea became a model for the other regional colleges in the state.[16]
The demand for both liberal arts and other programs led to an expansion of the school's offerings.[16] Postgraduate studies and the Master of Arts in Education degree were added to the curriculum in 1951. In 1953, the nameWestern Carolina College was adopted.
In 1967, the institution was designated a regional university by theNorth Carolina General Assembly and given its current name, Western Carolina University.[18] On July 1, 1972, WCU became a member of theUniversity of North Carolina system.[19]
One of the residence halls, Shining Rock, has been the target of severalarson attacks in 2023 and 2024. TheNorth Carolina State Bureau of Investigation entered into a joint investigation with the campus police to find the perpetrator, but the investigation stalled and the perpetrator has not been caught.[20]
Western Carolina University is located inJackson County, in theunincorporated village ofCullowhee, North Carolina. The university operates learning centers in bothAsheville andCherokee with programs offered online and at variouscommunity colleges.[21][22][23][24] The main campus is located in a valley of theTuckasegee River, between theBlue Ridge andGreat Smoky Mountains, 52 miles (84 km) west ofAsheville, North Carolina and 5 miles (8.0 km) south ofSylva, North Carolina. The university lies close to theGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, theBlue Ridge Parkway, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation (officially known as theQualla Boundary), andnational forest lands. The campus is at an elevation of 2,100 feet (640 m), but is located in a thermal valley, shielding it from some of the most extreme temperatures by the surrounding mountains. Cullowhee usually has a mild winter season and can go some winters with little to no snowfall.[25]
The main campus in Cullowhee offers twelve residence halls,[26] two full-service cafeterias, a food court with fast-food outlets, health services, counseling, a bookstore,library, a swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, movie theater, jogging trail and quarter-mile track, hiking and biking trails and intramural fields.
The campus center is the A.K. Hinds University Center.[27] The UC contains the university post office, a movie theater, video and commuter lounges, student organization HQs including the Student Government Association and Last Minute Productions, meeting rooms and office spaces. Outside of the UC is the "Alumni Tower", built in 1989, on the 100th birthday of the university.[28]
A $13.5 million 73,000-square-foot (6,800 m2) Student Recreation Center, was completed over the summer of 2008.[29] Harrill Residence Hall was renovated to add 6,000 square feet (557 m2) and bring the 1971 building toLEED standards of environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, and re-opened in fall 2012.
The new $46.2 million Health and Human Sciences Building opened for use at the start of the 2012–13 academic year, also built to LEED standards. This facility is the first project on the Millennial Initiative property and houses WCU's educational and outreach programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The four-story facility is home to the undergraduate and graduate programs in social work and communication sciences and disorders; graduate programs in physical therapy and health sciences; and undergraduate programs in athletic training, emergency medical care, environmental health, nutrition and dietetics, nursing and recreational therapy.[30]
WCU's educational facilities in Asheville focus on professional and graduate degrees for working students.
The Western Carolina University Cherokee Center inCherokee, North Carolina, was established in 1975 in cooperation with the tribal government of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.[31] The center serves Cherokee and the surrounding communities and is available to all of the people of the region. Their services include the application process, transcript request, scholarships, internships placement, high school recruitment.
The university is led by Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, the chief administrative officer, along with Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Richard Starnes and several advisory groups.[32][33] The institution operates under the guidance and policies of the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University.[34] WCU also falls under the administration of University of North Carolina system presidentThomas W. Ross. The university moved to a provost and senior vice chancellor model in 2004.
Presidents
| Chancellors
| Provosts
|
The university produces the following publications and broadcasts:
WCU students, faculty and staff also contribute to:
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| U.S. News & World Report[39] | 231 (tie) |
| Washington Monthly[40] | 131 |
Western Carolina University's academic programs are housed in six colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences, and Engineering and Technology.
In addition, Western Carolina University's Brinson Honors College coordinates courses and events in every area of student and offers several interdisciplinary program, the Graduate School coordinates the admission process, funding support, and awarding of degrees to graduate students, and Hunter Library provides academic support for all academic units.[41]
With its main campus located on the site of an ancient Cherokee Indian village[42] and adjacent to the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, Western Carolina has a commitment to the rich traditions of both theAppalachian andCherokee cultures. The university's Mountain Heritage Center;[43] Cherokee Center;[44] Craft Revival Project;[45] Cherokee Studies Program[46] and WCU's partnership to preserve the Cherokee language[47] all reflect that influence – and provide educational resources for the region.[48]
Western isclassified among "M1: Master's Colleges and Universities – Larger programs"[49] and in the elective "community engagement" category.[50] WCU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the bachelor, masters, intermediate, and doctoral levels. The university holds 21 program accreditations and is a member of more than 30 state and national associations and organizations to which its professional programs are related. In 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service recognized WCU by awarding the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for "exemplary commitment to service and civic engagement" on WCU's campus and beyond.[51]
As the sixth-largest producer of teachers in North Carolina, the College of Education and Allied Professions was the national winner of the Association of Teacher Educators' Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award[52] in 2006. The college is also the 2007 co-winner of the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award[53] presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The Christa McAuliffe Award nationally recognizes outstanding programs in teacher education at AASCU member institutions.
Western Carolina's Forensic Research Facility (commonly referred to as the "FoREST") is just the second facility of its kind nationally.[54] The decomposition research station is an extremely valuable resource for researchers and forensic anthropology students to study natural decomposition.
Western Carolina University's Brinson Honors College provides an academic community in which high-achieving students challenge themselves to meet and exceed their own academic goals.[55] WCU's Honors College was the first residential honors college in theUniversity of North Carolina System, beginning in 1997 with only 77 students in Reynolds Hall. It now has more than 1,300 students and residential space in Balsam and Blue Ridge residence halls.[56] The Honors College was later renamed to the Brinson Honors College in September 2020 to honor Jack and Judy Brinson.[56] The Brinson Honors College is one of a few in the state to offer a residential option and among a few nationwide to award graduates with a special honors diploma. Entering freshman, must meet one of the following criteria to be considered for consideration into the Brinson Honors College: weighted GPA of 4.2 minimum, unweighted GPA of 3.8 minimum, class rank of 10%, ACT score of 30 minimum, or SAT score of 1370.[57] To graduate from the Brinson Honors College, students must have a cumulative WCU GPA of at least 3.5 and they must have completed 27 credit hours with honors designation or 24 credit hours with honors designation and completion of DegreePlus Level 3.[58] Students who graduate from the Brinson Honors College receive the specially designed Brinson Honors College diploma, the Honors medallion, and walk at the head of their class.[58] The college is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council.[59] In August 2009, Balsam Hall, the first part of a $50.2 million Honors College residential community located at the center of campus opened, housing 426 students. In Fall 2010, Blue Ridge Hall completed the community and add an additional 400 beds for Honors College students and Teaching Fellows.[60]
In the spring of 2000, WCU was officially designated aNational Merit sponsoring university, just the fourth institution of higher education in North Carolina, public or private, to receive that distinction[61] The university grants scholarships to students who qualify as National Merit Finalists. The Western Meritorious Award for Finalists provides a four-year scholarship, which covers the equivalent amount of in-state tuition, fees, room, and board, to National Merit Finalists, who also receive a computer.
The 2012 edition of theU.S. News & World Report guide to "America's Best Colleges" ranks Western Carolina University 14th[62] among public universities in the South that offer master's degrees.
In 2015, theNorth Carolina General Assembly approved the NC Promise Tuition Plan, a tuition reduction plan to make three universities - WCU,Elizabeth City State University, andUniversity of North Carolina at Pembroke - more affordable and accessible. The NC Promise began in the fall semester of 2018 and drastically reduces the tuition cost for students. In-state students pay $500 a semester and out-of-state students pay $2,500 a semester.[63] Attendance has increased for three consecutive years with the total attendance as of Fall 2020 at 12,243 students, being the ninth time in the past ten years record enrollment has been recorded.[64]
Community focus, economic development, scholarly research, business development, preservation of the Cherokee & Appalachian Mountain cultures, and the advancement of technology & public policy are the guiding foci of Western Carolina's Centers, Institutes & Affiliates.[65]
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76% | ||
| Hispanic | 9% | ||
| Black | 7% | ||
| Two or more races | 4% | ||
| International student | 2% | ||
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1% | ||
| Asian | 1% | ||
| Unknown | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Income-based Pell Grant recipients | 34% | ||
The main campus at Cullowhee has residential facilities for students. These include seventeen residence halls,[26] two full-service cafeterias, and one food court with fast-food outlets. The halls house more than 4,500 WCU students each academic year.[67] The campus residence buildings include one with a priority given to graduate students, named Madison Hall. Balsam Hall and Blue Ridge Hall are residence halls for Brinson Honors College students. These halls are centrally located to campus and are connected via an arch between them. The Village, home to residential Greek and student organizations. Three new residence facilities were recently completed from a $50.2 million residence hall project. The newest residence halls are referred to as "The Rocks". They consist of three buildings, Black Rock, Shining Rock, and Water Rock. They were all fully opened in Spring of 2023 and are located in place of former Scott and Walker Halls.
As a member of theSouthern Conference, Western Carolina University participates inNCAADivision I athletics. Intercollegiate athletics include football, men and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's soccer, men and women's golf, men and women's track and field (Indoor and Outdoor), cross country running, women's volleyball and tennis. Catamount football is a member ofDivision I FCS and plays at Whitmire Stadium. TheRamsey Center is home to men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball. Baseball is played at Hennon Stadium, softball is played at the Catamount Softball Complex, and the Catamount Athletic Complex is home to women's soccer, tennis, and track and field.
On November 29, 1980, Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first intercollegiate three-point field goal, in a game againstMiddle Tennessee State University, a game WCU won 77–70.[68] The ball he used is on display at theBasketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Western Carolina andAppalachian State have a football rivalry in which they once competed in theBattle for the Old Mountain Jug on an annual basis.[69] Western Carolina andEast Tennessee State have a football rivalry in which they compete in the Blue Ridge Border Battle. The Catamounts football team was runner-up in theDivision I-AA National Football Championship Game in 1983.[70]
Current NCAA sports at WCU include:
In 2016 the WCU dance team won third place at theNDA Nationals dance competition, performing inDaytona Beach, Florida.[71]
The Schools of Music and Fine and Performing Arts offer a variety of events featuring students, faculty, and outside performers. These cultural opportunities are typically relatively cheap, and students can often attend them free of charge.[72]
The Pride of the Mountains is the largest college marching band in the Carolinas and Tennessee. As of Fall 2014, the marching band includes just over 500 members, making it one of the largest marching bands in the United States. The band is open to all Western Carolina students regardless of class or major, with approximately 60% of its members non-music majors.
In 2014, the band performed in theMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with 510 band members participating.[73][74][75] The Pride of the Mountains also performed at aCarolina Panthers halftime show in 2011.[76] The band was also the special guest at theBands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis in 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2012, an honor given to only one college band in the United States each year. In addition, the band was also a special guest at theBands of America Regional's held in Atlanta in 1995, 2006, 2010, and 2011. In 2009, the Pride of the Mountains was selected as one of the five best collegiate marching bands in the nation by the College Band Directors National Association and featured in the book "Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best" by Paul Buyer.
The band is the 2009 recipient of theSudler Trophy awarded by theJohn Philip Sousa Foundation.[77] They participated in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and won the most votes in a "best band" in the parade poll hosted by KTLA-TV.[78]
WCU is home to a wide range of Greekfraternities andsororities, as well as several councils and societies.[79] The Greek community offers many social opportunities to enrich college life. Greeks get personal guidance in planning their curriculum and choosing classes and instructors, and assistance with registration and financial aid. Chapter study sessions, educational programs, tutoring, and study partners and teams offer support for developing and maintainingstudy skills. Greeks are recognized for their academic successes through Greek scholarship and awards programs and honor societies such as the Order of Omega. According to 2011–12 figures fromU.S. News & World Report, 3.4% of WCU's male undergraduate students are in fraternities, while 3.6% of female undergraduate students are in sororities.[80]
Housed in the Student Media Center (Old Student Union) on the hill area of campus are WCU's Student Media Organizations.[81] The following organizations are a part of WCU Student Media:
 | This list of alumnimay not follow Wikipedia'sverifiability policy. Please helpimprove it by addingreliable sources for existing names which prove they are alumni. Unsourced names may be challenged and removed.(January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | This sectionmay containexcessive orirrelevant examples. Please helpimprove it by removingless pertinent examples andelaborating on existing ones.(July 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Universities |  | |
|---|---|---|
| High school | ||
| Affiliates |
| |
| Administration | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
