1893 - A normal department is established
1905 - The institution becomes Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School under which title it grew to the equivalence of a junior college.
1929 - The institution is elevated to the baccalaureate level and is renamed Western Carolina Teachers College.
1947 - Rodney L. Leftwich comes to Western Carolina Teachers College as the first full-time Industrial Arts Teacher. He is hired as Associate Professor. Salary: $3,200. Prior to this time, some Industrial Arts courses had been taught on a part-time basis by Marion McDonald, Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education.
1948 - The Division of Fine and Industrial Arts is created, including Industrial Arts, Art, Home Economics and Writing. Rodney Leftwich is named Chairman of the Division. B.S.Ed. degree is now offered with a major in Industrial Arts (minor to be selected). A non-teaching option was also developed for those who chose to enter the rapidly-growing industrial sector in Western North Carolina. 
1950 - Seventeen courses were offered by the Division of Fine and Industrial Arts. (All were not offered all terms.) Rodney Leftwich teaches all of them in a one-man department. A struggle is won to have space allocated for Fine and Industrial Arts in the soon-to-be-built classroom building.
1952 - The Division becomes the Department of Fine and Industrial Arts and moves into new facilities in newly-completed Stillwell Classroom Building. Leftwich is awarded Ed. D. degree from Bradley University.
1953 - Western Carolina Teachers College is renamed Western Carolina College, reflecting a diversification of programs in addition to teacher education. The following year a second faculty member joins Industrial Arts.
1964 - The department expands into McKee building. Metal working, Graphics, Electricity/Electronics labs are expanded and placed in this building. Total floor space utilized by the Department doubles. 
1965 - Major in Industrial Technology, B.S. Degree, is established to train potential engineers, managers, supervisors and technicians for employment in the region.
1967 - Western Carolina College becomes a regional University – Western Carolina University.
1968 - Art, Home Economics and Industrial Arts are separated as Schools within the new University are created. Home Economics becomes part of a the School of Education and Psychology; Art and Industrial Arts are a part of the School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Leftwich is Head of Industrial Arts. Dr. Perry Kelly is Head of Art. Dr. Ann Buntin is Head of Home Economics.
1970 - The Department is now recognized as the Department of Industrial Education and Technology.
1971 - Industrial Education and Technology, Home Economics, and Art move into the newly-completed Belk Building that includes classrooms and laboratories for Graphic Arts, Drafting, Electricity/Electronics, Construction, Metals/Welding, Machine Shop, and Environmental Safety. These departments are still administered by Arts and Science and Education and Psychology.
1972 - A Master of Industrial Education degree program begins in the summer.
1975 - Dr. Rodney Leftwich steps down as Head of the Department to teach full-time. Dr. Maynard Adams becomes Acting Head.
1976 - School of Technology and Applied Science is formed to include Industrial Education and Technology and Home Economics. Dr. Walter E. Thomas is named Dean.
1977 - J. Dale Pounds becomes Head of the Department of Industrial Education and Technology. A major is established in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.
1980 - A major in Industrial Distribution is established.
1981 - Dr. Rodney Leftwich retires.
1984 - Dr. Walter E. Thomas leaves his position as Dean of the School of Technology and Applied Science in December. Charles Taylor becomes interim Dean.
1985 (fall) - J. Dale Pounds becomes Dean of the School of Technology and Applied Science. William Medaris is Interim Head of Department of Industrial Education and Technology.
1986 - Dr. Jerry Cook is appointed Head of the Department of Industrial Education and Technology.
1988 - Electronics Engineering Technology major is approved. Dr. Jerry Cook announces he will return to full-time teaching. A search is conducted for a new Department Head.
1989 - Dr. George DeSain is appointed Head of the Department of Industrial Education and Technology. The University celebrates its 100th year.
1991 - Department is renamed Industrial and Engineering Technology as part of the School of Technology and Applied Sciences. Five major programs are offered.
1993 - Department of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology are organized under the College of Applied Sciences. J. Dale Pounds is appointed Dean.
1999 - Dr. Dennis Depew is Dean of the College of Applied Sciences. Acting on the Pauline Report (which recommended programs to be added and removed from the University), a program in Construction Management is proposed. Dr. Bradford Sims, acting as a consultant, drafted necessary documentation.
2001 - The Department is renamed Engineering Technology; Dr. Duane D. Dunlap is appointed Head. Dr. George DeSain returns to full-time teaching faculty position.
2002 - Dr. Brad Sims is appointed head of the new Construction Management program. The first freshman class contains 26 students. By year 4 (2005), enrollment had increased nearly tenfold.
2002-2003 - Dr. Noelle Kehrberg is appointed Interim Dean, then Dean of the College of Applied Sciences.
2003 - Through federal funding, the $8 Million, 28,000 square foot Center for Applied Technologies (CAT Building) was completed, incorporating rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, telecommunications, and other emerging technologies. Belk Building is renovated, instructional technologies are built into classrooms and labs, computer laboratories are added.
2004 - Renovation is completed of an unused portion of the Belk Building to establish the Construction Materials and Methods laboratory.
2004 - The B.S. Electrical Engineering Program, a joint program with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, enrolls its inaugural class. The Electrical Engineering Technology program is modified to become Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology.
2004 - The Center for Rapid Product Realization is established to initiate and manage engagement projects among regional commercial interests and the faculty and students in Construction Management, Engineering and Technology.
2005 - Department of Construction Management is created. Dr. Bradford Sims is appointed head.
2005 - Masters Degree Program in Construction Management is introduced. It is an online (computer-based), collaborative two-year program with the College of Business.
2005 - The Carolinas MicroOptics Triangle is launched. This collaboration of WCU, UNC Charlotte and Clemson University was formed to join research, educational and business development strengths in optical technologies, providing support to regional economic development.
2006 - The Carolinas Photonics Consortium is launched. This collaboration of WCU, NC State, UNC Charlotte, Duke and Clemson University has the unique mission to translate intellectual property developed at these institutions into investment-ready packages for new products in photonics.
2006 - Kimmel & Associates, headed by Joseph Kimmel, pledges a $6.92 million gift over several years that endows six professorships and provides programmatic and scholarship support. This is by far the largest private donation WCU has received to date. Matching funds from the State of North Carolina raise the total to $10.4 million.
2007 - The Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology is formed. Dr. Duane D. Dunlap is appointed Interim Dean. The Department of Engineering and Technology is created, and Dr. Ken Burbank is appointed head.