Browse the links below for the resources available to you. Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us.
This and other information can be found in the Student Survival Guide available in the WCU Asheville office.
WCU students are entitled to UNC Asheville administered student services. For admission, a WCU must secure a UNC Asheville One Card. UNC Asheville departmental phone numbers.
UNC Asheville is a smoke-free campus except for a few designated areas 100 feet away from certain buildings. A review of the smoking policy and a map of the designated areas can be found on their websites.
WCU Asheville students are entitled to online academic support offered through Smarthinking.com. For information about the services available, go to http://www.wcu.edu/12136.asp.
Advisement
Many faculty advisors are available to meet with students in Asheville by appointment. Appointments should be scheduled through the WCU Asheville office or by emailing your advisor. WCU Directory of Faculty.
Nursing advising should be scheduled through the appropriate nursing secretary at (828) 670-8810.
Athletics
Enrolled students may attend athletic events on the Cullowhee campus at no charge. Students must secure a WCU Cat Card for admission. There is no charge for the card. To obtain a WCU Cat Card, students should send an email to catcard@email.wcu.edu and attach a picture (headshot), along with your name, 92#, birth date, address, and request to have your card mailed to your home. WCU athletic schedules can be viewed at http://www.catamountsports.com/. With a UNC Asheville One Card, students may be admitted to UNC Asheville sponsored athletic events at student rates.
Automobile Registration
Parking permits are required on the UNC Asheville campus. If a student is registered for more classes in Asheville than in Cullowhee, a UNC Asheville decal should be purchased. Decals may be purchased from the WCU Asheville office during regular office hours. Warnings are given the first week of classes and citations are given the second week of classes. If a student has a valid WCU decal or if his/her class meets at A-B Tech or another Asheville location, it is not necessary to purchase a UNC Asheville decal. Maps showing appropriate parking lots are available in the WCU Asheville office or at http://www.unca.edu/campusmap/. Students, with decals, may park in faculty-staff lots after 5pm. Students may complete the vehicle registration form, print it, and take it to the WCU Asheville office with cash or a check made payable to UNC Asheville. Vehcicle registration forms are also available in the WCU Asheville office.
Nursing students taking classes at A-B Tech's Enka campus do not need to secure a parking decal. The Enka campus does not require parking decals. However, Engineering Technology students taking classes at A-B Tech's main campus do need to secure a parking decal from the Business office at A-B Tech, which is located in the K. Ray Bailey Student Success Center. There is no charge for the decal. The office is open Monday - Thursday, 8:30am - 8:00pm and on Fridays, 8:30am - 4:30pm. All A-B Tech campuses are tobacco-free.
Health Science students taking classes at MAHEC do not need to secure a parking decal.
Cancellation of Classes
At times of uncertainty about the cancellation of classes due to inclement weather, announcements will be placed on:
- UNC Asheville Snowline - 259-3050
- Local radio and television stations
- Western's Web site at http://www.wcu.edu/weather
When UNC Asheville cancels classes, WCU Programs in Asheville will also cancel classes.
When A-B Tech cancels classes, Western's classes scheduled on the A-B Tech main campus or Enka campus (Nursing and Technology) will also be cancelled.
Career Services
Career services and job placement assistance is available from the WCU Career and Academic Planning Center in Cullowhee. For WCU career services, go to http://www.wcu.edu/6661.asp or call (828) 227-7133. The UNC Asheville Career Center, located in 259 Highsmith University Union, maintains an extensive career information library and schedules job fairs and workshops that are available to WCU students. Please note UNC Asheville's Career Center's Calendar of Events.
Copiers and Printers
All copiers and printers on the UNC Asheville campus are operated by the UNC Asheville One Card and require payment. You may deposit money on your cards at the One-Card office, 120 Highsmith Union, the Automatic Deposit Machines (ADM) located at 153 Highsmith Union outside the Copy and Shipping Center or the ADM located in Ramsey Library to the left of the circulation desk. All computer labs on campus are Pay for Print.
Counseling Services
WCU students enrolled in Asheville are entitled to services from the Counseling Center at UNC Asheville, which is located on the lower level of the Weizenblatt Heath Center. Students must present their UNC Asheville One Card for admission. Services include short-term individual or group counseling and outreach programs. Any discussion of personal, professional or life issues is held in confidence. For hours of operation, information or emergencies, call (828) 251-6517 or visit http://healthandcounseling.unca.edu/.
Cultural Events
WCU students enrolled in Asheville are entitled to attend cultural events at WCU and UNC Asheville at student rates. For news and events at WCU, visit http://news-prod.wcu.edu/. For a schedule of cultural and special events at UNC Asheville, visit http://www.unca.edu/culturalarts. For the event master calendar at UNC Asheville, visit http://www2.unca.edu/calendar/.
Food Services
Cafeteria services are located in the Dining Hall. For dining hours of operation and specials, visit http://www.dineoncampus.com/unca. Cafe Ramsey, located in Ramsey Library, has fresh gourmet sandwiches, salads, wraps, fresh fruit, hummus, specialty coffee drinks, yogurt smoothies, and bakery treats.
Health Insurance
All students enrolled in a degree-seeking program, AND enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours, AND eligible to pay the campus student health fee are automatically enrolled in the UNC system-wide plan each semester and obligated for the cost of the plan for that semester. Students may submit a waiver request by clicking the waive button located at http://www.wcu.edu\7858.asp and providing the insurance information requested. The UNC system-wide plan's premiums included in the "cost of attendance" used for financial aid consideration. Each student is required to take action regarding his/her insurance coverage by clicking the "Enroll"or "Waive" button on the website above. Students enrolled in 3 credit hours or more per semester can elect to purchase student health insurance. All international students are required to carry student insurance. For additional information about student health insurance, go to: http://studenthealth.wcu.edu/.
Health Services
WCU students enrolled in Asheville are entitled to Student Health Services at UNC Asheville, located in Room 201 of the Weizenblatt Health Center. Students must present their UNC Asheville One Card for admission. During the fall and spring semesters, the hours of operation are 8am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. Summer hours are limited. Please call (828) 251-6520 for an appointment, but walk-ins are accepted. Outpatient evaluation is free to all who have paid their WCU student fees. However, there is an additional charge for lab work, supplies, certain medications, and after-hours care. For after-hours emergency care, call the Mountain Area Health Education Center at (828) 257-4740 (a charged service) and identify yourself as a WCU student at UNC Asheville. For additional information, visit http://www.unca.edu/shs.
Get information on a variety of health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition topics by reading Student Health 101 on WCU's Student Health Services website.
Identification Cards
All Western students enrolled in Asheville classes should secure a UNC Asheville One Card. The ID cards are required for all library and other student services on the UNC Asheville campus.
There is no charge for the initial One Card. Take a copy of your class schedule with you to verify that you are enrolled in a WCU class in Asheville and a picture ID. You can print your schedule from your "My Cat" account.
For more information, please go to the One Card website, including putting money on your card, area discounts, and updates, or call the One Card office at (828) 251-6767.
- Regular hours: Monday-Friday, 8am - 5pm.
- Special hours: During the first week of classes, 9am - 6pm.
Western students may also wish to obtain a Western Cat Card. The Cat Card can be used only for library privileges at UNC Asheville. It cannot be used to obtain any UNC Asheville services. To obtain a Cat Card, email a head and shoulder photo with name, 92#, and birthdate to catcard@email.wcu.edu. Please include your address and instructions for mailing.
Media Requests
Students have access to media equipment that is available in most classrooms. If you have other special needs, please make your requests at least 24 hours in advance to the WCU Asheville office at (828) 251-6642. Students have free access to video/DVD checkout from UNC Asheville's Media Center located on the ground floor of Ramsey Library.
Public Safety
The Public Safety Department is a service-oriented law enforcement agency located in Vance Hall of the Governor's Village at UNC Asheville. Public Safety officers are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the office is staffed Monday - Friday 24 hours a day.
All UNC Asheville Department of Public Safety officers are sworn police officers and have been certified by the North Carolina Department of Justice, Criminal Justice Standards Division. They are authorized to enforce all NC General Statutes and motor vehicle laws. The department serves the campus community in a number of ways:
- Crime prevention programs
- Vehicle assistance (jump starts and key extractions)
- Enforcement of NC General Statutes
- Enforcement of university regulations
- Lost and found
- General university information and directions
- Student escort service
The Public Safety officers and security personnel will gladly provide after-dark escorts on campus upon request. To request an escort, call (828) 251-6710. Escorts are not provided during daylight hours except in medical emergencies. For additional information, please visit their website, http://publicsafety.unca.edu/.
Recreational Facilities
With a new UNC Asheville One Card that contains a chip, WCU students enrolled in classes in Asheville may use any of the recreational facilities on campus. A list of facilities and hours of operation can be found on their website http://recreation.unca.edu or by calling the front desk at (828) 232-5650.
Student Self-Service (MyCat)
My Cat is a web portal system that is fully integrated with the University's student records system. New and currently-enrolled students looking for important announcements about upcoming dates and deadlines should log into My Cat.
Once in My Cat, you can view your academic record, register for classes, pay tuition or check account balance, view or change personal information -- just click on Personal Services, then the "Student" tab. This will take you directly to the Student Self Services site map.
To log in, just enter your Username (student ID) and password (PIN) at https://catamount4.wcu.edu/cp/home/displaylogin.
Blackboard is your window to Distance Educatio at Western. To access Blackboard, vist Western Carolina's homepage at http://www.wcu.edu an choose Blackboard at the top of the page.
Ticket Information
On occasion, discounted tickets (at faculty/staff rates) are available to students with a current UNC Asheville One Card at the Information Desk in the Highsmith University Union. They can be reached at (828) 251-5000, http://studentactivities.unca.edu/highsmith-university-union. Tickets are limited and advanced purchase is recommended. Tickets can be found at http://uncatickets.com/. The Highsmith University Union is open 9:30am - 4:30pm. Tickets to the Biltmore House and Gardens are also available in the UNC Asheville Bookstore. UNC Asheville theatre tickets are on sale at the Carol Belk Theatre Box office. Discounts at local vendors can be found on the One Card website, http://onecard.unca.edu/benefits.
Writing Center
Get help with writing and course content through Smarthinking, an online tutoring service available via Blackboard and at http://www.wcu.edu/12136.asp. In-person tutoring is availabe in two locations. The UNC Ashevile Writing Center, room 136 in Ramsey Library, has scheduling informaton at http://writingcenter.unca.edu/, or email: writingcenter@unca.edu or call 251-6596. The WCU Writing and Learning Commons (WaLC), located on the Cullowhee campus, offers graduate-level tutors and academic skills consultaitons. The WaLC also hosts a wide variety of online writing tools that many students find useful, including citation guides, grammar rules, and assignment strategies. For more informaton, go to http://walc.wcu.edu.
Veteran's Affairs
Military students, currently serving or veteran, who have questions concerning VA (GI Bill) education benefits or any other military-related issues should contact our Office of Military Student Services at military@wcu.edu or 828-227-7397.