This and other information can be found in the Student Survival Guide available in the WCU-Asheville office.
WCU students are entitled to UNC-A administered student services. For admission, a WCU must secure a UNC-A One Card. UNC-A departmental phone numbers.
UNC-A 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.
Available during Fall Semester, 2009 - 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-A One Card, students may be admitted to UNC-A sponsored athletic events at student rates.
Automobile Registration
Parking permits are required on the UNC-A campus. If a student is registered for more classes in Asheville than in Cullowhee, a UNC-A decal should be purchased. Decals may be purchased during registration or from the WCU-Asheville office during regular office hours. Citations are given starting the first 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-A decal. Maps showing appropriate parking lots are available in the WCU-Asheville office or at http://www.unca.edu/campusmap/. After 5pm, students with valid decals may park in faculty/staff lots.
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 Simpson Building. 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-A Snowline - 259-3050
- Local radio and television stations
- Western's Web site at http://www.wcu.edu/weather
When UNC-A 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://careers.wcu.edu/ or call (828) 227-7133. The UNC-A 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. For UNC-A's Career Center's Calendar of Events, go to http://www.unca.edu/career.
Copiers
All copy machines on the UNC-A campus are operated by the UNC-A One Card. 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.
Counseling Services
WCU students enrolled in Asheville are entitled to services from the Counseling Center at UNC-A, which is located on the lower level of the Weizenblatt Heath Center. Students must present their UNC-A 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://www.unca.edu/counselcenter.
Cultural Events
WCU students enrolled in Asheville are entitled to attend cultural events at WCU and UNC-A at student rates. For news and events at WCU, visit http://www.wcu.edu/401.asp. For a schedule of cultural and special events at UNC-A, visit http://www.unca.edu/culturalarts/#. For the event master calendar at UNC-A, visit http://www.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 full-time (9 hours or more for graduate students) must enroll in the Mandatory Hard-Waiver Insurance UNLESS they can demonstrate proof of insurance. The only students exempt include non-degree seeking students, distance learners, or those doing study abroad. Graduate students carrying less than 9 hours are not automatically enrolled, but do have the option to purchase the insurance as long as they are enrolled in 3 hours or more per semester. All international students are required to carry student insurance. Graduate students who already have health insurance must WAIVE out of the insurance plan within the first week of class of each semester, or during the open enrollment period.
To waive the insurance online, go to http://studenthealth.wcu.edu/.
Health Services
WCU students enrolled in Asheville are entitled to Student Health Services at UNC-A, located in Room 201 of the Weizenblatt Health Center. Students must present their UNC-A One Card for admission. During the fall and spring semesters, the hours of operation are 8am - 5pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 8am – 6:30 pm, Tuesday and Thursday. 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-A. For additional information, visit http://www.unca.edu/shs.
Identification Cards
All Western students enrolled in Asheville classes should secure a UNC-A One Card. The ID cards are required for all library and other student services on the UNC-A 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. You can print your schedule from your "My Cat" account. If you have an old UNC-A One Card (with your social security # on it), please exchange it for your new One Card.
Please go to www.unca.edu/onecard for more information about the One Card, 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 registration and 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-A. It cannot be used to obtain any UNC-A 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-A’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-A. 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-A 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://www.unca.edu/publicsafety.
Recreational Facilities
With a valid UNC-A One Card, WCU students enrolled in classes in Asheville may use the Justice Sports, Health, and Physical Education Complex. A list of facilities and hours of operation can be found on their website http://www.unca.edu/recreation 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://mycat1.wcu.edu/cp/home/displaylogin.
Ticket Information
On occasion, discounted tickets (at faculty/staff rates) are available to students with a current UNC-A One Card at the Information Desk in the Highsmith University Union. They can be reached at (828) 251-5000, http://www.unca.edu/highsmith. 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-A Bookstore. UNC-A theatre tickets are on sale at the Carol Belk Theatre Box office.
Writing Center
Peer-to-peer counseling is available by appointment in the Writing Center, Room 136 in Ramsey Library. Please visit their website for additional information. www.unca.edu/uwc/hours.htm.
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 Education at military@wcu.edu or 828-227-7397.