"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth."
Diogenes
- Kappa Delta Pi - Mu Eta Chapter - 2009 New Initiate Ceremony—November 23, 2009
Curriculum Dialogues for English and Science
Teacher Recruitment and the College of Education and Allied Professions at Western Carolina University host curriculum dialogue luncheons to discuss the hot topics in English Language Arts and Science at the high school, community college, and university level. The focus for the dialogue centers on expectations, strategies and outcomes which relate to the curriculum areas of English and science. High school teachers, community college faculty, and university faculty share curriculum from their campuses.
The following questions are explored: Do college and university faculty understand what is taught in high schools? Do secondary school faculty know what college English and science instructors are looking for in student work samples and presentations? Has the state explored the alignment of the disparate groups’ work?
Funding provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission College Access Initiative, Teacher Recruitment, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Education and Allied Professions allows for curriculum collaboration. Curriculum dialogue collaboration is an initiative designed to increase college access and high school graduation rates.
Dialogue dates are as follows: September 30, 2008, October 14, 2008, and March 25, 2009.
Click on the following links to review participant answers and evaluation summaries from the fall 2008 curriculum dialogues:
Click on the following links to review participant answers and evaluation summaries from the spring 2009 English Curriculum Dialogue:
Teachers of Tomorrow Reaching to Teach Conferences
Held on the WCU campus, Teachers of Tomorrow Reaching to Teach is a conference for middle school, high school, and community college students who are interested in exploring teaching as a career.
- Teachers of Tomorrow Reaching to Teach Conference for High School and Community College Students — October 6, 2009
- Teachers of Tomorrow Reaching to Teach Conference for Middle School Students — February 23, 2010
Dropout Prevention Think Tank
Reducing the dropout rate (or improving school engagement and increasing graduation rates as we like to think of it at WCU) is a high priority for Western Carolina University in general and for Teacher Recruitment in particular. On March 20, 2009, Teacher Recruitment, through an Appalachian Regional Commission Grant, sponsored a "think tank" meeting to develop strategies for collaboration and began to draft grant proposals. Dr. David Strahan, our Taft B. Botner Distinguished Professor of Education and Co-Chair of North Carolina's Committee of Dropout Prevention, presented a brief update of research and facilitated a discussion. Dr. Strahan will coordinate the writing of grant proposals that will follow this meeting.
Participating partners: Asheville City Schools, Buncombe County Schools, Haywood County Schools, Jackson County Schools, Macon County Schools, Swain County Schools, and the Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA).
Click on the following link to review evaluation summaries from the March 20, 2009 Dropout Prevention Think Tank:
Grades 5-16 College Access Campus Visits
Teacher Recruitment hosts elementary, middle, high school and community college students for college access engagement activities on the campus of Western Carolina University.
Camp College
Students from Buncombe County’s Camp College program visit Western Carolina University annually in July. Students explore careers, regional history, college activities, college life, campus services, and teaching as a profession. Camp College Day is scheduled for July 23, 2009.
Polk County Elementary College Access Initiative
Fifth grade students from Tryon Elementary School visited Western Carolina University’s campus on Saturday April 4, 2009. The Office of Field Experiences and Teacher Recruitment in the College of Education and Allied Professions, the Department of Anthropology & Sociology, and the Office of Admission provided programming and recruitment materials. From the student comments, it is apparent these students are considering post-secondary education:
“Your college was very cool! I would love to go to your college.”
“Knowing that the Cherokee once lived on the land where campus now is really cool.”
“The campus was great. It was good to go to a public college to see what it is like. I think it would be awesome to go to Western Carolina University in the future.”
“I hope to get accepted into WCU and become a forensic scientist.”
“Western Carolina University is a great school that has many opportunities. This was a magnificent experience.”
College of Education and Allied Professions College Access Kickoff
The College of Education and Allied Professions and Teacher Recruitment hosted a "kickoff" on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, for college access that included seniors at Cherokee Federal and Smoky Mountain High working on senior projects. Students participated in campus tours and in sessions about education, teaching, admissions, scholarships, careers in business, and careers in health sciences. The College of Education and Allied Professions College Access Kickoff is a collaborative initiative with the following WCU units: Institute for the Economy and the Future (IEF), Teacher Recruitment, School University Teacher Education Partnership (SUTEP), College of Business, and School of Health Sciences.
College Access Recruitment Day is highlighted by teachers wearing their alma mater's t-shirt to school to promote post-secondary education attendance and teaching as a career. Fall is the time for football, homecoming, college decisions, and college applications. Please join us in a one-day initiative on your high school campuses where you choose a day during the fall semester when faculty and staff are requested to wear a t-shirt from their alma mater and to discuss post-secondary education with their students. Talking points for the discussion include: Why College?; Academic Requirements; and Paying for College. Faculty and staff also share specific highlights of their own college experiences. At your request, recruitment materials can be provided for college access and teacher recruitment (i.e., WCU WANTtoTEACH.wcu.edu bumper stickers, pencils, and catamount logo stickers). For more information contact Teacher Recruitment at (828) 227-7347.