First year students are expected to enroll in one of the Pathways offered to guide
a successful transition to college. You will be introduced to the academic, procedural,
and social elements of your new community.
What is a transition course?
These courses will help you make a seamless and holistic transition to your new community
at WCU. You will:
• Learn about campus resources, procedures and policies.
• Learn to negotiate college life successfully.
• Discover opportunities for extra-curricular activities.
• Learn to be intentional in your educational and personal goals.
• Explore the scope of the world around you and your place in and impact on that
world.
What is a learning community?
Residential programming complements academic and co-curricular learning as you navigate
the journey ahead. Please visit to learn more about PEAKS – your first-year community!
• Link living and learning designs with purpose and intention.
• Engage students via common learning opportunities.
• Authenticate new learning experiences via application.
• Reframe the conversation from ‘I’ to ‘we’.
• Negate many sources of fear and frustration as students transition to college life.
Find the Pathway that works for you by visiting the links below for more detail!
• COUN 140 Skills for College Life
In this 1 credit hour course, you will learn about campus resources, procedures and
policies. Class sessions are interactive and focused on personal and academic growth,
helping you to integrate your classroom learning with extra-curricular activities
and residence hall programming as you discover your place in your new community.
• LEAD (140-159) Leadership Themes
These 2 credit hour courses provide an introduction to university life (including
academic skills, campus resources, and diversity), principles of leadership, and service
learning opportunities. Choose the courses that suit your goals, as you connect with
other students who share your interests. You will have opportunities to integrate
your classroom learning with residence hall living and co-curricular opportunities.
You can read the course descriptions here to determine which courses you would enjoy the most. These courses will also serve
as an elective in the Leadership minor.
• USI 130 University Experience
In this one-hour course, you will learn about campus resources, procedures and policies,
as you learn to negotiate college life. You will have opportunities to integrate
your classroom learning with extra-curricular activities and residence hall programming
as you discover your place in your new community.
• USI 101 Honors Forum
Designed to ease the transition into university life, the Honors Forum is a one-hour
course taught by Honors College staff, including the dean. This living/learning community
is housed in Balsam and Blue-Ridge. *Prerequisite – acceptance into the Honors College