"Engagement with the region is the essential characteristic of the Cullowhee Idea and it is embodied in the Millennial Initiative."
John W. Bardo
Chancellor from 1995-2011
WCU is a campus of the University of North Carolina system, located on approximately 600 acres in the unincorporated town of Cullowhee. The university is the primary provider of higher education in Western North Carolina and enrolls approximately 9,500 students in some 220 undergraduate and 40 graduate programs of study.
Vision
Western Carolina University is nationally recognized as actively engaged in the economic health of the region. It will lead and support others in strategies to create a prosperous future for the people it serves.
Via selective internal program investments, systematic partnership outreach and thoughtful deployment of capital assets, WCU seeks to nurture an ever-expanding economy and community of knowledge in Western North Carolina.
In adopting new roles to support economic growth, WCU continues to embrace fully its roles in strengthening intellectual inquiry, community, social institutions, culture and the arts.
Does your business align with WCU's Vision?
- Capitalize on the university’s research and entrepreneurial strengths
- Work with faculty, staff and students in diverse ways
- Take advantage of university amenities