Western Carolina University

Mission Statement

The Kimmel School offers B.S. degree programs in construction management, electrical and computer engineering technology, electrical engineering, engineering, engineering technology (on campus and off-site) and graduate degree programs, including the master of science in technology and the online master of construction management.

The Kimmel School is committed to its statewide mission for education and its regional mission for engagement. The Kimmel School provides innovative academic programs for students in an environment that supports economic development, professional development and involvement with businesses and industries.

The Kimmel School fulfills the academic missions of teaching (learning), scholarship (discovery) and service (engagement) by:

Teaching and Learning

• Having the primary focus on teaching and learning that advances professional knowledge and creative skills through the application of construction management, engineering, technology, math, science, and business/management by providing on-campus, distance and lifelong education.
• Educating minds, developing creators and problem-solvers, promoting management/leadership skills, critical thinking, lifelong learning and promoting innovation to provide fundamentals with a high quality education.

Scholarship and Discovery

• Developing scholarly and creative endeavors which are recognized as critical components in faculty development and in the maintenance of management and technological literacy and lifelong learning.
• Engaging in scholarly activities appropriate to construction management, engineering and technology applications.

Service and Engagement

• Supporting engagement through professional, industry-related, and community service activities for faculty and students.
• Utilizing the school’s faculty and staff expertise for the benefit of students, industry, government and society throughout Western North Carolina.

Kimmel School faculty members have defined engagement based on the premise that faculty play a major role in economic transformation for Western North Carolina. From senior capstone projects to service projects to collaborative efforts with business and industry, we ask ourselves: “What are you doing to sustain jobs in Western North Carolina OR create new economic opportunities for the people of Western North Carolina OR improve the quality of life for the people in the region?”

Vision Statement

The vision for the Kimmel School is to provide the highest quality professional education in construction management, engineering and technology. The Kimmel School is dedicated to an educational program that carries construction management, engineering, physical sciences, technology and social sciences from the classroom and laboratory through the business boardroom into the work place. We saw greater than tenfold growth in enrollment in our Construction Management Program in its first five years. Our students, faculty and business partners have benefited from more than $8 million dollars of investment in a new building and remodeled, high technology classroom facilities. We established the first BS in electrical engineering in Western North Carolina as a joint-degree program with UNC-Charlotte. Through student and faculty efforts, student organizations are revitalized and active in scholarship and service.

The Kimmel School recognizes the necessity to recruit the highest quality students, faculty and working professionals to develop, assess and continuously improve high quality learning experiences to ensure further growth in the profession regionally. For the Kimmel School to maintain this vision, we recognize the importance of adequately funding new faculty and staff positions as well as the need for additional space for classrooms and laboratories to meet the needs of increased enrollment. Faculty will develop and measure retention initiatives and increase the quality of student enrolling in our programs. The Kimmel School must also grow program enrollment in a strategic manner, continue to recruit and retain the highest quality and dedicated faculty and continue to increase interaction and involvement of professional societies and student club organizations.

Learn More

The Kimmel School is a college-level unit of Western Carolina University with offices and labs located in the Belk Building and Center for Applied Technologies on WCU's Cullowhee, N.C., campus.

Visit the School

Please visit the Kimmel School to learn more about what the school is doing as a leader in higher education and as a partner in technology-led economic development throughout the region.