Catamount Connection Program - Southwestern CC

A Guaranteed Transfer Program to Western Carolina University

The Catamount Connection Program provides a direct-entry pathway for Southwestern Community College students into Western Carolina University. This agreement will help provide a seamless transition for Southwestern CC (SCC) graduates interested in furthering their education at Western Carolina University.

Each year, more than 100 qualified students transfer from Southwestern CC to WCU to pursue degrees in more than 120 majors, minors, and concentrations including education, engineering, criminal justice, forensic science, nursing, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and psychology, just to name a few.

Western Carolina University offers some Distance Education degree completion programs in addition to programs offered on the main campus in Cullowhee. The Biltmore Park Instructional Site in Asheville also allows some undergraduate degree completion programs.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Catamount Connection Program, students must meet several conditions, including:

• Be a currently enrolled student at Southwestern Community College in a degree-seeking capacity.

• Submit WCU Application for Admission and records by the university deadline.

• Submit application fee or waiver and fulfill all commitment action steps.

• Be in good standing at SCC and other institutions attended.

• Demonstrate good citizenship and conduct.

• Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 at SCC and a minimum GPA of 2.20 in the most recently completed academic term.

• Earn an associate’s degree from SCC in a college transfer program or in an applied program for which an articulation agreement exists.

• Enroll at WCU within one academic year (within the next two regular terms or fall/spring semesters) of completion of the associate’s degree.

• Submit the Catamount Connection Application Form

  • This is in addition to applying to WCU

Although the Catamount Connection Program does guarantee admission to WCU for those SCC graduates who meet the requirements, it does not guarantee admission into a specific degree program. Some programs of study at WCU have their own programmatic admission criteria, standards, policies, processes and deadlines.

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Benefits

• Those that complete an A.A. or A.S. at Southwestern C.C. are guaranteed admission to WCU, provided all eligibility requirements above are met.

• The onset of the NC Promise tuition plan, which reduces the cost of in-state tuition to $500 per semester at WCU has resulted in a significant increase in the number of students transferring to WCU from community colleges.

• The Program affords SCC students access to information about academic programs, faculty, and staff at the WCU Campus who will facilitate their transition to WCU.

• This program prioritizes the ability to receive admission, financial aid, and orientation communications early in the transition process, which sets SCC students up for maximum success at both institutions.

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Apply Now

1. Submit the Catamount Connection Application Form
2. Click here to submit your appropriate application to WCU:
   
   • Transfer Application, or the
   • Distance Education Transfer Application
3. Visit our transfer information page on what to submit, scholarships, and other resources for transfer students at transfer.wcu.edu

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Contact Information

Interested? Contact Us!

Heather Hill
Associate Director of Admissions Regional Engagement
hchill@wcu.edu
828.227.3170

  

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Admissions
Southwestern Community College
admissions@southwesterncc.edu
828.339.4352