Intercultural Affairs

This annual experience is designed to expose students to persons or groups markedly different in culture (ethnicity, language, and socioeconomic status) from that of themselves and create awareness for the world around them.

Our Fall 2018 Excursion was: American Heritage Tour: The Counter-Narrative. 46 Students traveled to Virginia, Washington DC and New York City!

Fall 2019 Trip - Dinner and a Show

Join ICA on Saturday, October 12th, 2019 as we travel to Atlanta, GA to attend the Cirque du Soleil bigtop show - Volta! Dinner will be provided at a Midtown restaurant. Student cost is $25. Register Here

In this festive celebration of queer culture, performers dress in gendered costumes and serenade an appreciative and adoring audience. 

A biennial networking luncheon where young women can connect with experienced female leaders on campus and in the community to receive advice, words of wisdom and motivation to aid in their own academic and career journeys. The next Hats Off To Women will be March 24th, 2020.

The Department of Intercultural Affairs developed this graduation celebration as a way to honor students from underrepresented populations and their contributions to the Western Carolina University community.  We wish to provide them with a tangible symbol to wear during WCU's graduation and keep with them after graduation as a reminder of their time at WCU and the support that they have available for their future endeavors. Any student who wishes to celebrate their graduation with ICA is welcomed to participate.

A high energy platform for diverse student organizations to present themselves to the community in creative and innovative ways.

Join us the first week or so of the fall semester to learn about the Department of Intercultural Affairs. You'll have a chance to meet our staff, interact with students from NPHC organizations and Registered Student Organizations (RSO's). Plus, there's free food! Don't miss out.

Intercultural Fusion 2019

Come out to the Catafount on Thursday, August 29th, 2019 6:30pm - 8:30 pm for live music, free food and giveaways!

Nothing says "welcome back to WCU" like a Caribbean festival. Join ICA every other year for an evening full of music, food, and traditional J'ouvert activities. And of course, you won't want to miss snagging your free t-shirt! The next J'ouvert will be Fall 2020.

Join ICA staff in the ICA Lounge on Mondays  to munch on some lunch and digest the One Book, We Need To Talk; How to Have Conversations That Matter. Free lunch from South of Philly will be provided. For more information contact the Department of Intercultural Affairs at 828.227.2276 or ica@wcu.edu. Faculty can register their class to attend HERE

8/26 - Ch 1: CONVERSATION IS A SURVIVAL SKILL
9/9 - Ch 2: COMMMUNICATION AND CONVERSATION ARE NOT THE SAME  and Ch 3: YOU CAN’T OUTSMART A BAD CONVERSATION
9/16 - Ch 4: SET THE STAGE
9/23 - Ch 5: SOME CONVERSATIONS ARE HARDER THAN OTHERS
9/30 - Ch 6: BE THERE OR GO ELSEWHERE
10/7 - Ch 7: IT’S NOT THE SAME!
Ch 8: GET OFF THE SOAPBOX
10/21 - Ch 9: KEEP IT SHORT and Ch 10: NO REPEATS
10/28 - Ch 11: THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION and Ch 12: YOU CAN’T KNOW EVERYTHING
11/4 - Ch 13: STAY OUT OF THE WEEDS and Ch 14: TRAVEL TOGETHER
11/25 - Ch 15: LISTEN! and Ch 16: SOMETIMES WE SHOULDN’T TALK

A series of events meant to bring our collective attention to the many ways in which the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. paved the way for social justice for all people.

Hear what the 2019 Keynote Speaker had to say in this article in the Smoky Mountain News.

To see the full list of events that happened in 2019 go to our MLK Jr. webpage at mlkjr.wcu.edu

Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you've experienced poverty, it's difficult to truly understand. The Poverty Simulation bridges that gap from misconception to understanding. This simulation is an interactive immersion experience. It sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty.

These events will be DegreePlus and will be worth R&R credit.

Project CARE aims to improve academic performance and the retention of underrepresented students at Western Carolina University. In an effort to apply theory to practice, Intercultural Affairs has designed this program as a proactive measure to address the academic challenges underrepresented students face at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs). This program pairs first year and transfer student participants with student leaders who serve as peer counselors who help them to adjust to college life academically, culturally, and socially.

The Project C.A.R.E. program is FULL for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Western Carolina University is committed to the safety and security of our campus community. Through the Red Zone education campaign we educate students to bring awareness to and to prevent sexual misconduct and violence.

The 'Red Zone' is commonly known as the period of time for college students during which they are at higher risk of experiencing sexual violence, coercion, and/or manipulation. The 'Red Zone' is typically defined as the first six weeks of the semester but we will host Red Zone activities and programs throughout the year to foster an informed student body.

For more information and to view the Fall 2019 Red Zone Week Schedule click HERE

The Safe Zone program provides training to all students, faculty, staff, and community members who are interested in increasing awareness of and sensitivity to issues of gender and sexuality.  In order to receive Safe Zone certification, individuals must attend both a Part I and a Part II training.

REGISTER HERE

learn more

An interactive program that allows students, faculty and staff to have an experience with oppression, discrimination, and injustice to heighten awareness and encourage a personal commitment to ending oppression in all forms. The program usually takes about 50 minutes and includes a facilitated group discussion led by CAPS trained volunteers.

Spring 2019 Tunnel was a success! Thank you to all the hard working students, staff and faculty that helped.

For more information go to DSA.WCU.EDU/TUNNEL

Faculty are encouraged to bring their class to join ICA staff in the ICA Lounge on a Monday  to munch on some lunch and digest the One Book, We Need To Talk; How to Have Conversations That Matter. Free lunch from South of Philly will be provided. Registration Required. For more information contact the Department of Intercultural Affairs at 828.227.2276 or ica@wcu.edu. Faculty can register their class to attend HERE

8/26 - Ch 1: CONVERSATION IS A SURVIVAL SKILL
9/9 - Ch 2: COMMMUNICATION AND CONVERSATION ARE NOT THE SAME  and Ch 3: YOU CAN’T OUTSMART A BAD CONVERSATION
9/16 - Ch 4: SET THE STAGE
9/23 - Ch 5: SOME CONVERSATIONS ARE HARDER THAN OTHERS
9/30 - Ch 6: BE THERE OR GO ELSEWHERE
10/7 - Ch 7: IT’S NOT THE SAME!
Ch 8: GET OFF THE SOAPBOX
10/21 - Ch 9: KEEP IT SHORT and Ch 10: NO REPEATS
10/28 - Ch 11: THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION and Ch 12: YOU CAN’T KNOW EVERYTHING
11/4 - Ch 13: STAY OUT OF THE WEEDS and Ch 14: TRAVEL TOGETHER
11/25 - Ch 15: LISTEN! and Ch 16: SOMETIMES WE SHOULDN’T TALK

The Safe Zone program provides training to all faculty and staff members who are interested in increasing awareness of and sensitivity to issues of gender and sexuality. In order to receive Safe Zone certification, individuals must attend both a Part I and a Part II training.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Rainbow 101 Faculty/ Staff is a workshop designed for faculty & staff to better understand inclusive practices & how to be more supportive of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the classroom & community. Topics covered include basic terminology and concepts and examples of microaggressions against LGBTQIA+ people. For more information or to request a training contact Dean Paulk at dspaulk@wcu.edu.