Intercultural Affairs (ICA) works with all members of the University to provide a campus environment where students from different backgrounds and culture groups feel appreciated, respected and valued. Through educational, social, and leadership programs, ICA promotes inclusive values of social justice and human dignity while preparing students to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.
Our goal is to engage the WCU community, foster the exchange of ideas between students, faculty and staff, and enlighten our campus community. Meet the ICA staff
ICA Council serves as the student lead branch of the department. The council hosts various events and programs throughout the academic year to foster diversity and inclusion within the student body. They also help plan many of the large-scale events that the department is responsible for. MEET THE ICA COUNCIL
The ICA Advisory Board is a standing committee composed of faculty, staff and graduate students. They meet several times during the academic year to provide guidance, support and feedback for ICA with the goal of enhancing the programs and services provided by Intercultural Affairs
Intercultural Affairs, or ICA for short, is here to support students like you during your time on campus at Western Carolina University.
Whether you're looking for a place to spend some down time between classes or a way to meet new friends, our lounge in the university center (2nd floor, accross from the mail room) is a great space to start.
ICA also hosts dozens of events and programs throughout the year to offer a variety of opportunities that are sure to enrich your college experience. Explore some of our signature programs below.
We hope to see you on campus! Go Cats!
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.
Cincinati, OH
Students enjoyed three days in the city visiting the Newport Aquirum, the Underground Railroad Museum, and dinner and dancing on a riverboat cruise.
Students took a day trip to Atlanta, GA to attend the Cirque du Soleil bigtop show - Volta! The bus stopped on the way down at the Mall of Georgia for lunch and a little shopping. After the show, students enjoyed a little more shopping in Atlantic Station before dinner at The Pig and the Pearl.
Students in Washington, DC
Students traveled to Virginia, Washington DC and New York City!
WCU Pride Week is a week long series of campus wide events, programs and workshops to bring awareness, education and support of our LGBTQ+ community, culminating with a Drag Show on Friday night!
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 is scheduled for Spring 2023.
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).
Join ICA every other year for an evening full of Calypso and soca music, Caribbean food, and traditional J'ouvert activities. J’ouvert (pronounced Joo-vay), is a large paint party in the streets created in Trinidad as ritual of freedom from slavery and defiance of former plantation owners, and is now celebrated throughout many Caribbean cultures. The name J’ouvert originates from the French jour ouvert, meaning day break or morning, and signals the start of Carnival.
The next J'ouvert is scheduled for Fall 2023.
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.
To see the full list of the 2023 events visit 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 retreat 2021
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 developmental and 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.
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, such as Take Back the Night, to foster an informed student body.
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.
Step UP! is a prosocial behavior and bystander intervention program that educates individuals to be proactive in helping others. Teaching people about the determinants of prosocial behavior makes them more aware of why they sometimes don’t help. As a result they are more likely to help in the future.
The goals of Step UP! are to:
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 40 minutes and includes a facilitated group discussion led by CAPS trained volunteers.
Western Carolina University has over 170 registered student organizations (RSOs) many of which support students from a variety of cultures and diverse backgrounds. Below are some examples of RSOs that have partnered with ICA for meeting space or events.
Explore all the student organizations through WCU Engage, an interactive platform, or down load the Qork app to use on your phone.
The Department of Intercultural Affairs is available to give Diversity Presentations
to classes, student groups, departments, and other groups on campus. The purpose of
these presentations is to cultivate a campus community that is accepting, knowledgeable
and sensitive in diversity issues.
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.
To see the full list of the 2023 events visit our MLK Jr. webpage at mlkjr.wcu.edu
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.
More information about Safe Zone
Step UP! is a prosocial behavior and bystander intervention program that educates individuals to be proactive in helping others. Teaching people about the determinants of prosocial behavior makes them more aware of why they sometimes don’t help. As a result they are more likely to help in the future.
The goals of Step UP! are to:
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 40 minutes and includes a facilitated group discussion led by CAPS trained volunteers.