- Student Life & Services
- Intercultural Affairs
Intercultural Affairs
Engage. Exchange. Enlighten.
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 Branches
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
Students
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!
Programs/Events
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.
Past Excursions:
Cincinati, OH
Spring 2022 Excursion - Cincinnati, OH
Students enjoyed three days in the city visiting the Newport Aquirum, the Underground Railroad Museum, and dinner and dancing on a riverboat cruise.
Fall 2019 Excursion - Dinner and a Show
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
Fall 2018 Excursion - American Heritage Tour: The Counter-Narrative
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 2025.
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 September 7th, 2023 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.
August 26. 2023
8pm-12am
Picnic Area (behind the softball field)
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.
The next Poverty Simulation is scheduled for November 17th, 2023.
THIS EVENT IS FULL
Project CARE retreat 2022
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:
- Raise awareness of helping behaviors.
- Increase motivation to help.
- Develop skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns.
- Ensure the well-being of oneself and others.
An immersive and 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.
Student Organizations
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.
Faculty/Staff
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
- Increase basic self-awareness, knowledge, and skills related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community
- Gain exposure to and knowledge of general concepts related to gender and sexual identity
- Learn basic terminology and vocabulary
- Receive practical tips for how to demonstrate respect and value for members in the LGBTQ community
For more information or to schedule a Rainbow 101 presentation contact ica@wcu.edu
The objectives of the Respect the Differences Presentation are:
- Create an open space for understanding diversity where everyone feels included, respected and valued.
- Develop an understanding of the dimensions of diversity and how everyone contributes to a diverse community.
- Provide some options for managing diversity on a personal level.
- Provide an opportunity for open, honest feedback and discussion, with an opportunity to disagree free of judgement from the facilitator(s).
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:
- Raise awareness of helping behaviors.
- Increase motivation to help.
- Develop skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns.
- Ensure the well-being of oneself and others.
Request a Step Up! Bystander Intervention Program
An immersive and 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.
Last date revised 10-3-2023
Contact Us
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday - 8am - 5pm
227 AK Hinds University Center
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Campus Map
phone: 828.227.2276
fax: 828.227.7620
ica@wcu.edu
Evelyn Rucker, Director, erucker@wcu.edu
Karin Kimenker, Admin. Support Specialist, kkimenker@wcuedu
Zion Moore, Graduate Assistant, moorez@wcu.edu
