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.

Past Excursions:

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.

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 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  

 MLK Jr Day 2021 Commemorative Website

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 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.

more information

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.

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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 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.

Learn More

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  

 MLK Jr Day 2021 Commemorative Website

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.

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.

Learn More