Spanish Program News

Sarah Matesz’s heart rate rose about as fast as the flood water that submerged her feet. She was frantically moving her belongings to the second floor of her cabin, which was perched on the side of the mountain some 20 minutes away from Burnsville.

On any given day, you’re as likely to find Western Carolina University students on campus as you are up a granite cliff face or on the rapids of a raging river. In the engineering lab as often as on the trail.

Iyomi Grinan was looking for a change. Studying at a large public university in her home state just wasn’t her cup of tea. Classes were way too big, sometimes eclipsing 400 students, and Grinan didn’t feel that her professors were too invested in their students either.

Western Carolina University is home to students from many different backgrounds, boasting a high percentage of first-generation students and a number of learners with disabilities. Thanks to a pair of federal TRIO Student Support Services grants, WCU is now better set up to support them.

Admission to Western Carolina University from North Carolina community colleges just got simpler. The university is launching WCU Connect, a new, guaranteed admission program that paves a smoother path to WCU for two-year college transfer students.

Alexis Harp was lost her first few semesters of undergrad. Imposter syndrome was hitting her hard. She was a first-generation college student navigating the world of higher education, and to top it all off, she originally didn’t even want to go to college.

The retention rate of the fall 2024 first-time, full-time freshmen class rose to a record 81.6% as compared to 79.1% for fall 2023.

What does it mean to be a Catamount? It’s not necessarily someone from Cullowhee. It’s not always someone who’s stepped foot on campus. It’s when someone calls Western Carolina University home — and much more.

“Impressive how we find Brazilians everywhere, right?” The words, spoken in Portuguese, broke Luca Brunetti’s concentration. He ended his phone call with his family and looked more closely at the young man standing before him.

Universities and colleges across the United States are finding that an ever-increasing number of students on their campuses are dealing with a variety of mental health issues, ranging from anxiety and depression to thoughts of suicide.