WCU Stories

Nursing Students Assist with COVID-19 Shots

There were nursing students giving shots, church members helping people find their place in line, fraternity brothers directing traffic and other volunteers filling in where needed. Sometimes it takes a village to protect a village, and that certainly was the case when a group of Western Carolina University nursing school students decided to make their senior service learning project a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for Buncombe County’s African American community.

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Unmasking the Flow

Students in Western Carolina University’s College of Engineering and Technology are conducting studies that could help people make more informed decisions on which face masks are most effective.

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EMS student sees service to others as service to self

Daniel Tizon has his sights set on the future, while firmly grounded in the present as a student emergency services technician.

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Pandemic Drives Demand for Professional and Graduate Programs

As Asheville’s population and economy look to recover from months of slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional professionals are increasingly seeking ways to develop their skills, increase their credentials and stand out among the competition for new opportunities and career advancement. Increased demand resulted in a record enrollment this fall for Western Carolina University’s Asheville-based programs, with a 10 percent growth in students served compared to fall 2019.

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Research and Discovery

Explore the the way our students, faculty and staff are shaping the world we live in.

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Discover virtual tours, photo galleries and see what makes WCU unique.

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A Conversation with Jeff VanderMeer and Carmen Maria Machado

Watch a live conversation about their award-winning and genre-bending books.

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Finding Inspiration

Care, concern shown from WCU Nurse Anesthesia graduate Ann Crosby

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Leaving A Legacy

E'Quince Smith believes that making an impact on WCU is just as important as earning his degree.

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No Matter Your Choice

Decide to Succeed

It’s not the decision that defines you, but the determination to push past what you believe is possible and embrace your successes.

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Walk This Way

Thanks to a robotic-assisted physical therapy method underway at a clinic housed in the Health and Human Sciences Building at Western Carolina University, a local man is getting back on his feet - literally. The innovative device is one in a series of products by ReWalk, a medical device company that designs and develops mobility products for individuals with lower limb disabilities. While there are other manufacturers and systems, WCU is one of only two ReWalk training facilities in North Carolina.

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WCU teams with Blue Ridge Pride Center, UNCA for local LGBTQ project

A collaboration between WCU, the University of North Carolina Asheville and the Blue Ridge Pride Center will gather oral histories, archival materials and photos for an ongoing LGBTQ community research project.

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Transfer student honored with national scholarship for academic prowess, community outreach

As a high school senior Olivia Swalm had her life all planned out: Furman University, premed major in biology, then medical school and a career as a forensic pathologist. Then she was forced to take a knee.

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