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WCU Stories

Portrait of Richard Starnes

Chancellor appoints Richard Starnes to provost

WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown has announced the appointment of Richard D. Starnes as the next provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, effective immediately.  

Cat Statue Fall

WCU to waive application fee for freshmen as part of statewide campaign starting Oct. 19

WCU is among the institutions of higher education that will participate in “North Carolina Countdown to College,” an annual campaign to support college access through the waiving of freshmen application fees.  

Brian Boyer on campus with Students

The View from Here

Every summer, I give advice to incoming freshmen as they prepare to begin their college careers. I encourage them to take this advice for what it is worth, but I also tell them that WCU staff members are excited to welcome new students “home” every year — pandemic or no. Here’s some of that advice...  

Students on zoom

Students find old-fashion greeting cards bring joy, comfort to elderly residents in isolation

A simple gesture by a group of Western Carolina University students helped brighten the day — if not the month — of a generation of elderly folks who still place high value on the written word — heart emojis and Facebook likes, be darned.  

Image of Chris Faw

New giving society spurs alumni to expand support to students

For Chris Faw, it was a rustic wooden sign near the old entrance to Western Carolina University that featured the year the school was founded. For Emily Glesias, it was her memory of being a writing tutor and writing fellow while a student at WCU and knowing she could continue that support as an alumna.  

Student Democracy Coalition

Student Democracy Coalition gets grant for work this election

The Student Democracy Coalition has gotten a healthy financial boost this election year, thanks to a recent grant.   

Monarch butterflies

Monarch butterfly migration aided by native plants on WCU campus, Highlands Biological Station

The North Carolina mountains are a corridor along the “Butterfly Highway,” an annual migration route of monarch butterflies from the eastern United States and Canada to Mexico, with WCU a frequent stop along the way.  

Student Life Masks21

Modified Open House sessions for prospective students to begin Oct. 24

Western Carolina University will pop up the tents for prospective students and their families and friends as the university holds Open House on Saturday, Oct. 24.  

George Frizzell

New book about Horace Kephart explores his ‘other’ writings

Several years of research, compilation and collaboration by two writers from WCU have resulted in a scholarly book about Horace Kephart, a pivotal figure in the region from the early 20th century.  

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