Week of activities on campus to highlight graduate study opportunities
WCU graduate students work with Lisen Roberts (standing), counseling program associate professor and head of the Department of Human Services, at the university's Biltmore Park site. Graduate School enrollment at WCU increased by more than 5 percent in the current semester, compared to fall 2018, and was a major factor in the university's total enrollment reaching 12,000 for the first time ever. Academic opportunities offered through WCU's Graduate School will be highlighted during the university's second annual Graduate Education Week.
The work of Western Carolina University’s current graduate students will be recognized and opportunities available for graduate study at the university will be highlighted as Graduate Education Week is held on campus Monday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Nov. 1.
The week of activities is sponsored by WCU’s Graduate School and Research.
Among the offerings for undergraduate students are two free Graduate Record Exam (also known as “GRE”) preparation sessions with the Math Tutoring Center. The sessions will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on both Oct. 28 and Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the auditorium of Natural Sciences Building. Also, a workshop on “Best Practices for Graduate Admission,” a DegreePlus event for students, will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Catamount Room of A.K. Hinds University Center.
The Graduate Student Association is co-sponsoring Social Networking Night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30. The event involves "undergraduate and graduate students connecting to talk about life as a graduate student at WCU," said Alexis Rutishauser, GSA president. Students will meet in Illusions at the University Center, and refreshments will be provided. Those planning to attend should RSVP at this website.
WCU graduate students will be representing a variety of academic programs during the annual 3MT – 3 Minute Thesis Competition from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 30 in the University Center theater. The competition is an opportunity for graduate students to articulate their research or topic of study to an audience using only one PowerPoint slide in under three minutes.
An event of particular interest for WCU faculty and staff is an information session focusing on the university’s tuition waiver for employees, which provides up to three tuition-free courses during the academic year. That session will be held from noon until 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Conference Room A at Blue Ridge Hall.
A Graduate Education Summit designed for WCU faculty members who teach graduate courses, graduate program directors and key staff members will be offered from noon until 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. The topic for the summit in the conference center at Blue Ridge Hall will be “Graduate Student Engagement and Inclusion: Life Cycle of a Graduate Student.”
Events will conclude Nov. 1 with an art exhibit and reception featuring four WCU master of fine art degree candidates from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Room 130 at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center and a meeting of the university's Graduate Council at 1 p.m. in the Dogwood Room of the University Center.
To see the full schedule of events for Graduate Education Week, visit gradweek.wcu.edu.
