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WCU Stories

Salem Parris

CEAP alumna rises to pandemic challenge as first-year teacher, wins county award

Salem Parris, a 2019 alumna of the College of Education and Allied Professions, was selected as Haywood County’s 2020 Beginning Teacher of the Year.  

Students in a classroom

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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Close up of a touchless candy despenser

Engineering Treats

Engineering students find creative ways to distribute Halloween candy. The traditional ways to celebrate Halloween will be the next victim of the global pandemic, COVID-19.  

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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.  

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.   

student life masks

Regional economic impact of pandemic examined by the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise

Thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise is conducting an analysis of the economic impact of the pandemic in the region.   

Cat statue mask

WCU updates COVID-19 dashboard to provide more detailed information

WCU has updated its recently launched online COVID-19 dashboard to include additional information about testing, positivity rates, isolation and quarantine.   

Aerial Shot of Main Street in Sylva

Jackson County ranked second in nation for areas to start new businesses

Jackson County and the unincorporated community of Cullowhee surrounding Western Carolina University have been ranked as the nation’s second most economically dynamic “micropolitan area” of 50 profiled in a report by the Heartland Forward, an institute for economic development.  

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ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge begins efforts for voter registration

A local push to register voters and get out the vote is being spearheaded by a group at Western Carolina University, as part of the national ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.  

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