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Research Council

research

 

Research and creative inquiry are essential components of WCU’s mission to offer engaged​ and experiential learning opportunities to improve lives, engage the region, increase knowledge, and enhance the economy and community of western North Carolina and beyond.

The Research Council was established in 2018 to promote and assess the university’s support and engagement of academic research and ​creative scholarship ​activities.

This includes stimulating, organizing, and supporting academic research, scholarship, and creative works ​ for faculty and students across disciplines. 

Research Council Members

Associate Provost

Carmen Huffman (Co-Chair)

Ongoing

Graduate School and Research, Dean

Jeff Lawson (Co-Chair)

Ongoing

Faculty Senate Representative

David de Jong

2022-2025

Faculty Senate Representative

Heather Rimes

2023-2026

Faculty Senate Representative

Cyndy Caravelis

2024-2027

BCFPA

Christina Reitz

2024-2027

CAS

Amanda Storm

2024-2027

CEAP

Jess Weiler

2023-2026

CET

SungJoon Suk

2024-2026

CHHS

Ann Hallyburton

2024-2027

COB

Heidi Grappendorf

2024-2027

Provost Appointment

John Hildreth

2024-2027

Honors College, Dean

Jill Granger (Ex-officio)

Ongoing

Library, Dean

Chuck Thomas (Ex-officio)

Ongoing

Research Administration, Director

Kloo Hansen (Ex-officio)

Ongoing

Research Programs Coordinator

Suzanne Melton (Ex-officio)

Ongoing

Office of Assessment, Director

Karen Price (Ex-officio)

Ongoing

As teacher-scholars, Western Carolina University's faculty and staff are active in research, scholarship, and creative inquiry to generate new knowledge and creative works, craft learning opportunities for students, and further the institution's mission to improve lives, engages the region, and enhance the economy and community of western North Carolina and beyond.

Our Research Vision is to enhance the lives of our students and the region as the hub of new knowledge generation, creative work production, and innovation in western North Carolina.

  • Identify and document current state of research/scholarly activities across the university
  • Support research, scholarship, and creative inquiry of faculty, staff,  and students
  • Support scholarly engagement and collaboration between faculty and students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels
  • Support efforts of faculty and staff to secure internal and external funding
  • Make research and creative activity opportunities available for WCU students
  • Promote and support the WCU Centers, Institutes, and academic programs that contribute to the research mission of the institution
  • Promote the value of Boyer scholarship – Discovery, Integration, Engagement, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
  • Uphold ethical research standards to achieve our vision and enhance the reputation of the Western Carolina University

Research Council resources include Research Council meeting minutes and subcommittee documents. (requires WCU login)

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