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WCU Stories

Blue Ridge Parkway mountain range

Restoring through research: WCU professors help rebuild after Helene

Hurricane Helene stormed into North Carolina on Friday, Sept. 27 and wreaked unprecedented havoc over the following three days. Thousands of homes and miles of roadways were swept away by the floodwaters. Tens of thousands more homes were damaged, displacing families. Waterways became clogged with debris and structures such as bridges, levees, and culverts sustained heavy damage. Updated estimates indicate the hurricane caused $59.6 billion in damage.   

Brian Railsback

WCU’s 7th scholarship funded by Whitehead family pays tribute to Honors College founding dean

A newly established scholarship fund at Western Carolina University is designed to celebrate the contributions of the founding dean of what is now known as the Brinson Honors College, Brian Railsback, by providing financial assistance to the college’s students.  

WCU students on Project CARE ski trip

Fund for WCU supports cultural, educational programming to improve student retention

With the help of $5,000 in funding from the 1889 Impact Grants Program, Western Carolina University’s Office of Intercultural Affairs increased cultural and educational programming and enhanced efforts to support student success and retention.  

WCU students with Paws

Third annual ‘One Day for Western’ set for March 26

Western Carolina University’s annual all-in day of giving to the institution, titled “One Day for Western” and taking place Wednesday, March 26, will focus on garnering philanthropic gifts for all of the Catamount sports teams and for endowments supporting academic excellence.  

Chancellor Brown signs MOU with VGCC

WCU and Vance-Granville CC sign memorandum of understanding for guaranteed admission

Over 300 miles separate Western Carolina University and Vance-Granville Community College — but the two schools are now much closer than the distance that separates them.  

Spring at WCU

WCU sees high retention rate, notable increase in enrollment for spring 2025

The spring semester is underway at Western Carolina University and that means looking at how the university’s enrollment is shaping up for the first few weeks of the new year.  

WCU student teaching intern in classroom

WCU expands Catamount Commitment to include transfer students

Western Carolina University is expanding its Catamount Commitment program with a new initiative to support transfer students from North Carolina Community Colleges.  

Whee Belong Hickory gathering

The Fund for WCU supports ‘Whee Belong’ gatherings for distance ed students

The Office of Distance Learning at Western Carolina University used $7,000 in 1889 Impact Grants Program funding to host in-person events during the spring of 2024 to bring together distance learning students, most of whom take courses fully online, are 25 or older, work full-time, and have families and lives beyond school.  

Patient being seen in Vecinos Clinic

Vecinos clinic receives tech upgrade through donations to Fund for WCU

Health care providers in the primary care clinic area of Western Carolina University’s Health and Human Sciences Building are now able to take advantage of upgraded technology to help meet the needs of the patients they serve.  

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