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53-532: The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four-year universities in the UNC system, WCU was founded to educate the people of the western North Carolina mountains. WCU provides an education to students from 48 states and 35 countries. Enrollment for the Fall 2020 semester was 12,243 students. In 1888, the residents of Cullowhee desired a better school for the community than was offered in public schools of that day, organized

106-517: A board of trustees and established a community school that came to be known as Cullowhee Academy . Founded in August 1889 as a semi-public secondary school and chartered as Cullowhee High School in 1891 (also called Cullowhee Academy), it served the Cullowhee community and boarding students from neighboring counties and other states. The founder, Robert Lee Madison, wanted to provide an education for

159-678: A cumulative WCU GPA of at least 3.5 and they must have completed 27 credit hours with honors designation or 24 credit hours with honors designation and completion of DegreePlus Level 3. Students who graduate from the Brinson Honors College receive the specially designed Brinson Honors College diploma, the Honors medallion, and walk at the head of their class. The college is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. In August 2009, Balsam Hall,

212-557: A four-year scholarship, which covers the equivalent amount of in-state tuition, fees, room, and board, to National Merit Finalists, who also receive a computer. The 2012 edition of the U.S. News & World Report guide to "America's Best Colleges" ranks Western Carolina University 14th among public universities in the South that offer master's degrees. In 2015, the North Carolina General Assembly approved

265-744: A game WCU won 77–70. The ball he used is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Western Carolina and Appalachian State have a football rivalry in which they once competed in the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug on an annual basis. Western Carolina and East Tennessee State have a football rivalry in which they compete in the Blue Ridge Border Battle. The Catamounts football team

318-585: A member of the Southern Conference , Western Carolina University participates in NCAA Division I athletics. Intercollegiate athletics include football, men and women's basketball, baseball, softball, women's soccer, men and women's golf, men and women's track and field (Indoor and Outdoor), cross country running, women's volleyball and tennis. Catamount football is a member of Division I FCS and plays at Whitmire Stadium. The Ramsey Center

371-478: A month, making it one of the rainiest places in the eastern United States. It is also one of the coolest places in the mountains, with an average daily July temperature of 78 degrees. As of the census of 2000, there were 196 people, 96 households, and 48 families living in the community. The population density was 182.0 inhabitants per square mile (70.3/km ). There were 182 housing units at an average density of 169.0 per square mile (65.3/km ). The racial makeup of

424-644: A movie theater, video and commuter lounges, student organization HQs including the Student Government Association and Last Minute Productions, meeting rooms and office spaces. Outside of the UC is the "Alumni Tower", built in 1989, on the 100th birthday of the university. Other newly constructed facilities include the Center for Applied Technology (which houses new engineering laboratories); an expanded student life center; new athletic facilities; and

477-424: A new student support center. A $ 13.5 million 73,000-square-foot (6,800 m) Student Recreation Center, was completed over the summer of 2008. Harrill Residence Hall was renovated to add 6,000 square feet (557 m2) and bring the 1971 building to LEED standards of environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, and re-opened in fall 2012. The new $ 46.2 million Health and Human Sciences Building opened for use at

530-697: A priority given to graduate students, named Madison Hall. Balsam Hall and Blue Ridge Hall are residence halls for Brinson Honors College students. These halls are centrally located to campus and are connected via an arch between them. The Village, home to residential Greek and student organizations. Three new residence facilities were recently completed from a $ 50.2 million residence hall project. The newest residence halls are referred to as "The Rocks". They consist of three buildings, Black Rock, Shining Rock, and Water Rock. They were all fully opened in Spring of 2023 and are located in place of former Scott and Walker Halls. As

583-416: A small town, including twelve residence halls, two full-service cafeterias, a food court with fast-food outlets, health services, counseling, a bookstore, library , a swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, movie theater, jogging trail and quarter-mile track, hiking and biking trails and intramural fields. The campus center is the A.K. Hinds University Center. The UC contains the university post office,

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636-622: Is a member of more than 30 state and national associations and organizations to which its professional programs are related. In 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service recognized WCU by awarding the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for "exemplary commitment to service and civic engagement" on WCU's campus and beyond. As the sixth-largest producer of teachers in North Carolina,

689-572: Is home to men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball. Baseball is played at Hennon Stadium, softball is played at the Catamount Softball Complex, and the Catamount Athletic Complex is home to women's soccer, tennis, and track and field. On November 29, 1980, Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first intercollegiate three-point field goal, in a game against Middle Tennessee State University ,

742-807: Is located in a valley of the Tuckasegee River , between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains , 52 miles (84 km) west of Asheville, North Carolina and 5 miles south of Sylva, NC . The university lies close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , the Blue Ridge Parkway , the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation (officially known as the Qualla Boundary ), and some of

795-588: Is not unusual in the higher elevations of Jackson County around Cashiers or Balsam . In nearby Sapphire Valley, snowmaking machines maintain prime snow skiing conditions from mid-December through February. Locations in Jackson County are also within reasonable driving distance to ski slopes at Maggie Valley . The Blue Ridge Parkway is usually closed during winter weather, and has become popular with cross-country skiers during those times. The many rivers, streams and forests surrounding Cullowhee, combined with

848-576: Is the largest band this parade has seen in decades", "This is the best of the best", and "They don't mess around at Western Carolina". The Pride of the Mountains also performed at a Carolina Panthers halftime show in 2011. The band was also the special guest at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis in 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2012, an honor given to only one college band in

901-500: The 2020 United States census , the community had a total population of 657, up from 157 at the 2010 census. Cashiers is pronounced KASH-erz locally, and is one of several communities in the area popular with tourists and owners of vacation homes. The village is at the crossroads of U.S. Route 64 (US 64) and North Carolina Highway 107 (NC 107), which connects to Highlands , Rosman , Sylva , and Walhalla . The establishment of Cashiers began with two men: Barak Norton,

954-512: The High Hampton Inn . In 1927, Cashiers received a town charter from the state, but has since become inactive with no acting government body. In 2003, the North Carolina General Assembly passed local legislation allowing Cashiers to re-incorporate, but this was turned down by a vote of 161 to 302 in a local referendum on August 12. The Jackson County government set up a special zoning council for Cashiers in response; operated by

1007-423: The "FoREST") is just the second facility of its kind nationally. The decomposition research station is an extremely valuable resource for researchers and forensic anthropology students to study natural decomposition. Western Carolina University's Brinson Honors College provides an academic community in which high-achieving students challenge themselves to meet and exceed their own academic goals. WCU's Honors College

1060-478: The 640 acres (260 ha). The Zachary family set up several businesses including a general store and sawmill; they provided trade skills including brick mason, hatter, and carpenter. Several stories exist as to the derivation of the name Cashiers including a racehorse, steer, or mule named Cash or a hermit living in the area with the name. However, it has been concluded that the Zachary Family came up with

1113-1161: The Best of the Best" by Paul Buyer. The band is the 2009 recipient of the Sudler Trophy awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation . They participated in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and won the most votes in a "best band" in the parade poll hosted by KTLA-TV. WCU is home to a wide range of Greek fraternities and sororities , as well as several councils and societies. The Greek community offers many social opportunities to enrich college life. Greeks get personal guidance in planning their curriculum and choosing classes and instructors, and assistance with registration and financial aid. Chapter study sessions, educational programs, tutoring, and study partners and teams offer support for developing and maintaining study skills . Greeks are recognized for their academic successes through Greek scholarship and awards programs and honor societies such as

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1166-661: The Cherokee language all reflect that influence – and provide educational resources for the region. Western is classified among "M1: Master's Colleges and Universities – Larger programs" and in the elective "community engagement" category. WCU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the bachelor, masters, intermediate, and doctoral levels. The university holds 21 program accreditations and

1219-888: The College of Education and Allied Professions was the national winner of the Association of Teacher Educators' Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award in 2006. The college is also the 2007 co-winner of the Christa McAuliffe Excellence in Teacher Education Award presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The Christa McAuliffe Award nationally recognizes outstanding programs in teacher education at AASCU member institutions. Western Carolina's Forensic Research Facility (commonly referred to as

1272-824: The Graduate School coordinates the admission process, funding support, and awarding of degrees to graduate students, and Hunter Library provides academic support for all academic units. With its main campus located on the site of an ancient Cherokee Indian village and adjacent to the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, Western Carolina has a commitment to the rich traditions of both the Appalachian and Cherokee cultures. The university's Mountain Heritage Center; Cherokee Center; Craft Revival Project; Cherokee Studies Program and WCU's partnership to preserve

1325-677: The Mountains is the largest college marching band in the Carolinas and Tennessee. As of Fall 2014, the marching band includes just over 500 members, making it one of the largest marching bands in the United States. The band is open to all Western Carolina students regardless of class or major, with approximately 60% of its members non-music majors. In 2014, the band performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with 510 band members participating. Announcers described their performance as "This

1378-530: The NC Promise Tuition Plan, a tuition reduction plan to make three universities - WCU, Elizabeth City State University , and University of North Carolina at Pembroke - more affordable and accessible. The NC Promise began in the fall semester of 2018 and drastically reduces the tuition cost for students. In-state students pay $ 500 a semester and out-of-state students pay $ 2,500 a semester. Attendance has increased for three consecutive years with

1431-679: The Order of Omega. According to 2011–12 figures from U.S. News & World Report , 3.4% of WCU's male undergraduate students are in fraternities, while 3.6% of female undergraduate students are in sororities. Sororities Greek Councils & Societies Smoky Mountain High School#Cullowhee High School Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include

1484-614: The United States each year. In addition, the band was also a special guest at the Bands of America Regional's held in Atlanta in 1995, 2006, 2010, and 2011. In 2009, the Pride of the Mountains was selected as one of the five best collegiate marching bands in the nation by the College Band Directors National Association and featured in the book "Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from

1537-613: The chief administrative officer, along with Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Richard Starnes and several advisory groups. The institution operates under the guidance and policies of the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University. WCU also falls under the administration of University of North Carolina system president Thomas W. Ross . The university moved to a provost and senior vice chancellor model in 2004. Presidents Chancellors Vice-Chancellors for Academic Affairs Provosts The university produces

1590-448: The community was 98.98% White and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population. There were 96 households out of which 15.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 3.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who

1643-880: The county, it covers what would normally be done by a municipality. Five properties near Cashiers are listed on the National Register of Historic Places — Camp Merrie-Woode , the Church of the Good Shepherd , Fairfield Inn , the High Hampton Inn Historic District, and the Mordecai Zachary House . According to the United States Census Bureau , the community has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km ), all land. Cashiers and

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1696-411: The details below. Request from 172.68.168.133 via cp1102 cp1102, Varnish XID 543554403 Upstream caches: cp1102 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:53:36 GMT Cashiers Cashiers ( / ˈ k æ ʃ ər z / KASH -ərz ) is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated village located in southern Jackson County , North Carolina , United States. As of

1749-620: The first part of a $ 50.2 million Honors College residential community located at the center of campus opened, housing 426 students. In Fall 2010, Blue Ridge Hall completed the community and add an additional 400 beds for Honors College students and Teaching Fellows. In the spring of 2000, WCU was officially designated a National Merit sponsoring university, just the fourth institution of higher education in North Carolina, public or private, to receive that distinction The university grants scholarships to students who qualify as National Merit Finalists. The Western Meritorious Award for Finalists provides

1802-540: The first white settler in Whiteside Cove and Colonel John Zachary, who with his talented sons was responsible for the area's economic and civic development. Barak Norton came to the area around 1820 and the land he claimed in the area, including a gold mine eventually became Cashiers' main business district. Colonel John Zachary arrived in the area in 1833 and by 1836 received a 640-acre (260 ha) state land grant, plus two 100-acre (40 ha) land grants adjoining

1855-522: The following publications and broadcasts: WCU students, faculty and staff also contribute to: Western Carolina University's academic programs are housed in six colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Allied Professions, David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, Health and Human Sciences, and Engineering and Technology. In addition, Western Carolina University's Brinson Honors College coordinates courses and events in every area of student and offers several interdisciplinary program,

1908-488: The mid-1920s. Over the next forty years, the school expanded its curriculum and evolved into a junior college, and in 1929 it was chartered by the Legislature as a four-year institution under the name Western Carolina Teachers College. Called "the Cullowhee experiment", Madison's idea became a model for the other regional colleges in the state. The demand for both liberal arts and other programs led to an expansion of

1961-403: The mild climate of Southern Appalachia, offer many opportunities for outdoor activities. Climbing, hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, and camping are a few of the outdoor activities nearby. Cities within a three-hour drive of campus include Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Greenville, South Carolina. The main campus in Cullowhee offers most of the amenities of

2014-413: The name related to their accounting work for individual gold miners in the area, being the "cashier". In 1839, Jonathan Zachary, the youngest son of the family, applied to become the first postmaster for, what he called, "Cashiers Valley;" it was changed to Cashiers in 1881. In 1851, the first Post Office was established. In 1855, the Zachary Family sold land to Wade Hampton II , in what later became

2067-423: The nation's most beautiful national forest lands. At an elevation of 2,100 feet (640 m), but located in a thermal valley, the campus enjoys the best of all four seasons but is shielded from most extreme temperatures by surrounding peaks. Cullowhee typically enjoys a rather mild winter season. In fact, Cullowhee can go some winters with little to no snowfall. While winters in the valley are generally mild, snow

2120-563: The nearby towns of Highlands , Glenville , and Sapphire make up a popular mountain vacation area near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains , the easternmost front of the Appalachian Mountains . Cashiers is surrounded by scenic views, waterfalls, and Nantahala National Forest land. Visitors and vacation home owners from all over the southeast enjoy hiking, mountain biking, golf, and fly fishing during

2173-546: The residence halls, Shining Rock which is located in the lower campus, has been the target of several arson attacks starting from November 2023 and stopping abruptly in February 2024. In December 2024, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation entered into a joint investigation with the campus police to catch the perpetrator, but the investigation stalled after exhausted leads. In late November,

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2226-605: The school's offerings. Postgraduate studies and the Master of Arts in Education degree were added to the curriculum in 1951. In 1953, the name Western Carolina College was adopted. In 1967, the institution was designated a regional university by the North Carolina General Assembly and given its current name, Western Carolina University. On July 1, 1972, WCU became a member of the University of North Carolina system. One of

2279-958: The start of the 2012–13 academic year, also built to LEED standards. This facility is the first project on the Millennial Initiative property and houses WCU's educational and outreach programs in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The four-story facility is home to the undergraduate and graduate programs in social work and communication sciences and disorders; graduate programs in physical therapy and health sciences; and undergraduate programs in athletic training, emergency medical care, environmental health, nutrition and dietetics, nursing and recreational therapy. WCU's educational facilities in Asheville focus on professional and graduate degrees for working students. The Western Carolina University Cherokee Center in Cherokee, North Carolina ,

2332-479: The state assumed title to the school's buildings and property and made it a state institution. That same year, the school's name was changed to Cullowhee Normal & Industrial School . In 1925, the school's name was changed to Cullowhee State Normal School . During its years as Cullowhee Normal, the stated purpose of the school was to train teachers for the North Carolina public schools. A coeducational institution, Cullowhee Normal trained over two thousand teachers by

2385-508: The state to offer a residential option and among a few nationwide to award graduates with a special honors diploma. Entering freshman, must meet one of the following criteria to be considered for consideration into the Brinson Honors College: weighted GPA of 4.2 minimum, unweighted GPA of 3.8 minimum, class rank of 10%, ACT score of 30 minimum, or SAT score of 1370. To graduate from the Brinson Honors College, students must have

2438-718: The total attendance as of Fall 2020 at 12,243 students, being the ninth time in the past ten years record enrollment has been recorded. Community focus, economic development, scholarly research, business development, preservation of the Cherokee & Appalachian Mountain cultures, and the advancement of technology & public policy are the guiding foci of Western Carolina's Centers, Institutes & Affiliates. The main campus at Cullowhee has residential facilities for students. These include seventeen residence halls, two full-service cafeterias, and one food court with fast-food outlets. The halls house more than 4,500 WCU students each academic year. The campus residence buildings include one with

2491-504: The university started to offer a $ 1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist. As of April 2024, the perpetrator has not been caught. Western Carolina University is located in Jackson County , in the unincorporated village of Cullowhee, North Carolina . The university operates learning centers in both Asheville and Cherokee with programs offered online and at various community colleges . The main campus

2544-487: The warm months of the year. The United States Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy have worked to protect several natural areas near Cashiers, including the biologically diverse Panthertown Valley, Whitewater Falls , and the Tuckaseegee River Gorge. The Chattooga River also rises near Cashiers. Cashiers receives an average of 87.57 inches of precipitation annually, over 7.25 inches

2597-530: The young people in the region and train teachers to spread education throughout the western part of the state. In 1893, through the efforts of Walter E. Moore, representative from Jackson County, the North Carolina Legislature authorized an appropriation for the establishment of a normal department at the school "for the purpose of training teachers". This designation became the first publicly funded normal school in North Carolina. In 1905,

2650-454: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.76. In the community, the population was spread out, with 14.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females, age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males. The median income for

2703-473: Was established in 1975 in cooperation with the tribal government of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. The center serves Cherokee and the surrounding communities and is available to all of the people of the region. Their services include the application process, transcript request, scholarships, internships placement, high school recruitment. The university is led by Chancellor Kelli R. Brown,

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2756-787: Was runner-up in the Division I-AA National Football Championship Game in 1983. Current NCAA sports at WCU include: In 2016 the WCU dance team won third place at the NDA Nationals dance competition , performing in Daytona Beach, Florida . The Schools of Music and Fine and Performing Arts offer a variety of events featuring students, faculty, and outside performers. These cultural opportunities are typically relatively cheap, and students can often attend them free of charge. The Pride of

2809-580: Was the first residential honors college in the University of North Carolina System , beginning in 1997 with only 77 students in Reynolds Hall. It now has more than 1,300 students and residential space in Balsam and Blue Ridge residence halls. The Honors College was later renamed to the Brinson Honors College in September 2020 to honor Jack and Judy Brinson. The Brinson Honors College is one of a few in

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