The First Year Experience

The First Year Experience at WCU will help you connect the pieces as you transition into college life. We are here to help you connect the pieces as you transition into college life.  Our goal is to insure your success as you embark upon this exciting adventure!  As you navigate the wealth of resources WCU has to offer, start your explorations here!

The Adventure Begins!

• Catamount Gateway - Remember to complete all of your steps in the Catamount Gateway – when you complete your Gateway checklist, please come back to continue your adventure!
• Orientation - Welcome! You're about to set out on the next great adventure of your life: your college career at WCU. During orientation you'll find all the resources you need to gear up for study at WCU.  You'll experience life in the dorms and take the first steps toward building your circle of WCU friends!
• Cat Camp - Cat Camp is a 4 day/3 night retreat geared to assist students in the transition from high school to college life.  Students will explore identity and what it means to be a Catamount as they enjoy exciting and challenging activities. Cat Campers will create new relationships guaranteed to last a lifetime before their classes even begin!
• Family Association - We are here to empower families and help insure your student's success – welcome!
• Transfer Students - As a WCU transfer student, you'll find a supportive community that's committed to seeing you succeed. We are committed to helping you make a smooth transition to WCU!
• Western WOW - Western's Week of Welcome is your opportunity to get involved in campus activities and learn a little bit about your new home. Events are scheduled to familiarize you with new facilities, give you the chance to interact with other students, and have a lot of fun. So come out and experience Western at its best!

Experience Life!

• Financial needs and student employment - OneStop (for financial issues)
  828-227-7170 / Email the OneStop
• Health – Wellness – Safety - Nothing is more important to us than the welfare of our students. WCU's support services are designed to keep you safe and healthy!
• Residential Living (for housing issues)
  828-227-7303 / west@email.wcu.edu
• Campus Map - find your way around our beautiful campus.
• Get to know WCU through videos, pictures, posts and tweets!
  

Academics Empower!

• Academic Advisors are key to first year success at WCU.  Even if you've already declared your major and have been assigned a faculty advisor, we remain available to answer your questions and help you stay on track throughout your academic career. So come see your advisor early and often. And remember, when you've got questions, we've got answers!
  • Advising Center - for all students
  • Honors Advising - for Honors College students
  • Student Support Services - for specifically eligible students
• Academic Success Centers (ASC) - Are you eager to succeed in your classes - want some help?  The Academic Success Centers provide free services designed to help you achieve success in all your classes!
  • Help with your writing assignments
  • Help with your math class
  • Subject-specific assistance
  • Assistance with technology
• First Year Composition - Composition is about more than writing. It's about ideas, philosophy, history, psychology, politics, economics, the world. It's about what interests you and what you can make interesting to others. In other words, composition is about your major and your life.
• First Year Seminars (FYS) - FYS allow you to become a member of your new community in a dynamic environment that is intellectually solid, empowers diversity and authenticity, and challenges you to be your very best! As your introduction to college study at WCU, you will find a diverse and exciting range of courses from which to choose. Take a stroll through the FYS descriptions – make your choices and get ready for a terrific experience! FY Seminars are a liberal studies requirement.
• First Year Transition Courses - As an incoming first year student, you are expected to enroll in one of the transition courses offered to maximize your opportunities for a successful transition to college. You will have opportunities to develop an awareness of the scope of the world, as well as your place in and impact on the world at its many levels. Take a stroll through these courses and prepare to transcend!
  • Freshman Leadership Institute
  • Honors Forum
  • University Experience
  • Western Carolina PEAKS
• Academic Learning Communities - A Learning Community (LC)  is a set of linked courses that will encourage you to explore relationships and provide you the opportunity to develop friendships and experience learning as a dynamic exchange of ideas and perspectives during your  transition to campus life.  Take a look at the full descriptions of the exciting LC cohorts offered this semester !
• Liberal Studies - All degree programs include courses in Liberal Studies designed to help you attain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an educated person, including the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, identify and solve problems reflectively, use information and technology responsibly, develop an appreciation for the creative and performing arts, and, form a basis for continued personal development and lifelong learning.  The Liberal Studies student resource page provides details and program requirements. 
• Major Academic Disciplines - Review specific degree programs as you visit with our Departments, Schools, and Colleges.
• Undergraduate Catalog - Explore links to course lists, academic calendars, faculty lists, scholarship information, and more! 

Engage Success!

• Career Services - The Career Services/Cooperative Education Office is multi-faceted and student service oriented. We are committed to providing up-to-date services which:  assist in career/major decision-making; promote career experiences, and job search learning; and then facilitate contact with employers and graduate schools.  So don't wait until you are ready to graduate to explore the types of careers/jobs Western majors will prepare you for.  Please visit us early – plan now for your success at WCU and your future!
• Center for Service Learning - Do you want to make a difference in your world?   Service learning as a special form of experiential education whereby you may engage in organized activities designed to enhance your understanding of course content, meet community needs, develop career-related skills, and become a responsible citizen.  Service learning is relevant and genuine – it places you at the heart of learning!
• Center for Student Involvement - Located on the third floor of the University Center, the Center for Student Involvement provides a way for all students to get involved! So if you are looking for organizations, clubs, or new friends, this will take you there!
• Office for Undergraduate Studies - The Office for Undergraduate Studies is committed to empowering experiences that will inspire you to set personal goals for academic excellence in an environment that challenges you to explore, imagine, examine, create, and reflect.  We are here to promote integration, engaged learning designs, civic responsibility, collaborations with your faculty and peers,and development opportunities.
• Student Life - At WCU, you'll find more than challenging academics. You'll find yourself exploring a whole new world of opportunities, adventure, and friendship.  To discover more about how to get involved, meet people, where to live or eat, exercise facilities, and more – check us out.  Live the student life!