As the westernmost institution in the UNC system, Western Carolina University provides
educational opportunities to residents of the state’s western region and attracts
students from around the globe to explore the area’s vast resources.
At Western Carolina University, we view our admissions process as our opportunity
to build the community that defines our institution. We look for people eager to explore
and ready to redefine success.
Programs and courses at Western Carolina are designed to provide hands-on, applied
experience. Students engage with communities across the region as they practice their
profession in real-world environments.
Western Carolina’s unique mountain location helps fuel a vibrant campus community
with more than 170 student clubs and organizations as well as a busy performing arts
calendar and the campus’s own adventure guide service.
Western Carolina is home to 16 Southern Conference athletic teams with more than 375
student athlete competitors. WCU strives to inspire student-athletes to compete like
champions on the field and in the classroom.
Western Carolina was founded to serve the region it calls home, and that has not changed.
WCU continues to focus on regional development initiatives, engaged service and community
programs. It also partners with alumni and donors to ensure access to higher education
for deserving students in the region and beyond.
Intercultural Affairs (ICA) works with all members of the University to provide a
campus environment where students from different backgrounds and culture groups feel
appreciated, respected and valued. Through educational, social, and leadership programs,
ICA promotes inclusive values of social justice and human dignity while preparing
students to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.
Our goal is to engage the WCU community, foster the exchange of ideas between students,
faculty and staff, and enlighten our campus community.
ICA BRANCHES
The ICA Advisory Board is a standing committee composed of faculty, staff and graduate
students. They meet several times during the academic year to provide guidance, support
and feedback for ICA with the goal of enhancing the programs and services provided by
Intercultural Affairs
ICA Council serves as the student lead branch of the department. The council hosts
various events and programs throughout the academic year to foster diversity and inclusion
within the student body. They also help plan many of the large-scale events that the
department is responsible for. Learn more, meet Council members, and listen to the ICA podcast!
We're here to support students like you during your time here at Western Carolina
University.
Whether you're looking for a place to spend some down time between classes or a way
to meet new friends, our events and programs throughout the year offer a variety of
opportunities to enrich your college experience.
Explore all our programs below and we hope to see you on campus!
This annual experience is designed to expose students to persons or groups markedly
different in culture (ethnicity, language, and socioeconomic status) from that of
themselves and create awareness for the world around them.
NOTE: THE EXCURSION TRIP FOR THE 20-21 ACADEMIC YEAR HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO TRAVEL
SAFETY CONCERNS WITH COVID19.
Here are some of our past excursions:
Fall 2018 Excursion: American Heritage Tour: The Counter-Narrative
46 Students traveled to Virginia, Washington DC and New York City!
Fall 2019 Excursion - Dinner and a Show
On Saturday, October 12th, 2019 50 students traveled to Atlanta, GA to attend the
Cirque du Soleil bigtop show - Volta! The bus stopped on the way down at the Mall
of Georgia for lunch and a little shopping. After the show students enjoyed a little
more shopping in Atlantic Station before dinner at The Pig and the Pearl.
Nationally acclaimed THE DEFAMATION EXPERIENCE begins with a riveting courtroom drama
that explores the highly charged issues of race, class, religion, gender and the law
with a twist—the audience is the jury.
Combined with an audience deliberation and facilitated discussion, THE DEFAMATION
EXPERIENCE is a unique opportunity to engage in civil discourse about the most pressing
social issues of our day.
The Fall 2020 Defamation Experience was held virtually on Wednesday, October 14th
from 3-5pm on zoom.
WCU Pride Week is a week long series of campus wide events, programs and workshops
to bring awareness, education and support of our LGBTQ+ community, culminating with
a Drag Show on Friday night!
NOTE: PRIDE WEEK FALL 2020 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SPRING 2021 DUE TO COVID19 MASS GATHERING
RESTRICTIONS.
Fall 2019 Pride Week List of Events:
MONDAY 9/23 - PRIDE Health Fair, 12-2, UC Illusions LGBTQ+ Student Panel, 7-8:30, UC Grandroom
FRIDAY 9/27 - Drag Show Featuring Miz Cracker, 8-10 p.m., Ramsey Center
A biennial networking luncheon where young women can connect with experienced female
leaders on campus and in the community to receive advice, words of wisdom and motivation
to aid in their own academic and career journeys.
Hats Off for the spring 2021 has been cancelled due to mass gathering restrictions
and safety concerns with COVID19.
The Department of Intercultural Affairs developed this graduation celebration as a
way to honor students from underrepresented populations and their contributions to
the Western Carolina University community.
We wish to provide them with a tangible symbol to wear during WCU's graduation and
keep with them after graduation as a reminder of their time at WCU and the support
that they have available for their future endeavors. Any student who wishes to celebrate
their graduation with ICA is welcomed to participate.
Update for Spring/Fall 2020
Due to COVID-19, and the inability to have face to face celebrations during the Spring
and Fall 2020 semesters, the ICA staff created virtual Graduation Celebrations! ICA
pins and printed programs were sent in the mail to all the students who wanted to
participate in the celebration.
On top of that, videos of the Cherokee Land Acknowledgment and Prayer, Staff Congratulations
and Sand Pouring Ceremony, and Keynote Speakers were also created and posted on the
WCU YouTube page. We also created virtual Graduation Celebration Programs web pages
to share with friends and family so they can enjoy the graduates' pictures and bios.
A high energy platform for diverse student organizations to present themselves to
the community in creative and innovative ways.
Join us the first week or so of the fall semester to learn about the Department of
Intercultural Affairs.
You'll have a chance to meet our staff, interact with students from NPHC organizations
and Registered Student Organizations (RSO's).
Nothing says "welcome back to WCU" like a Caribbean festival. Join ICA every other
year for an evening full of music, food, and traditional J'ouvert activities. The
next J'ouvert will be held in the fall 2021.
A series of events meant to bring our collective attention to the many ways in which
the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. paved the way for social justice
for all people.
In collaboration with three other NC system schools, the 2021 keynote speaker will
be Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and held virtually on January 26th, at 6:00pm.
To see the full list of the 2021 events visit our MLK Jr. webpage at mlkjr.wcu.edu
Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you've experienced
poverty, it's difficult to truly understand. The Poverty Simulation bridges that gap
from misconception to understanding. This simulation is an interactive immersion experience.
It sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty.
These events will be DegreePlus and will be worth R&R credit.
Project CARE aims to improve academic performance and the retention of underrepresented students
at Western Carolina University. In an effort to apply theory to practice, Intercultural
Affairs has designed this program as a proactive measure to address the academic challenges
underrepresented students face at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs).
This program pairs first year and transfer student participants with student leaders
who serve as peer counselors who help them to adjust to college life academically,
culturally, and socially.
Western Carolina University is committed to the safety and security of our campus
community. Through the Red Zone education campaign we educate students to bring awareness
to and to prevent sexual misconduct and violence.
The 'Red Zone' is commonly known as the period of time for college students during
which they are at higher risk of experiencing sexual violence, coercion, and/or manipulation.
The 'Red Zone' is typically defined as the first six weeks of the semester but we
will host Red Zone activities and programs throughout the year, such as Take Back
the Night, to foster an informed student body
The Safe Zone program provides training to all students, faculty, staff, and community members
who are interested in increasing awareness of and sensitivity to issues of gender
and sexuality. In order to receive Safe Zone certification, individuals must attend
both a Part I and a Part II training.
An interactive program that allows students, faculty and staff to have an experience
with oppression, discrimination, and injustice to heighten awareness and encourage
a personal commitment to ending oppression in all forms. The program usually takes
about 50 minutes and includes a facilitated group discussion led by CAPS trained volunteers.
Virtual Tunnel Of Oppression Spring 2021 Starting April 6th
Western Carolina University has over 170 registered student organizations many of which
support students from a variety of cultures and diverse backgrounds.
Whether you're looking for an organization that supports LGBTQIA+ identified students
and allies, or a group which promotes the cultural and educational benefits for the
African American student body, or Hispanic and LatinX culture, or Native American
culture, there is a group on campus for you.
Explore the organizations below through WCU Engage, an interactive platform for our student organizations to feature their groups and
events.
The Department of Intercultural Affairs is available to give Diversity Presentations
to classes, student groups, departments, and other groups on campus. The purpose of
these presentations is to cultivate a campus community that is accepting, knowledgeable
and sensitive in diversity issues.
Nationally acclaimed THE DEFAMATION EXPERIENCE begins with a riveting courtroom drama
that explores the highly charged issues of race, class, religion, gender and the law
with a twist—the audience is the jury.
Combined with an audience deliberation and facilitated discussion, THE DEFAMATION
EXPERIENCE is a unique opportunity to engage in civil discourse about the most pressing
social issues of our day.
The Fall 2020 Defamation Experience will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 14th
from 3-5pm on zoom.
A series of events meant to bring our collective attention to the many ways in which
the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. paved the way for social justice
for all people.
In collaboration with three other NC system schools, the 2021 keynote speaker will
be Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and held virtually on January 26th, at 6:00pm.
To see the full list of the 2021 events visit our MLK Jr. webpage at mlkjr.wcu.edu
The Safe Zone program provides training to all faculty and staff members who are interested
in increasing awareness of and sensitivity to issues of gender and sexuality. In order
to receive Safe Zone certification, individuals must attend both a Part I and a Part
II training.
Rainbow 101 Faculty/ Staff is a workshop designed for faculty & staff to better understand
inclusive practices & how to be more supportive of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the classroom
& community. Topics covered include basic terminology and concepts and examples of
microaggressions against LGBTQIA+ people. For more information or to request a training
contact Dean Paulk at dspaulk@wcu.edu.
An interactive program that allows students, faculty and staff to have an experience
with oppression, discrimination, and injustice to heighten awareness and encourage
a personal commitment to ending oppression in all forms. The program usually takes
about 50 minutes and includes a facilitated group discussion led by CAPS trained volunteers.
Virtual Tunnel Of Oppression Spring 2021 Starting April 6th
This graduation celebration is our way to honor students from underrepresented populations
and their contributions to the Western Carolina University community. Due to the COVID-19
pandemic we were unable to hold these celebrations in person for the spring and fall
semesters 2020, so we created virtual Graduation Celebrations for the Class of 2020. Fall 2020 virtual celebration Spring 2020 virtual celebration
