Virtual nature: Highlands Biological gets creative with outreach amid pandemic
By Geoff Cantrell • Contributing writer | In a typical school year, Highlands Biological Station serves nearly 10,000 students through more than 250 programs for 50-plus schools across the mountain region.
This was not a typical school year.
WCU trustees approve fee increases
The cost of attendance at Western Carolina University will increase by $152 in the 2021-2022 school year for on-campus, in-state undergraduates, if a proposed schedule of fees and rates adopted by the WCU Board of Trustees this month meets approval from the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
Western Carolina University athletics returns to play
By Todd Vinyard • Contributing writer | Each athletic season has its challenges, but the 2020-2021 season has more obstacles than usual as teams try to play on safely during a pandemic.
WCU manages pandemic as first cluster is reported
The third week of classes is now underway at Western Carolina University, and the Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified the first cluster on campus.
‘Whee want change’: WCU students call for policy changes following racially charged videos
Five Western Carolina University students are no longer enrolled at the school after appearing in a pair of videos that featured racial slurs and surfaced on social media the first weekend after classes began. The university community showed overwhelming support for the students’ departure from campus during a march held Wednesday, Aug. 26, drawing more than 800 people.
Despite pandemic, WCU sets new enrollment record
For the ninth time in the last 10 years, Western Carolina University is starting the year with a record high enrollment — despite earlier concerns that the Coronavirus Pandemic could cause a decrease in enrollment.
Erosion issues ongoing at Millennial Campus
Despite multiple outstanding environmental violations, a new student housing complex located on Western Carolina University’s Millennial Campus off Killian Road welcomed its first group of tenants this month.
Student videos with racist language spark anger at WCU
A pair of videos that appeared on social media over the weekend elicited strong reaction from many in the Western Carolina University community who decried their contents as racist.
WCU launches coronavirus dashboard
A new COVID-19 dashboard for Western Carolina University is now available online at www.wcu.edu/coronavirus/reporting.aspx.
Cataloguing biodiversity: WCU lands grant for biological collections
A collection of 47,000 plants and animals currently tucked away in various rooms of Western Carolina University’s Stillwell building will soon have a new home thanks to a $517,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
