WCu

Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina System and serves as a regional public university in the western part of the state.

Founded in 1889 by the North Carolina General Assembly, the institution began as a normal school to train teachers. It expanded over the decades and adopted the name Western Carolina University in 1972. The main campus sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Tuckasegee River, in Jackson County, offering a setting that blends instruction with access to regional outdoor and cultural resources.

Academics at WCU are organized into several colleges and schools that provide undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines, including the arts and sciences, business, education and allied professions, health and human sciences, and engineering and technology. The university emphasizes experiential learning, teacher preparation, research, and community engagement, and provides online learning options to complement on-campus programs. It holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Athletics and student life are active components of the WCU experience. The university fields varsity teams known as the Catamounts, competing in NCAA Division I as a member of the Southern Conference. Campus life includes a range of housing, student organizations, and opportunities for service, internships, and study abroad.