Western Carolina University Western Carolina University ( WCU ) is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee , North Carolina , United States . The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system . The fifth oldest institution of the sixteen four - year universities in the UNC system , the university was founded to educate the people of the western North Carolina mountains . The university has expanded its mission to serve the entire state and the nation and has grown to become a major cultural , scientific , and educational force in the state and region . WCU now serves more than 9 , 500 full - time undergraduate and post graduate students , providing an education to students from 46 states and 39 countries . Enrollment for fall 2012 was 9 , 608 . Location . 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 is located in a valley of the Tuckasegee River between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains , 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 the nation ' s most beautiful national forest lands . At an elevation of , 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 without snowfall or with just a trace . While winters in the valley are generally mild , snow 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 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 . History . In 1888 , the residents of Cullowhee desired a better school for the community than was offered in public schools of that day , organized 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 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 , 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 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 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 title , " Western Carolina University . " On July 1 , 1972 , WCU became a member of the University of North Carolina system . Precis of the university ' s history . Year – Name and Levels < br > 1889 Semi - private school < br > 1891 Cullowhee High School < br > 1893 First state appropriation ; Normal Department established ; First graduating class < br > 1905 Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School < br > 1912 Junior College rank established ; Secondary school discontinued < br > 1913 First college - level ( one - year ) degree awarded < br > 1925 Cullowhee State Normal School < br > 1929 Western Carolina Teachers College ; Senior College rank established < br > 1931 First Baccalaureate degree awarded < br > 1951 Graduate degree established < br > 1952 First Master ' s degree awarded < br > 1953 Western Carolina College < br > 1967 Western Carolina University < br > 1972 A constituent institution of the University of North Carolina Administration . The university is led by Chancellor David O . Belcher , the chief administrative officer , along with Provost Angela Laird Brenton 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 . Academics . Academic structure . The university ' s academic structure is composed of five undergraduate colleges plus the Kimmel School ( also undergraduate ) , the Honors College and Graduate School , and offers several interdisciplinary programs : Academic programs . 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 Appalachia n and Cherokee cultures . The university ' s Mountain Heritage Center ; Cherokee Center ; Craft Revival Project ; Cherokee Studies Program and WCU ' s partnership to preserve the Cherokee language all reflect that influence – and provide educational resources for the region . Western is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a comprehensive master ’ s degree granting institution ( Masters / L ) 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 ( in education ) levels . The university holds 21 program accreditations and 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 , 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 the " Body Farm " ) 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 . The residential Honors College was first of its kind in North Carolina . The College is a community of high - achieving students that strives to provide an intellectually inviting atmosphere that offers academic challenge and enrichment for outstanding students . Newly accepted students are invited to live in one of two exclusive residence halls on campus . The Honors College is one of a few in the state to offer a residential option and among a few nationwide to award graduates with a special honors diploma . The college began in 1998 with 77 students and has grown to approximately 1 , 400 . For entering freshman , the Honor ' s College average weighted GPA is over 4 . 00 and the average SAT score is 1380 . The College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council . In August 2009 , Balsam Hall , the first part of a $ 50 . 2 million Honors College residential community located at the center of campus opened , housing 426 students . Set to open for the Fall 2010 semester , Blue Ridge Hall will complete 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 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 . The 2012 edition of the Princeton Review “ Best 294 Business Schools ” ranks the College of Business among the nation ’ s best schools at which to earn a master ’ s degree in business administration . WCU ’ s program earned a top - four spot for schools offering the greatest opportunity for women and receiving high marks for small class sizes . Western Carolina ' s online master ’ s degree in project management has been ranked at the top nationally in both affordability and quality by GetEducated . com . In 2007 , the Master of Entrepreneurship Program was selected as one of the five best online entrepreneurship programs by Fortune Small Business magazine . Centers , institutes , and affiliates . Community focus , 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 . Campus . Main campus . The main campus in Cullowhee offers most of the amenities of a small town , including thirteen residence halls , one full - service cafeteria , two food courts with fast - food outlets , health services , counseling , a bookstore , library , two indoor swimming pools , tennis courts , movie theater , jogging trail and quarter - mile track , and intramural fields . The campus center is the A . K . Hinds University Center . The UC contains the university post office , 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 . The campus residence buildings include one for graduate students and one for married students . Special residence accommodations include honors residence halls and The Village , home to residential Greek organizations . Three new residence facilities were recently completed from a $ 50 . 2 million residence hall project . The two newest residence halls on campus are Balsam Residence Hall and Blue Ridge Residence Hall . The $ 18 million dollar campus dining facility was opened in stages beginning in July 2009 . Other newly constructed facilities include the Center for Applied Technology ( which houses new engineering laboratories ) ; an expanded student life center ; new athletic facilities ; and a new student support center . A $ 13 . 5 million 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 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 . Asheville . WCU ’ s educational facilities in Asheville are located at Biltmore Park , 28 Schenck Pkwy , Ste 300 and the graduate programs are affiliated with the Asheville Graduate Center . Cherokee . The Western Carolina University Center in Cherokee , North Carolina 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 . WCU Student Media . Housed in the Student Media Center ( Old Student Union ) on the hill area of campus are WCU ' s Student Media Organizations , which are open to all students and are produced by students . The following organizations are a part of WCU Student Media : University Media . The university produces the following publications and broadcasts : WCU students , faculty and staff also contribute to : Greek life . 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 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 . Athletics . As 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 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 college basketball history versus Middle Tennessee State University , a game WCU won 77 – 70 . The ball he used is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield , Mass . The shot was made from the left corner with 16 : 09 left in the first half ( 7 : 06 pm ) . Western Carolina and Appalachian State have a football rivalry in which they Battle for the Old Mountain Jug on an annual basis . The Catamounts football team were runners - up in the Division I - AA National Football Championship Game in 1983 . They also were the Southern Conference runner - ups in basketball in a double - overtime game against Davidson College in 2012 . In addition to NCAA athletics , Western Carolina University is also home to many different club sports and intramurals . The club sports include : Music . Pride of the Mountains . The Pride of the Mountains is the largest college marching band in the Carolinas and Tennessee . The marching band includes around 380 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 . The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was the special guest at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis in 2003 , 2008 and 2012 , an honor given to only 1 college band in 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 2006 , 2010 , and 2011 . In 2009 , the " Pride of the Mountains " marching band 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 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 . The band also performed at a Carolina Panthers halftime show in 2011 .