A message from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs No Images? Click here It Takes a Village to Recruit and Retain a StudentUndergraduate recruitment for the first-year class of 2017 is entering the home stretch and is rounding the corner for the transfer class. Open house season has closed, first-year application deadlines have passed, financial aid and scholarship offers are on the table, and summer orientation season is sprinting toward us. Word of mouth is the best form of promotion, and you are the reason people are talking, so I want to thank each of you who contribute to student recruitment and retention. Contented, currently enrolled students will return home this summer and share success stories about how Cullowhee has become their home away from home. Parents are commenting at events and on surveys how approachable and helpful everyone is. Prospective students who visit recount wonderful interactions with WCU people—people like you. You and what you do become the impressionist brush strokes they share when they return home and paint word pictures to classmates, teachers, counselors, friends and extended family as to what they saw at WCU. Momentum doesn’t simply sprout and bloom overnight; it builds. You are the Cullowhee construction crew that has been building success. WCU has yet again shattered the record for first-year applications—roughly 19,500, and transfer applications are outpacing last year (more than 1,100 to date). Thanks to the momentum of everyone’s ongoing contented-student construction efforts, we have moved from trying to fill an entering class to trying to contain an entering class. In terms of enrollment, we never truly know until they show (and return), but commitments point toward strong entering classes, and retention rates appear promising. As we all put the finishing touches on the entering and returning classes of 2017, plans are already underway for the next recruitment cycle. Recruitment event dates for 2017-18 have been set (WCU on Tour: Sept. 18-21, 2017; Open Houses: Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, 2017, Feb. 24 and Mar. 24, 2017; Honors Day: Nov. 10, 2017). As we look to challenges and opportunities for 2017-18 (e.g., NC Promise), let me thank you for the momentum that your construction efforts continue to produce. You are, after all, a very special and important village member that has helped with our success. So, thank you, WCU Village People, for everything that you do! You make it fun to stay at the W.C.U.! Phil Cauley
New Director of AdmissionThe Office of Admission is pleased to announce the appointment of a director of admission. Though not new to WCU, Mike Langford has been named director of admission and will transition in mid-April from his current role as director of recruiting and marketing in Graduate School and Research. Mike worked in undergraduate admission and in marketing for a number of years at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he also served as an adjunct faculty member while teaching freshman seminar courses. He also brings marketing experience from a higher education firm and from Our State magazine. Please join the Office of Admission in welcoming Mike Langford to the Division of Student Affairs. Mental Health First AidWorking every day with students we recognize their unique stress and risk factors related to the demands of balancing academic, social, and employment responsibilities while being away from family, friends, and other supports, often for the first time. Statistics show that 75% of mental illnesses develop before age 25, making colleges ideal locations for early identification. However, the number one reason students say they do not use mental health resources is lack of knowledge that those resources even exist. Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance use problems can be difficult to detect making it difficult to know when and how to step in to assist a student or colleague. Mental Health First Aid USA is a training designed to give people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of specific illnesses. Mental Health First Aiders learn a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support. For more information or to request a Mental Health First Aid training, please contact Kellie Angelo Monteith (x7147) or Dr. Kim Gorman (x7469). Campus Services - Upcoming TransitionsIt’s never too early to think about fall! In this particular case, it’s important to share some of the changes and transitions within Campus Services that will take place between now and fall semester 2017. These transitions are critical to improving the overall quality of services we provide for the students of Western Carolina University. Central Drive Hall Renamed Judaculla HallFirst, please note that the Department of Residential Living has begun to, and will continue to, transition all publications and references of Central Drive Hall to Judaculla Hall prior to the opening of fall semester. The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees approved that change a few months ago, but signage, marketing materials, and university systems will take several months to update. Chick-fil-A Relocation and UpgradeWith the addition of the Brown dining options and the recently opened Chili’s in Noble Hall, we plan to relocate and upgrade Chick-fil-A to full service, providing Saturday hours and an expanded menu including more healthy options and their tasty milkshakes. It will move into the space previously occupied by McAlister’s on the first floor Courtyard Dining. We want to thank McAlister’s for their service to our campus over the past seven years. The new Chick-fil-A will open early in the fall semester as soon as the project is complete. Papa John’s will primarily serve campus catering and delivery needs, as well as some strategically placed grab-and-go locations. Einstein’s will remain in its current location. Campus Activities will repurpose the current Chick-fil-A/Papa John’s space for student use. New Upper Campus Residence Hall Site PrepYou will notice construction-related activity beginning in the early fall between Brown and Judaculla Halls. This activity will be early site preparation and the beginning of construction on the new upper campus residence hall scheduled to open in Fall 2019. This project is intended as the first of several residence hall projects needed to replace several older residence halls. Brown Hall Opening in MayAnticipated to open in May, Brown Hall will provide a new and complementary dining experience for our campus community. This renovation project provides us an impressive “lodge-themed” facility providing ample lounging space for folks to enjoy their dining experience. There is a large, stone, two-sided fireplace, a rooftop terrace, and an exterior plaza with a water feature and fire pit. We refer to Brown’s meal delivery concept as “servery-style” as customers will swipe their CatCards or pay a central cashier and then enter into a large U-shaped “servery”. Customers will then select a fully plated meal from five to eight available stations. Featured stations include a “smoke house”/grill and a salad station serving compound salads. Dining in Brown will also include a full service Starbucks, Steak & Shake, and C-Store to support upper campus. In addition to the dining options available, Brown Hall will become the new home to the Department of Residential Living, Department of Student Community Ethics, Conferences and Event Services, Catering, Campus Services, and CatCard. This transition allows the conversion of Scott 1st West to student spaces to accommodate our growing campus housing needs. As you can tell, it continues to be busy in the Whee! Please know that changes and transitions are typically key elements of improvement. These projects and subsequent transitions are results of our strategic actions to improve the services we provide for our campus. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we move forward.
Year-End Roll UpIt’s time to plan ahead and make your summer purchases. The end of the fiscal year roll up begins in April. This year’s deadlines are: Requisitions for purchases from State Term Contracts greater than $75,000, or any purchase greater than $250,000, must be received in the Purchasing Office by April 7th Vehicle purchases must be received in the Purchasing Office by April 14th Requisitions in budget pool 4000BP must be in the Purchasing Office by April 17th Requisitions for items in other budget pools must be in the Purchasing Office by April 24th Collaboration ToolsWCU has two new tools available to make online meetings and collaborations a better experience: Skype for Business and Blackboard Collaborate. These tools replaced GoToMeeting when the contract expired at the end of 2016 fall semester. There are several advantages that these two tools have in terms of features, stability, and integration into current university-wide systems like Blackboard and Outlook. In addition to these new pieces of software, there is also the availability of the IT Video Services team. This team exists to help users when they need to run events that are more complex than what can be provided by these new tools. To find out which tool is right for you or for additional information, visit Collab.wcu.edu. Staff Highlight: Director of University Scholarships, Brenda HolcombeEven before Brenda completed her undergraduate degree at WCU, she knew she wanted to work in higher education. She spent 11 years in WCU’s Office of Undergraduate Admission before moving to the Financial Aid Office in 2008. When the Director of University Scholarships position was created, she felt like it was a great blend of her experiences in admissions and financial aid. She enjoys the variety of responsibilities associated with that role and the opportunity to work with so many different groups of people. When she isn’t working, she and her husband, who also works at WCU, can be found trail running, mountain biking, or paddling. Brenda earned her B.S. in Recreational Therapy at WCU and her M.S. in Human Relations and Business from Amberton University. Staff Highlight: Department of Campus Activities Assistant Director of Operations, James HoutzerI grew up in Walhalla, SC, about an hour’s drive south of Western. I’d never heard of WCU until I started receiving mail from here in my senior year and researched WCU. An afternoon motorcycle-ride to visit campus in the snow that year confirmed that “I’d rather be in Cullowhee”, than Clemson, Furman, or anywhere else in my home-state. Western has been the backdrop for the past seven years of my life. Even while I wasn’t working here I was visiting campus to see friends, campus programs, etc. I’ve met my friends, my Greek Life family, and even my wife here. Student Highlight: Kevin TutterowKevin was hired his freshman year as a part time member of the WCU EMS team. In his junior year, he was elected to the Lieutenant’s position, which is responsible for ensuring that the ambulance crew is scheduled 24 hours a day, every day that classes are in session. He proved to be very successful, so much so that his team elected him to serve as Chief for this current year. He helped the EMS team successfully host the 1st annual Southeast Regionally meeting of the National Collegiate EMS Foundation in the fall, and supported his fellow officers’ in their quest to achieve HeartSafe Campus designation at the National conference of NCEMSF in the spring. Kevin will serve as a paramedic with the Guilford County EMS after graduation in May. HR Annual Performance Review: SHRA PositionsWe just ended the SHRA Performance Management 2016-2017 work cycle (ending on March 31, 2017) and the beginning of the 2017-2018 work cycle (beginning April 1, 2017). As a result, there are several related tasks to complete in Talent Management. If you are an SHRA employee or supervisor, you should have received an email message regarding performance management “action items” that you should complete in Talent Management. During the months of March and April, supervisors and employees should prepare for the following two tasks:
Please note that the deadline for completing the two processes listed above is April 30, 2017. Please see the Human Resources’ Performance Management Site for details on this policy and for instructions for completing performance reviews and establishing new work plans. Tuition and Fees UpdateAt the March meeting of the Board of Governors, institutions of the UNC System submitted proposals for tuition and fees for the 2017-2018 academic year. Campuses were limited to a maximum increase of two percent for tuition for undergraduate resident students and three percent for mandatory student fees. Consistent with these guidelines, WCU requested, and was approved for, a total increase of $160. Tuition paid by our students contributes to instruction, academic and institutional support, and need-based financial aid; we requested an increase of $78. Since the last fee increase, Health Services has seen an increase in the Health Index of 7%, a prescription medication increase of 14%, and an increase in patient visits of 25%. We requested an increase of $10 to offset these increases. Athletics Fee revenues provide funds for intercollegiate athletic programs including scholarships, maintenance of facilities, and operations. Mandated increases in salary and increasing tuition and fees for scholarships resulted in a request to raise this fee by $26. An increase of $46 in Student Activities Fees was requested to cover increased personnel expenses, costs associated with utilities and maintenance of fee funded buildings, recurring expenses associated with the Intramural Fields, and renovation projects deemed critical in these facilities. Important DatesApril 3-6, 2017 SACSCOC Site Visit |