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.
COVID-19 UPDATE:The student conduct process is still happening as outlined in the Code of Student
Conduct. Conduct meetings are happening by telephone or Microsoft Teams at this time.
We can be reached Monday-Friday 8am-5pm by calling 828-227-7234. You may also directly
email our staff:
The Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) works with the Western Carolina
University (WCU) community to educate students about their rights and responsibilities
as stated in the WCU Community Creed (Creed) and WCU Code of Student Conduct (Code).
The DSCE strives to make WCU a positive living and learning environment through outreach
and education to the university and surrounding community. The Creed inspires students
to live with integrity, embrace responsibilities, respect others, engage themselves,
and celebrate WCU. The Code informs students of their rights and responsibilities,
WCU rules and regulations, and the process to determine if any violations of the Code
have occurred. The DSCE is here to resolve cases of alleged misconduct in a fundamentally
fair and timely manner that upholds students’ rights and emphasizes WCU’s core values
as expressed in the Creed. Additionally, the DSCE works to ensure compliance with
Title IX, the Clery Act, and other local, state, and federal laws. Consistent with
the Creed, the DSCE promotes the safety and well-being of all students and supports
an environment of respect regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, economic
status, or profession.
5-Step Student Conduct Process
The following section explains the student conduct process step-by-step. Each step
explains the actions of the Department of Student Community Ethics and what a student
should expect when going through the process. Further information can be found in
The Code of Student Conduct. You can also view our videos that share more about our office, the Code, and the
Creed.
The DSCE will notify all students by using the Catamount e-mail system. The e-mail
will be sent from Maxient, the software used by the DSCE to securely communicate with
students. The sender's information will look like this in the e-mail: WCU Employee's
Name (via Maxient), <notifications@maxient.com>.
The official form of University communication is the Catamount e-mail system (WCU Code of Student Conduct). Students are expected to check their WCU e-mail on a regular basis (spam and junk
folders included), which includes during anybreaks from campus. The e-mail from Maxient
will give instructions about who to contact and schedule an initial meeting. This
meeting is the opportunity for the student to participate in the process and present
their side of the situation.
In the meeting a staff member (Hearing Officer) will discuss the incident report with
the student and educate them about their rights and responsibilities, as outlined
in the WCU Code of Student Conduct.
The staff member will question the student about their involvement and knowledge of
the reported incident.
The student can mutually resolve the case at their initial meeting or choose to have
a Hearing Body decide the outcome. A student has the right to appeal Hearing Body
decisions as outlined in the WCU Code of Student Conduct.
The student should complete all sanctions by the deadlines established to avoid further
conduct proceedings. Here are a few of the recommended Student Conduct Sanctions.
Alcohol & Drug Education
All new students are required to complete five online courses prior to the start of
each semester: AlcoholEdu, Sexual Assault & Awareness, Run Hide Fight, DiversityEDU
and submit a signed Ethics Statement. The information about these course requirements
is sent to Catamount email addresses near the conclusion of all orientation sessions.
If you have an immediate problem and need help now, please call the WCU Police at
828.227.8911. Western Carolina University is committed to maintaining a campus environment
free of all forms of violence or abuse.
Due to COVID-19, this program is currently suspended until further notice.
The DSCE in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
participate in the North Carolina Adopt-A-Highway Program. The adopted section of
highway begins on Highway 107 between Ryan's Steakhouse and Sonic traveling east 1.2
miles to Dunkin' Donuts and the Laundromat/Kel-Save/Bogarts area. Participation is
open to students, faculty and staff. Plan to arrive on your scheduled date sporting
your purple and gold Catamount pride. We do not schedule anything in the summer months
of May - August unless a request is made. Please contact our office with any questions
at 828.227.7234. Register
