- Academic Programs & Support
- Academic Enrichment
- Campus Theme
- About the Campus Theme
About the Campus Theme
Campus themes constitute one example of a high impact practice that provides students with common and collaborative educational experiences, opportunities to connect curricular and co-curricular learning, and explorations of disciplines through a common lens. While participation is optional by students, faculty, and staff, we encourage the integration of our campus theme in your classes, events, and activities.
Campus Theme 2024-25: WNC Mountain Life
This year’s campus theme is WNC Mountain Life.
Vision Statement: will be updated after the first committee meeting in Fall 2024.
Mission Statement: will be updated after the first committee meeting in Fall 2024.
Marketing Supported Events: These activities will receive marketing assistance, the use of the campus theme
mark for digital and printed marketing materials, and the advertisement of the activity
on the theme’s website via its calendar of events.
Financially Supported Events: Funding for financially supported activities will vary between $100 and $2,500;
the average amount of funding will be a few hundred dollars.
2024-25 Members
Dave Kinner – Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (Chair)
Josh Rakower - Professor, Access, Research, and Instruction Services, Hunter Library
Carol Barnao - Visual Arts Specialist, Assessment and Marketing
Joy Mischley - Interim Associate Director of Community Engaged Learning, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
Kimberly Elliott - Assistant Professor, College of Education and Allied Professions
Leo Lei - Assistant Professor, David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts
Sidar Sahin - Academic Advisor, Office of Student Retention
Felicia Frank - Administrative Support Specialist, Campus Activities
Tracy Mensah - Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Amber Albert - Director, Mountain Heritage Center
Kenny Chapman - Director, IT Client Support Services
Ben Steere - Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Liz Harper - Associate Professor/Special Digital Collections Librarian, Hunter Library
Deidre Hopkins - Title IX Coordinator and Equity Officer, Legal Counsel and Institutional Integrity
Shannon Swimmer - Director, Cherokee Center
Alei Coleman - Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost
Student Representatives:
Lela Philemon
Michaela Staudinger
Zene Gardea
Emma Meister
Ben Howard
Madison Blankenship
Paige Merritt
Brandon Teague
Gavynn Grant
Landon Orr
Elyse Mulero
Cody Skildum
Jannah Hightower
Alioth Clewell
2024-2025 WNC Mountain Life Funding Application
Requests for support will be accepted on a rolling basis with the committee meeting multiple times throughout the semester to vote on submitted requests. Requests can be submitted through the end of January 2025 while funding is available.
Eligibility for Marketing & Funding Supported Events
Any WCU constituent, including faculty, staff, students, departments, offices, programs, and student organizations is eligible to submit requests for marketing and financial support for events.
Evaluation Criteria
Goals: The extent to which the proposed activity and its associated goals are consistent with the overall mission of the Campus Theme, Community and Belongingness.
Novelty: The extent to which the activity or event will provide students with an experience not obtainable through current classes or campus programs.
Student Engagement: The extent, and manner in which, the event or activity will actively engage students in the campus theme.
Student Learning: The extent to which students will learn more about Community and Belongingness through this event or activity, and whether some method is included to assess this learning.
Budget: The size of the event budget and the extent to which the budget appears to be sufficient to support a successful event, and the presence of alternative funding sources to close any budget gap.
Impact vs. Cost: The number of students that will be directly involved with, or impacted by, this event or activity as compared to the cost or expense of the event.
Likelihood of Success: The apparent ease, or difficulty, of achieving the event or activity’s stated goals.
