WCU Graduate School

10/14/2026

The newest Western Wednesdays podcast features Faviola Olvera, an alumna of the Public Affairs MPA program in Asheville! She was recently named the Highlands Non-Profit Leader of the Year for her role as the executive director of the Community Care Clinic of Highlands/Cashiers. The specific segment about her graduate school experience starts around the 20:20 minute mark, but the whole episode is worth the listen!

https://youtu.be/xBSihtniOww?si=oSJNUCoCoq8dM5yH&t=1220

In this episode of Western Wednesdays, we sit down with Faviola Olv...

10/13/2026

Thinking about attending Graduate School, but not sure where to start? Join us next week on Thursday, October 22 at 6 p.m. (virtually on Zoom) for "Grad School 101" to learn how to: search for a program that will fit your goals and needs, curate your application materials, and navigate transitioning into Graduate School as a new student. We'll also have some current graduate students in the room to answer any questions you may have from their perspective!

Register for the access link: https://gradadmissions.wcu.edu/register/?id=b01308d0-2f3e-412c-8a52-b2c9682ab022 (or on Engage or in our bio)

10/12/2026

Our next application deadline is November 1. Programs include Biology M.S., Family Nurse Practitioner D.N.P., Health Sciences M.H.S., Human Resources M.S.H.R., Professional School Counseling Licensure, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Post Master’s Certificate .

10/09/2026

Fall Break has arrived! Wishing all our Catamounts a restful break. Our Graduate School staff will still be in the office October 12-16, so please reach out if you need anything!

Reminders for Graduate Students for the week after Fall Break:
- Tuesday, October 20: Deadline to Apply for the GSA Travel Award
- Wednesday, October 21: Deadline to Register for the 3MT Competition and Upload your Presentation
- Wednesday, October 21: GSA & WaLC Workshop at 6pm
- Friday, October 23: GSA Open Forum at 5:30pm

10/06/2026

Meet Ray Carroll! Ray is a graduate student in the online Business Administration MBA program and he works professionally full-time in disaster operations. He also attended WCU for his undergraduate program in Emergency and Disaster Management. Fun facts about Ray? His previous experience includes work with AmeriCorps and serving multiple years as a firefighter and 911 telecommunicator. Join him for a day in the life as a grad student at WCU that he documented earlier this semester!

The MBA program, and all of our online programs, will be featured in our next virtual info session on October 8. Join Ray and our other student ambassadors to hear about their experience with the graduate school and meet with program faculty.

10/05/2026

Are you presenting at a professional conference? Just a few weeks left to complete your application for a GSA-sponsored travel award this semester! To be eligible for consideration, you must be enrolled at WCU as a graduate student in good academic standing at the time of the application and travel. Students are only eligible for one travel award per academic year (1 June - 31 May).

The October 20 deadline applies for any travel completed from June 1st through December 31st this year.

More details and your unique application link were sent to your Catamount email on September 21st.

https://www.wcu.edu/apply/graduate-school/students/GSA/graduate-student-research-travel-award.aspx

Photo: English MA student Katherine Nagy (previous Graduate Ambassador and previous recipient of the GSA travel award) presenting a portion of her thesis project.

10/02/2026

The submission window for our Fall 2026 3MT competition is open! Graduate students can showcase any research related to a thesis, disquisition, project, creative endeavor, or business plan. The first place winner will receive a tuition award and cash award sponsored by the Graduate Student Association, and will represent WCU at the regional 3MT competition in Arlington, VA in February!

Timeline:
October 21: Deadline to Register and Submit Slide & Recorded Presentation
October 28: Finalists Notified
November 9: People's Choice Voting Opens
November 12: Competition Watch Party & Winner Announcements

Scroll back on our feed for posts related to last year's winner, Kristina Gray (Chemistry M.S.), and her trip to the finals of the regional 3MT! You can register and watch last year's WCU finalists for inspiration via: https://www.wcu.edu/apply/graduate-school/students/3-minute-thesis.aspx

09/30/2026

Today we recognize and celebrate our Technical Support Analyst and CRM Developer, Don Strickland, who is retiring after over 14 years working at WCU and on the Graduate School team!

Don has supported all things technical in the department, provided leadership and expertise as we implemented Slate from Technolutions as our CRM during his tenure, worked with all of our programs and faculty diligently to create customized application experiences, and has always been a foundation of knowledge for the rest of the team. We will miss his kindness, project management skills, and his ever present color-coded checklist.

Don, Whee are all so grateful and are wishing you all the very best in your next chapter!

09/28/2026

Looking for something a little spooky to welcome October? Join the English program at City Lights in Sylva on Thursday, October 1 as they host author Andrew Clark. The conversation will be hosted by the English MA graduate program director, Dr. Emily Naser-Hall, and will also highlight select readings from undergraduate and graduate English students.

https://www.thesylvaherald.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_a1c0cfa1-5684-4945-99a2-a146a84581aa.html

Andrew Clark will visit City Lights at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 to share his new novel, Hollow Folk, in conversation with Emily Naser-Hall.

09/24/2026

Our next virtual information session for our online (distance) programs is Thursday, October 8 at 5 p.m. Join us to hear more about the graduate school and engage with faculty in program-specific breakout rooms. Our graduate ambassadors (current students) will also be available for a Q&A segment. We hope to see you there!

Programs represented include:

Certificate: Applied Business Fundamentals, Culturally Based Native Health; Entrepreneurship, Innovation Leadership; Interprofessional Autism; Literacy Education; Nurse Educator (post-master's certificate); Project Management; Psychiatric Mental Health (post-master's certificate); Public School Leadership; School Social Work (Licensure); Special Education; STEM Education; TESOL

Master’s: Accountancy - M.Acc.; Business Administration - M.B.A.; Comprehensive Education - M.A.Ed.; Comprehensive Education - M.A.T.; Construction Management - M.C.M.; Entrepreneurship - M.E.; Health Sciences - M.H.S.; Human Resources - M.S.; Nurse Educator - M.S.(N.); Nurse Leadership - M.S.(N.); Nutrition - M.H.S.; Project Management - M.P.M.; School Administration - M.S.A.; Sport Management - M.S.

Doctorate: Nursing Practice - D.N.P.; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - D.N.P.