Sylva Rotary Meeting November 12, 2009clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000004229/en-us/files/homepag… · Sylva Rotary Meeting November 12, 2009. Snapshot – Western Carolina

Sylva Rotary MeetingNovember 12, 2009

Snapshot – Western Carolina 2009-2010Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,450 (1,275 part-time) % change from 2008-2009: +4.5%Fall 2009 Freshman Class: 1,552 (Fall 2008 – 1,224) Weighted HS GPA: 3.48 Ave. SAT Verbal and Math 1033Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,979 (1,302 part-time) % change from 2008 – 2009: +3.1%Total Enrollment: 9,429Retention Rate Fall 2009: 75.9% (Fall 2008 – 71.17%)Staff: Fall 2008 – 1,715Faculty: Fall 2008 – 488

WCU Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness: http://www.wcu.edu/12831.asp

What’s New?

• Courtyard Dining Hall opened summer 2009• Balsam residence hall opened August 2009• Blue Ridge residence hall under construction• Health sciences building under construction – 2012

Opportunities for Community Businesses

• Family Association– Family Weekend– Family Association calendar– Spring Family Association event

• Mentoring• Student internships

Family Association - Background• Established 1999• Early focus: Family Weekend, scholarship program and enhancing

communication with Family Association members• Association in building period since 2008

Family Association - Current Status• Growing membership • Enhanced communication – calendar, E-Connect, Student Health 101,

social networking community, website, on campus meeting• Increased funding via memberships

0150300450600

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2009-2010

Membership

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5000

10000

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2006-­‐2007

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Revenue

Family Association – Member Interests

• Enhance the student experience• Expand scholarship program• Support student internship opportunities• Support student study abroad opportunities• Increase profile of Family Association on campus and in

the community• Provide support for WCU families in need• Increase opportunities for families to come to campus

Opportunity – Family Weekend• 500 tickets were sold for the football game with Family

Association discount• Sylva hotels sold out• 2010 Family Weekend - Oct. 22-24

Opportunity – Family Association Calendar

Opportunity – Mentoring and Internships

• Experiential learning is vital to student success• Mentors can play an important role in a student’s

development• Career Services partnering with Family Association

and Alumni Affairs to pilot mentoring program• Internship opportunities can be funded or non-funded;

short or longer term• Students need opportunities within our community