Warren Wilson College
We’re not for everyone . . . but then, maybe you’re not everyone.
Asheville, North Carolina
Mission Statement The mission of Warren Wilson College is to provide a distinctive undergraduate and graduate liberal arts education. Our undergraduate education combines academics, work, and service in a learning community committed to environmental responsibility, cross-cultural understanding, and the common good.
Academics
Work
Service
Cross-Cultural Understanding
Unique.
That’s what people say about Warren Wilson, and with good reason. Our educational program, the Triad, is singular in higher education. The Triad consists of three interwoven strands of experience: academics in the liberal arts tradition, a campus-wide work program, and service in the community. The Triad is infused with a sustainability ethic and cross-cultural understanding—integral parts of the College’s history and founding philosophy.
Our students learn by doing. Through the Triad, students gain a meaningful education that feeds their intellectual hunger and empowers them to collaborate and solve problems during and after college. Led by faculty and staff, students acquire knowledge in the classroom, in the forest and fields, and in the wider community—locally and internationally. Academics for the mind, work for the hands, and service for the heart connect to create a holistic, experiential education. The Triad approach encourages students to develop initiatives and apply them on campus and in the community and beyond. Graduates leave the College with a varied and valuable skill set. They leave with a sense of confidence, connectedness, accountability, and a greater understanding of themselves. They leave knowing that their passions will take them places. They leave prepared to do more for the world and for their own lives. Warren Wilson is a college for individuals who want to make a difference.
Sustainability
Environmental Responsibility
Academics
Work
Service
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What is the Triad? Academics. Work. Service. Given the challenges facing the world today, the need for a Warren Wilson College education is more pressing than at any time in its 120-year history. The Triad represents an educational philosophy that demands learning beyond the classroom, beyond the campus, and beyond the surrounding community. It is a methodology that dares students to address complex problems. It fosters engaged liberal arts—for our students and for society at large. By remaining flexible and adaptable while keeping its heritage at heart, the College will continue to provide students with a progressive, meaningful education.
“The secret about our faculty members is that they are rebels—absolute, unapologetic rebels. We know that some of us may not look much like it—our faces worn with worry, our bespectacled eyes straining, our bodies older, a little saggy with age. But, our minds …ah, our minds. You can’t see them, but you will surely be the better for our rebellious minds. Most of us fell so deeply in love with college that we never left.”
“Work at Warren Wilson is important because, if you do not do the job, then who will? I believe work has to be real and have a purpose. The advantages of work are many. It stretches your capabilities, questions your preconceived notions, and makes a college education affordable. As a new student, expect to work. Be purposeful as you look over the opportunities but, most of all, accept your work assignment and do it well.”
Dean of Academics
Dean of Work
“Warren Wilson is a community filled with visionaries and dreamers who want to make a difference in the world around them. Perhaps you define yourself in this way now, or you may still be searching for an issue that awakens those feelings within you. In either case, your service experience will give you a chance to engage in cooperative relationships with partners within our greater community to explore complex issues in a way that will empower you to be an active agent of change. This is a place to both discover your passion and to live it.” Dean of Service
2 TH E TRIAD
A CLOSER LOOK:
Triad Education Requirements Academics: Challenging Liberal Arts, Practical Applications • First-Year Seminar: 4 credits (strategies for learning, problem solving, and research) • College Composition I and II: 8 credits • Liberal arts area courses— 4 credits from each of the following eight areas: artistic expression, history/political science, language and global issues, literature, mathematics, natural science, philosophy and religious studies, and social science • Academic major requirements (specific to individual majors, including seminars, internships, and theses)
Work: Building Skills, Building Community Weekly work commitment of 15 hours on a crew assignment
Service: Passionate, Creative Community Engagement • Students complete a Community Engagement Commitment through four points of engagement and growth (PEGS) • Self-knowledge • Understanding of complex issues • Capacity for leadership • Commitment to community engagement
The Senior Letter Addressed to the faculty and staff of the College, the senior letter is an evaluation and reflection of the graduate’s experiences at the College. One senior letter is chosen as the Outstanding Letter each year and is then read by the following year‘s new students.
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Academics Challenging Liberal Arts, Practical Applications
I
n every class and across every major, the Warren Wilson academic program challenges you to think critically, analyze rigorously, and present your ideas clearly, both on paper and in person. You will develop the mindset of an engaged, lifelong learner and simultaneously acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to embark on realworld enterprises.
Majors at WWC: n environmental studies and pre-forestry: 14% n biology/chemistry/pre-vet/ pre-med/math: 14% n creative writing: 14% n outdoor leadership: 9% n global studies: 8% n English: 7% n sociology/anthropology: 7% n psychology: 7% n art: 7% n history and political science: 6% n other social sciences (business, modern languages, gender studies, religious studies, integrative studies, philosophy, and social work): 17%
4 TH E TRIAD : ACAD EMI C S
Our curriculum exposes you to a range of academic fields, pushes you beyond your comfort zone, and helps you build a solid foundation to complement your major area of study. At the same time, you have ample opportunity to pursue your particular academic interests intensively through advanced seminars, research projects, portfolios, theses, internships, and independent study. Always, we expect you to discover the relevance of the course material to your
life: your career aspirations, your service and work experiences, and your hopes and concerns as a citizen of this planet. With a 12:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 14, the College is a tight-knit community of learners. You and your professors will likely be on a firstname basis; you will know your classmates as individuals with unique histories and perspectives. The classroom is a lively place, characterized by inquiry and respect. Our professors are passionate about their fields of study, and they love to teach. They consider themselves collaborators as well as instructors. They look to you for your intellectual contributions and insights, whether it’s in the classroom, on a research project, or over lunch at the vegan Cowpie CafÊ.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Majors and Minors Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees
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“I came to Warren Wilson College because I did not want to debate whether or not we had an environmental crisis. I wanted to debate how to fix it.”
Olya Milenkaya environmental studies major, with honors Palo Alto, CA
Art Biology* Business and Economics General Business Administration Non-Profit Management Small Business Management/ Entrepreneurship Sustainable Economic Development Chemistry* Biochemistry Creative Writing English* English Literature English/Creative Writing Theatre/English Environmental Studies* Conservation Biology Environmental Chemistry Environmental Education Environmental Policy Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Forestry Global Studies Appalachian Studies Asian Studies Intercultural Studies Latin American Studies History and Political Science History Political Science Integrative Studies Mathematics Modern Language Outdoor Leadership Philosophy Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology/Anthropology Archaeology Cultural Anthropology Gender and Women’s Studies Sociology
Minors Appalachian Studies Applied Geospatial Technology Art Biology Business Chemistry Creative Writing Economics Education English Environmental Studies Gender and Women’s Studies History and Political Science Intercultural Studies Latin American Studies Mathematics Modern Languages Music Outdoor Leadership Peace and Justice Studies Philosophy Physics Psychology Religious Studies Sociology/Anthropology Theatre
Specialized Advising Areas Pre-Law Studies Pre-Medical and Pre-Allied Health Studies Pre-Peace Corps, International & Non-Governmental Service Studies Pre-Veterinary Medicine Studies
Dual Degree Cooperative Bachelor’s Degree Programs Pre-Forestry Pre-Environmental Management
Masters Degrees Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
*Honors option
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Work Building Skills, Building Community
F
ounded nearly 120 years ago as a farm school for boys, Warren Wilson continues to provide an educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom walls. As part of the College’s work program, you’ll join one of more than 100 campus work crews and learn valuable lessons that will serve you well professionally and personally. Your work assignment might involve computer repair, library support, dorm maintenance, or dining services. You might help catalog archaeological artifacts, write an article for the College magazine, save campus hemlock trees from the woolly adelgid, or lead tours for prospective students. When you participate in the work program, you take ownership in the community because you have a hand in
6 TH E TRIAD : WORK
its daily functioning. Through your own ingenuity, productivity, and commitment, you are making things work. Your 15 hours each week also earns you credit toward the cost of attendance. The work program teaches you a range of significant skills that reinforce and complement your academic learning. It gives you experience in problem-solving, facilitation, organization, communication, leadership, and teamwork. Nothing speaks more clearly than experience coupled with passion.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Sample Work Crews Academic Affairs Accounting Admission Alumni Relations Archaeology & Collections Auto Shop Birdwatching Blacksmith Building Maintenance Business Office Campus Store Career Services Carpentry Chapel Chemistry College Press Community Bike Shop Computing Services Dining Services Electrical English Research Assistants Environmental Leadership Center Farm Fiber Arts Fire Safety Forestry Garden Greenhouse
Global Information Studies Health Care Center Heating/Air Conditioning Holden Arts Center International Student Coordination Landscaping Library Local Food Locksmith Mountain Area Child & Family Center Outdoor Programs Painting Peace & Social Justice Peal (Literary Magazine) Plumbing Pool Purchasing Recycling/Solid Waste Sage CafĂŠ & Baking Service-Learning Student Caucus Switchboard/Reception Theatre Sculpture & Ceramics Studio Water & Energy Efficiency Web Design Wellness Yearbook
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Service Passionate, Creative Community Engagement s a Warren Wilson College student you’ll perform at least 100 hours of service as you complete four points of engagement and growth (PEGS); self-knowledge, capacity for leadership, understanding of complex issues, and commitment to communityengagement. Service projects will take you into the local community, across the United States, and to other countries. You might tutor an elementary school student or conduct a needs assessment for a nonprofit
organization. You might choose to participate in a fall or spring break service trip that focuses on distributing food at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota or work on environmental justice issues, like the impact of industrial plants in Memphis. Your involvement in service comes down to what you’re passionate about – whether it’s social justice, animal welfare, the environment, or other issues. You will apply the knowledge and experience that you gain through your courses and work toward your service projects, locally and sometimes internationally. Service is a transformative component of the Triad experience, both humbling and empowering. It helps you empathize with the needs of others, develop a moral perspective, and understand current social and environmental issues. It also provides an opportunity for you to see how your commitment can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Warren Wilson College is on The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. 8 TH E TRIAD: SERV ICE
Newsweek ranks Warren Wilson as No. 3 on its nationwide list of “Most Service-Oriented” colleges and universities.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Sample of Issues and Comunity Partners
Sample of Fall/Spring Break Service Learning Trips
Homelessness and Affordable Housing
Impacts of Coal Mining, WV Trail Restoration at Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA Urban Agriculture - Detroit, MI Climate Change Adaptation Outer Banks, NC The Elephant Sanctuary - Hohenwald, TN Rebuilding Alabama: Disaster, Poverty and Solutions - Greensboro, AL
ABCCM Veterans Quarters Habitat for Humanity Food Security Black Mountain Community Garden MANNA Food Bank Environment Riverlink Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy Race and Immigration YWCA of Asheville Building Bridges Dialogue on Race Youth and Education Big Brothers Big Sisters Asheville City Schools Foundation Others United Way of Buncombe County Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa Center for Participatory Change Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Black Mountain Neurological Treatment Center Our Voice Rape Crisis Center
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Sample of Academic Service Learning Projects Biopsychology for individuals with brain injuries Child Development with WD Williams Elementary School Cultural Psychology with the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD Social Welfare Policy and Children First GIS mapping with MANNA Food Bank Teaching Writing in Communities with The Literacy Council Environmental Sociology with a Community Garden Community Based Art with homeless issues
“Service has changed the way I work, learn, and act on a daily basis. It has humbled me and made me ambitious at the same time. Service reminds me that there is hope in the world of chaos and most importantly that I have the ability to contribute to causes that I believe in.”
Senior Service Reflection Paper
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Cross-Cultural Experiences
An extraordinary component of the Warren Wilson education
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nternational study can become a significant part of your educational experience through one of three programs: short-term study abroad, semester and year-length study abroad, or cross-cultural internships. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in our international study program during their junior year. The College assists students in financing this opportunity.
Tanzania
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“Being an Irish exchange student, I have found my experiences to far exceed my expectations and ultimately change my life for the better. This learning has been my air, and work, my water. It is not until you go beyond what is familiar, to a new country with new cultures, that you are able to truly appreciate your home.� Shane McLaughlin, exchange student from Queen’s University, Northern Ireland
Students engaged in one of our study abroad courses might study with human rights organizations in Mexico or village development projects in Thailand. They might travel by train in China, canoe in New Zealand, trek to remote locations in the Andes, or build community schools in Vietnam. Prior to travel, students are engaged in preparatory coursework taught by the faculty member who leads the class abroad. Through the on-campus, pretravel class, participants learn about the history, culture, language, and social and environmental issues of the area where they will be traveling and studying.
Cross-cultural internships provide you with opportunities to broaden your career potential through work with international service organizations. Using the models of non-governmental organizations and Peace Corps service preparation, students work closely with academic advisors to prepare themselves for service in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or elsewhere after graduation. These experiences are typically enhanced through learning in study abroad courses, other academic semester abroad programs, and senior capstone courses and research projects. The College has a long history with the Peace Corps and other organizations for teaching and serving abroad.
The semester or year-length study abroad option is an exciting and rewarding experience for individual students to study and immerse themselves more deeply in another culture. Students often choose to live with host families, fully engaging themselves in the language, traditions, and daily lives of the people in the community. You can apply for longer study abroad options at our partner institutions in Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Germany, Northern Ireland, France,
10 CROS S- CUL T URAL EXP E R I E N C E S
Spain, and England, or where other U.S.-accredited programs are available. Longer study abroad options give you an opportunity during academic breaks to travel and explore more extensively than in the short-term study abroad courses.
Berlin
A CLOSER LOOK:
Sample Study Abroad Courses Over half of our students participate in study abroad during their junior year.
Brazil: Culture in Northern Brazil
Partnerships and Affiliations
China: Continuity and Change – Exploring Urban and Rural Worlds
China: Liaocheng University
Costa Rica: Eco-Social Lifeways England: Theatre History and Appreciation in London France: The Bohemian Art World
England: Semester in London France: Université Catholique de l’Ouest Germany: University of Trier-Birkenfeld Environmental Campus Japan: Kansai Gaidai University
Germany: From Brothers Grimm to Contemporary Berlin
Korea: Hannam University
Ghana: Culture, Globalization, and Development
Mexico: Universidad de Oriente, Universidad Popular Autóma del Estado del Puebla
Greece: Truth, Beauty, and Goodness in Ancient Greece Ireland: Traditional Music and Ancient Megaliths Italy: Art in Tuscany
Northern Ireland: Queen’s University Belfast and University of Ulster Spain: Universidad de Granada Thailand: Payap University
Malta: Shedding Light on Malta – An Insider’s View Mexico: Field Study in Oaxaca New Zealand: Sustainable Travel and Outdoor Education Nicaragua: ¿Viva la Revolucion? Scandanavia: Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Scotland: Outward Bound in the Highlands Spain: Language and Landscapes of Andalucia Thailand: Social Changes and Inequalities United Kingdom: Ecological Agriculture in Policy and Practice Vietnam: The Crossroads of Asian Identities and Development
Cambodia Peru www. war r en -wilson . ed u 11
One of the Greenest Colleges in the Country nvironmental responsibility is second nature at Warren Wilson. Surrounded by forests, farm, and mountains, the College integrates its environmental ethos into every aspect of campus life. Agricultural training was the first form of environmental education at the College. Today, you can look anywhere in the campus community and discover recycling, energy conservation, and other green practices. Faculty and students developed land-use plans as early as 1980 to protect natural species and conserve energy. The College Garden, in production for over 25 years, uses organic practices. The recycling program, which began over 30 years ago when students wrote a proposal for a center, was the first recycling site in the county. The award-winning College Farm, certified River-Friendly, has followed environmental best practices for decades. And more than 30% of the buildings in core campus are LEED-certified.
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in the nation. And Sierra Club’s magazine named Warren Wilson fourth in the nation for sustainable practices that “fight against global warming.” These commitments to environmental responsibility and sustainability are so integral that Warren Wilson students practice these principles no matter what their major. Whether harvesting pesticide-free grain on the Farm Crew, using soy-based inks on the College Press Crew, participating in river clean-ups, or weatherizing homes through service, students engage with these commitments through daily acts of citizenship shaped by the Triad.
Environmental responsibility is critical to the College’s commitment to sustainability. Along with a pledge to community wellbeing and sound economic practices, it is one of the three tenets that form our pledge of institutional responsibility. “Set within one of the most biodiverse regions in North America and offering a strong academic program that goes hand-in-hand with experiential learning, Warren Wilson is a natural place to be a green college. What other place has this combination?”
12 BE IN G GREEN
Dr. Lou Weber Professor, environmental studies
Commitments to environmental responsibility and sustainability have made the College a national leader in this field. The National Wildlife Federation recognized our recycling program as “tops”
Garden Cabin
A CLOSER LOOK:
Green Buildings The College’s commitments to environmental responsibility and sustainability extend to Warren Wilson’s campus buildings. • The Orr Cottage utilized local stone
and on CNN International’s “Eco
Most materials were sourced nearby
Solutions,” the EcoDorm was awarded
to benefit the local economy. The
LEED platinum certification. It is
structure’s numerous energy-efficient
partially built from hardwoods milled
features were designed according to
on campus and incorporates optimal
LEED-Gold standards (Leadership in
environmental building design—a design
Energy and Environmental Design). It
concept initiated by our students,
was the first higher education building
including daylighting, solar water
in North Carolina to achieve LEEDGold distinction.
administration building received green building retrofits that included geothermal heating and cooling systems, building envelop energy efficiency upgrades such as high performance insulation and windows, improved air quality and ventilation, and high efficiency lighting.
preheating, photovoltaic/fuel cell technology, and gray water recycling.
• Jensen classroom building and Larsen
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• Featured in a New York Times article
and wood from the College forest.
• The two Village Residence Halls are LEED-Gold certified – the first dorms in North Carolina to receive this distinction. They utilize energy-efficient features and renewable materials including maximized window shading, radiant floor heating, and a stormwater wetlands retention pond.
• “We acknowledge that a complex web of economic, social, cultural, spiritual and environmental factors determine the well-being of our community. • We recognize our power as individuals, and in community, to influence these complex, interdependent relationships. • We strive to make responsible decisions that take into account the multiple dimensions of sustainability in order to ensure quality of life now and for generations to come.”
Sustainability Commitment Statement
The EcoDorm www. war r en -wilson . ed u 13
Alumni Continuing the Journey arren Wilson graduates are engaged in meaningful work around the world. They work for NASA, National Public Radio, the Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They serve as environmental health and safety coordinators, assistant district attorneys, prenatal physicians, marine scientists, midwives, grant writers, and elephant behaviorists. They are deans, department heads, vice-chancellors, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities. They are physicians, veterinarians, and research scientists, as well as attorneys, social workers, musicians, artists, authors, and
entrepreneurs. They follow their passions and start their own businesses. Sixty-five percent of our graduates enter professional or graduate degree programs. They attend Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, Wake Forest, the University of North Carolina, Cornell, Duke, Emory, and many more. Some graduates find work in their majors, while others apply what they’ve learned to new areas. Our graduates do everything you can imagine, but most often they seek out jobs and careers in which they find great meaning and satisfaction.
In Their Own Words
Photojournalist Katie Falkenberg ’03 covered the reopening of the Red Mosque in Pakistan after the siege and stand-off between militants and the Pakistani military.
“WWC is a rare place where education is actually a part of everything that is done in the classroom, the work force, and in the social interactions. All the jobs were valuable. I learned the value of team work, completion of a job, working independently when necessary, following instructions and respect for leaders in charge.”
“Warren Wilson is where my academic, work, and sense of personal mission came together and finally began to make sense. I always cite the social responsibility influence of Warren Wilson College. It was really where I discovered that I had a desire to work with people in a helper role.” ’83 sociology graduate, special education teacher
’68 education/English graduate, entrepreneur
65% of our graduates enter professional or graduate degree programs. Peace Corps
14 ALUMNI
Environmental Scientist
Doctor and Nonprofit Founder
Artist and Professor
Wildlife Biologist
BestSelling Author
Teacher in Alaska
76% of Warren Wilson graduates find full-time employment within 6 months of graduation.
“The ability to learn how to manage a crew of people has been the biggest influence on my careers after WWC. Also the freedom and empowering nature of student leadership taught me to reach well beyond my comfort level in new jobs. WWC taught me how to work – and the value of being a team player. This is something I find is very much lacking in candidates that I interview, and when I see it, it is such a breath of fresh air!” ’91 mathematics graduate, human resources director
“I draw on the lessons learned during my time at WWC almost everyday. When I am engaged by citizens while doing public education field-work I always feel strength in the sense of community that I espoused at WWC because I know that the information I am sharing and the passion with which I communicate it can make a positive impact in someone else’s contribution to the common good.” ’01 history/political science graduate, storm water technician
A CLOSER LOOK:
Career Services
“I guess the dream got planted my sophomore year, while weeding with my crew mate. Her parents asked her what she was doing with herself in front of me, and she said, ‘We’re starting a business.’ There was a need to use native plants. I realized how valuable they were beyond aesthetics. There was an opportunity to succeed in something that fed my passions. It’s become priceless. I have the confidence to pursue a dream I never would have had.” ‘09 environmental studies graduate & ‘08 biology graduate, owners of Growing Native Nursery, Asheville
“The Army may sound like a step in a different direction, but the communication skills and the leadership experience I gained at the College translates directly. Everything I’ve done at Wilson has aided me in my training with the army.” He plans to get his masters while in the army and afterwards go on for his PhD in English. ‘10 Theatre/English graduate, 2nd Lieutenant US Army
Career Services helps students and alumni use the knowledge, skills, and experience they’ve gained at Warren Wilson College to pursue their goals for meaningful work, advanced study, or voluntary service. The center staff members offer guidance in discerning skills, clarifying goals, and researching work and educational opportunities. Career Services staff collaborate with faculty members, alumni, work crew and service supervisors and employers to build a robust network of employment, internship and educational options.
Support for:
Programs and resources include:
Choosing a major
OWLink
Life and work planning
Workshops on all aspects of the job and
Seeking and researching internships and employment opportunities Deciding on and applying to graduate schools Selecting and implementing job search and networking strategies Writing resumes, cover letters, and personal statements Preparing for interviews
98% of our alumni feel satisfied and prepared for the meaningful careers they are pursuing.
Arborist, Hemlock Advocate
African Rhythm Band
graduate/professional school processes Mock Interviews Interest and Personality Assessment Tools Courses: Me, Myself and My Major Me, Myself and My Future Alumni Panels Shadowing Experiences Employer Information Sessions
2010 Woman of the Year Katie Spotz ‘08 set a world record as the youngest person to row across the ocean solo while increasing awareness and raising money for safe drinking water worldwide.
Environmental Engineer For more about our alumni outcomes go to: warren-wilson.edu/alumni/outcomes www. war r en -wilson . ed u 15
Internships, Research, & Real-Life Applications ajor part of any Warren Wilson m student career is the experience through undergraduate research projects, internships, work crews, and service-learning experiences. Through faculty-assisted research projects, students build a foundation for entering graduate school, advanced degree programs, and meaningful careers. • Global studies majors participate in a senior capstone seminar, writing a thesis that synthesizes and reflects upon their combination of coursework and offcampus or cross-cultural experiences. WWC Alpine Tower
Over the past 15 years, Warren Wilson students
• Sociology and anthropology students develop their own research topic, collect and analyze data, and present their findings to the college community through a social sciences research symposium. • All biology, chemistry, environmental studies, and mathematics majors must complete a significant research project– the Natural Science Seminar.
• Archaeology students participate in excavations at the on-campus Warren Wilson dig, an archaeological site that contains evidence of Native American camps and villages dating from 5000 B.C. to around A.D. 1400. Participants in the summer archaeology field school work off-campus at the Berry site, a sixteenthcentury Catawba Indian village and the location of Fort San Juan, constructed by Spanish soldiers in A.D. 1567. • History and political science majors produce a senior history seminar capstone project – a thesis relying on primary source documents, with a focus on local history, the College, or the Asheville area. • Social work majors all must complete a 496-hour field internship accompanied by a seminar in which they apply classroom learning in a social services agency. • Psychology majors choose from an independent study, an advanced research seminar, or a directed internship. Their research findings are presented at the
Carolinas Undergraduate Psychology Conference. • Outdoor leadership majors complete a field internship preceded by a preparation seminar, in which students articulate their personal and professional goals and identify a project to be undertaken at the internship site. Students prepare a written evaluation and make a public presentation from their work. • Theatre/English majors are deeply involved with all aspects theatre production and management at Warren Wilson Theatre; they also contribute valuable service to Asheville’s professional theatre, North Carolina Stage Company, and to other local theatre venues. • Art majors develop a digital portfolio, then create, explore, and research a cohesive body of art culminating in an exhibition in Holden Art Gallery.
have won more NC Academy of Science awards for their research papers than students at any other institution in the state.
U.S. News and World Report ranked Warren Wilson among the top 10 in Internships.
16 IN TE RNSHIPS & RESE AR C H
Researching with NASA the effects of environmental pollutants on alligator’s reproductive health in Cape Canaveral, FL.
Collecting tardigrades in the Great Smoky Mountains.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Directed Student Research & Internships A sampling of student research projects and internships Social Sciences
• Council on Aging of Buncombe County
• Voiceless Women Speak: Structural Oppression and Crime in the Lives of Female Inmates
• Asheville VA Medical Center
• Growing up in a New Religious Movement: A Study of the Second Generation of “The Family”
• “How Hideous a Thing Would be Its Enjoyment”: The Theme of Religious Sacrifice in Literary Dystopias
• The Construction of Masculinity and the Roots of Domestic Violence as Seen in the Accounts of Battered Women
• The Obvious, the Silly, and the True: George Orwell and the Ethics of Art
• Isolation and Incorporation: The Lives of Hispanic Immigrants in Asheville
English
• To Become a Man: The Crisis of Identity in Hamlet • Evangelical Anglicanism and War in the Poetry of Wilfred Owen
Global Studies • Growing Health: Using Sustainable Agriculture to Fight the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Malawi • Machisimo, Homophobia, and the Changing Attitudes toward Homosexuality in Latin America • China’s Pending Water Crisis: A Case Study of Shandong Province • “When Two Elephants Fight, the Grass Always Suffers”: Formerly Abducted Child Soldiers and the Need for Their Rehabilitation in Northern Uganda
Social Work • Women at Risk Prison Program • Affordable Housing Coalition • Mountain Area Child and Family Center Early Head Start program
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• Eliada Homes for children and adolescents
Natural Sciences • Native Grass Restoration Project: Survival Rate and Percent Cover of Warm Season Grasses after the First Growing Season • Serum Mineral Levels in Piglets on the Warren Wilson College Farm • Water Quality Assessment of the Swannanoa River Using Macro Invertebrates • Antiviral Effects of 13 Botanical Essential Oils on Three Phases of E.coli • Herbicidal Effects of Ailanthus altissima on Native and Non-Native Invasive Plants • Recovery of Polypropylene from Plastic Waste by Pyrolysis • Computational Modeling of Photochemical Smog Archaeological site near Morganton, NC
“Cutting bamboo and guava with a machete, climbing steep slopes to plant saplings, hiking up mountains...my internship with the Tropical Forestry Initiative in Costa Rica imprinted upon me the direct connection between the choices we make as consumers and their destructive impact on the environment. It is the strangest experience to look at such beauty and realize that it is wrong – to see cattle grazing and the lack of trees where hills and earth should be buried under rainforest.”
Liina Laufer biology major, with honors, Florence, MA
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Wellness
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n our campus, wellness is rooted in the Triad like a strong mountain pose. Through classes, service opportunities, work crews and campus life, we take an integrative approach to wellness with a range of opportunities to center the mind, body and spirit. Our innovative education and awareness programs, support and activities encourage a lifetime of health and wellness. Wellness staff and work crews are committed to your overall health and can help guide you in your wellness pursuits. By attending to your physical, emotional, and spiritual natures, you can forge a sustainable lifestyle that is essential for your success in college and beyond.
Wellness Activities • Herbalism • Acupuncture • Hula Hoop • Ecstatic Dance! • Kirtan Circle • Tribal belly dance • Kundalini Yoga • Sattva Flow Yoga • Yogananda meditation group • Extreme hugging with Ju Jitsu • Pilates • Morning meditation
18 WE LL NESS, AT HL ET I C S & O UTDO O R P R O G R AM S
• Weight training • Spin classes • Contra dancing • Salsa dancing • Sustainable cooking • Outdoor programs • Music • Nutrition education • Tai Chi • Healthy Minute clinics • Smoking cessation • Spiritual life practices
Athletics, Adventure Sports & Outdoor Programming
I
n the pool, on the court, down a field, or on a bike, Warren Wilson students compete as members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) against other small colleges and universities in the South. Our athletes have received All-American awards and national team rankings. In addition to soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and an indoor pool at the DeVries Athletics Center, the campus features 25 miles of trails for hiking and running and a kayak slalom course on the Swannanoa River. Our fitness center combines cardio and free-weight equipment for training and physical therapy. At Warren Wilson, all students are encouraged to take part in Outdoor Programs. The director and work crew organize outdoor adventures and a variety of opportunities for those interested in open-air pursuits.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Varsity Athletics Basketball Cross country Mountain biking Soccer Swimming
Club Sports & Intramurals 3 on 3 and 4 on 4 Basketball Dodgeball Doubles Table Tennis Fencing Indoor Soccer Rock climbing Rowing Step Team Tennis Triathlon Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball Water Polo
Outdoor Programs Adventure racing Backpacking Bouldering Canoeing Caving
Day hiking Horseback riding Kayaking Kayak roll practice Mountain biking Rock climbing Skiing & snowboarding Surfing Triathlon Trail running
Sample of Weekly Adventures Beginner paddling on the Tuckaseegee River Bouldering at Rumbling Bald Climbing Night at Climbmax Kayak roll practice at the pool Slacklining at the Alpine Tower Swiftwater rescue course Whitewater rafting on the French Broad River Wilderness First Responder certification Hang-gliding trip to Chattanooga Zorbing in Tennessee Paintball Disc Golf at Richmond Hill
Athletic Facilities Aquatics Center DeVries Gymnasium Gossman/Cannon Climbing Tower Tennis courts Fitness trail with cross-training features
Conference Affiliations Warren Wilson students compete within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). The WWC Cycling Team participates in Division II of the Southeastern Conference of the National Off-Road Bicycling Association (NORBA) and USA Cycling, the sport’s National and Olympic governing body.
For the past eight years, our mountain biking team has placed top three in the nation (Division II).
www. war r en -wilson . ed u 19
Residencies & Gatherings The Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers and The Swannanoa Gathering Poets & Writers Magazine ranks our low-residency MFA Program number one in the nation, and The Atlantic ranks it as one of the top five in the country.
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“The worst part about the Gathering is that there are only 24 hours in the day and 3 of them are wasted sleeping!”
Student/Gatherer
Contra dancing during the Gathering 20 RE S IDENCIES & GATH E R I N G S
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he Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers, the nation’s first lowresidency program in creative writing, has been associated with the College since 1981. This nationallyacclaimed graduate program, named by the Atlantic Monthly as one of the top five low-residency creative writing programs in the country, begins its semesters each January and July with an intensive tenday residency on the Warren Wilson campus. Lectures and readings by the Program’s faculty, some of the most highly-accomplished writers and teachers
in the country, are open to the public. In addition, Warren Wilson undergraduates have the opportunity to interact each year with a visiting member of the MFA faculty who returns to serve as writer-in-residence. The College also offers an annual MFA Residency class, in which select students participate in a course that parallels and builds upon the residency experience.
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very summer, the sounds of fiddles, flutes, banjos, guitars, and dulcimers fill the air as The Swannanoa Gathering transforms
the campus into a magical, musical village. Folk musicians and dance lovers from around the world travel to our mountain valley to attend one of seven week-long programs held over a fiveweek period in July and August. Each program offers a variety of workshops celebrating a particular style of music or dance, including Celtic and Old-Time Weeks, Guitar, Fiddle and Dulcimer Weeks, Traditional Song Week, and Contemporary Folk Week.
Glennis
A CLOSER LOOK:
Festivals & Community Events
Swannanoa Valley & Nearby Asheville a rren Wilson’s location boasts the best of two worlds, making it the setting of a truly exceptional college experience. The College is situated in a nature lover’s and outdoor adventurer’s wonderland. Our 1,100 acres of forests, 25 miles of trails, and the Swannanoa River connect to thousands of acres of mountain forest, streams, and national parks. Set within the green peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains, our area extreme sports enthusiasts are satisfied with some of the nation’s best paddling, climbing, mountain biking, trail riding, fishing, skiing, and hiking. Did we mention that the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail are only a few minutes’ drive from the campus?
ActionFest Film Festival Asheville Drum Circle Asheville Film Festival Asheville Fringe Festival Asheville Greek Festival Asheville Tourists Baseball Bele Chere Street Festival Biltmore Estate Summer Evening Concert Series City Center Arts Walk Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Downtown After Five Music Block Parties Goombay African & Caribbean Festival Lake Eden Arts Festival Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival Mountain Dance & Folk Festival NC Mountain State Fair Shindig on the Green Bluegrass Celebrations
Performance Venues Asheville Civic Center Diane Wortham Theatre Emerald Lounge The Grey Eagle Jack of the Wood The Orange Peel Music & Social Aid Pleasure Club Stella Blue Town Pump
Students may ride the city buses free (and bring their bike or skateboard.)
Less than 15 minutes away is Asheville, a city that combines an eclectic, progressive attitude blended with a rich Appalachian tradition. In addition to hosting one of the best music scenes in the Southeast, Asheville is alive with a multitude of creative artists – filmmakers, painters, weavers, writers, and musicians drawn from around the world – and filled with restaurants, cafes, theatres, music venues, dancing clubs, bookstores, ballet, lyric opera, symphony concerts, thrift stores, fine art studios, and classic art deco architecture. Live comedy, drama, and music performances are produced year-round at local venues.
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Environmental Leadership Center Education and Responsibility
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he Environmental Leadership Center (ELC) of Warren Wilson College innovates, energizes, and focuses the College’s commitment to create a more sustainable, just and resilient community. The ELC offers an array of on-campus and off-campus programs providing students, faculty and staff opportunities to work at the nexus of the Triad—academics, work, service—and the College’s mission-centered commitments to environmental responsibility and cultural awareness. Through the ELC, Warren Wilson students are immersed in the real work of sustainability leaders
such as weatherizing the homes of lower income residents, recording environmental broadcasts for public radio, working as interns at leading local and national organizations, monitoring the College’s greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and teaching environmental education in local elementary schools. Through meaningful engagement, students are challenged to identify complex problems and find solutions that address root causes. The ELC helps students form lifelong commitments to engaged citizenship rooted in the principles of sustainability, justice and resilience.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Program partnered with our EcoTeam.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park internship
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22 E N VIRONMENT AL L E ADE R S H I P C E N TE R
“The way to a truly sustainable future is not black and white—it’s shades of green and grey. We must come to terms with the desire to fit people and organizations into boxes labeled “friends” and “enemies” of the environment. Our goal is a study of compromises and small steps; ignoring what we find distasteful will not get us there.”
Noah Wilson, Intern
The ELC Educates and Inspires Action EcoTeam environmental education program INSULATE! weatherization program Swannanoa Journal public radio series ELC Internship Program WWC Climate Action Plan and Partnerships Camps Greening Seed Grants Sustainability Speaker Series The Green Walkabout© Global Exchange for Sustainability program
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A CLOSER LOOK:
“Once I found a nesting turtle, I would determine what stage of nesting she was in. I would approach her and watch the beautiful natural process unfold. If a nest was seaward of high tide, I was responsible for moving the fragile eggs and re-depositing them into their new nest. The sheer natural beauty of the landscape and wildlife humbled me, deepening my understanding of the cyclical nature of life and energy. I decided to dedicate myself to conservation, and channel my energy into actions promoting life and preserving biological diversity.� Octavia Sola, intern at Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, SC
ELC Internship Program Partners Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, NC Black Mountain Community Garden, NC City of Asheville, NC CooperRiis Healing Farm Community, NC The Environmental Quality Institute, NC French Broad Riverkeeper, NC Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN/NC National Audubon Society Seabird Restoration Project, ME National Climatic Data Center, NC The Nature Conservancy, NC and NY Penland School of Crafts, NC North Carolina Coastal Federation, NC Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, ME Tom Yawkey Wildlife Preserve, SC Western NC Alliance, NC Wild South, NC
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Community & Campus Life
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he College’s Triad education program creates a natural connection between students, faculty, and staff, allowing community members to get to know each other in a variety of contexts and broadening everyone’s perspective. Your classmate from Jazz Appreciation may serve your dinner; your professor may be shoveling dirt alongside you on Work Day.
abound for expressing your viewpoint, particularly through the Student Caucus and community meetings.
Together, we form a tight-knit community. Ninety percent of our students live on campus, along with about a third of our faculty and staff. It’s just part of the regular campus routine to see a work crew supervisor walking her dog in the evening, or to be invited to a potluck dinner at a faculty member’s home.
You can spend Friday night savoring pizza from the Baking Crew’s outdoor oven at Sage Café while listening to live music or a poetry slam. Weekends might include adventure rafting, belly dancing classes, or catching up on some well-deserved rest. Sundays usually mean study time, but those who need a break can play pick-up Ultimate, join the Kirtan Circle, or catch up with friends at the Food Not Bombs! meeting.
Each student has the opportunity to shape campus life and college policies. Forums
Warren Wilson Community Commitment We at Warren Wilson College embrace the Triad of Academics, Work, and Service. By choosing to live in this unique college that values community, social justice, and the environment, we commit to: • Cultivate integrity, holding ourselves and others accountable. • Accept responsibility for our words, behaviors, and their impacts. • Respect ourselves, others, and our surroundings. • Engage in honest and constructive communication, even in the face of differing opinions. • Sustain healthy balance within our personal and communal lives.
Understanding that many participants have come before and many more will come after, we protect and nurture our social, academic and ecological community by holding ourselves to these commitments today.
24 COMMUNIT Y & CAMP US L I FE
The wide range of clubs and organizations, theatre productions, student and faculty readings, and guest speakers reflects the richness and diversity of life on campus. There really is something for everyone.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Campus Clubs and Organizations • Social Justice Club • Jewish Student Association • Folk Choir • Student Caucus • Writer’s Tea • GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Trans, and Questioning) • WWC Jazz Ensemble • Magic: The Gathering • Gospel Choir • Muse Collective (writer’s group) • Emmaus (Christian group) • BE (Buddhist group) • Environmental Justice Group • RISE Project (Resistance, Intervention, Safety & Empowerment) • Roundtable on Climate Change • Quaker Meeting • Conscious Alliance • Emerging Leaders • Film Society
Campus Events
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“The best part of Warren Wilson College is community. We don’t have hired help come in and mop floors for us—everybody does their part. There’s a respect here, and not just among students. I worked for the registrar for the past three semesters. Although I don’t work there now, I still swing by to visit every week. When I go for a run, I’ll pass a group of little kids playing, professors walking home, or other students, and they all say, ‘Hey, Kate.’ I love that.”
Kate Reese chemistry major and work crew Warren, PA
• Weekly concerts in Sage Cafe • Open mics • Mayhem work crew parade • Dance parties • Haiti relief fundraiser • Community meetings • Spanish movie nights • French movie nights • Art faculty exhibition • Service-learning presentations • Campus work crew job fair • International Women’s Day celebration • Sexual assault awareness panel • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Triad Day • Music faculty recital • Poetry slams • Food Not Bombs! • Biology movie night • Jazz Ensemble concert • Annual holiday formal • Multicultural dinner • Appalachian Music Nights • Spring Arts Festival • Circus • Spelling Bee
• Drag Show • Old Time jams • Blacksmithing after hours • Putting Passion to Practice – career luncheon series • Empty Bowls: hunger and homeless awareness event
Recent Theatre Productions • 9 to 5, The Musical • The Swannanoa Riverplay (original) • The 39 Steps • On the Verge • The Cherry Orchard • Women Beware Women • Cloud Nine • Euripides’ the Bacchae • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • Shakespeare’s A Winter Tale • How I Learned to Drive • The Glass Menagerie • Thom Paine, Based on Nothing • Baby with the Bathwater • You Can’t Take it with You • Hour/Earth: After the Dark (original) • Description Beggared, or the Allegory of Whiteness • Peter Pan • The Threepenny Opera • Arcadia
www. war r en -wilson . ed u 25
Campus Features Eateries
Personal Development
Resources
Entertainment
Gladfelter Cafeteria Cow Pie Vegan Café Sage Café
College Chapel Meditation Hut Labyrinth 25 Miles of Hiking Trails Gardens, swings, and plenty of trees
Bannerman Technology Center Career Resource Center College Farm College Garden Community Bike Shop Free Store Gladfelter Student Center Pew Learning Center & Ellison Library Student Caucus Recycling Center Student Health & Counseling Center Writing Center
Bryson Gym/Old Farmer’s Ball contra dance Holden Visual Arts Center & Gallery Kittredge Amphitheater, Theatre & Music Center Morris’ Community Pavilion Sage Café open mics Lunchtime jam sessions Circus Drag Show
Warren Wilson eateries feature organic produce from the College Garden. Grassfinished, hormonefree beef is raised on the College Farm. All eateries take part in the campus-wide recycling and composting program.
26 CA MPUS FEAT URES
Members of our College community come from around the world and represent many faiths. We have a covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church USA, and a college chapel offers weekly services. Students are welcome to attend in the same way that they are invited to every other on-campus celebration of faith, such as Shabbat gatherings, interfaith evenings, and Buddhist meditations.
At Warren Wilson, the arts are open to participation by all students and members of the community.
A CLOSER LOOK:
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36 6
The Word on WWC The New York Times Sunday Magazine When Your Dorm Goes Green and Local “Thoreau said education often made straight-cut ditches out of meandering brooks. But not at the EcoDorm, which houses 36 undergraduates and is the spiritual heart of Warren Wilson College, a liberal-arts school of fewer than 1,000 students…. In recent years, colleges like Warren Wilson took a leading role in the sustainability movement.”
Newsweek “Finding the Right College for You” Environmentalists Who Need to Get Their Hands Dirty “The school motto is ‘We’re not for everyone … but then, maybe you’re not everyone.’ That means every student works, in a way most American undergraduates are not accustomed to. ‘Students enroll in the college knowing that they will work 15 hours per week in campus jobs ranging from plumbing to landscaping to forestry, as well as at least 25 community-service hours a year,’ says spokesman Ben Anderson. For reasons not entirely clear—maybe hitting the books seems a pleasant respite after three hours pitching manure—the Warren Wilson Triad of work, academics, and service produces first-class scholars
28 TH E WORD ON WWC
ready for graduate school. Social conscience and environmentalism are strong among the 1,000 students, but they also learn how to handle themselves on a working farm.”
The Boston Globe NC College Reaches Out to Searchers “For all its apparent emphasis on its mountain region …students participate in a trip abroad at the end of their junior year. But the one thing that sets Warren Wilson College apart from the small colleges it might seem to resemble is the 15-hours-a-week of work required of all students—work which does not mean the usual run of campus jobs. …A day spent wandering around the campus and talking to student workers reveals a sense of pride in something more tangible than an academic accomplishment.”
Southern Living Lessons From the Land “One of the best small colleges in the country, this institution blends hard work and community service into education.”
The New York Times Student Workers Learn a Respect for Age-Old Trades “The annual tuition, room and board at Warren Wilson (after student salaries) costs half as much as at some other
private colleges. Warren Wilson, with an endowment of $41 million, saves as well, because everyone is paid the same. …When Kari Christian, a freshman from the Upper West Side of Manhattan who collects garbage on campus, returned home for Christmas break, she said she looked for the sanitation workers on her block to give them cookies. ‘I tell my friends at home I’m a garbage man, and they just sort of laugh,’ Ms. Christian said.”
USA Today At This School, Work Is Par for the Course The college has “a philosophy that the experience of work can add up to more than a line on the resume or a way to pay for college. That also is reflected in Warren Wilson’s 35-year-old requirement that students perform community service, the third piece of a ‘triad’ design blending academics, work and service. …Students have a hand in pretty much everything, whether baking bread, cleaning carpets or fixing computers … ‘Because of the work, students take a real interest in the campus.’ [President Emeritus Doug Orr] says. ‘The most deadening thing in education is apathy. That’s not a major problem at Warren Wilson.’ ”
The Los Angeles Times Up-Town, Down-Home Appalachia “I headed out to Swannanoa, a mountainside community just east of Asheville, to catch a contra dance. There, shortly before 10 p.m. in the auditorium of Warren Wilson College, a liberal arts school with about 900 students, I found an evening in full swing: scores of young and old dancers arranged in lines, then in rectangles, then in lines again, skirts (and the occasional kilt) swirling, the wood floor resounding with footfalls, quilts dangling from the ceiling like championship banners from bygone seasons. …Many of the dancers were students at the college, but many others were in their 30s, 40s and 50s. They wore gingham dresses, dreadlocks, Levis, leotards, Marlon Brando-style T-shirts, the inevitable “Visualize Whirled Peas” T-shirt, knee pads, sneakers, bare feet, bright green slacks and wide grins … creeping from the auditorium around midnight, I ran into a moon so bright and nearly full that I could make out the mountain silhouettes across the valley. And from the nearer fields, I could see the mist rising.”
George Gallup III The Gallup Polling Organization, Inc. “Warren Wilson College is what American education should be in the future.”
James B. Hunt, Jr. Governor of North Carolina 1976-1984 and 1992-2000 “Warren Wilson College is one of the finest colleges in America, and I believed that even before I knew there was a Dean of Work!”
Jane Goodall The Jane Goodall Foundation “I am excited about the partnership between Warren Wilson College’s EcoTeam and the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots Program. Hand in hand we can work together, creating hope and opportunities to make a difference.”
William Friday President Emeritus, The University of North Carolina System “Warren Wilson is a real success story in American Higher Education.”
The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012 Selected Warren Wilson as one of the nation’s 25 “Best Buys of 2012” among private colleges. Warren Wilson is one of only two independent institutions in North Carolina to receive this
recognition. The Guide notes “Success at Warren Wilson is measured not only by grades, but by community service and a sense of stewardship … [The College] promotes global perspectives, puts students to work and makes sevice a central part of the educational experience.”
Making a Difference College Guide “A school where students get a holistic education of academics, work, and service.”
Blue Ridge Outdoors Southeast’s “Greenest College”
Peterson’s Guide “One of a group that is ‘leading the way’ in environmental education.”
National Wildlife Federation “One of only 24 U.S. schools with students, staff, and communities working for a sustainable future and named a leadership school in the NWF’s National Report Card on Environmental Performance and Sustainability in Higher Education.”
Julian Keniry Manager, Campus Ecology Program, National Wildlife Federation
model of true caring about environmental and conservation issues and that the college has sustained and improved its performance in these areas over many years. Our independent survey of 891 schools only confirms Warren Wilson’s position as a leading school in several areas, in particular for supporting and evaluating faculty on environmental issues, for setting environmental goals and establishing policies, for employing environmental administrators and coordinators, and for recycling and reducing waste.”
Time “One of the 20 most beautiful campuses in the country.”
Outside Magazine No. 4 on honor roll of Top 40 Schools “that turn out smart grads with topnotch academic credentials, a healthy environmental ethos, and an A+ sense of adventure. …Warren Wilson is one of the most earth-friendly colleges on the planet.”
The Princeton Review “The Best 376 Colleges” “Warren Wilson is a college for thinkers with a deep sense of social commitment.”
Barron’s Best Buys in College Education “Warren Wilson provides an atmosphere that inspires individuals to try things they never did before and supports them during the process.”
Discounts and Deals at the Nation’s 360 Best Colleges “In the supermarket of higher education, look for Warren Wilson in the all-natural aisle. Warren Wilson is firmly committed to both the study and stewardship of the environment.”
The Unofficial, Unbiased Guide to the 328 Most Interesting Colleges “In spite of the small size, Warren Wilson has an attractive mix of education, work, and community service, all on a beautiful campus.”
Mother Jones Mini College Guide One of “10 cool schools that will blow your mind, not your budget.”
“We at the National Wildlife Federation already knew that Warren Wilson is a
www. war r en -wilson . ed u 29
Who Should Apply? • Those who seek an academic challenge • Those who embrace service as an integral part of their lives • Those who are open to personal and social transformation • Those dedicated to environmental stewardship and sustainability • Engaged thinkers and self-starters • Global travelers • Hard workers • Compassionate citizens • Open-minded individuals • Those who desire a dynamic education in a one-of-a-kind community
Who Gets Accepted? • Students with a strong and successful college preparatory curriculum • Those who know how to study hard, work hard, and serve well • Thinkers, doers, and dreamers • Imaginative and creative students • Those who will contribute positively to the College
Important Dates November 10 Fall Open House November 15 Early Decision application deadline December 1 Early Decision notification December 20 Early Decision deposit deadline January 31 First Year Regular Decision application deadline March 15 S cholarship application deadline and Transfer Application deadline May 1 Regular Decision deposit deadline
30 A DMI SSION INFORM ATI O N
Admission Information
There is no fee to apply.
warren-wilson.edu/admission/application or the Common Application
The Admission Process
Transfer Applicant Procedures
Early Decision
Scholarships
Admission to Warren Wilson College is a selective process based on the academic qualifications and the applicant’s potential. All available information is considered, including previous academic records, evidence of academic and social maturity, extracurricular activities, community service, SAT or ACT scores, essays, interviews, references, recent grade trends, and general contributions to school and community. The criteria are designed to matriculate a balanced student body with high standards of scholarship, personal integrity, and a desire to support the mission of the College.
Transfer students should have completed a college preparatory curriculum in high school, but successful completion of college-level classes will be given more weight than high school. Transfer students must be eligible to return to their most recently attended college, be in good standing, and hold or have obtained a cumulative GPA above 3.0. (Courses with D grades are not accepted for transfer credit but are calculated into your GPA.)
If you are certain that Warren Wilson is the right place for you, you should consider applying for Early Decision. Applying for Early Decision is binding. Applications are due November 15.
The College awards a number of scholarships that recognize achievements in academics, work, service, and sustainability. A complete listing of the scholarships may be found in the Scholarships & Aid brochure or online. The scholarship application deadline (received by, not simply postmarked) is March 15. Please remember to submit the appropriate essays, logs, and recommendations required for each scholarship.
First-Year Applicant Procedures (Freshmen) The College requires that admitted students possess a high school diploma and successfully complete a college preparatory curriculum, including the following minimum classes: four years of English, three years of social science, two years of laboratory science, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. Foreign languages, AP, IB, and dual-enrollment courses are strongly considered.
First-Year applicants must submit the following by January 31: ❏ The WWC online application or the Common Application ❏ Two application essays ❏ An official high school transcript ❏ SAT and/or ACT test scores (SAT Code: 5886 / ACT Code: 3170) ❏ High school counselor recommendation (The Evaluation Report Form when ❏ using the WWC application or the School Report Form when using the Common Application) ❏ Two teacher recommendations are preferred
Transfer applicants must submit the following by March 15: ❏ The WWC online application or the Common Application ❏ Two application essays ❏ An official high school transcript and official transcripts from all colleges attended ❏ SAT or ACT test scores (if transferring less than 28 credits) ❏ Registrar’s recommendation from the college most recently attended. (The Evaluation Report Form when using the WWC application or the College Report Form when using the Common Application) ❏ Statement of reasons for transferring
How and when to commit to Warren Wilson: Regular Decision If you are accepted and decide to enroll at the College, we must receive your $300 non-refundable deposit in our office by May 1. Please be aware that any deposits received after May 1 are subject to space availability and do not guarantee a position in the class.
Financial Aid Warren Wilson College strives to make it possible for people of all economic backgrounds to attend the College. The financial aid award may include grants, scholarships, and loans to provide support. The Work Program Compensation of $3,480 per year is a part of every student’s award. When you apply for financial aid, we consider you for all types of aid, including federal, state, and institutional sources. To apply, you should begin the process as soon after January 1 as possible. If financial aid will be a critical part of your decision to attend Warren Wilson, we urge you to submit all financial aid documents by March 1 so that you can meet the May 1 deposit deadline. You must be accepted for admission to be reviewed for financial aid and scholarships.
In an effort to reduce waste, we no longer have paper applications.
To apply for admission:
warren-wilson.edu/admission/application
To Apply for Aid 1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov (Warren Wilson College’s code is: 002979 - Asheville, NC) 2. Complete and send the Warren Wilson College Financial Aid Application to the financial aid office. The form may be printed from our website.
first year student profile SAT Average, VCR: 600 SAT Average, Math: 560 ACT Average: 25 Average High School GPA: 3.48 Percent from North Carolina: 19%
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Learning That Lasts arren Wilson evolved from simple
roots. The College was founded as the Asheville Farm School in 1894 by the Presbyterian Church to provide education for young men in the Southern Appalachians. It was first a vocational school, then merged with Dorland-Bell School, grew into a junior college, and then became a four-year liberal arts college in 1967 and added the MFA Program in 1981.
{ 32 LE ARNING T HAT L AS TS
Always a leader in social and environmental justice, the College was the first to desegregate in the South back in 1952, the first to begin a county-wide recycling program in 1981, and the first to build a LEED Platinum dormitory in the nation. For over a century, the Warren Wilson College community has celebrated diversity in national and geographic origin, cultural background, sexual orientation, race, and religion.
If you have twenty minutes and like history, check out the inspiring history of Warren Wilson College in this documentary narrated by Faye Grant, Bill Pullman and Stephen Collins. Just go to www.warren-wilson.edu/history/
“I’m lured to Warren Wilson College because of many things: the Triad, the location, the classes, the pigs, the kindness of the staff and students. I have found in my visit to the College a respect for life that coincides with my own. Very simply, I felt at home there. I felt that I had found an environment that would allow me to grow, that would witness a portion of the continuous evolving of my life.”
admission essay Early Decision candidate
Next Steps Experience Warren Wilson College for Yourself Ready to explore the Warren Wilson College difference in more detail? You have four options: Visit our campus. Hands down, it’s the best way to see if we are the right college for you. We welcome you to join us for a tour, classes, meals, and activities, with the option to stay overnight in St. Clair Guest House or with a student host. We arrange visits on weekdays throughout the year.
Watch our videos. If you can’t make the visit in person, these video introductions to our campus, its history and its people is the next best thing.
Gather information. Sign up for our email and mailing lists, and you’ll receive more in-depth information on our study abroad opportunities, national recognition, scholarships and costs, and the Asheville area.
warren-wilson.edu/admission/application
Apply for admission. In an effort to reduce paper waste, we no longer have paper applications. To apply for admission: We also accept the Common Application. There is no fee to apply!
Getting here: Our campus is an easy drive, located just a few miles from I-40 at Exit 55. The Asheville Regional Airport is 25 minutes away. Visit our website for directions. Design: 828:design Writing: Deb Abramson John Bowers Jan Wolff Printing: Daniels Graphics
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In the Swannanoa Valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains An accredited, four-year, private liberal arts college
Office of Admission • PO Box 9000 Asheville, North Carolina 28815-9000 800-934-3536 • 828-771-2073 • FAX: 828-298-1440 www.warren-wilson.edu • email: admit@warren-wilson.edu 6.12
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