• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2014-04-25_Vol79_No13_A02

A2 THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN Leaders get peek at expanded engineering program WCU News Services More than 100 people representing Western North Carolina business and industry, community colleges, economic devel- opment groups, govern- ment officials and even a prospective student or two enjoyed a sneak peek Wednesday, April 16, of Western Carolina Universitys expanded undergraduate engineer- ing program, coming this fall to the Asheville-Hen- dersonville area. Guests at the event peered through a win- dow to glimpse the con- struction now underway to convert nearly 11,000 square feet of former re- tail space on the ground floor at 28 Schenck Park- way in Biltmore Park Town Square to engi- neering laboratories and classrooms scheduled to open in August. Expansion of WCUs engineering degree was made possible through more than $1.4 million in- cluded in the state budget for the 2013-15 biennium. N.C. Sen. Tom Apodaca (R-Henderson), who is credited by university of- ficials with ensuring that the state budget included funds for expansion of WCUs program, called the arrival of engineering to the fast-growing Inter- state 26 corridor between Asheville and Henderson- ville a special day. When you go to Ra- leigh, you just hope to be able to do something back home to make it worth- while. I cant tell you how worthwhile today is for me, Apodaca said. T think we are fulfilling our mission. I think engi- NEWS neering is at the forefront of economic development for Western North Caro- lina, especially in this In- terstate 26 corridor where we are now. WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher characterized the expansion of under- graduate education from the existing Cullowhee- based program to WCUs instructional site at Bilt- more Park as a game- changer for WNC. It is so because we know that one of the keys to a regions economic de- velopment is close prox- imity to an institution of higher education that offers engineering. We know that our industry and business partners in Asheville, Henderson- ville and the surrounding area are in real need of the type of skills provided by.a general engineering degree, such as the one that we will be offering here, Belcher said. The majority of stu- dents who will enroll in the program are expected to come from the ranks of working professionals who have earned two- year degrees at a WNC community college and who are looking to move up in their careers, he said. These are fathers and mothers. They are husbands and wives who want to continue in their jobs while seeking the ad- ditional education needed to help them advance but who dont want to or can- not leave this area to go elsewhere to get that four- year degree, Belcher said. , The approval of fund- ing from the state enabled WCU to seek a $500,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation that is being used to help expand engineering education across WNC through a partnership with region- al community colleges. The grant will support WCUs efforts to ensure a seamless transition for community college stu- dents who want to earn four-year degrees in engi- neering through the im- plementation of engineer- ing pathway courses at community colleges and the recruitment of quali- fied students into the pro- gram. Asheville-Buncombe Technical, Blue Ridge and Isothermal commu- nity colleges are initial partners in the effort, which will eventually in- clude WNC community colleges from Rutherford- ton in the east to Murphy in the west. Dan Gerlach, president of the Golden LEAF Foun- dation, said the grant awarded to WCU fits with his foundations mission to help transform the economy of rural tobac- co-dependent economi- cally distressed areas of our state. One of the ways that we must do this is by real- izing that manufacturing is not only our past, but it. is our future and it is our present, Gerlach said. What we do is we look at the needs of industry, and perhaps no other institu- tion of higher education in this state does this as well as Western Carolina University. It says, what do you need to help our graduates, to help our fu- ture graduates, to help the families of this region get the jobs and living wages they need so they can en- joy the high quality of life of the Western North Car- olina mountains. James Zhang, dean of WCUs Kimmel School of Construction Manage- ment and Technology, where the universitys engineering program is housed, said expanding engineering offerings. to better serve the needs of the people of WNC is an alignment of the vision and mission of WCU, the Kimmel School and the University of North Caro- lina system. Delivering the en- gineering program to Biltmore Park is a dem- onstration and a commit- ment to this region and to its people on the part of political leaders, eco- nomic development lead- ers, institutional leaders and all of us here today, Zhang said. It enables us to better serve the students, especially the working professionals, in this region. It enables us to better serve and engage with the industries of this region. And it enables us to better communicate and work with our sister schools and community colleges in the region. Carolyn Coward, a member of the WCU Board of Trustees, in- vited guests at the sneak peek to climb aboard the Western Carolina Uni- versity train in remarks peppered with puns not- ing the different mean- ings of the word engineer, Our engineer is none other than Chancellor David Belcher, who along with the tremendous staff and. faculty, is engineer- ing a new frontier for Western Carolina stu- dents, Coward said: April 25, 2014 Photo Submitted by WCU Public Relations. Western Carolina University architect Galen May: (center) prepares to give a hard hat tour of new en-' gineering classrooms and labs to N.C. Sen. Tom Apo-. daca (at left) and other guests during a sneak peak: event at Biltmore Park. She commended. uni- versity leaders for having not only the ability and enthusiasm to generate the kind of support to es- tablish WCU. programs such as this engineering program but also the fore- sight to engineer the kind of programs that will continue to address the academic and economic needs of Western North Carolina. To close the event, Zhang presented Apo- daca, Gerlach and repre- sentatives of WCU with a: specially designed sou- venir engineered by fac- ulty members at the Kim- mel School. Featuring a square base with three diamond-shaped pieces that fit together, the metal keepsake represents the type of prototype that WCU engineering stu- dents soon will be able to create using equipment purchased by funds from: the Golden LEAF Foun- dation. * Zhang said the three di-: amond shapes represent advancing careers, edu- cating the workforce and. creating My None of these pieces can. stand alone, but when you put these three pieces to- gether, it becomes a very. strong unit and a symbol: of our commitment to the region, he said. For more information about engineering edu- cation at WCU, visit the website engineering.wcu. edu. Police WCU Police Daily Activity Reports Compiled by Laura Odom Editor-in-Chief APRIL 5 Mutual Aid- Summit Apartments- WCU Of- ficers assisted the JC Deputies with a noise complaint at the Summit. Larceny- Buchanan- A female student report- ed that her items were taken from the Laundry room. - leads existed. DWI/Traffic Crash- Joyner Drive- A male student was arrested for DWI following a traffic crash on Joyner drive. Vandalism- Harrill/Cen- tral- Officers located two vehicles. with damage; both had one tire slashed. Traffic Crash- Har- rill- Officers were called to a two vehicle crash involving backing. Alcohol Violation- Scott lot-A male stu- dent was issued a DSCE referral for underage possession of alcohol. Alcohol Violations- Walker Hall- One male student received a state citation ~ for possession and consumption of alco- holic beverage while 19 years old. A second male student received a DSCE referral for underage consumption of alcohol. Drug & Alcohol Viola- tions- One male non-stu- dent was issued a state citation and 1 year ban from campus for simple possession of marijuana. Another male non-stu- dent received a 1 year ban from campus. Also, two male students were issued DSCE referrals for under- age possession of alcohol. Blotter: APRIL 6 e Speed- Central Drive- A male was issued a state citation for driving 40 mph. in a 20 mph zone. Larceny from build- ing-Scott- A female stu- dent said jewelry was taken from her room while she was away. Sick Student-Scott- Officers i assisted: 1a sick male student that they found at the tables in front of Scott. Alcohol violation- Forrest Hills Road-A male non-student was issued a_ state citation for possessing an open container in the open area of his vehicle. * Mutual Aid- Travel Center- WCUPD Offi- cers assisted a JC Dep- uty during a traffic stop at the Travel Center. APRIL 7 LostProperty-Campus-A male student he can not find his backpack and needed a_ report. - Larceny- Center of campus- A male student reported his backpack and contents taken from where he had left it laying near the Bell Tower. APRIL 8 Dispute-Walker Hall- A male student wished documented an_ item found outside his door following a__ dispute. * Damage to wheel lock- Book Store lot- A female student reported damage to her vehicle when it tried to move with a wheel lock in place. The wheel lock was damaged. Larceny- . Village- A male student reported April money was taken from inside the 2100 house on or about the date of 12/12/13. Alcohol Violation- Scott Hall- A. male student received a DSCE referral for underage possession of alcohol. APRIL 9 eCommunicating Threats - A male student report- ed a_ ex-girlfriend com- municating a threat to his current girlfriend. Disturbance - . Offi- cers responded to a re- port of a. disturbance in the parking lot of Faculty Apartments. APRIL 10 Breaking & Enter- ing & Larceny Vehi- cle- Killian Building Lane- A male student re- ported his Campus Min- istry parking permit was taken from his vehicle. * Simple Affray- Court- yard- Two male stu- dents were observed fighting. Both were referred to DSCE. Traffic- Centennial Dr.- Amale student was issued a state citation for driving 41 mph in a 20 mph zone. Traffic Crash-Hit/Run- Scott Commuter. Lot- A male student who had parked his vehicle in the Scott commuter lot found damage to it when he re- turned to his vehicle. Traffic- . Centennial Dr.- A female student was issued a state cita- tion for illegal passing. Alarm Activation- Health and Human Sci- ences- Officers located an alarm sounding in the HHS building. No one was located in the area. Alcohol Violations- Two female students received DSCE referrals for underage possession of alcohol. eAlcohol Violations- Scott- One female student received a DSCE referral for underage consumption of alcohol. APRIL 11 Traffic Crash- Central Drive - Officers were calledtoa two vehicle ac- cident involving backing. Disturbance - Officers responded to a_ verbal disturbance in Scott Hall. Everyone involved was able to resolve the situation with no. po- lice action necessary. * Vandalism - A female student reported her car being keyed sometime before spring _ break. Harassing Text Messag- es - A female student re- ported receiving harass- ing text messages from a former student. Report- ing party did not wish to pursue criminal charges. Fire Alarm - Offi- cers assisted Cullowhee 20 FD with a fire alarm in Balsam Hall. Same caused by burnt food. APRIL 14 Elevator Malfunc- tion- Harrill Hall- Offi- cers, Facilities, and the Cullowhee Fire Depart- ment assisted a student off an elevator after it stopped between floors. Traffic Crash-hit/run- Camp Building lot- A female reported finding damage to her vehicle when she returned . to where she had parked it in the Camp _ Lot. eLarceny-Blue Ridge- A male student report- ed his laptop missing. -Concerning message- Scott _Hall- Officers were called regarding a concerning message written on a board. APRIL 16 *-Breaking & Entering & Larceny from build- ing- Scott- A male stu- dent reported his TV missing from his room. APRIL 18 * Burglar Alarm- Killian incidents Photo by Chris Ward/STAFF Building Lane- Officers responded to an burglar alarm on Killian Builing Lane but no breach of se- curity was located. Ap- propriate staff notified. Larceny from _ build- ing- Scott- A male stu- dent reported a TV miss- ing from his room when he returned from break. APRIL 19 * Possible damage to property- Lena. Davis Landing- A female non- student driver received verbal warnings from WCU PD Officers and a Deputy after careless & reckless driving ended with her vehicle stuckina - ditch. No damage visible. APRIL 20 * Larceny from Build- ing- Scott- A male student reported his electronics: Xbox and games, missing from his room when he re- turned from spring break. opportunities.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
  • Text
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 2014-04-25
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 11.5"
  • Pages: 12
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2014-04-25_Vol79_No13
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library