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Hello Incoming Catamounts – Congratulations and Welcome to WCU!!

Being a college freshman or transfer student can be quite overwhelming | Are you worried about finding your place on campus? Do you wish you had a support network filled with experienced upperclassmen mentors? Are you looking for a program that advocates for your personal growth? Do you want to have a close-knit friend group waiting at WCU for you from the start? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Project CARE is for you!

Project CARE has been providing students with community, opportunities to grow their leadership skills, and a place to call their own for over 30 years. Designed to help first-year and transfer students adjust to life at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵand navigate the collegiate experience successfully, Project CARE provides intentional peer-to-peer mentorship. Guided by upper-class students who are committed to developing a bond with incoming and transfer students, this program aims to have a positive effect on the academic performance, retention, and graduation of students from different backgrounds.

By joining, you will have access to a FREE full year program filled with lifelong connections, a personal upperclassmen mentor, exciting events, dedicated staff members, and a program proven to increase student retention. There are no academic pre-requisites to join - Project CARE is open to all students and is geared towards those with an affinity for a high-touch, culturally relevant, mentoring experience.

Information about the benefits and requirements of our program can be found below:

Benefits:

• This is a FREE program
• A full retreat right before the semester starts to get you acclimated to campus
• Receive a hand selected mentor just for you during your first year at WCU
• Develop a sense of personal, intellectual, and professional identity
• Receive Project CARE swag (shirt, lanyards, etc.)
• Build a community with other mentees, incredible mentors, and develop lifelong friendships
• Become part of the even larger alumni community
• Gain a network of campus resources
• Course credit from the freshmen USI course
• OVERALL, be guided through an experience that will help lay a solid foundation at WCU! 
  
  

  Requirements:
  

• Mentees are required to participate in a two-day community building retreat and program orientation, August 13th & 14th.
• Mentees are expected to participate in the program for an entire academic year and sign a contract with that intent
• Mentees are required to keep in contact with our staff and their assigned mentor
• Mentees are required to enroll in and attend the LEAD 156 USI course that is designated for Project CARE mentees.
  *Note: The accompanying LEAD 156 USI course will serve in place of your required Freshman Seminar, be worth 2-credits, and is directly tied to the Leadership minor.

*Applications are due by July 3^rd*