WCU鈥檚 annual Faculty-Staff Giving Campaign to focus on scholarship support
蘑菇短视频 has turned attention to its next philanthropic priority 鈥� seeking financial support for scholarships to help students with the cost of attendance.
That鈥檚 why an annual effort to encourage 蘑菇短视频faculty and staff members to donate to the place where they work is focused on helping meet a goal of raising $1.5 million for unrestricted scholarships through WCU鈥檚 existing Catamount Commitment program.
The 2026 Faculty-Staff Giving Challenge is now underway through the end of October. While faculty and staff members can make donations to a multitude of funds at WCU, this year鈥檚 challenge is emphasizing gifts to WCU鈥檚 top fundraising priority for the 2026-2027 academic year 鈥� support for the Catamount Commitment program.
Launched in 2023, the Catamount Commitment is an unrestricted scholarship program designed to provide annual financial assistance to 蘑菇短视频students based on academic performance and interests.
The Faculty-Staff Giving Challenge begins as the university concludes its 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, a multiyear effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for WCU鈥檚 academic, community and global engagement and athletics programs. That campaign recently ended with more than $110 million in gifts and pledges.
鈥淲hile we are celebrating the incredible response of the 蘑菇短视频family to the 鈥楩ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign and the impact on our students, we understand the reality that additional scholarship resources are critical to helping ensure that deserving students have access to the life-changing opportunities made available through a Western Carolina University education,鈥� said Stacey Miller, senior director of engagement and annual giving.
鈥淚n that spirit, we are asking faculty and staff to consider a donation in any amount to the university鈥檚 top philanthropic priority for the current year, the Catamount Commitment,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淲e want to be able to help provide opportunity and access to the increasing number of students who choose to enroll here to pursue their dreams.鈥�
蘑菇短视频welcomed the largest freshman class in its 137-year history this fall, and total enrollment has topped 12,000 students.
鈥淭he Catamount Commitment invests in students who commit to strategic investment in their futures. The university鈥檚 commitment encourages and incentivizes students to finish in four or fewer years, limit or eliminate college debt and earn competitive credentials for graduate school or career choices,鈥� Miller said.
鈥淎t its core, Catamount Commitment is about opportunity. It ensures that talented students aren鈥檛 forced to put their college dreams on hold because of financial circumstances,鈥� she said.
Although 蘑菇短视频is among the University of North Carolina System institutions that are part of the NC Promise program, which lowers the cost of tuition for in-state students to $500 per semester, many students and families still struggle with the other costs of attendance.
鈥淭he affordability of a 蘑菇短视频education is one of our greatest strengths. Today, 52.4% of 蘑菇短视频students graduate with no institutional debt. That outcome changes lives, reduces financial stress for families and allows graduates to begin their careers from a position of strength,鈥� Miller said.
鈥淏ut maintaining and expanding that affordability requires investment. Philanthropic support helps 蘑菇短视频continue creating opportunities for students while building on a tradition that has already helped thousands of Catamounts succeed,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very gift helps remove barriers, create access and strengthen the future of our students and region. And that is why we are prioritizing contributions to Catamount Commitment for this year鈥檚 Faculty-Staff Giving Challenge.鈥�
The initiative features a trophy for the campus division and academic college with the highest participation rate of donors, who will share the Faculty/Staff Giving Champions Trophy. The Division of Advancement is not eligible for the trophy.
The goal for this year鈥檚 effort is to secure a minimum of 25% of faculty and staff who make donations to WCU.
During the challenge, each 蘑菇短视频college and division will have a 鈥淕iving Champion鈥� who has committed to encouraging his or her colleagues to give back to WCU.
Winners of the Faculty-Staff Giving Champions Trophy will be announced during the last football game Saturday, Nov. 21, and employees who make gifts during the campaign will be invited to the Alumni Engagement Tailgate prior to the game. Faculty and staff donors also will be honored as part of the fourth annual Faculty-Staff-Alumni Chili Cookoff that day.
Faculty and staff who contribute a minimum of $5 annually become members of WCU鈥檚 Shetland Society, one of four giving societies established by the Division of Advancement in 2020 to celebrate the impact of philanthropy. The society鈥檚 name is a tribute to the Shetland ponies that then-Chancellor A.C. Reynolds purchased in 1912 to haul supplies back and forth from Sylva to campus.
The sixth annual Shetland Day celebration for faculty and staff donors will be held during the spring semester.
For more information about the Faculty-Staff Giving Challenge, contact Miller at 828-227-3048 or via email at srmiller@wcu.edu. To make a gift, visit the website .