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Academics, Service, Work....Warren Wilson College is located on a beautiful 1,100-acre campus in a mountain valley that American Indians called "Swannanoa", meaning "land of beauty". Over the years the setting has inspired community, creativity, learning, and a sense of harmony with the environment. The mission of Warren Wilson College is to provide a liberal arts education combining academic study, participation in a campus-wide work program, and required community service. Each component of this triad plays an important role in the education of the whole person — within a learning environment that promotes wisdom, understanding, spiritual growth and contribution to the common good. Warren Wilson College affirms a commitment to spiritual growth and social responsibility; and invites to its educational community individuals who are dedicated to personal and social transformation, and to stewardship of our natural environment. Students have constituted the core work-force for the College since its founding more than a century ago. Today each residential student works 15 hours each week on one of more than 100 work-crews that help run the college, and the work helps offset the cost of room and board. The work-crews give students experiential learning opportunities in their fields of study. For example, pre-veterinary students care for the hogs and cattle on the 300-acre College farm; education majors assist in the Head Start Program at the Early Learning Center; while other students might work in one of the computer centers. Each student is also responsible for giving 100 hours of community service in the Asheville community, their own home town, or in another country. The College believes that service to society enables students to make a difference in the world and to better understand the needs of the others. Because students, faculty and staff live, work and serve together, there is a strong sense of community. The size of the college enables students and staff to be involved and challenged with community leadership roles. The four-term calendar (students typically take two or three classes per term) allows concentration in a few subjects at a time. Not only are classes small, but there are ample opportunities for independent tutorials. The Warren Wilson WorldWide Program was recently instituted to give each student a chance to work, learn, and serve abroad. Community members meet often to address issues concerning sexism, diversity, peace issues and other global and local topics. Students and staff are particularly sensitive to environmental issues. Warren Wilson has been recycling on campus for more than a decade. Student work-crews are completely responsible for the program, which includes curbside pickup for campus buildings and residences. Soon to be constructed is the Eco-Dorm, a dormitory planned by both students and the administration that will be constructed with sustainable principles in mind. Reflecting the special heritage of its Southern Appalachian location, Warren Wilson offers a program in Appalachian music including instruction in the more common instruments used in the genre. Capitalizing on its mountain location Warren Wilson is in partnership with North Carolina Outward Bound, and the outdoor leadership major has become one of the College's most popular fields of study. The College's location just outside Asheville, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, provides many fascinating opportunities for students including kayaking, mountain biking, caving, and rock climbing. |
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