Historically, Western has provided educational opportunities to western North Carolina and the Southeast and increased access to higher education by keeping costs to a minimum.  Tuition and fees at Western are among the lowest in the state.  As costs continue to rise, it becomes increasingly important that capable students have access to the finest faculty and learning environment at a reasonable price.

Throughout American higher education, the level of private support tips the balance turning good universities into great universities, good faculties and academic programs into great faculties and programs, good graduates into great graduates.

With an initial goal of $40 million, Creating Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Western seeks to combine an affordable university with first-class academics by:

• Enhancing scholarship endowments to attract the best students and to ensure access by easing financial burdens.
• Increasing endowed professorships to attract and retain the very best and brightest teachers and scholars.
• Building program support to enable faculty to broaden educational experiences for students.

From left to right, Tom Frazier, print shop manager, looks over campaign materials with Chancellor John Bardo and campaign leaders Judy Dowell and Gurney Chambers.