Warren Wilson College (WWC) is a private four-year liberal arts college near Asheville, North Carolina, in the Swannanoa Valley. The college offers classes in a range of disciplines with Environmental Studies and Creative Writing among the most popular. WWC is known for its curriculum that combines academics, work, and service. This system, called "the Triad", requires every student to complete a requisite course of study, work an on-campus job, and perform community service. Warren Wilson is one of the few colleges in the United States that requires students to work for the institution in order to graduate and is one of only seven colleges in the Work Colleges Consortium. The college is notable for its surrounding environment. The campus includes a 275-acre (1.11 km2) working farm, market garden, and 625 acres (2.53 km2) of managed forest with 25 miles (40 km) of hiking trails.
Warren Wilson College went through many phases before becoming what it is today. Its property, situated along the Swannanoa River, was purchased in 1893 by the Womens Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, which was concerned that many Americans in isolated areas were not receiving a proper
education and decided to establish church-supported schools in impoverished areas. On November 30, 1894, the Asheville Farm School officially opened on 420 acres, with 25 students attending. A professional staff of three offering the first three grades of elementary instruction. WWC has more than 100 work crews that are supported by students who commit to working 240 hours a semester, helping to cover part of the cost of attendance. Warren Wilson College was a junior college until 1967, when it became a four-year college offering six majors. In 1972, the National Board of Missions deeded the WWC property over to the colleges Board of Trustees. Steven L. Solnick, formerly the Ford Foundation representative in Moscow, then in New Delhi, became the Colleges seventh president in 2012.
Last Updated on: Nov 25, 2024