July 1, 1972, WCU became a member of the University of North Carolina system.
One of the residence halls, Shining Rock, has been the target of several arson attacks in 2023 and 2024. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation entered into a joint investigation with the campus police to find the perpetrator, but the investigation stalled and the perpetrator has not been caught.
== Campuses ==
Western Carolina University is located in Jackson County, in the unincorporated village of Cullowhee, North Carolina. The university operates learning centers in both Asheville and Cherokee with programs offered online and at various community colleges. The main campus is located in a valley of the Tuckasegee River, between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, 52 miles (84 km) west of Asheville, North Carolina and 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Sylva, North Carolina. The university lies close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation (officially …
