Quality and Value

And not only from our perspective - - Here's what Kiplinger Magazine thinks of WCU !

TOP REASONS STUDENTS SELECT WCU

 In a recent survey of students, the primary reason cited for attending WCU was the good academic reputation (54%).  Additional reasons include the size of the university (43%) and the low tuition (40%).  Don't those sound like the things that are important to you, as a potential student here?

MORE ATTENTION FROM FACULTY

 Undergraduate students are in contact with professors 62% more at WCU, compared to a large regional state-related university. That works out to a half-day more per week!

The average class size at the large regional state-related university is 45% larger than at WCU.

WCU has less than one percent of its teaching faculty classified as "unranked". (Unranked faculty are persons without faculty status, such as graduate students or administrators.) By comparison, the 1998-99 figure for a large regional state-related university is 29%.

First year chemistry classes are limited to 48 students (labs and recitations are limited to 24). Advanced classes are even smaller.

BETTER FINANCIAL VALUE

WCU tuition and fees are 35% less than the large regional state-related university.

The Pennsylvania taxpayers support WCU to the extent of $3,890 per student per year.

Because WCU courses are taught by actual professorial faculty, WCU spends 33% more per student on instructional faculty salaries than the large regional state-related university. This difference is even more pronounced in the first two years, during which WCU spends 46% more.

QUALITY FACULTY

The Chemistry Department has 14 regular faculty, all with the doctorate. We are in the process of adding additional, regular faculty members. There are two temporary faculty, also Ph.D.'s. The department has a non-teaching support staff of three.  Research for undergraduates is encouraged, with few graduate students to compete for instruments and the professor's time.  The undergraduate student is our focus!

Reference: Report of the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission: "Instructional Output and Faculty Salary Costs of the State Related and State Owned Universities", February 2000.