Welcome to the 2023-2024 Academic Year
West Chester University’s 2023-2024 academic year begins with the first classes of the fall semester on Monday, August 28.
A Golden Welcome to all those new to WCU, and a hearty welcome back to those returning — whether students, faculty, or staff. Welcome also to those taking classes and teaching at the Philadelphia location and to our distance education students and faculty.
The WCU Class of 2027 (incoming first-year students) is making history as the largest admitted class of 3,030 students. In addition, 1,000+ transfer students have also become Golden Rams. More than 4,030 new incoming undergraduate students are joining our vibrant campus this fall.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 14, when President Christopher Fiorentino will officially welcome new and returning students, faculty, and staff to the 2023-2024 academic year. His address begins at 12:30 p.m. in Emile K. Asplundh Concert Hall with a reception on the Quad to follow. The entire campus is invited.
Welcome Week 2023
Road Trip to Ram Country was the theme for WCU’s 2023 Welcome Week, which took place Wednesday, August 23 through Sunday, August 27. Thanks to the folks in the Division of Student Affairs and New Student Programs, new and transfer students had multiple opportunities to connect with classmates
and get to know the campus and our student life and academic resources.
Some highlights of the Welcome Week schedule:
A new “Welcome to the Borough” event on Friday afternoon offered students a chance to explore the Borough of West Chester and meet Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste, a class of 1974 WCU alumna, as well as business owners and residents.
Later Friday, in addition to other events, students explored campus as they enjoyed frozen banana treats outside the Sciences and Engineering Center and The Commons and discovered the resources at the FHG Library while they played mini golf and a scavenger hunt.
Several new events specifically targeted the transfer student population to welcome them and help them transition smoothly to life at WCU: at the South Campus apartments: a swag swap and s’mores social plus a taco luncheon in Sykes.
Other populations getting a special welcome at meet and greet events are all first-generation WCU students and commuter students.
Additional activities included therapy goats and therapy dogs; multiple fitness classes to introduce newcomers to the Student Recreation Center; wellness information sessions and a Student Health Services event for students to build their own first aid kit; a work-on-campus expo; tours that showcase the University’s sustainability initiatives; and much more.
Facilities Improvements
Students who live on campus this academic year are moving into rooms with fresh paint
and upgraded lighting, plus other amenities.
As they do every summer, the WCU Facilities Division staff have completed renovations and upgrades to all University-owned residence halls and apartments. This year’s summer projects included bathroom renovations in approximately 25% of the apartments within the South Campus Apartment complex; lighting upgrades to every student’s bedroom in Tyson, Goshen, Killinger, and Schmidt halls plus the South Campus Apartments; the replacement of furniture in the elevator lobbies of Goshen and Tyson halls and within the living room of College Arms Apartments; and major painting in three of our housing communities. All 41 apartments within College Arms Apartments were freshly painted and Facilities replaced all kitchen appliances within all apartment communities, including South Campus Apartment Complex and College Arms Apartments.
Plus, the Borough of West Chester and the Commonwealth managed infrastructure improvements this summer along High Street and South New Street, resulting in repaving and repainting crosswalks.
The WCU Grounds Crew has also been hard at work maintaining the campus green spaces, from the academic and residential quad areas to the South Campus playing fields, and beautifying campus with plantings.
More beautification: This summer, the college of Arts & Humanities unveiled new artwork in the form of large banners adorning Main Hall on the Quad side. Junior Art + Design student Noah Burns — who last year gained recognition for creating and painting a mural for one of West Chester borough’s historical buildings — is the designer of the banners, with Assistant Professor of Art Scotty Reifsnyder as art director.
Reifsnyder also coordinated the July installation of a mural for the Office of Sustainability. Originally designed by a talented team of his graphic design students in fall 2019, the mural’s production and installation were delayed due to the pandemic.
Getting Around
A new collaboration between WCU and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) gives WCU faculty and staff the opportunity to purchase discounted monthly commuter passes. While these discounted monthly passes are only for WCU employees so far, SEPTA and WCU hope to extend the discounts to students soon.
The hub for both SEPTA and WCU campus shuttles is Church Street in front of Ehinger Gym.
Campus shuttle buses are free for the WCU community and connect North and South Campus, as well as North Campus to East Campus (Wells School of Music, M Lot, and the WCU Post Office on Matlack Street). In addition, there is a shuttle to transport commuters to and from Exton Regional Rail/AMTRAK station.
The popular Uptown Loop offers the WCU community a convenient way to visit the borough’s many restaurants and shops, attend events, or get to medical appointments. As of last spring, the Uptown Loop now offers weekend shuttles, too!
Click here for more transportation information.
Visit this link for carpooling resources.
WCU’s Bicycle Lending Library launched this spring, offering members of the WCU community the opportunity to borrow a bike for a two-week period or for the entire semester.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, August 29: Art Exhibit Openings
Wednesday, September 6: Student Involvement Fair
Thursday, September 14: President Christopher Fiorentino’s Welcome Back
Saturday, September 23: Forest Fest: The Gordon Natural Area at 50
Friday, September 29, through Sunday, October 1: Homecoming and Family Weekend
Click here for a list of free concerts on the Wells School of Music calendar.