Budget cuts, enrollment growth discussed at WCU assembly - Sylva Herald

The collective efforts of faculty and staff to attract and retain larger numbers of students at Western Carolina University are helping the institution weather lingering budget constraints that would otherwise hamstring efforts to improve academic quality and enhance the student experience. That was among the messages delivered Wednesday, Aug. 13, by WCU Chancellor David Belcher in his annual Opening Assembly address to kick off the fall semester. “Let me say now – thank you for your individual and collective contributions to recruiting and retaining students,” he told faculty and staff in attendance at the Bardo Center. “The budget picture is daunting – there’s no question about it. But WCU continues year by year to strengthen its financial position because of enrollment growth, and again, I thank you for what you are doing to put us in a position envied by many other institutions in our state.” http://www.thesylvaherald.com/news/school_news/higher-ed_news/article_6e044b06-2874-11e4-a0d3-001a4bcf6878.html