Even the rain did not scare future WCU students and their families away from attending Western’s first open house of the semester.
Chancellor Kelli Brown visits WCU’s Student Alumni Association booth during WCU’s first in-person Open House since the announcement of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. Photo by WCU Division of Advancement.
This year’s WCU open house on Oct. 24 looked much different due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was entirely outdoors.
Open houses occur twice a semester at Western and are a way for prospective students to learn more about the campus with activities not always offered during regular campus tours. Usually prospective students and their family would go to the Ramsey Center and see all the academic programs offered. Once they leave the Ramsey Center, they are able to tour the campus, visit residence halls, and attend financial aid sessions. Since the event will be outdoors, families will walk the campus to tents to receive information.
Open house is hosted by WCU Admissions including counselors, EnTOURage tour guides, tele-recruiters, and transfer ambassadors.
Patrick Frazier, associate director of marketing and recruitment for admissions, said WCU was projected to have anywhere from 1200-1800 people attend this open house and they needed to be in good shape. There was a 1.5-mile loop around campus for the families to use while visiting around 60 tents for education departments, tours, and extra information.
“The only time a guest is indoors is if they are going to the bathroom,” said Frazier when discussing the all outdoor event. Frazier said the November event will also be outdoors but the spring events have not been determined.
McKenzie Rucker, EnTOURage tour guide, said many of the families did not stay on the path, but followed the other safety measures.
Safety measures were put into place including masks, prepackaged items such as information pamphlets, and health questionnaires at check in. All guests were required to follow all social distancing and catamounts care guidelines.
EnTOURage tour guides counted how many people were in specific areas at once to help social distancing guidelines.
“We’re like the only school doing this in person,” Rucker said. Guests were happy that WCU decided to hold an in person open house.
It was estimated that under 1,000 people attended including students and their guests.
A second open house will be on Nov. 14 with a similar layout.
For more information on undergraduate admissions, visit the WCU undergraduate admissions website and the orientation page. WCU is currently waiving application fees.
