Western Carolina University will officially install its 11th Chancellor, David O. Belcher, at an event that has not taken place at WCU in 16 years.
The installation ceremony will occur at 10 a.m. on March 29 at the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center. However, the university will be celebrating the installation with many activities and events starting on March 24 revolving around the theme “Defining Our Future in Pursuit of Distinction.”
March 24 marks “WCU Cares: A Day of Service”, which will encourage students to get involved with local charities and organizations to perform service work. The day will be devoted to bettering the Cullowhee, Sylva and Dillsboro areas through community service.
Three main events will take place on March 25: The Fount-astic Festival, Belcher Open (Disc Golf Tournament) and The Whee Hours. Fount-astic Festival will start a new tradition at WCU by turning on the fountain in the central plaza for the spring season. The event will feature performances by the Catamount Singers and Electric Soul and a surprise from the Student Government Association. Belcher Open is a SGA-sponsored event, and the winners will be recognized during an event the next day. The Whee Hours occurs in Sylva and Dillsboro focusing around local businesses that stay open later and offer special deals for the night.
Events on March 27 will lead up to the WCU vs. Kennesaw State baseball game. The first event will be a breakfast with Chancellor Belcher and his wife, Susan Belcher, in the upstairs dining hall. In the afternoon, there will be pregame activities in the central plaza before the baseball game, featuring activities like Cornhole and Ladderball. Also, music will be provided by 90.5 FM. More activities include inflatables, food and the reveal of Belcher’s signature flavor of ice cream. The event will end with a march with the drum line to the baseball field at 4 p.m. where Susan Belcher will sing the national anthem and Dr. Belcher will throw the first pitch.
Dr. Belcher’s installation is on March 29, and it will end with many free events throughout the day under the Community on Campus: Discover WCU, several events that demonstrate the different aspects of the university and the local mountain heritage.
The follow is a list of all event dates and times for the installation week:
March 24
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.: WCU Cares: A Day of Service
March 25
7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5k
March 26
11a.m. – 2 p.m.: Fount-astic Festival
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Belcher Open (Disc Golf Tournament)
5 p.m. – 10 p.m.: The Whee Hours
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Undergraduate EXPO at several venues
March 27
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast with the Belchers
11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.: Children’s Story Time at the Jackson County Library
1 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.: Lawn-gating and Stadium Strut on the UC lawn
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.: WCU Baseball vs. Kennesaw State
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.: Belcher’s Pick (Movie Screening) at the UC theater
March 28
2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: QEP Pathways
7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Chancellor’s Installation Gala (by invite only)
March 29
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Chancellor’s Installation at the Ramsey Center
12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Chancellor’s Installation Reception in the Stadium Lot next to the Ramsey Center
3 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Community on Campus: Discover WCU
Students are encouraged to visit the website www.wcu.edu/installation for more details on all events. Also, if students want to attend the Chancellor’s Installation Ceremony, they are encouraged to email InstallationCeremony@wcu.edu with their first name, last name and number of people in their party.
