The Office for Rural Education (ORE) in the College of Education and Allied Professions (CEAP) at Western Carolina University serves the region by identifying and assisting with educational issues. Currently, two of the most significant issues are college access and teacher recruitment. The Office for Rural Education engages the region and collaborates with our partners in college access initiatives and teacher recruitment programming.

The Office for Rural Education (ORE) and Teacher Recruitment has aligned its mission with the University's mission and its four strategic activities to incorporate the Boyer Model of Scholarship, Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Stewardship of Place, and the UNC-Tomorrow Initiatives.

The region is defined in two ways: First, through the public school partnerships located in the closest 17 counties in proximity to Western Carolina University, and secondly through the 49 westernmost counties served by the state-supported leadership program Legislators’ School for Youth Leadership Development (LSYLD).

Teacher Shortage Solutions
To assist with the national issues surrounding the teacher shortage crisis, Western Carolina University and ORE has implemented Teacher Cadet support programming, the High School Teachers of Tomorrow Program, and the Middle School Teachers of Tomorrow Program.

UNC-WCU Point of Contact
ORE serves as an initial point of contact for the implementation and tracking of the University of North Carolina-General Administration/Western Carolina University Teacher Education Enrollment Plan. ORE houses the director and assistant director of WCU’s Teacher Education Recruitment.

Support for Student Organizations
The ORE staff serves as the faculty counselor for the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education (KDP). Additionally, the assistant director serves as a co-sponsor for the Student North Carolina Association of Educators (SNCAE).

Diversity Education
The Rural-Urban Exchange Program is one initiative in the college that creates opportunities for diversity education through collaboration and experiential learning with a sister UNC University. ORE staff members work in partnership with CEAP faculty and the CEAP Diversity Committee to promote diversity education.

Research & Engagement
Research and engagement activities are enhanced through internal and external grant writing. Current grants include NC QUEST, Appalachian Regional Commission Grant for College Access and Success, a Z. Smith Reynolds’s Grant for curriculum alignment and student achievement, and Teacher Cadet mini-grants for high school partnership programs. Grant awards and teacher recruitment initiatives provide the office with an opportunity to collaborate with school and community partners in an effort to promote “Stewardship of Place.”

We invite you to learn more about ORE, its programs, and the research examining teacher recruitment and rural schools.

Please contact us with your collaborative opportunities and/or questions.