Dear Wesleyan Family,
Our country continues to struggle with equality, race relations, treating others with decency, respecting opinions different from our own and showing no regard for human life. We are mourning, grieving, and fighting for justice all at the same time. North Carolina Wesleyan University strives to provide an environment that is tolerant, inclusive and open to educating all students to make positive changes in the world. Let’s move full force with demonstrating our core values of: knowledge, understanding, integrity, accountability, patience, respect, empathy and kindness to create those positive changes.
We all have a voice, we all can take action and we all have the opportunity to make a difference. Let’s do our part at Wesleyan to create an atmosphere that is reflective of the society we should aspire to be.
To our African American friends and family, we are listening to you, we care deeply about you, and you can count on your Wesleyan peers and colleagues to stand with you.
Additional details will be shared soon with students about educational and support programs the College will be implementing for our students, faculty and staff to meet their needs as we navigate through this time together. I pray through these tragedies, states of unrest and pain, we learn to take better care of each other.
Live well. Stay strong. Be wise.
Dr. Evan D. Duff
Interim President
NC Wesleyan Offers RN to BSN Conditional Acceptance Policy
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is working through the COVID-19 pandemic and meeting the needs of May 2020 graduates with an Associate Degree in Nursing who apply for Wesleyan’s new RN to BSN Program. The College recently received approval for a conditional acceptance policy, allowing graduates to be able to enter into the program in the fall without delay.
Due to COVID-19, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has made changes to protect the safety of those taking the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), as well as the staff working in testing centers. Therefore, students may be unable to obtain an NCLEX-RN test date prior to the August 2020 enrollment into Wesleyan’s RN to BSN Program.
NC Wesleyan recently received approval for a conditional acceptance policy for May 2020 RN graduates due to these changes. Graduates from a regionally accredited ADN program will receive conditional acceptance to NC Wesleyan’s RN to BSN Program. The conditional acceptance will only be given to those students who graduated in May 2020 and have applied for the fall 2020 start date. Applicants will be required to submit all other admissions criteria, including their transcripts, documenting the RN degree conferral.
Applicants who receive conditional acceptance will be required to submit RN verification and successfully complete the NCLEX-RN exam prior to starting NUR 330. Students who do not pass the NCLEX-RN exam will not be able to register for NUR 330 and may be required to reapply to the program.
Wesleyan’s 100% online RN to BSN program is designed to help registered nurses achieve the education necessary to broaden their skill set and advance their careers in nursing. This curriculum integrates new and innovative knowledge into daily nursing practices and includes 34 credit hours. In this program, professional baccalaureate nursing practice will focus on population health, nursing leadership and management, informatics, healthcare policy and evidence based research opportunities that will facilitate professional growth. RN to BSN students will be required to complete clinical practice experiences that will allow them to implement new knowledge into their nursing practice. The program features multiple start dates so students can begin when they are ready and finish in as little as 12 months.
From Homeschool Student to NCWC Alumna
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – Recent Wesleyan graduate, Abigail Wooten, began studying at Nash Community College as a dually enrolled student taking classes through their Career and College Promise program during her junior and senior years of high school.
At NCC, Wooten was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She graduated from Nash in 2018 with Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, with highest honors.
Wooten said that although it can be intimidating for students to speak up when they do not understand something, it is important to do so. “If you put in the time and ask for help when you need it, you will succeed, not just at Nash, but out in the world as well.”
Following graduation from NCC, Wooten transferred to North Carolina Wesleyan University. She graduated last month with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Information Systems, with highest honors. “I believe Nash helped prepare me for my journey at NCWC by instilling a strong work ethic in me. By the time I got to NCWC, I had already learned how to stay on top of assignment deadlines and how to ask professors for help when I needed it, two skills I consider essential.”
While attending NCWC, Wooten worked several part-time jobs, including tutoring at NCC. “This didn’t leave much time for clubs and activities at school,” she said. “However, I transferred my membership to the local chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, an organization I originally joined at Nash. I was able to attend speaker events and fundraisers with them. I also volunteered for community service projects.”
Wooten currently serves as a tutor in the NCC Mathematics Department. She plans to continue working with developmental math students, providing the support for foundational learning they need to become mathematicians.
She has been accepted into East Carolina University’s Master of Arts in Mathematics program and will begin this fall. “I hope to teach math full-time at Nash. The math department was instrumental in making me and so many others into the people we are today, and I want to continue that tradition.”
Through the Career & College Promise program, qualified high-school-age students have the opportunity to begin their college education, tuition free. Interested students should meet with their high school counselor or home school principal. Enrollment is open for NCC’s online summer classes. Summer semester begins May 26. For more information, visit nashcc.edu/registration or call 252.451.8235.
Students who are currently enrolled in NCC’s Career & College Promise program with 12 or more credit hours and are interested in transferring to NC Wesleyan should contact Jason Letchworth, Transfer Admissions Counselor, at jletchworth@ncwu.edu for more information. Those with less than 12 credit hours can apply for regular admission at ncwu.edu/apply-for-admission and one of Wesleyan’s Admission Counselors will assist you each step of the way.
Wesleyan Welcomes Two New Admission Counselors
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University is pleased to welcome two new Counselors to its Admissions Team— Jason Letchworth and Stephanie Stallings.
Jason Letchworth received his Associate of Applied Science in Biotechnology from Pitt Community College in 2012. In 2016, he finished his BS in Business Administration at North Carolina Wesleyan, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Jason is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a North Carolina certified Firefighter and EMT. In his new role, he will be responsible for working with incoming transfer students.
Stephanie Stallings is from Nashville, NC and is a 2018 alumna of North Carolina Wesleyan University. She was a member of the Women’s Soccer Team for four years and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. This April, Stallings also received her Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Wesleyan. In her new role as Admissions Counselor, her recruitment territories include Dare and Currituck Counties, western North Carolina, Virginia and southern states, Tennessee to Texas.
“NC Wesleyan continuously strives to help better serve the needs of students and our community. Adding to our Admissions staff is one of the many ways of showing these efforts. We are pleased to have Stephanie and Jason join our team, as both have the education and experience to thrive in their new role and help propel admissions,” stated Paige Wells, Assistant Director of Admissions-Recruitment. North Carolina Wesleyan University is excited to welcome these two new, but familiar faces to the Bishop family and is enthusiastic about the skillsets and energy that each will bring to the team as they work to recruit future Bishops.
Admissions Counselor- Transfer Students
Admissions Counselor
Wesleyan Holds Virtual Spring Commencement Celebration
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – On Saturday, April 25, North Carolina Wesleyan University held a virtual spring commencement celebration to honor the Class of 2020. The College announced on March 23 that the spring commencement ceremony would be postponed until December 5, 2020. In lieu of a physical ceremony, the College wanted to do something special to honor its 222 seniors who graduated.
The virtual celebration included a welcome message from President Duff, baccalaureate address by Rev. Dr. Barry Drum and photos that the graduates submitted, along with their hometowns and majors. In addition, the graduates were treated to a surprise video from award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, who was originally scheduled to speak at the April ceremony. Lawrence has played in roles on NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy and the CBS comedy, “Me, Myself and I.”
In her video, Lawrence addressed the graduates, stating “I’d like to talk to you today about sacrifice — something that we’ve heard of, but I think we all know a little more about now.” She went on to mention all of the sacrifices that are made in order to obtain a college degree, many of which she experienced herself. She specifically addressed the challenges and sacrifices that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “But I never had to sacrifice my graduation service…the Class of 2020 did something unique.” She left the graduates with the hope that maybe they would all be able to celebrate together at the December ceremony.
This was the College’s 79th graduation, with the first occurring in 1960. There were 10 international graduates from six countries: Argentina, Cambodia, Venezuela, England, Nepal and Italy. This commencement also included the third cohort of Wesleyan’s new Master’s in Criminal Justice program.
NC Wesleyan to Celebrate Graduating Seniors with Virtual Celebration
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – North Carolina Wesleyan University’s spring commencement ceremony was originally scheduled for April 25. With ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College announced on March 23 that the ceremony would be postponed until December 5, 2020. Graduate candidates for April, August, and December will be able to participate in the December 2020 ceremony. In lieu of a ceremony on April 25, Wesleyan has created a virtual celebration which will be published on the College’s website and social media that day.
Award-winning actress, Sharon Lawrence, was originally scheduled to speak at the April ceremony. Wesleyan is excited to announce that she will still be addressing the Class of 2020 at the December commencement ceremony. Lawrence has played in roles on NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy and the CBS comedy, “Me, Myself and I.” A native of North Carolina, she was born in Charlotte and later moved to Raleigh where she graduated from Broughton High School. Lawrence attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is also the daughter of Tom Lawrence, former news reporter for WRAL News in Raleigh.
“As our graduating seniors entered their final semester, the world changed before their eyes. However, in this moment, they became fearless, bold, and emerged stronger as productive and informed citizens. The education they attained at North Carolina Wesleyan University has prepared them for this very moment,” stated Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of North Carolina Wesleyan University.
The virtual celebration on April 25 will include a welcome by President, Dr. Evan D. Duff, baccalaureate address by College Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Barry Drum and recognize each graduate. The virtual celebration can be viewed on April 25 at ncwu.edu, as well as the College’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
SAT/ACT WAIVED FOR FALL 2020
North Carolina Wesleyan University remains committed to our community by offering educational opportunities despite the challenges influencing our nation and world. Our core values of Kindness and Empathy require NCWC to be a good faith partner to our service area. In furtherance of these values and in order to afford an opportunity to make an investment in our community, NCWC has amended the admissions policy to waive the ACT/SAT for students who have not had an opportunity to take these national tests. This test optional admissions waiver will be effective immediately and will remain in effect until the Fall 2020 admissions cycle is complete.
Over the past several months NCWC has started new degrees, expanded online learning, and have plans to open other campus locations. All of these academic and operational enhancements were designed with our community in-mind as we continue to provide options for working adults, transfer students, commuters, as well as maintaining a full residential life college experience.
Wesleyan is proud of the service we provide to our students and in the decision to waive the SAT/ACT admissions requirements. This is one small way we continue our commitment to serve the educational needs of our community.
Contact our Admissions staff at 252.985.5200 or admissions@ncwu.edu for more information.
NC Wesleyan Offers Care Packages for Students
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – In an effort to assist students and support those on campus, Wesleyan provided care packages Friday, March 20 with help from local churches and organizations. Packages included snacks, drinks and other food items for students to take back to their residence halls.
NC Wesleyan currently has approximately 200 students remaining on campus to finish the semester via remote instruction. Many of these students do not have transportation or the financial means to return home. These care packages were distributed in hopes of boosting students’ spirits, while showing them love and care during this national pandemic.
Organizations who signed up to donate items, dropped them off this week in The Dunn Center’s Garner Lobby. Wesleyan staff were sure to practice social distancing and wore gloves while putting the care packages together. Students were strongly encouraged to also maintain social distancing while picking up their packages, as well as not congregating in groups of 10 or more.
The initiative was led by Director of YTI & Church Relations Mikah Brondyke. Nearly ten local organizations pitched in to help with the effort.
“I’ve really been amazed with how many and how quickly churches pitched into show support and love to our students. It’s really been a testament to our community partnerships, specifically with local churches and other Christian organizations,” stated Brondyke. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out showing support for our NCWC students and campus during this national crisis.”
For those interested in donating additional items, please contact Mikah Brondyke at mbrondyke@ncwu.edu or 252.904.4678.
Wesleyan Collects Homemade Masks to Protect Against COVID-19
With the dwindling supplies of protective masks nationwide, NC Wesleyan is mobilizing an effort to make homemade face masks to help local providers protect against COVID-19. The College is calling on the public to help with this effort!
North Carolina Wesleyan University will be collecting masks at a drive through drop-off at the Gateway Technology Center at the front of campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – noon. The College will then distribute to local providers in need.
For more information, contact NCWC’s RN to BSN Director of Dr. Brittany Bass at bbass@ncwu.edu. For DIY mask and pattern ideas, watch the video below:
A Day for Wesleyan
One Day. A Lifelong Impact.
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA – The Day for Wesleyan event has been a tradition at North Carolina Wesleyan University for 38 years, typically taking place over several weeks in the fall of the year. As Wesleyan implements safety and operational plans related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the College is still working hard to fulfill its educational mission and help its students complete the semester. This year, “A Day for Wesleyan” will be a 24-hour online giving opportunity for alumni and friends to show their Bishop Pride on Thursday, March 26.
“It’s important that we are meeting the needs of our students, both academically and financially. In an effort to uphold our mission and press on to provide this support for our students, we will move forward with our Day for Wesleyan campaign. Now more than ever, our students, families, communities and state need to rally around one another,” announced Interim President Dr. Evan D. Duff.
The goal of the campaign is to attract 650 donors to help raise $45,000 in a single day. Among the matching gift incentives, once the campaign reaches its 300th donor, a gift of $10,000 from an anonymous alumni will be unlocked.
“We hope that the entire community will show their Bishop Pride on Thursday, March 26th. When alumni and friends of the College unite to share their passion for Wesleyan, amazing things can happen,” said Vice President of Advancement and Wesleyan alumnus, Eddie Coats. “All gifts, regardless of the amount, add up to make a huge impact on the College’s efforts to educate these bright and talented students.”
NC Wesleyan hopes everyone in the community will embrace March 26th as a day to celebrate Wesleyan. It can be as simple as wearing blue and gold or Wesleyan gear, posting Wesleyan memories on social media using #DFW2020, spreading the news to others to follow Wesleyan, or making a gift in support online. Gifts to the Wesleyan Fund will give the College the ability to respond to the greatest needs and concerns as they arise.
“Their growth has brought more young people to this area,” states Chamber of Commerce President David Farris. “The educational experiences they offer, and the opportunities they create to improve our quality of life culturally, has an impact on everyone in this region.”
Donors can learn more and participate in the Day for Wesleyan by going to the secured giving website dayforwesleyan.com or by calling 252.985.5266. Gifts are tax-deductible.
