What happens when a university clears the academic calendar for a day and asks students to step away from their usual routines? At North Carolina Wesleyan University, the answer is Community Day.
NCWU recently hosted its first Community Day of the academic year, giving students a break from classes and athletic practices while providing opportunities to connect with professors, explore career opportunities, participate in campus activities and take care of the “Bishop Business” that can be difficult to fit into a busy college schedule.
The university will host three Community Days during the fall semester and six throughout the academic year. While classes and practices are paused during the day, students are required to participate in one of numerous activities designed to promote connection, personal growth and engagement.
What is Community Day?
“Community Day is intentional time for our students to step away from the demands of their normal schedules and invest in themselves and their Wesleyan community,” said Dr. Joe Lane, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We want students to have the opportunity to connect with a professor, explore a career path, meet a mentor, try something new or simply take a breath. All of those experiences are important to a student’s success.”
The inaugural Community Day offered approximately 15 activities across campus, ranging from professional development and academic support to recreation and campus traditions.
Students could meet one-on-one with professors and Student Support staff, attend an intern and job fair hosted with STEP, connect with local professionals through the Bishop Mentoring Alliance, or participate in the Community Day Chapel Service. Other activities included a campus CommUNITY Walk, brunch at the Blue & Gold Café, a billiards tournament, disc golf tournament, Gateway Getaway featuring games and crafts, and a Bishop Gaming Association Game Day with mini esports competitions.
The day also provided student-athletes with an opportunity to participate in campus activities that can sometimes conflict with athletic schedules.
Wes Quest
Beyond creating a day of connection and engagement, Community Day is tied to WesQuest, NCWU’s co-curricular development initiative. Students earn points through the Suitable App by participating in activities, allowing them to track experiences and learning outcomes throughout their college careers.
WesQuest is designed to help students intentionally build the skills employers seek and document their development outside the classroom. Beginning with their freshman year, students can build a co-curricular record that showcases the experiences, competencies and connections they develop at Wesleyan.
“College is about more than what happens in a classroom,” Lane said. “Community Day gives us another way to make sure our students are taking advantage of the people, programs and opportunities around them while building experiences that will serve them well after graduation.”
Community Days are planned by a committee of NCWU faculty and staff dedicated to strengthening the Bishop community and creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with one another and the university.
NCWU’s next Community Day will take place Wednesday, Oct. 21, with additional and new activities planned for students.
Photos from Community Day can be viewed, downloaded for free, and shared by visiting https://photos.ncwc.edu/.
NCWU Receives $200,000 State Appropriation for Campus Facility Improvements
North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) has received a $200,000 state appropriation, secured through the efforts of Representative Allen Chesser, to support critical capital improvements across campus. The funding will be used for much-needed roofing repairs to two of the University’s most utilized facilities: The Dunn Center and the Taylor Recreation Center (TRC).
The investment will help preserve and enhance spaces that serve not only NCWU students, faculty, and staff, but also thousands of visitors from across eastern North Carolina each year.
The Dunn Center is a cultural hub for the region, hosting professional entertainment, concerts, theatrical productions, lectures, art exhibitions, and community events throughout the year. The venue also serves as a gathering place for university ceremonies, performances, and academic programming.
The Taylor Recreation Center (TRC) supports student wellness and campus life through fitness facilities, recreational programming, intramural sports, and athletic training spaces. It is also frequently utilized for youth camps, community programs, and special events that bring visitors to campus year-round.
“On behalf of North Carolina Wesleyan University, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Representative Allen Chesser for securing this important state appropriation,” said Dr. Evan D. Duff, President of North Carolina Wesleyan University. “These funds will address critical roofing repair needs for facilities that are central to both our campus and our community. This investment helps ensure these facilities remain safe, functional, and welcoming for everyone who walks through our doors.”
Representative Allen Chesser shares, “I am incredibly proud to be a part of securing this funding for NCWU and look forward to continuing to work with Wesleyan to expand the positive impact they have on our community!”
The funding reflects the continued partnership between North Carolina Wesleyan University and state leaders who recognize the University’s role as an educational institution, economic driver, and community resource in eastern North Carolina.
By investing in essential facility improvements, the appropriation will help extend the life of these important campus buildings while ensuring they continue to serve students and the greater Rocky Mount community for years to come.
North Carolina Wesleyan University remains committed to providing exceptional educational experiences while maintaining facilities that foster learning, recreation, the arts, and community engagement.
Disc Golf Championship Brings Regional Players to NC Wesleyan
North Carolina Wesleyan University will welcome competitors from across the region as it hosts a round of the Spike Hyzer’s North Carolina Disc Golf Championship XV, a premier tournament in the sport of disc golf. The event will take place Friday through Sunday, March 20–22, 2026, with NC Wesleyan serving as one of the featured courses during the competition weekend.
The tournament is an A-Tier sanctioned event by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and is presented by Discraft with support from Grip EQ. The championship is expected to draw players from across the United States and the Mid-Atlantic region.
The NC Wesleyan round will take place Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., when amateur division players compete on the university’s scenic course located along a two-mile loop on campus. The round will feature a shotgun start, meaning players will begin simultaneously from multiple holes throughout the course.
Overall, the tournament features both professional and amateur divisions competing across three days at multiple courses in the area, including Sunset Park and Farmington Park. Professional competitors, currently totaling more than 50 registered players, will compete across three rounds over three days. The amateur field, which includes players from across North Carolina as well as Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., will compete in multiple rounds throughout the weekend, including the Saturday morning competition at NC Wesleyan.
Notable competitors include professional players Chandler Kramer, Colten Montgomery, Barry Schultz, and Brian Schweberger, among others.
The tournament is organized by Chuck Connelly, tournament director of Spike Hyzer Disc Golf.
“I am looking forward to partnering with Chuck to present our course on the stage of one of his tournaments,” said Marcus Rich of North Carolina Wesleyan University. “This is the first year we have had the opportunity to present NC Wesleyan’s course in one of his tournaments, and this goes much further than just a round of disc golf. With this tournament, it expands our reach as more players set foot on campus and witness all that North Carolina Wesleyan University has to offer. We have a great course on a beautiful campus, and sharing this gem with the local community and beyond is a true honor.”
Spectators and members of the community are welcome to attend and experience the action as players navigate the university’s course.
More information about the tournament, including registration and schedules, can be found online.
Hunter Pulliam Receives Double Service Awards
Hunter Pulliam, Admissions Counselor, has been awarded with both the Wesleyan Service Award and Service Plaque from the City of Rocky Mount for supporting the Ward 7 “Fun Day” held on Wesleyan’s campus late August. This community event, hosted by Ward 7 Councilman Walker, was open to all families in our Ward.
Hunter was recognized for being a team player who assisted with transporting, handing out materials, and going above and beyond when the community needed it the most. Kimla Brandt, Event Logistics Coordinator, nominated Hunter stating “The leaders said repeatedly what a help and what an awesome representative of Wesleyan he was. His work today was exceptional, and I wanted to make sure he was recognized for it. Truly over and above.”
Wesleyan is so proud of Hunter for embodying and exemplifying such a positive attitude and example of the Wesleyan Community.
