Warren Wilson College

{{Short description|Private liberal arts college in Swannanoa, North Carolina, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox university | name = Warren Wilson College | former_names = Asheville Farm School (1894–1957)<br />Warren Wilson Vocational Junior College (1942–1966) | image = Warren wilson college farm.jpg | caption = Warren Wilson College Farm | established = {{start date and age|1894}} | type = [[Private college|Private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]] | religious_affiliation = [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] | president = Damián J. Fernández | city = [[Swannanoa, North Carolina|Swannanoa]] | state = [[North Carolina]] | country = U.S. | undergrad = 825 (2024)<ref>{{Citation |publisher=Warren Wilson College |title=Warren Wilson College |chapter=About - Warren Wilson College |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/about/ |access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref> | postgrad = 90<ref name="fastfacts" /> | faculty = 54 full-time, 46 part-time | campus = Rural | campus_size = {{Convert|1,135|acre}} | coordinates = {{coord|35|36|39|N|82|26|31|W|display=inline,title}} | endowment = $66.4 million (2025)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/nacubo1-nacubo-prd-dc8b/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2025-NCSE-Endowment-Market-Values-for-US-and-Canadian-Institutions-FINAL.xlsx |title=U.S. and Canadian 2025 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2025 Endowment Market Value |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) |access-date=February 15, 2026 |format=XLSX}}</ref> | free_label = | free = | sports_nickname = Owls | athletics_affiliations = [[United States Collegiate Athletic Association|USCAA]] – [[Eastern Metro Athletic Conference|EMAC]]<br />[[NCAA Division III]] – [[Coast to Coast Athletic Conference]] | colors = {{Color box|#00534C|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#004976|border=darkgray}}<br> Dark green, blue<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/about/events/commencement/|title=Commencement}}</ref> | website = {{url|https://www.warren-wilson.edu/|warren-wilson.edu}} | logo = WarrenWilsonCollegeLogo.svg | logo_size = 200 }}

'''Warren Wilson College''' ('''WWC''') is a [[Private college|private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]] in [[Swannanoa, North Carolina]]. It is known for its curriculum that combines academics, work, and service as every student must complete a required course of study, work an on-campus job, and perform [[community service]]. Warren Wilson requires students to work for the institution to graduate and is one of nine colleges in the [[work college|Work Colleges Consortium]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A Triad of Academics, Work, and Service |publisher=WWC |url=http://www.warren-wilson.edu/triad/index.php |access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref>

The college campus includes a {{convert|300|acre|km2|adj=on}} working farm, [[market garden]], and {{convert|600|acres|km2}} of managed forest with {{convert|16|mi|km}} of hiking trails.<ref name="fastfacts">{{cite web |title=WWC Fast Facts |publisher=Warren Wilson College |url=http://www.warren-wilson.edu/admission/facts.php |access-date=June 21, 2022}}</ref>

== History == The property of the college is situated along the [[Swannanoa River]]. It was purchased in 1893 by the Women's Board of Home Missions of the [[Presbyterian Church]]. They were concerned that many Americans in isolated areas were not getting a proper education and decided to establish church-supported schools in impoverished areas.<ref name="WWC History"/> On November 30, 1894, the '''Asheville Farm School''' officially opened on {{cvt|420|acre}}, with 25 students attending.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2015/11/30/today-asheville-history-farm-school-opens/76551410/ |title=Today in Asheville history: Farm school opens |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=November 30, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2015}}</ref> A professional staff of three offered the first three grades of elementary instruction.

In 1923, the school graduated its first high school class. A Presbyterian church was started at the school in 1925 so students and teachers would no longer have to walk three miles to Riceville; it was also named for [[Warren Hugh Wilson]], former superintendent of the Presbyterian Church's Department of Church and Country Life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warren H. Wilson (1867-1937) |publisher=WWC |url=http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~advancement/cr_WarrenWilson_theperson.php |access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=College church has a rich history of celebrating the harvest |work=[[News & Record]] |via=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |last=Neal |first=Dale |url=http://www.greensboro.com/news/north_carolina_ap/college-church-has-rich-history-or-celebrating-the-harvest/article_9f54d4c4-be46-581b-a7b6-849d82462438.html |date=November 28, 2015}}</ref>

The first post-high school programs offering vocational training began in 1936.<ref name="WWC History">[http://www.warren-wilson.edu/info/history.php "History of Warren Wilson College"] Accessed July 4, 2010.</ref> In 1942, the Asheville Farm School merged with the [[Dorland-Bell School]] in [[Hot Springs, North Carolina]], to become a coed secondary school. It was named '''Warren H. Wilson Vocational Junior College''' and Associated Schools.

After [[World War II]], the [[public education]] system in [[North Carolina]] improved dramatically and the need for the high school diminished. The last high school class graduated in 1957. In 1952, the college became one of the first in the South to desegregate, when it invited Alma Shippy, an African American from [[Swannanoa, North Carolina]], to attend. Sunderland dorm residents voted 54–1 to allow Shippy to become a student and live in their dorm.<ref>{{cite news |title=Honoring an alum who was also a civil rights pioneer |newspaper=LA Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-25-adna-jrcollege25-story.html |access-date=July 5, 2010 |date=February 25, 2007 |first=Margaret |last=Lillard}}</ref>

The school was a junior college until 1967 when it became a four-year college, Warren Wilson College, with six majors on offer. In 1972, the National Board of Missions deeded the WWC property to the college's [[Board of Trustees]]. With its expansion of programs and to a four-year curriculum, Warren Wilson enrolls students of many different geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. This is in contrast to the original student population of underprivileged mountain youth for basic education.

The eighth president, Lynn Morton, was the first female president.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warren Wilson's Eighth President is Lynn M. Morton |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/2017/05/04/warren-wilson-colleges-eighth-president-is-lynn-m-morton/ |website=warren-wilson.edu |publisher=Warren Wilson College |access-date=December 29, 2017 |date=May 4, 2017}}</ref> She was succeeded in June 2023 by [[Damián J. Fernández]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warren Wilson College Names Dr. Damián J. Fernández as New President - Warren Wilson College |url=https://warren-wilson.edu/2023/02/17/warren-wilson-college-names-dr-damian-j-fernandez-as-new-president/ |access-date=August 17, 2025 |website=warren-wilson.edu}}</ref>

[[File:Warren Wilson College Pool Construction Feb. 2018.jpg|thumb|Warren Wilson College Pool, construction Feb. 2018]] A new academic building, Myron Boon Hall, was constructed on the site formerly occupied by Carson Hall; it was completed in May 2018. The building is LEED Gold Certified.<ref>{{cite web |title=Warren Wilson New Academic Building |url=http://www.pfarchitects.com/our-work/warren-wilson-new-academic-building/ |website=pfarchitects.com |publisher=PFA Architects |access-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref>

The college's pool has been closed since 2014 when repairs to structural beams were deemed too expensive. Demolition and construction of a new pool structure began in 2017. Buncombe County contributed $300,000 to the project, with the understanding that local swim teams would also be able to use the pool. Construction encountered major setbacks. Although originally planned to be completed for the 2017–18 swim season,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fraboni |first1=Frank |title=Ask 13: Is Warren Wilson's indoor pool still on track? |url=http://wlos.com/news/ask-13/ask-13-is-warren-wilsons-indoor-pool-still-on-track |website=wlos.com |date=July 6, 2017 |publisher=News 13 WLOS |access-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref> work on the internal aspects of the pool were still underway as of May 2023. In October 2025, the college was awarded $1.6 million by the Buncombe County Tourism Product Development Fund to complete and upgrade Warren Wilson College's Aquatic Center. Construction is expected to begin in June 2026 and reach completion by January 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority Awards $12.4 Million in Total Tourism Product Development Fund Investments for 2025 Cycle |url=https://www.exploreasheville.com/partners/article/buncombe-county-tourism-development-authority-awards-12-million |access-date=October 29, 2025 |website=Explore Asheville |language=en}}</ref>

==Academics== ===Undergraduate=== The foundation of the school's undergraduate curriculum establishes that all students earn 128 hours of academic credit, work 8–15 hours per week for the school, and complete the Community Engagement Commitment.<ref name="Community Engagement Commitment">{{cite web |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/academics/community-engagement/ |title=Community Engagement Commitment |publisher=Warren Wilson College |access-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref> Students earn $9.05 per hour that goes directly towards their tuition. Unlike other schools in the Work College Consortium, students at Warren Wilson do not receive traditional pay checks.

Required subjects include [[Fine Art|Artistic Expression]], [[History]] and [[Political Science]], [[Language]] and [[Global studies|Global Issues]], [[Literature]], [[Mathematics]], [[Natural Sciences]], [[Philosophy]] and [[Religious Studies]], and [[Social Sciences]] to graduate and receive a [[Bachelor of Arts]] or [[Bachelor of Science]] degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Triad of Academics, Work, and Service |publisher=Warren Wilson College |url=http://www.warren-wilson.edu/triad/ |access-date=July 9, 2010}}</ref> In addition to traditional liberal arts majors such as [[biology]] and English, undergraduates have the option of majoring in [[outdoor education|Outdoor Leadership]] or [[Environmental Studies]]. The Natural Science Undergraduate Research Sequence (NSURS) is the undergraduate research and presentation that is required for all [[Bachelor of Science]] degrees given by the college.

==== Work program ==== WWC has more than 70 work crews that are supported by students who commit to working 120, 180, or 240 hours each semester, helping to cover a portion of the cost of attendance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/academics/work-program/requirements/ |title=Work Requirements |publisher=Warren Wilson College |access-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref> Work Crews contribute in different areas, assuming administrative, academic, custodial, land management duties on campus. :<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/academics/work-program/work-crew/ |title=Work Program |publisher=Warren Wilson College |access-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref>

==== Community engagement ==== Community engagement is a required activity to graduate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/academics/community-engagement/ |title=Community Engagement |website=Warren Wilson College |access-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref>

=== Graduate degree programs=== The college offers a [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree in [[Creative Writing]], considered a pioneer of the low-residency MFA model.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wwcmfa.org/ |title=MFA Program for Writers |publisher=Warren Wilson College |access-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref> A [[Master of Arts]] program focused on "critical craft theory and history" was offered from 2017 to 2022 in association with the Center for Craft in Asheville, N.C.<ref>{{Citation |publisher=Warren Wilson College |title=Warren Wilson College |chapter=Master of Arts in Critical Craft Studies |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/programs/ma-in-craft/ |access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref>

==Athletics == [[File:Warrenwilson athletics mark.png|thumb|Warren Wilson Owls wordmark]] The Warren Wilson athletic teams are called the Owls. The college is a provisional member of the [[NCAA Division III]] ranks, primarily competing in the [[Coast to Coast Athletic Conference]] (C2C) for most of its sports since the 2022–23 academic year; while its men's and women's swimming teams compete in the [[Suncoast Conference|Sun Coast Swimming Conference]] (SCSC). All varsity teams except cycling are competed under the USCAA, while collegiate cycling is governed by [[USA Cycling]] (USAC).<ref name="athfit"/> At one point, the college also had football and baseball teams, although they have not existed for multiple decades.

The Owls previously competed as an [[NCAA Division III independent schools|NCAA D-III Independent]] from 2020–21 to 2021–22, and as an [[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Independent]] within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 2010–11 to 2011–12. Warren Wilson was also a member of the [[United States Collegiate Athletic Association]] (USCAA), primarily competing as a founding member of the [[Eastern Metro Athletic Conference]] (EMAC) for most of its sports from 2018–19 to 2019–20;<ref name="joins">{{cite news |last=Staff |work=[[The Daily Advance]] |url=https://www.dailyadvance.com/sports/local/mustangs-set-to-join-new-conference/article_f356044a-7a1d-58e4-9fe7-fccbc3fde6a4.html |title=Mustangs set to join new conference |date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>

Warren Wilson competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, cyclocross, lacrosse, mountain biking, road cycling, soccer, swimming, and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, cyclocross, lacrosse, mountain biking, road cycling, soccer, swimming, and tennis. The college also has club teams for timber sports and paddling.<ref name="athfit">{{cite web |title=Athletics & Fitness |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/athletics/ |website=warrenwilsonowls.com |publisher=Warren Wilson College |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>

===NCAA Division III=== In March 2019, it was announced that the college will be joining the [[NCAA Division III]] membership process,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=David |title=Warren Wilson to Join NCAA |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/2019/03/12/warren-wilson-join-ncaa/3138884002/ |access-date=March 20, 2019 |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/2019/03/13/wwc-athletics-to-join-ncaa-division-iii-membership-process/ |title=WWC Athletics to Join NCAA Division III Membership Process |date=March 13, 2019 |website=Warren Wilson College |access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref> and in April 2020, the Owls were admitted as Division III provisional members for three years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Warren Wilson College approved to move forward into NCAA Division III membership process |url=https://www.warren-wilson.edu/2020/04/15/warren-wilson-college-to-join-ncaa-division-iii/ |access-date=August 14, 2020 |publisher=Warren Wilson College |date=April 15, 2020}}</ref> They have been seeking to join a conference during the transition.

On July 27, 2022, Warren Wilson was invited to join the C2C, beginning in the 2022–23 academic year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c2csports.com/general/2022-23/releases/20220718odnmbk|title=C2C Welcomes Warren Wilson College as Newest Member|date=July 27, 2022|via=www.c2csports.com}}</ref>

===Accomplishments=== The mountain biking team finished on the podium for 14 consecutive years at collegiate national championships until 2016, when they won the team omnium in Varsity Division II.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCormick |first1=Fred |title=Warren Wilson pedals home with a national championship |url=http://www.blackmountainnews.com/story/sports/2016/11/02/warren-wilson-pedals-home-national-championship/92884566/ |access-date=December 26, 2017 |agency=USA Today |publisher=Black Mountain News |date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> In 2017 they finished fourth, for a 16th consecutive year on the podium.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mountain Bike Team Podiums for 16th Consecutive Year |url=http://www.warrenwilsonowls.com/article/1121.php |website=warrenwilsonowls.com |publisher=Warren Wilson College Athletics |access-date=December 26, 2017}}</ref> Although the mountain biking team was formed in the 1990s, the road and cyclocross teams were not added until much later. They did not compete at the national championship level until the 2013–14 and 2014–15 academic years, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jones, Leeson lead Owls at Road Bike National Championships |url=http://www.warrenwilsonowls.com/article/571.php |website=warrenwilsonowls.com |publisher=Warren Wilson College Athletics |access-date=December 26, 2017 |date=May 6, 2014}}</ref> In 2016, the cyclocross team placed fourth in the DII team omnium at nationals and third in the team relay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cyclocross Rides to Fourth Place at National Championships |url=http://www.warrenwilsonowls.com/article/896.php |website=warrenwilsonowls.com |publisher=Warren Wilson College Athletics |access-date=December 26, 2017 |date=January 12, 2016}}</ref>

The men's basketball team won the USCAA DII national title in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Owls Win USCAA National Championship |url=http://www.warrenwilsonowls.com/article/404.php |website=warrenwilsonowls.com |publisher=Warren Wilson College Athletics |access-date=December 26, 2017 |date=March 3, 2013}}</ref>

The women's cross-country team won the USCAA national title in 2000.

== Notable alumni ==  * [[Sara Benincasa]], comedian * [[Bianca Canizio]], United States Virgin Islands women's international soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiser|first=Bill|date=April 6, 2022|url=http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/usvi-women-fall-to-curacao-in-qualifiers/article_ca3de443-db72-5f74-b49e-f5f1561948e0.html |title=USVI women fall to Curacao in qualifiers |publisher=virginislandsdailynews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wlos.com/sports/content/getting-to-know-asheville-city-soccer-bianca-canizio |title=Getting to know Asheville City Soccer: Bianca Canizio |date=April 23, 2018 |publisher=wlos.com}}</ref> * [[Reginald Dwayne Betts]], poet, teacher, lawyer. Awarded a [[MacArthur Fellowship]] in 2021. * [[Tony Earley]], writer * [[Rayna Gellert]], fiddler * [[Lee Meitzen Grue]], poet and educator * [[A. Van Jordan]], poet<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/van-jordan |title=A. Van Jordan - Poet {{!}} Poets.org |website=www.poets.org |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> (MFA) * [[Vyvyane Loh]], writer, choreographer, physician<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.identitytheory.com/vyvyane-loh/ |title=Vyvyane Loh - Identity Theory {{!}} Identity Theory |website=www.identitytheory.com |date=April 6, 2004 |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> (MFA) * [[Grace Dane Mazur]], author<ref name="who's who">{{cite book |last1=Sleeman |first1=Elizabeth |title=International Who's Who of Authors and Writers |date=2003 |publisher=Europa Publications Limited |location=London and New York |isbn=1857431790 |page=379 |edition=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=phhhHT64kIMC&q=International+Who%27s+Who+of+Authors+and+Writers+2004+Grace+Dane+Mazur&pg=PA379 |access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> * [[Heather McElhatton]], public radio producer, writer<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bookreporter.com/authors/heather-mcelhatton |title=Heather McElhatton {{!}} Book Reporter |website=www.bookreporter.com |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> (MFA) * [[Hieu Minh Nguyen]], poet (MFA)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://creativewriting.stanford.edu/people/hieu-minh-nguyen-0?search=hieu+minh+nguyen |title=Hieu Minh Nguyen {{!}} Stanford Creative Writing Program |website=creativewriting.stanford.edu |access-date=October 25, 2023}}</ref> * [[Lewis Pullman]], actor and son of [[Bill Pullman]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/next-gen-talent-2019-hollywoods-rising-young-stars-revealed-1250276/lewis-pullman-26/ |title=Next Gen Talent 2019: Hollywood's Rising Young Stars Revealed |date=November 6, 2019 |first1=Bryn |last1=Sandberg |first2=Rebecca |last2=Ford |first3=Mia |last3=Galuppo |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829122937/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/next-gen-talent-2019-hollywoods-rising-young-stars-revealed-1250276/lewis-pullman-26/ |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref> * [[Katie Spotz]], youngest Atlantic solo rower * [[Duncan Trussell]], comedian<ref name="lavenderhour.com">{{cite web |url=http://lavenderhour.com/2011/03/08/run-screaming/ |title=Lavenderhour.com |publisher=Lavenderhour.com |access-date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> * [[David Weber]], writer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davidweber.net/biography |title=Biography - David Weber |publisher=davidweber.net |access-date=December 17, 2018}}</ref> * [[Joe Wenderoth]], poet <ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.ucdavis.edu/people/directory/jlwender |title=Joe Wenderoth — Department of English, UC Davis |publisher=English.ucdavis.edu |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-date=June 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604105030/http://english.ucdavis.edu/people/directory/jlwender/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> * [[Billy Edd Wheeler]], singer/songwriter * [[David Wilcox (American musician)|David Wilcox]], folk musician *[[Fran Wilde (author)|Fran Wilde]], writer (MFA) * [[Paul Wright (New Zealand cyclist)|Paul Wright]], racing cyclist<ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Marjorie |date=September 2, 2016 |title=Promising Wanaka mountainbiker secures US sports scholarship |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/83733252/promising-wanaka-mountainbiker-secures-us-sports-scholarship |website=[[stuff.co.nz]] |access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} * [https://warrenwilsonowls.com/ Athletics website]

{{Private colleges and universities in North Carolina}} {{Presbyterian Colleges}} {{Work Colleges Consortium}} {{Education in Buncombe County, North Carolina}} {{Coast to Coast Athletic Conference navbox }} {{College sports in North Carolina}} {{authority control}}

[[Category:Warren Wilson College| ]] [[Category:Private universities and colleges in North Carolina]] [[Category:Liberal arts colleges in North Carolina]] [[Category:Education in Buncombe County, North Carolina]] [[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1894]] [[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] [[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Buncombe County, North Carolina]] [[Category:USCAA member institutions]] [[Category:Work colleges]] [[Category:1894 establishments in North Carolina]]