Student Glossary

Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors and 10 pre-professional programs, giving undergraduate students plenty of options. According to a recent Bulldog Poll, 97 percent of responding seniors said they were challenged by their courses. At the graduate level, the University offers four doctoral degrees, seven master’s degrees and an add-on licensure for school administration.

Academic advisors help students decide on their educational and career goals and guide them to the courses they’ll need. Learn more on the Academic Advising page of the website. Also, see Academic and Career Development Center.

The academic calendar includes start and end dates for classes, exam schedules, holidays and more. It’s available on the Registrar’s page of the website.

The ARC offers free peer tutoring, study buddies, disability support services, supplemental instruction (SI) and even a writing center. Learn more on the website.

Location: Ethel K. Smith Library, 2nd Floor

Cannon College of Arts and Sciences

• Biology
• Chemistry and Physics
• Communication and Art
• English and Modern Languages
• History and Political Science
• Mathematics
• Music
• Psychology
• Religion and Philosophy
• Sociology

Porter B. Byrum School of Business

• Accounting
• Finance
• Management
• Marketing

Levine College of Health Sciences

• Department of Occupational Therapy
• School of Pharmacy
• Department of Physical Therapy
• Harris Department of Physician Assistant Studies 
• Nursing program

Thayer School of Education

• Educational Studies
• Health & Physical Education Grades K-12
• Music Education Grades K-12
• Teacher Education
• Adult Bachelor's Degree
• Higher Education Executive Leadership 
• Educational Leadership
• School Superintendency

School of Sport Sciences

• Athletic Training
• Community and Commercial Recreation
• Exercise Science
• Health and Physical Education Grades K-12
• Sport Management
• Sport Management (MASM)

Our health science Advantage programs are pathways geared toward high-achieving incoming freshmen looking to enroll in one of our five health science graduate programs. Our Bachelor of Liberal Studies Advantage program provides adult learners who have already earned an associate of arts or associate of science degree with a locked-in tuition rate of $15,000 and a streamlined path to complete their bachelor's degree in six semesters.

Wingate offers students a private-university education at a public-university price. The average cost for tuition, fees, room and board is $18,000, and most graduates finish in four years. Nearly all students leave Wingate with manageable debt and are either employed or in grad school within six months of graduating. We work with families to help them understand their financial options. Students receive estimated financial aid awards upon admission so that they understand their out-of-pocket cost, scholarship amounts and any loans for which they may qualify.

Contributors to the Wingate University Annual Fund help make dreams become reality. Gifts from alumni, parents, friends, corporations and foundations provide scholarships funds, a vital source of support for more than 97 percent of our students. The Annual Fund also helps to finance classroom technology, student internships, community service projects and international educational experiences for students. It makes it possible for our faculty to participate in professional development opportunities, so they can provide a stellar education.

Nearly 1 in 4 Wingate undergraduate students are collegiate athletes. Our combination of athletic and academic success is unsurpassed in NCAA Division II. We’ve won the Echols Athletic Excellence Award, which goes to the top overall athletics program in the South Atlantic Conference, 14 years in a row. We’ve had more Division II All-Americans than any other school in North Carolina, and have won 50 individual and team national championships. Also, since 2000 we’ve had the most Academic All-America honorees in all of Division II – and more than any other school in North Carolina, including Duke and UNC – which speaks to the success of our athletes inside the classroom. Learn more on the Athletics website. In addition to the sports listed below, we are adding women’s field hockey in 2023.

Baccalaureate is a centuries-old tradition of reflections, contemplation and worship that is typically held the day before commencement ceremonies. Graduates may honor those individuals -- students, faculty and staff -- who have contributed to their journey of faith during their years at Wingate. Baccalaureate serves as a bookend to Convocation.

The Business Office helps students with financial matters related to tuition, room and board, and other costs.

Location: Stegall Administration Building, 1st Floor

Operated in partnership with Chartwells, Bon Appétit is the University’s dining brand. Students who live on campus have meal plans included in their room-and-board fees. Commuters and employees may buy a plan online or pay for a meal at the register in the W.T. Harris Food Hall. In addition to W.T. Harris, eateries include the Klondike food court (Chick-fil-A, Freshens and Wild Blue); Einsteins Bros. Bagels inside the Ethel K. Smith Library; and Starbucks in the Dickson-Palmer Building. There are also grab-and-go style markets in the Klondike and at Northeast Residence Hall.

The University’s branding was given an overhaul in 2018. The Wingate flag features alternating dark- and light-blue stripes, four dark ones (Wingate Blue) representing Wingate’s four stages of growth (school, junior college, four-year college, university) and three light ones (Mission Blue) representing “Faith, Knowledge, Service,” the University motto. Our branding hub provides guidelines, logos and templates needed to create posters, T-shirts, mugs and other items that are on-brand and make Wingate stand out.

A student-driven programming board, BARC helps provide events all year round on campus.  Programs the organization is involved in include Welcome Week, Homecoming and SpringGate. Information on BARC and other student organizations can be found on WUSync.

Bulldog Beginnings is an orientation program designed to help students adjust to Wingate and college life the first three days before the first day of class. You will meet your Bulldog Guide, your orientation group, learn about campus resources, and get connected with peers before the first day of class. It is three days packed full of games, events, and information to get you ready to be a Bulldog!

Bulldog Central serves as a physical and online self-service hub for information, important reminders, and student-initiated activities such as making an appointment with an advisor.

Location: Crowder Welcome Center

Founded in 1969, the Bulldog Club’s mission is to raise scholarship funds for more than 600 student-athletes who represent the University on our 25 varsity-level teams.

Orientation Leaders are sophomores, juniors, and seniors who help you through summer orientation and Bulldog Beginnings.

Unleash an Active Lifestyle! is the mantra of Campus Recreation. Employees and students can use their ID cards to access the McGee Center, which includes a running track, weight and cardio equipment, racquetball and basketball courts, fitness classes and more. Intramurals and club sports are also available.

Location: McGee Center

A web-based Learning Management System that allows instructors to create and present material and assess students’ learning and students to engage in courses and receive feedback. Click here to login.

A center staffed with professionals available to assist with developing an academic and career plan to support the students' goals. Students have access to individual academic advising, career exploration, self-assessments, internship information and web-based job search tools.

Location: Crowder Welcome Center, Suite 137

Wingate’s way of addressing the economic, social and ecological issues facing eastern Union County, the CCG provides students the opportunity to volunteer while also learning and growing as leaders. 

Location: Austin Auditorium Lobby/M.B. Dry Chapel

Held at the end of the Fall semester (early/mid December) in Cuddy Arena and at the end of the Spring semester (early/mid May) in the Academic Quad. This ceremony commemorates all that Wingate students, faculty and staff work toward...the conferring of degrees. Undergraduates receive their diplomas and graduate programs participate in pinnings and hoodings as well. Often referred to informally as "graduation" this is the climax of a Wingate education. Click here to learn more.

Held during the first week of the fall semester, Convocation is the academic year’s first faith-related event. Incoming students are required to attend the service, which serves as a bookend to Baccalaureate. Faculty are invited to attend in their academic regalia. The service, which includes a guest speaker and student participation, is designed to be a memorable worship experience with Christian, ecumenical and interfaith moments.

Location: Cuddy Arena

Based on a traditional liberal arts education, Wingate's General Education program, called the Core Curriculum, focuses on helping students think critically, communicate clearly and solve complex problems. Students take a variety of arts and sciences courses to help them develop transferable, professional skills needed for all career paths.

Students can download the Corq app to find events, Lyceums, club meetings and other happenings on campus. This is an easy place to go to RSVP for Lyceum events (which are required, see Lyceums).

The Office of Counseling Services provides confidential, free, short-term mental health counseling to help students with a range of issues, including homesickness, abuse, anxiety, conflict management, depression, grief, stress and trauma. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday-Friday. Students can make an appointment by emailing counseling@wingate.edu

Location: Holbrook Building

The University’s literary and art magazine just celebrated publication of its 52nd edition. Submissions of poetry or other creative writing (Word file) can be sent to Taura Napier. Art (jpeg) can be submitted to Charlene Bregier.

Disability Support Services works with students on a case-by-case basis, determining reasonable accommodations. When appropriate, DSS can make accommodations related to classes, housing and other areas affecting the student experience. Students who need assistance can fill out the appropriate forms on the Disability Support Services website, call 704-233-8271 or email access@wingate.edu for details.

Location: Ethel K. Smith Library, 2nd Floor

Wingate appeals to students from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. Sixty-six percent of our students come from North Carolina, and the rest come from 41 states and 51 countries. Students of color account for 42% of our student body, and 56 percent of our students are the first in their family to attend college. Click here to learn more about Wingate's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee.

Our $100 million endowment is greater than those of many institutions our size. The endowment has grown substantially over the past decade, thanks to generous gifts. Most of our financial resources are directly invested in our students in the form of need-based scholarships that help make a Wingate education possible.

Wingate faculty members focus on teaching and on providing one-on-one personal attention to create meaningful experiences in and out of the classroom. More than 80 percent of our professors have terminal degrees, and none of our classes are taught by graduate or teaching assistants. Our student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1, and average class size is 16 students, so professors and students get to know each other well, always a bonus when students need recommendation letters for jobs or graduate school.

Students at Wingate are encouraged to explore faith as part of the greater search for truth and meaning in life. Our motto, “Faith, Knowledge, Service,” reflects faith’s place in a fulfilling life experience. Perhaps this stems from our founding as a Baptist institution. Although no longer affiliated with the Baptist denomination, Wingate extends Christian hospitality to all members of our community. In many ways, faith plays a role in life at Wingate and in our respect for one another: the warm welcomes visitors receive when they get to campus, our caring faculty and staff, and various opportunities for worship. Regardless of where students are in their personal journey, they will find opportunities for faith development, including required religion courses and six faith-based student organizations.

Held in the fall, Family Weekend is an opportunity for students to introduce the family who raised them to their newfound family on Wingate’s campus. This year’s events include a mixer in the newly opened Crowder Welcome Center and a Q&A with President Rhett Brown.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act relates to students’ rights concerning educational records and information. FERPA gives students the right to inspect and review their records, including transcripts. Those records may not be shared — even with parents — unless the student has completed a Waiver of FERPA Rights.

To apply for financial aid, students must complete the FAFSA each year. Wingate’s school code is 002985. Students can review their current financial aid status online through their Net Partner account.

This scholarship, one of several initiatives that are part of our effort to address the state’s need for a better prepared workforce, allows students who have earned an associate degree at a participating community colleges to attend Wingate for $2,500 or less per year.

Our six-year graduation rate is 47 percent, which, although lower than we would like, is higher than expected by the Higher Education Research Institute, which takes into consideration a variety of factors that influence student success. Eighty-three percent of our graduates finish in four years.

In recent years, Wingate has been the fastest-growing private doctoral university in North Carolina when it comes to enrollment. Our campus has also grown from 400 acres to 540 acres. The total square footage of our 78 buildings is more than 1.5 million.

Both students and employees can take advantage of Health Center services when they are sick, injured or need an allergy shot or immunization. The Health Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule an appointment online or call 704-233-8102. Bring your insurance card and your ID.

Location: Holbrook Building on the corner of Wilson and North Camden streets.

These are the regulations that ensure that information concerning a patient’s health or health records will not be disclosed without authorization. The University Health Center complies with all federal and state laws regarding the confidentiality and security of medical records.

In the past decade, Wingate has become a leading healthcare-education provider in western North Carolina. Students studying health sciences gain hands-on experience through innovative partnerships with hospitals, clinics and health professionals in the greater Charlotte and Henderson County regions. With Atrium Health’s flagship hospital and headquarters in Charlotte, our nursing, physician assistant, psychology, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy graduates are in high demand. This year we have added master and bachelor’s degrees in public health to complement our existing programs and strengthen our commitment to keeping communities healthy.

A celebration of all things Wingate, Homecoming happens in the fall and kicks off on Friday with the Blue Carpet Gala where we recognize Sports Hall of Fame inductees and Alumni Award winners. Saturday will bring reunions, a festival, soccer, football and fireworks.

Students are asked to sign the following pledge on all tests and work submitted: “I pledge on my honor I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this work, and I am unaware of any violation of the Honor Code by others.” The Wingate Honor Code encompasses community standards and ethical decision-making as well as plagiarism and cheating. New students will attend a session on the Honor Code during orientation.

ITS offers a Help Desk on the first floor of the Ethel K. Smith Library. If you need help with technology, stop in or email helpdesk@wingate.edu. You can also call 704-233-8333.

Location: Ethel K. Smith Library, 1st Floor

We like to think of Wingate as a “laboratory of difference-making,” a place where students can explore, create and experiment, where they are challenged to engage and collaborate, where they find support from mentors and where they sometimes get their hands dirty. Our programs in and out of the classroom are experiential and life-changing. As a laboratory of difference-making, Wingate helps students discover their strengths, talents and passions: strengths that help them win, both on and off the field; talents they can use to serve others in meaningful and exciting ways so that they graduate with prospects and purpose, prepared to improve the human condition.

The Ethel K. Smith Library is an ideal place for students to study and get research assistance. In addition to its extensive collection of materials, EKS offers group study spaces, individual study rooms, and study carrels.

Location: Academic Quad

Wingate’s residential campus is 30 minutes southeast of downtown Charlotte. The campus is easily accessible from Interstates 485, 85 and 77. The Monroe Expressway provides easy access to Charlotte. Wingate has one other campus in Hendersonville, NC, for pharmacy and physician-assistant studies. Mailing addresses for each campus:

• Wingate campus, P.O. Box 159, Wingate, NC, 28174
• Hendersonville campus, 805 Sixth Ave. West, Hendersonville, NC 28739

To graduate, students must attend 24 Lyceums -- eight electives and four in each of these categories: Academic Lectures, Faith & Character Development, Fine Arts Presentations & Performances, and Personal & Professional Growth. Students receive an email each week detailing event dates, times, locations and dress codes. Transfer students are required to attend fewer events, depending on how many credits they transfer in.

Faith, Knowledge, Service

Accessible via a link at the top of the Wingate homepage, this navigation tool includes all kinds of helpful resources.

Wingate’s degree-auditing program, NaviGATE is an online planning tool that helps students stay on track with their courses to help ensure they graduate on time. Not only does it show what they have completed and what’s left to do, it includes a “What If?” function that allows them to see how changing their major or adding a minor would alter their pathway. Another NaviGATE feature, the plan manager, lets students map out the remainder of their Wingate journey by assigning each required course to a future semester. Using the platform can help prevent a missed prerequisite or an overlooked general education requirement. And the more students who use the planning function, the better the University will be equipped to offer needed classes at the right times. Click here to access NaviGATE or visit MyGATE to find the link.

Held each year in March or April, this is a day dedicated to giving, serving and celebrating. Employees and students celebrate our institution and work to further its mission with gifts of time, talent, and treasures. 

Orientation is designed to assist students and families in the transition from high school to Wingate. Orientation includes virtual events, in-person summer orientation sessions, Bulldog Beginnings, and family weekend! During orientation events, students will meet faculty, staff, and Bulldog Guides, upperclassmen students who are here to help them through their first semester at Wingate. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of New Student Orientation at (704) 233-8269 or email orientation@wingate.edu.

Wingate graduates experience uncommon success. Nearly all of our undergraduate students are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation. Within 10 years of attending Wingate, our graduates’ salaries (undergrad and graduate/professional) are No. 1 in our athletic conference and above the national average. When it comes to social mobility of students after graduation, Wingate ranks among the top national universities and #1 in NC among private, doctoral-granting universities.

All vehicles must be registered each year with parking decals displayed in the left corner of the rear window. Details as to how to request a decal are on the Campus Safety webpage. Students are assessed a parking fee. To avoid fines, park only in spaces that are clearly marked in properly designated lots: R for Residential, C for Commuter, and FS for Faculty and Staff. If your decal is damaged or lost, visit Campus Safety to request another.

Located on the northwest corner of Wilson and Main streets, PawPost serves as the University’s mailroom. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll receive an email notification when a letter or package arrives for you, and you are asked to wait an hour before picking it up.

Check out the WUSync platform to learn about the variety of clubs on campus. If students don’t find what they’re looking for, they can gather a group of like-minded friends, find a sponsor and start their own RSO. The Crowder Welcome Center features plenty of space for clubs to meet, work on projects and store their supplies.

Location: Crowder Welcome Center inside the Dickson-Palmer Building, Suite 162

Our retention rate (freshman to sophomore year) is 67%, which is in line with other North Carolina universities. Students who succeed at Wingate are strivers and hard workers. To enable them to succeed, Wingate offers a host of support services, including the Writing Center, free tutoring in every subject, disability support and solid academic advising.

One of several initiatives undertaken alongside South Piedmont Community College, this program allows qualifying students who want to start their education at SPCC and finish their degree at Wingate to take advantage of our high-quality academic advising, use the Ethel K. Smith Library and attend Bulldog sports events free of charge even before they enroll at Wingate. The program is designed to help students excel in the courses they need to transfer seamlessly to Wingate and to acclimate to our campus culture so they’ll feel at home when they arrive their junior year. Road2Wingate scholars qualify for the Gateway Scholarship.

The Office of Campus Safety is available 24/7 and can be reached at 704-233-8999. Students can call for any emergency situation or if they simply need an escort to their vehicle or room. Blue-light help phones are located throughout campus and provide a direct link to an emergency dispatcher. Wingate’s Crisis Management Response plan and other important safety information is available on the Campus Safety webpage.

Location: 204 North Main St.

Wingate is ranked No. 1 among private, doctoral-granting universities in North Carolina for social mobility by US News & World Report. The magazine’s ranking recognizes schools that do a good job of graduating students from the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds (those who receive Pell Grants). Social mobility has become a criteria for measuring the value of a college education and is an indicator of improved status in society. Our ranking is evidence of the impact of a Wingate education on student success after college.

Formerly known as the Wingate Society, the Society of 1896 was established to honor and celebrate our generous and loyal supporters. Membership is open to those who contribute $1,000 or more during the fiscal year (June 1-May 31). Future members of the society will enjoy a commemorative gift, access to member-exclusive communications; invitations to member-only events; opportunities to meet with students and faculty members and special recognition at the annual Society Gala.

This resource outlines policies and expectations for student behavior and explains the Community Standards process as well as potential sanctions for violations.

Campus life is rich and fun, with 1 out of 4 students taking part in intramural team sports and most getting involved in a variety of clubs, organizations and other activities outside of class, including Greek organizations. Difference-making opportunities include internships, research with faculty members, service projects and study abroad, with costs offset by the university. Students also find intellectual and cultural enrichment opportunities outside the classroom through the Lyceum lecture series, fine arts presentations and performances, and seminars that explore personal and professional development.

Wingate sent 335 participants to 13 different countries during the 2019-2020 academic year, before Covid derailed international travel. In addition to W’International, students can study abroad for a semester or for a summer. Find out more about International Programs or drop by the Office of International Programs.

Location: Young International House, 130 E. Wilson St.

This portion of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The Title IX webpage is full of helpful resources.

Designed for Wingate University sophomores, the W’Engage program offers an opportunity to contribute to surrounding communities and travel for five to seven days to a U.S. destination in order to promote positive social change. Click here to learn more.

Wayfind is a free college access program with a foundation in mentorship. Each spring, 20 eighth-graders from East Union and Monroe middle schools (10 students at each school) are invited to become Wayfind Scholars. Each scholar is assigned a current Wingate University student as a mentor to guide, support and encourage them along their journey through high school and toward college. Wayfind Scholars create a roadmap for college planning, prepare for the SAT and ACT, go on college visits and more. The program is operated in conjunction with Union County Public Schools.

Welcome Week starts a few days before classes begin and runs through the following week. Students enjoy Wingate traditions, Convocation, social events, educational speakers, entertainers and more. Click here to read more.

A semiannual publication aimed primarily at alumni but also of interest to current students, faculty, staff and friends of the University, the magazine includes University news; features on alumni, students and employees; class notes; and general updates on what’s going on at Wingate.

This is where you can buy all your Bulldog apparel, gifts and accessories. You can also order online.

Located: Crowder Welcome Center

The Wingate Research Review, an online publication, compiles the best undergraduate research and writing to emerge each year from advanced seminars, honors theses and funded research efforts.

Students use this platform to register for courses, view their transcript, check their financial aid status and more.

W’international is our signature short-term study abroad program for juniors. This program is financially subsidized by the university to allow for maximum participation. Wingate professors and students study specific topics for a semester on campus, followed by a hands-on exploration of those themes abroad for 10 days.

Work-study provides part-time employment for Wingate University students with financial need, enabling them to earn money to pay for their educational expenses.

An important part of the Academic Resource Center, the Christa Helms Austin Writing Center is on the second floor of the library but students can also find it in the ARC Canvas page. Writing tutors won’t write papers or “fix” them, but they will help students identify and improve their problem areas. Students can sign up online for a session.

Location: Ethel K. Smith Library, 2nd Floor

WUSync is a platform that students can use to connect to organizations and get more involved. From event calendars to RSO pages, there is plenty to explore.