A Closer Look at Warren Wilson College's Unique Approach to Community
Roan Church | March 28, 2024
With Warren Wilson College’s (WWC) Work Day coming up soon, it is time we take a look back through the history of this unique tradition.
Work Day is a vital practice of the establishment and the community within it, understanding and learning why and how we do it allows us to better participate in this long-lasting heritage. Understanding and preparing for this upcoming work day on April 4th of this year will strengthen this community and allow us to give our all for this exciting event.
WWC is one of the nine work colleges in the United States. WWC has a significant history regarding our specialized work program and how the campus community ties into its work. WWC has been a cornerstone for work colleges and continues to adapt to the student and staff body to make the work program work for everyone.
But what is Work Day and why does WWC maintain the tradition?
Work Day is an event for WWC in which all academic pursuits are paused for the day and replaced with community-engaged work on campus. This semester's upcoming work days have an array of jobs for students to participate in from cleaning up the garden and planting trees, to building fences and trail cleanup. It engages the community in collaborative work which both helps the WWC community grow and maintains this campus for attendees.
Work Day started over 100 years ago as a core belief of WWC back when it was called Warren Wilson Farm School. It was created as a collaborative effort to bring together the students to help work on the campus that they contribute to. This campus is maintained by the students and the efforts of the day allow them to feel both ownership and community. Working on projects around campus satisfies this commitment to work and personal achievement.
This school year's Work Day celebration will be held on Thursday, April 4, and its theme is Home Field Advantage. The projects focus on improving the campus and contributing to its community. These projects range all across campus and with as many student volunteers as WWC has, all the hands it needs to make a difference in the campus as a whole. To learn more about the work being done in the different regions, check in with the Work Program Office or check your emails for information about signing up for this upcoming work day.
Work Day was originally started as an extension of the college's work program and serves as a means for real-world experience and community building.
When WWC was first founded, its goal was to help students build important skills regarding contribution and physical labor in the real world, alongside teamwork. Integrating this work and study allows for the formation of these skills after college. Work Day was an extension of this and aimed to help accumulate experience.
Alongside skills, community is built through this pivotal tradition. Bringing students together to work on a common problem within the campus is crucial to learning who you are working alongside both academically and bodily.
Work Day — and the work program in general — allows for cheaper tuition, thanks to community work and labor and being able to pay off tuition through campus contributions. Work Day acts as another buffer to engage the community in work that otherwise would be paid for by students and included in their tuition.
As WWC continues to adapt and evolve, the Work Day celebration and tradition remain a cornerstone of its unique educational strategy. By understanding the significance of Work Day and actively participating in its activities, students and staff alike work together to strengthen this bond and continue to perpetuate this community-engaged activity. Work Day offers many benefits to students such as keeping the community strong, building skills and keeping costs low. This year's Work Day will be no different and uphold the legacy of hands-on learning and stewardship that defines WWC.