Warren Wilson College

Warren Wilson College is a small liberal arts college in Swannanoa, North Carolina just east of Asheville, near U.S. Highway 70. It is known for its curriculum of work, academics, and service, called "the Triad." The Triad requires every student to work an on-campus job, perform at least one hundred hours of community service over four years and complete a requisite course of academic work in order to graduate.

Warren Wilson is one of the few colleges in the United States that require students to work for the institution in order to graduate. It is part of the Work Colleges Consortium, which also includes Alice Lloyd College, Berea College, Blackburn College, College of the Ozarks, Ecclesia College and Sterling College. The college still operates a working farm.

History

The property was purchased in 1893 by the Women's Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church. The women of the church were concerned that many Americans in isolated areas were not receiving a proper education. The women decided to establish church supported schools in areas where there were no public services. There was a need for a nonconventional grading system as the young people who came to these mission schools usually had no prior formal education.

In 1894 the Asheville Farm School officially opened with 25 boys attending and a professional staff of three. It was not until 1923 that the school graduated its first class. The first post-high school programs offering vocational training began in 1936. School leaders hoped that this type of training would give the students more prospects in the job market.

In 1942 the junior college division was established. That same year the Asheville Farm School merged with the Dorland-Bell School of Hot Springs, which brought high school age girls to campus. The Farm School and junior college operated under a common administration.

Warren Wilson College is a small liberal arts college in Swannanoa, North Carolina just east of Asheville, near U.S. Highway 70. It is known for its curriculum of work, academics, and service, called "the Triad." The Triad requires every student to work an on-campus job, perform at least one hundred hours of community service over four years and complete a requisite course of academic work in order to graduate.