Hello! Thank you for your interest in the Freshmen Leadership Initiative Program at Western Carolina University!
For Fall 2025 we will be accepting 18 new students to the program! Please note that if accepted into FLI you will be required to attend Cat Camp Leadership Exploration August 10th - 15th, 2025.
For an overview of Leadership Programs, Cat Camp, and FLI, please see the
Department of Campus Activities webpage.
So what exactly is the Freshman Leadership Initiative?
The Freshman Leadership Initiative (FLI) is a living/learning community that prepares incoming first year students for campus life and various campus leadership opportunities, all while serving as a home away-from-home during your transition into college.
During FLI, students will interact with upper class leaders and also make lifelong friendships that they will carry with them throughout their college experience. As a member of FLI, students will have the opportunity to take part in community service, social
events, fundraising, and leadership events as well as, philanthropies, retreats, and other opportunities to help them develop their leadership skills.
FLI is a 3-tiered program focused on Living, Learning, and Leading:
LIVE: FLI participants, as part of a living-learning community, will be housed together during their Freshmen Year in the Village. This aspect of the program will provide opportunities to take leadership skills developed in and out of the
classroom into their everyday experiences among their peers. Students will participate in a matching program to be matched with another FLI student to room with. There will be 18 freshmen students in the building together as well as 1 Resident Assistant.
LEARN: As part of the Leadership Minor, the FLI students will see a direct connection between their transition into college and their development as a leader. Students will take a year-long Freshmen Leadership curriculum (2 academic classes)
that lead straight into the Leadership Minor. Although you are not required to declare the Leadership Minor, it is strongly encouraged!
LEAD: FLI will provide tangible opportunities for students to put leadership into action. FLI is a student organization of Western Carolina's campus, which focuses on program planning for retreats and conferences, community service, philanthropy,
fundraising, etc. FLI will form a stronger partnership with their fellow classmates as well as upperclassmen through the FLI Mentoring Program.
Whether students have ideas on improving student life, a vision for developing a community, or show an interest in a club, organization, or event, students will find the right networking opportunity in the Freshman Leadership Initiative at Western Carolina
University!
APPLICATIONS CLOSE JUNE 30th 11:59PM, BUT COULD CLOSE SOONER BASED ON AVAILABLE SPACES.
Interviews will be conducted based on applications. If you are selected for an interview, we will be in contact with you to schedule that interview. It will be a 20 minute ZOOM or phone interview with current members of FLI and other Leadership Programs
students. Please be on the lookout for that information the first week of April.
For ANY questions or concerns, please contact Fran Power, Assistant Director for Student Leadership, at fpower@wcu.edu or 828-227-2610