Overview
West Chester University is devoted to the mission of student success. Consistent with that mission, the university supports a variety of activities, events, and special programs designed to help students learn about their own interests and strengths, to discover their passions, and to develop the attitudes and behaviors that will promote life-long success and happiness.
DCAP: Autism Support Services
The mission of D-CAP is to provide a supportive and inclusive campus community for our degree-seeking, autistic students, at West Chester University via indirect and direct supports.
COMPASS Program
The COMPASS program is aimed at supporting African American Males currently on academic probation through collaborative efforts at West Chester University. Our institutional efforts to support the academic success of students has resulted in a multi-layered approach. The COMPASS programs for a direct individualized approach with graduate level academic mentors. The weekly meetings allow for the male students to have a safe space in which to trust and share successes, barriers and challenges as a student at West Chester University. This program empowers students to advocate for themselves across the campus.
RAMp Up
RAMp Up is a proven one-day program for first-year students that focuses on improving grades in the Spring semester by helping students plan, improve their confidence, engage in career planning, and learn about available resources. Click here to learn about the 2025 RAMp Up Program.
Supports Provided by University College
Office of Educational Accessibility
At West Chester University, the Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) appreciates disability as an integral part of the University experience. We are committed to providing equal access and opportunity to all campus programs and services for persons with disabilities. Through collaboration and support of the entire campus community, the OEA promotes disability pride, self-determination of the student, and universally accessible design principles so that everyone has full access to University life. The OEA strives to provide and/or coordinate supportive services that enable students with disabilities to maximize their educational potential. The OEA is committed to working with students, staff, and faculty in developing and implementing the most appropriate strategies for a successful learning experience while maintaining the academic standards and integrity of the mission of the University.
The OEA provides services and programs that ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). All programs and services are in keeping with the University's mission to provide equal education for all qualified students.
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section: https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm.
Academic Success Program
The Academic Success Program (ASP) is a special admissions program for students who do not meet current admissions criteria but show the potential to succeed at West Chester University. ASP assists students in developing academic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. In addition, ASP provides academic support through academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, academic monitoring, and counseling.
Tutoring Support
LARC: The Learning Assistance and Resource Center provides academic support through tutoring and academic success coaching services to promote independent and active learners at West Chester University.
Writing Center: We help writers in the university community achieve their goals as they engage in the challenging and rewarding process of writing.
The Academic Support and Advocacy Center
The Academic Support & Advocacy Center (ASA) is intended to help support student persistence by centralizing student success professionals and incorporating differentiated and proactive care to students. Throughout this site we provide information on why ASA is being established, what its goals are, and how we are progressing toward these goals.
Exploratory Studies Advising
Exploratory Studies (EXPS) at West Chester University (WCU) is a comprehensive academic program designed to meet the needs of students who wish to explore their options in order to find an “appropriate” major of interest. Our program provides students the opportunity to explore the different majors through collaborative academic advising, guided and individualized assessment of personality, interests, strengths and abilities. Exploratory students work one-on-one with specially trained faculty academic advisors who understand the different curriculum tracks and university requirements. Our faculty will help you decide what courses to take based on your interests and these requirements.
EXPS students typically make up 25-33% of each WCU’s first year entering cohort. About 30% of EXPS students change their major by the end of their first year. Our students declare majors and minors in all the colleges at the University.
Ram Initiative
The RAM Initiative is a program at West Chester University, bringing students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), ages 18-24, to campus in very small numbers, to participate in a two-year inclusive post-secondary education experience. In the inclusive RAM program students learn and interact with all students, faculty, staff, and administrators on campus, not in segregated environments. The students take classes on either For Credit or an Audit basis and have a non-traditional application/admissions process. Students in the RAM Initiative are full-time students, have full privileges of the university, and are eligible for Pell Grants and Federal Financial Work Study programs (if financially eligible by filling out a FASFA form).
Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) is a unique, interdisciplinary, flexible, and customizable degree program designed for students who want deeper engagement with the development of their degree plan. Students typically pursue IDS because they want their undergraduate education to correspond to their post-graduate goals, including professional programs, graduate school, and careers or because they are looking for an academic home for credits they have earned in other programs. IDS faculty work closely with students and with other WCU departments to help each student craft the best path to degree.