Campus Services

Dining Services

All students residing in the North Campus residence halls must be on one of the designated University meal plans as a condition of occupancy. Students with medical problems who cannot meet this requirement may request a meal waiver. Residents of the South Campus Apartments, The Village and East Village Apartments, and the College Arms Apartments, as well as off-campus and commuting students, may purchase any meal plan offered or obtain meals at the casual meal rates.

A number of variable and flex-only meal plans are available. Details of these plans, as well as the costs, are found in the "Fees and Expenses" section of this catalog.

All meal plans may be used in the following locations: Commons Dining Hall; Chickie's & Pete's; Rammy's Market; Freshens; PODS; Twisted Taco; Eco Grounds and the Ram’s Head Food Court; and with national brands, such as Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Starbucks.

Campus Store

The WCU Campus Store is located on the ground floor of Sykes Student Union. The Campus Store offers an Inclusive Access program for select courses, new and used textbooks for all WCU courses, and select course offerings including digital textbooks. Textbooks may be purchased in the store or on the store's website: www.wcucampusstore.com. For your convenience, we provide in-store pick-up for online orders, or shipping is also offered. The WCU Campus Store also stocks supplies, course supplies, and reference materials, as well as study and teacher aids. WCU Campus Store offers a complete line of official WCU-imprinted clothing and gifts that can be purchased on the store's website. Greeting cards, diploma frames, snacks, candy, soft and energy drinks, health and beauty aids, electronics, and laundry supplies are also available in the Campus Store. Spirit items for athletic events are available as well. Services offered include special orders for computer software and general interest books (at no extra cost) and UPS/USPS shipping services. All major credit cards, debit cards, Ram Bucks, and personal checks, accompanied by a valid ID, are accepted. The store hours, subject to change, are as follows:

Monday - Thursday 9 am - 5 pm
Friday 9 am - 4 pm
Saturday - Sunday 11 am - 3 pm

WCU's Inclusive Access  program that delivers digital course materials directly to D2L for each student enrolled in select classes continues to grow in popularity. The program provides significant costs savings for students and ensures all participating students have their required materials on the first day of class. Inclusive Access continues to realize rapid growth due to the significant cost savings and ease of delivery to students.

For additional convenience, the store offers extended operating hours at the beginning of each semester. For more information, call 610-436-2242 or visit the website at www.wcucampusstore.com/.

Campus Recreation

At West Chester University, the Department of Campus Recreation is the primary destination for the Golden Ram campus community to engage in recreation, social, and wellness-orientated programs and services. Blending components of fitness and well-being with the co-curricular educational experience it is our mission to assist each person in exceeding academic goals while establishing healthy lifetime behaviors. While at WCU we encourage you to treat yourself and allow your mind, body, and soul to engage in some daily PLAY time; you've earned it!

The Student Recreation Center is the central hub for many of the quality programs and services we provide. Opened in August, 2012, the SRC welcomes over 2,500 Golden Rams through it's doors on a daily basis! With over 70,000 sq. ft. of recreation activity space we believe we have something for everyone. Features of the SRC include: a 34-ft. tall climbing and bouldering wall; 13,000 sq. ft of strength and conditioning equipment including an extensive line of Life Fitness cardio and strength equipment; three fitness studios featuring a wide range of group fitness classes including many Les Mills formats; two hardwood basketball courts; two racquetball courts; one multi-activity court perfect for floor hockey, soccer, volleyball, and many other activities; outdoor sand volleyball and basketball courts; men's and women's locker rooms; and the administrative offices for all full-time Campus Recreation staff.

Beyond the many outstanding programs and services provided through the Student Recreation Center, Campus Recreation also offers many structured opportunities which may meet at other locations on or off campus. Examples include:

  • Fitness:
    • With over 35 group fitness class offered each week we believe students will find the perfect mix of classes to help them connect with others while establishing healthy behaviors. Classes include Barre, Body Pump, Cycle, Yoga, and Zumba!
  • Intramural Sports:
    • Leagues, tournaments, and one-day events all with a balance of competition and sportsmanship!  Leagues are divided into men's, women's, and co-recreational and feature competition against other WCU Golden Ram students. Examples include basketball, cornhole, dodgeball, flag-football, kickball, softball, spikeball, volleyball, and many other FUN recreational but competitive sports. Many of the indoor competitions will take place at the Student Recreation Center while most outdoor events will be hosted at South Campus outdoor play-fields.
  • Outdoor Adventure Pursuits program (OAP)
    • Through OAP, Campus Recreation offers a number of weekend trips to various destinations for activities such as ice climbing, waterfall walking, backpacking, kayak or canoe excursions, archery camp, and other events featuring the natural beauty of our region. The OAP program provides an excellent opportunity to get off campus, dig into nature, and enjoy meeting other students who share your appreciation for the outdoors and sustainability.
  • Sport Clubs:
    • Campus Recreation is also home to over 27 different Sport Club teams, with many competing and succeeding at the regional and national level. Examples of current Sport Club teams include men's and women's ultimate Frisbee, men's and women's water polo, Crossfit, men's and women's ice hockey, equestrian, men's rugby, wrestling, fishing, and many more. If WCU graduate or undergraduate students are looking to extend their competitive playing years or wish to learn a new skill, consider joining or starting a new sport club! 

Through Campus Recreation we strive to provide our Golden Ram campus community a comprehensive and diverse line-up of healthy, fitness, FUN, recreational, and co-curricular programs and services. Through the many outstanding activities we provide, featuring innovative programming while also employing over 180 students in many leadership roles, we aspire to provide options for each person to create life-long healthy behaviors. We believe through the many programs and services we offer or through employment you will find Campus Recreation truly does offer something for everyone!

Additional information can be found by visiting www.wcupa.edu/campusrec/, or by contacting the Department of Campus Recreation at 610-436-1REC (x1732).

Career Development Center

The Twardowski Career Development Center is the bridge connecting students and alumni to the professional world, introducing them to who they can become.  The Career Center assists students with...

  • Exploring majors and careers
  • Building a job and internship search strategy
  • Creating or optimizing a resume and cover letter
  • Practicing interview techniques
  • Networking and leveraging LinkedIn
  • Identifying ways to get experience
  • Navigating graduate school applications

The Career Center facilitates connections with employers and job and internship opportunities via Handshake; this platform includes a job and internship database, on-campus interviews, job and internship fairs, online resume reviews, and online career counseling appointment scheduling.

Visit the Career Center's website for a range of other valuable resources, videos, and information: http://wcupa.edu/cdc.

The Twardowski Career Development Center is located in 225 Lawrence Center and can be contacted by phone at 610-436-2501, or by email at cdc@wcupa.edu.

Fraternity and Sorority Life

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life coordinates West Chester University's fraternity and sorority community, comprising 2,000 students and 34 (inter)national chapters on their service projects, community activities, scholarship support programs, recruitment and new member programs, and leadership development. In addition, the office works with five governing/programming councils.

Mission: To engage fraternity and sorority members in a commitment to their values, shared governance, and advancing the common good through a diverse learning environment that builds a lifelong affinity to West Chester University and the fraternal community.

Fraternity and Sorority Life is located in 238 Sykes Student Union, 610-436-2117.

Mail Services

The University has an on-campus post office located at 887 South Matlack Street, 610-436-2744.

Resident students receive their mail at their residence halls. To ensure prompt delivery, the complete and correct addresses for the facility should be used.

Student Services, Incorporated (SSI)

Student Services, Incorporated (SSI) is a not-for-profit organization primarily designed to serve the students of West Chester University. The objective of this corporation is to initiate, regulate, and operate the financial matters of student organizations and campus activities. Such activities include the management of the WCU RAM CARD, WCU Campus Store, SSI Business Office, WCUR, Ram Shop, student publications, student organizations, ticket services, student programming, intercollegiate athletics, and the graduate student association. SSI also manages various business relationships such as banking, vending, and other necessary relationships.

In fiscal matters and in various policy-making areas, the final authority rests with the president of the University.

The SSI Business Office, 610-436-2357, is located in 259 Sykes Student Union.

Sykes Student Union Building

The Earl F. Sykes Union first opened in 1975 as the community center for West Chester University. A building expansion and major renovations were completed in 1995, providing students with a 102,000-square foot multipurpose facility. Sykes Union has three floors of usable space and also features 17 rooms accommodating groups from 4 to 500 for meetings, programs, and events.

Taken from the Association of College Unions International's 2018 Role of the College Union statement:

"The college union advances a sense of community, unifying the institution by embracing the diversity of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests. We bolster the educational mission of the institution and the development of students as lifelong learners by delivering an array of cultural, educational, social, and recreational programs, services, and facilities." 

The ground floor features the Lawrence A. Dowdy Multicultural Center; Campus Store; Student Services, Inc. Service Center; a 350-seat theater; the Ram's Den Lounge/EcoGrounds coffee; and the east patio entrance.

The first floor offers a food court and dining area; a multi-use outdoor pergola; a 5,000-square foot multipurpose ballroom designed for dances, concerts, banquets, and lectures; as well as the student union administrative offices and building Information Center.

The second floor houses the Student Affairs offices: Fraternity and Sorority Life; Student Leadership and Involvement; Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy; and Off Campus and Commuter Services. The Student Services, Inc. Business Office and the Department of Student Activities are on this floor as well. The Center for Student Involvement, where student organizations have work space, is also located on the second floor.

The third floor houses the new Commuter Center, a 25-unit computer lab, several meeting rooms, and a meditation/prayer/quiet reflection space.

For information concerning Sykes Union, please call the Information Center at 610-436-2984/3360.

Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE)

Since 1974, the Center for Women & Gender Equity has been serving as advocates for gender equity issues in collaboration with the campus community.

Mission

The Center for Women and Gender Equity (CW&GE) actively promotes and advocates for a campus community that values the safety, equality, and intellectual advancement of women and other historically marginalized groups.

Our mission is accomplished by:

  • Facilitating co-curricular initiatives that address a wide range of issues that affect the success and well-being of women.
  • Offering opportunities to examine the ways in which gender-based oppression intersects with other forms of systemic oppression.
  • Coordinating campus wide violence prevention initiatives designed to engage all members of the University community.
  • Engaging allies through programming focused on exploring concepts of masculinities.
  • Building partners-in-movement through programming that supports and engages with other historically marginalized groups.
  • Providing referrals and support to campus and community partners on issues that disproportionately impact women.
  • Advocating for systemic changes that support women and other historically marginalized groups.

The Center for Women and Gender Equity is located at 214 Lawrence Center. For more information, visit https://www.wcupa.edu/_services/women-gender-equity/or call 610-436-2122.