Back in November, the Smoky Mountain News reported that local colleges in Western North Carolina were bracing for state budget cuts that could run as high as 10%. At the same time, the Southwestern Community College in Sylva announced a new degree program to train wilderness therapy leaders. The program’s director, Paul Wolf, justified the program:
While “natural consequences” — i.e. if you don’t make a dry shelter and it rains, you get wet — are still a primary tenant [sic.] of wilderness therapy, the industry has moved to an “empowerment model” rather than a “punishment model.”
Earlier this week, the same paper reported Southwestern’s $8-million construction project should be complete next March. It is reportedly “the first state-funded construction to take place at SCC’s main campus since 1986.” Funds from a bond referendum were also contributed. The building, as was previously reported here, was substantially scaled down. It is green, but it forewent LEED certification to save money. It also took advantage of low bids offered in an all but stopped private-sector construction economy.
