At the request of university officials citing the Catholic mission of Seton Hall, certain bands were eliminated from regular rotation, while others were relegated to overnight airplay only.

In its current format, all of the station's DJs, newscasters, sportscasters and engineers are enrolled students at the university (with the exception of weekend community programmers, many of which are Seton Hall alumni).

Additionally, students are elected to one-year management terms to head the station – specifically the programming, music, promotions, news and sports departments.

Although a noncommercial station, WSOU's management and staff structure is modeled on commercial radio, which provides students with enriching career-oriented educational experiences.

Opportunities for student staff members include on-air hosting (DJing), production, promotions, newscasting, sportscasting, programming, sales and marketing, and engineering.

WSOU draws students from all university colleges and programs, including communications, business, biology, education, nursing, sports management and diplomacy.

[6] The following Mission Statement concerning the nature of WSOU is taken from the WSOU-FM Task Force (August 1988): The Mission of WSOU-FM is: To provide students with an educational experience in a co-curricular activity which is both pedagogically sound and professionally realistic; To foster the image of Seton Hall University as a principled institution of higher education committed to teaching in the real world; and To provide the university and the immediate community of northern New Jersey's metropolitan area with public service in broadcasting that meets the public's interests, convenience and needs.

[6] Since WSOU's inception, station management has frequently clashed with Seton Hall University's president and board of trustees over its heavy metal programming.

[7] Sheeran and the university's board of trustees made veiled threats to shut the station down and sell the FCC license if programming was not more aligned to the Catholic faith.

"[17][18][19] The station currently broadcasts a modern active rock format, featuring heavy metal, punk, emo, hardcore and post-hardcore as well as other types of rock-based music.