Editing Western Washington University

{{Short description|Public university in Bellingham, Washington, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Western Washington University
 | former_names           = Northwest Normal School (1886–1893)<br>New Whatcom Normal School (1893–1901)<br>State Normal School at Whatcom<br>Washington State Normal School at Bellingham (1901–1904)<br>Western Washington College of Education (1904–1937)<br>Western Washington State College (1937–1977)
 | image                  = Western Washington University seal.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | motto                  = "Make Waves"<ref name="Western Washington University Brand Guide">{{cite web|url=https://brand.wwu.edu/western-washington-university-brand|title=WWU Brand Guide |website=Western Washington University Brand Guide |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref>
 | established            = {{start date and age|1893|02|24}}
 | type                   = [[Public university]]
 | endowment              = $109.8&nbsp;million (2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foundation.wwu.edu/endowment-management-reports|website=The Foundation for WWU & Alumni|publisher=Western Washington University|access-date=2024-01-03|title=Endowment Management Reports}}</ref>
 | president              = [[Sabah Randhawa]]
 | provost                = Brad Johnson<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brad Johnson Named WWU's New Provost and Executive Vice President |url=https://news.wwu.edu/brad-johnson-named-wwu-s-new-provost-and-executive-vice-president |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=WWU News |publisher=Western Washington University|date=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|accreditation = [[Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities|NWCCU]]
|academic_affiliation = COP<ref>{{cite web|url=https://councilofpresidents.org/about/|title=About -Council of Presidents}}</ref>
 | faculty                = 684 full time (2022)<ref name=CollegeNav />
 | administrative_staff   = 1,437 (2018)<ref name="demographics2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.wwu.edu/diversity#enrollment-statistics |title=Diversity, Equity & Inclusion |website=Western Washington University |access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref>
 | students               = 14,747 (2022)<ref name=CollegeNav />
 | undergrad              = 13,801 (2022)<ref name=CollegeNav />
 | postgrad               = 947 (2022)<ref name=CollegeNav />
 | city                   = [[Bellingham, Washington]]
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{coord|48.734|-122.486|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
 | campus                 = Small city<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Washington&s=all&pg=3&id=237011|title=IPEDS-West Washington University}}</ref>
|campus_size = {{convert|215|acre|ha}}
|free_label2 = Newspaper
|free2 = ''The Front''
 | colors                 =  Blue, light blue, gray, black, and white<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brand.wwu.edu/western-washington-university-athletics-brand |title=Western Washington University Athletics Brand |website=Brand and Communication Guide |publisher=Western Washington University |access-date=2024-01-03}}</ref><br>{{color box|#00285e}} {{color box|#5387bd}} {{color box|#c2c4c6}} {{color box|#131413}} {{color box|white}}
 | sports_nickname        = [[Western Washington Vikings|Vikings]]
|free_label = Other campuses<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwu.edu/locations|title=Locations}}</ref>
|free = {{hlist|[[Anacortes, Washington|Anacortes]]|[[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]]|[[Burien, Washington|Burien]]|[[Everett, Washington|Everett]]|[[Kirkland, Washington|Kirkland]]|[[Port Angeles, Washington|Port Angeles]]|[[Poulsbo, Washington|Poulsbo]]|[[Renton, Washington|Renton]]}}
 | mascot                 = Victor E. Viking<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwuvikings.com/sports/2018/6/4/victor-e-viking.aspx|title=Victor E. Viking|website=Western Washington University Athletics |access-date=Jan 3, 2024}}</ref>
 | sporting_affiliations = {{hlist|[[NCAA Division II]] - [[Great Northwest Athletic Conference|GNAC]]|[[Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference|NCRC]]}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.wwu.edu/|wwu.edu}}
 | logo                   = West washington univ logo.svg
|logo_size                = 200
 | pushpin_map            = Washington
 | pushpin_map_caption    = Location in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
}}

'''Western Washington University''' ('''WWU''' or '''Western''') is a [[public university]] in [[Bellingham, Washington]], United States. The northernmost university in the [[contiguous United States]], WWU was founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, succeeding a private school of teaching for women founded in 1886. The university adopted its present name in 1977.

WWU offers [[bachelor degree|bachelor's]] and [[master degree|master's]] degrees and a few [[doctorate]]s. {{As of|2022|pre=In|bare=yes}}, there were 14,747 students, 13,801 of whom were [[Undergraduate education|undergraduate]] students, and 664 full-time faculty.<ref name="CollegeNav">{{Cite web |title=Western Washington University |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=237011 |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=[[College Navigator]]}}</ref> Its athletic teams are known as the [[Western Washington Vikings|Vikings]], which compete in [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]].

The main campus is located on 215 acres in Bellingham.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Berend |first1=Emily |last2=Ekstrom |first2=Mandy |date=Winter 2018 |title=Sustainability Signage |url=https://sustain.wwu.edu/files/2021-08/Sustainability-Signage-Final-Proposal-1.pdf |website=Sustainability Engagement Institute |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.wwu.edu/wwucontact |access-date=2024-01-04 |website= |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref> WWU also operates a marine center in [[Anacortes, Washington|Anacortes]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Washington University Locations |url=https://www.wwu.edu/locations |access-date=2024-01-04 |website= |publisher=Western Washington University |language=en}}</ref> and academic locations in [[Everett, Washington|Everett]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Earn a degree in Everett {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://www.wwu.edu/everett |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.wwu.edu |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Olympic Peninsula|Olympic]] and [[Kitsap Peninsula|Kitsap]] Peninsulas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} WWU on the Peninsulas {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://peninsulas.wwu.edu/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=peninsulas.wwu.edu |language=en}}</ref> The university is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities]].

==History==
[[File:2009-0604-OldMain-WWU.jpg|thumb|right|Old Main]]

Western was established as the '''Northwest Normal School''', a [[Normal school|teachers' school]] predominantly for women although men also enrolled, by [[Phoebe Judson]] in [[Lynden, Washington|Lynden]], Washington, in 1886.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lynden.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=54|title=Lynden Chamber of Commerce - Lynden, Washington|work=Lynden Chamber of Commerce|access-date=July 3, 2015}}</ref> Eventually the school moved to Bellingham (then "New Whatcom"), and through the efforts of [[William R. Moultray]] and George Judson (Phoebe's son).<ref>{{cite book |last=Judson |first=Phoebe Goodell |title=A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home: A Book of Personal Memoirs |orig-year=1925 |year=1984 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |location=Lincoln, Nebraska |isbn=0-8032-2563-6 |page=289|title-link=A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home }}</ref> Governor [[John McGraw (governor)|John McGraw]] signed legislation establishing the '''New Whatcom Normal School''' on February 24, 1893. In November 1895, construction began on a permanent school building, now known as [[Old Main (Western Washington University)|Old Main]], the current administration building. Designed by prominent [[Seattle]] architects Warren Skillings & James Corner, it was completed by early 1897 but could not be opened to students until funds could be secured to install heating, lighting, and to do general grounds maintenance, which were not included in the original contract.<ref name="whatcom">{{cite news |title=Whatcom Normal School |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045604/1897-01-03/ed-1/seq-12/#date1=1889&sort=relevance&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&index=11&words=Skillings&proxdistance=5&state=Washington&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=skillings&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=3 |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=The Seattle Post-Intelligencer |agency=Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers |date=3 January 1897 |page=12}}</ref> The first official class entered in 1899, composed of 88 students.

The institution that is now Western Washington University underwent several name changes. In 1901, the school's name was changed to '''State Normal School at Whatcom''' to reflect New Whatcom's name change. In 1904, the name was changed to '''Washington State Normal School at Bellingham''' when the townships of Whatcom and [[Fairhaven, Washington|Fairhaven]] joined, and again in 1937, to '''Western Washington College of Education''' when it became a four-year college. Twenty-four years later it became '''Western Washington State College''' and finally, in 1977, the institution gained university status and changed to its present name.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of WWU {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://www.wwu.edu/history-of-wwu |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.wwu.edu |language=en}}</ref>

The 1960s was a period of especially rapid growth for Western, as its enrollment increased from 3,000 students to over 10,000 during the decade. Also during this time, the [[Fairhaven College|Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies]] was founded (1967), with non-traditional education methods that would serve as a model for [[Evergreen State College]] in [[Olympia, Washington]]. Two years later, the [[College of the Environment (Western Washington University)|College of the Environment]], the nation's first dedicated environmental science college, was founded, continuing Western's trend toward "cluster" colleges. That same year, on a spring afternoon, students gained headlines by blocking [[Interstate 5]] to protest the [[Vietnam War]]. Also in 1969, the College of Ethnic Studies was established; however, after being met with significant resistance, it was dismantled in 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bryan |first=Maurice |date=1993-01-01 |title=The College of Ethnic Studies at Western Washington University: A Case Study |url=https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet/825 |journal=WWU Graduate School Collection}}</ref>

Since this period, the College of Arts and Sciences was founded (1973) and divided into the College of Humanities & Social Sciences and the College of Science & Engineering (2003); the College of Fine and Performing Arts was formed from several art departments (1975); and the College of Business and Economics was established (1976).

Today, WWU has a student body that currently consists of over 16,000 students. The university is the third largest in Washington after [[Washington State University]] and the [[University of Washington]].

==Main campus==
[[File:Western_Washington_University_Looking_North.jpg|thumb|Campus, Looking North to Downtown Bellingham]][[File:Fisher Fountain.JPG|thumb|Fisher Fountain]]

WWU's main campus is located in [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]], a city of about 95,000 people, overlooking [[Bellingham Bay]] and many of the [[San Juan Islands]]. The university is {{convert|90|mi|km}} north of [[Seattle]], {{convert|55|mi|km}} south of [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], and an hour's drive from {{convert|10778|ft|m|0|adj=on}} [[Mount Baker]]. The university is located close to [[Interstate 5]].

[[File:Wilson Library.JPG|thumb|upright|Wilson Library]]
The Bellingham campus is {{convert|215|acre|ha}}, including the {{convert|38|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Sehome Hill Arboretum]], operated jointly with the City of Bellingham. Campus facilities include an electronic music studio, an air pollution lab, a motor vehicle research lab, a marine research lab, a wind tunnel, and two [[electron microscope]]s. Western's Vehicle Research Institute has led ''[[Automobile Magazine]]'' to describe Western as "very possibly the best school in the country for total car design."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notable in the Northwest|last=Tice|first=Carol|date=27 October 2007 |website=Seattle Times |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003975210_collwebhotprograms.html|access-date=2 October 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003062013/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2003975210_collwebhotprograms.html}}</ref>

Western also has off-campus facilities at Shannon Point Marine Center in [[Anacortes, Washington]]; Lakewood, a {{convert|15|acre|ha|adj=on}} student-university facility at nearby [[Lake Whatcom]]; and [[Whatcom County]] property used for environmental and aquatic analyses.

===Public sculpture collection===
{{main|Western Washington University Public Sculpture Collection}}
[[File:Sculpture at Western Washington State College, 1970.jpg|thumb|upright|''Scepter'' (1966) by Steve Tibbetts]]

WWU's prized collection of outdoor and indoor public art sculptures is a major presence on its campus. The collection, funded by the Washington State Arts Commission, the [[National Endowment for the Arts]], and private donations, includes 36 works:<ref>About the [https://westerngallery.wwu.edu/sculpture.shtml WWU Outdoor Sculpture Collection].<br />The [https://www.wwu.edu/sites/default/files/campusmap.pdf WWU campus map] has a list of sculptures.</ref> Founded in 1960,<ref name="Western_Gallery_about">{{cite web|title=Outdoor Sculpture Collection |url=https://westerngallery.wwu.edu/sculpture.shtml|website=Western Washington University|access-date=12 April 2016}}</ref> the collection includes large-scale works by [[James FitzGerald (artist)|James FitzGerald]], [[Isamu Noguchi]], [[Robert Morris (artist)|Robert Morris]], [[Mark di Suvero]], [[Anthony Caro]], [[Nancy Holt]], [[Beverly Pepper]], [[Richard Serra]], [[Donald Judd]] and [[Bruce Nauman]], among others.

==Academics==

===Academic organization===
Western offers multiple [[bachelor's degree]]s, as well as the degrees of [[Master of Arts]], [[Master of Science]], [[Master of Education]], [[Master in Teaching]], [[Master of Business Administration]], [[Master of Professional Accounting]], [[Master of Fine Arts]], [[Master of Music]], [[Clinical Doctorate in Audiology]], and [[Doctor of Education]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a Program |url=https://gradschool.wwu.edu/admissions |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Graduate School |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref>  The university is composed of the following [[Constituent college|colleges]]:
[[File:Chemistry Building.JPG|thumb|Chemistry Building]]
[[File:Parks Hall.JPG|thumb|Parks Hall, Home of the College of Business and Economics]]
{|
|-
|valign=top|
* College of Business & Economics
* College of Fine & Performing Arts
* College of Humanities & Social Sciences
* College of Science & Engineering
* [[College of the Environment (Western Washington University)|College of the Environment]]
* [[Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies]]
* Woodring College of Education

|}

===Accreditations and approvals===
The university is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities]]. Specific programs or academic units are accredited or approved by specialized organization:

* [[Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://main.abet.org/aps/AccreditedProgramsDetails.aspx?OrganizationID=356 |title=Accredited Programs details |publisher=Main.abet.org |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> 
* [[American Chemical Society]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chem.wwu.edu/dept/undergraduate/index.shtml |title=Chemistry Department at Western Washington University |publisher=Chem.wwu.edu |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[American Speech and Hearing Association]]
* [[Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aacsb.net/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=AACSB&WebKey=CADEF77A-6573-49BB-9BA2-CE21EC93841E |title=AACSB List of Member Schools by Country |publisher=Aacsb.net |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Computing Sciences Accreditation Board]]
* [[Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cacrep.org/directory/directory.cfm?state=WA&degreeLevel=&program_type_id=&program_characteristic_prev=&keywords=&submitthis= |title=Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs – Directory |publisher=Cacrep.org |date=January 1, 1980 |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[National Association of Schools of Music]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp?page=List_Accredited_Members&memberId=b2a264f1a8a3ba009a606026b8f2cddf |title=Accredited Institutional Members |publisher=Nasm.arts-accredit.org |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> 
* [[National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncate.org/tabid/178/Default.aspx?ch=106&CO_ID=11760&state=wa |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913015704/http://www.ncate.org/tabid/178/Default.aspx?ch=106&CO_ID=11760&state=wa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |title=NCATE Accredited Institution |publisher=Ncate.org |date=January 1, 1954 |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> 
* [[National Recreation and Park Association]]
* [[Planning Accreditation Board]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planningaccreditationboard.org/index,php?id=30|title=Planning Accreditation Board: Accredited Planning Programs|last=Meehan|first=Douglas|website=www.planningaccreditationboard.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-23}}</ref>

===Rankings===
In the 2025 [[U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking|''U.S. News'' Best Colleges]] rankings, Western is ranked 18th in Regional Universities West and 9th of the region's public schools. After the Bothell and Tacoma campuses of the [[University of Washington]], Western is ranked third among this category's universities in the [[Pacific Northwest]]. The university is also ranked 13th in the region's Best Colleges for Veterans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Washington University |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/western-washington-3802 |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=U.S. News Best Colleges |publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref> ''[[Washington Monthly]]'' ranked Western number 52 nationally in their 2024 college guide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Master's University Rankings |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/masters/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=[[Washington Monthly]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Recognition |url=https://www.wwu.edu/national-recognition |access-date=2025-01-21 |publisher=[[Western Washington University]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, the [[Peace Corps]] ranked Western the top all-time producer of [[Peace Corps volunteers]] among medium colleges and universities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2024 |title=PEACE CORPS ANNOUNCES 2024 RANKINGS OF TOP VOLUNTEER-PRODUCING COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND GRADUATE SCHOOLS |url=https://www.peacecorps.gov/about-the-agency/media-center/news/peace-corps-announces-2024-rankings-of-top-volunteer-producing-colleges-universities-and-graduate-schools/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |publisher=[[Peace Corps]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Western is also a [[Fulbright Program]] Top Producing Institution,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Producing Institutions |url=https://www.fulbrightprogram.org/tpi/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website= |publisher=[[Fulbright Program]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and is ranked third among master's universities for the number of [[research doctorate]] recipients among its baccalaureate graduates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2024 |title=Survey of Earned Doctorates 2023 |url=https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2023#data |access-date=2025-01-20 |publisher=[[National Science Foundation]] |pages=Table 7-9}}</ref>

Western was ranked 155th among 328 participating institutions in the [[Sierra Club]]'s 2021 Cool Schools ranking of sustainable colleges and universities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Katie |date=September 9, 2021 |title=Cool Schools 2021 Full Ranking |url=https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/cool-schools-2021/cool-schools-2021-full-ranking |access-date=2025-01-21 |publisher=[[Sierra Club]] |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, from 2020 through 2022, the university was recognized by the Great Colleges to Work For program, published by ModernThink and ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previously Recognized Institutions |url=https://greatcollegesprogram.com/recognition/previously-recognized-institutions/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Great Colleges To Work For |language=en-US}}</ref> Western remains a member of the FirstGen Forward Network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FirstGen Forward Network |url=https://firstgen.naspa.org/programs-and-services/first-scholars-network/firstgen-forward-network |access-date=2025-01-21 |publisher=FirstGen Forward |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Western Washington University's Fall 2023 First-Year Class is its Second Largest Ever |url=https://news.wwu.edu/western-washington-university-s-fall-2023-first-year-class-is-its-second-largest-ever |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=WWU News |publisher=[[Western Washington University]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Notable degree programs===
*The [[Philosophical Gourmet Report]] mentions Western as having one of the nation's best [[philosophy]] departments among colleges and universities that offer only a B.A. in the discipline. Western was among only seven public universities so honored.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.wwu.edu/go/doc/1538/1256499/WWU-Named-Among-Best-Undergraduate-Philosophy-Programs-in-the-Country |title=WWU Named Among Best Undergraduate Philosophy Programs in the Country |publisher=News.wwu.edu |date=December 13, 2011 |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref>
*The Center for Canadian American Studies at Western Washington University is one of only two [[U.S. Department of Education]]–designated [[National Resource Center]]s for the study of [[Canada]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwu.edu/canam/index.shtml |title=Canadian-American Studies Center |website=Western Washington University |access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{main|Western Washington Vikings}}
{{see also|Western Washington Vikings women's rowing}}

WWU is an official member of NCAA Division II,<ref name=NCAA_division2>{{cite web |title=Division II Schools |url=http://www.ncaa.org/about/division-ii-schools |publisher=NCAA|date=August 2, 2018 }}</ref> having joined in September 1998. In 2011–12, approximately 350 students are participating in 15 varsity sports at Western, six for men and nine for women. In 2010–11, WWU placed seventh among 310 NCAA Division II schools in the Sports Director's Cup national all-sports standings, the second-highest finish in school history. The Vikings were sixth in 2009–10 and tenth in 2008–09. WWU has had eight straight Top 50 finishes and been among the Top 100 in each of its first 13 seasons as an NCAA II member.

In 2010–11, Western won its third straight and seventh overall Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Sports championship, taking league titles in volleyball, men's golf and women's golf, and the regular-season crown in women's basketball. The Vikings, who won the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference championship, placed second in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's outdoor track, men's indoor track and softball.

The Vikings have won an NAIA national championship in softball (1998), two [[National Collegiate Rowing Championship|National Collegiate Rowing Championships]] in women's rowing (1984, 1996),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Washington University – Athletics: Rowing – Women |url=https://wwuvikings.com/documents/2018/7/18//ROW.pdf?id=1996 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Western Washington University Athletics |language=en}}</ref> and NCAA Division II national championships in women's rowing (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2024),<ref>{{cite web |title=Rowing: Division 2 |url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/rowing/d2 |publisher=NCAA}}</ref> men's basketball (2012)<ref>{{cite web |title=Division 2 Men's Basketball |url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/basketball-men/d2 |publisher=NCAA}}</ref> and women's soccer (2016).<ref>{{cite web |title=Division 2 Women's Soccer |url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/soccer-women/d2 |publisher=NCAA}}</ref> WWU athletes have also won individual national championships in track and field.<ref>Facts about Western Athletics http://www.wwuvikings.com/ot/about-viking-athletics.html</ref>

===Varsity sports===
The Vikings field varsity teams for men and women in cross country, soccer, golf, basketball, and track & field.  Women's teams compete in volleyball, softball, and [[WWU Women's Rowing|rowing]]. Between 1903 and 2008 WWU fielded a [[Western Washington Vikings football|football team]] but folded it in hopes of saving money to keep other WWU teams competitive.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jensen |first1=Stacy |title=Western Washington Football Officials Call It Quits |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/109987-western-washington-football-officials-call-it-quits |access-date=6 December 2021 |work=Bleacher Report |date=12 January 2009}}</ref>

==Students==
For the 2024–2025 academic year, 14,651 students are enrolled, of which 86 percent are in-state Washington residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quick Facts {{!}} Admissions {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://admissions.wwu.edu/quick-facts |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=admissions.wwu.edu}}</ref>

Many students at Western Washington University participate in organized student government. The Associated Students of Western Washington University (ASWWU) is "an organization designed and run by Western students, the Associated Students (AS) seeks to ensure a fulfilling college and academic experience for all university students through the many services, facilities and programs it offers."<ref name="as">{{cite web|title=About the Associated Students|url=http://as.wwu.edu/about/|publisher=Western Washington University|access-date=August 26, 2008}}</ref> Within ASWWU, there are five main areas of focus: clubs, activities, programs, facilities & services, and governance.

The AS aims to provide "funding, space and services" to students "uniting around common interests."<ref name="as"/> The AS staff assist student development of clubs and provide advising, "continuity, referral and record keeping" throughout the entire process. Currently there are over two hundred student clubs in the following categories: Arts and Music, Cultural, Political, Special Interest, Gaming, Social Issues, Departmental, Limited Membership, Service, Religious, and Recreational.<ref name="as"/>

In the 2021–22 school year, the music department has a new course for music education majors called K-12 Classroom Accompanying Pedagogy (MUS 262.)<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Western Washington University |date=2021 |title=Music Education P-12, BMus |url=https://catalog.wwu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=18&poid=8768 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |website=catalog.wwu.edu}}</ref> A new course in Music and Sustainability (MUS 397E) is available to all Western students.

The History Department offers HIST 390 which is a special topics class with in-depth readings of primary and secondary sources. In the spring of 2023, a HIST 390 on Indigenous History of North America was offered. The class covers the formation of the Iroquois confederacy, Mississippian chiefdoms, the Illinois people, Caddo people, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HIST 390 - Topics in History - Acalog ACMS™ |url=https://catalog.wwu.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=19&coid=130728 |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=catalog.wwu.edu}}</ref>

Students who desire to set up a table in Red Square to promote their club need to sign up for a space through the university. A blue board at the West side of Red Square has general university policy on freedom of speech and also guidelines for using chalk on the bricks.

==Media==
There are multiple [[news outlets]] associated with the university.

=== Official publications ===
WWU's Office of University Communications operates several publications, including:

* ''WWU News'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=WWU News {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://news.wwu.edu/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=news.wwu.edu}}</ref> Western Washington University's main news site.
* ''Western Today'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sign up for Western Today emails {{!}} WWU News {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://news.wwu.edu/sign-up-for-western-today-emails |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=news.wwu.edu}}</ref> a campus newsletter that's published several times a week. 
* ''Window'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Window {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://window.wwu.edu/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=window.wwu.edu |language=en}}</ref> a twice-annual publication that's distributed to WWU alumni, donors, faculty and staff.

There is a livestream of Red Square filmed from the top of Bond Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Live Cameras |url=https://www.wwu.edu/western-live-cameras |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Western Washington University |language=en}}</ref>

=== Student publications ===
Student-run publications at WWU include:

* ''The Front'' (formerly ''The'' ''Western Front'')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanford |first=Nate |date=June 2, 2021 |title=We're changing the name. Here's why |url=https://www.westernfrontonline.com/article/2021/06/the-front-welcome |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=The Front |language=en-US}}</ref> is Western's [[Student newspaper|official student newspaper]] covering city-wide and greater county-wide news. It operates independently of the university itself, though articles are written, edited, and published by students of the university.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.westernfrontonline.com/page/about |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=The Front |language=en-US}}</ref> The ''Front'' was awarded as the "Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper" by the [[Society of Professional Journalists]]' Region 10 in 2017.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards winners announced in Seattle |date=2017-04-14 |publisher=[[Society of Professional Journalists]] (SPJ) |location=Indianapolis |url=https://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=1503 |access-date=2023-11-03}}</ref> The newspaper's first edition as the ''Western Front'' was published on October 10, 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Department Timeline |url=https://western.journalismalumni.online/department-timeline/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Western Journalism Alumni |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Klipsun Magazine'' is a quarterly student magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://klipsunmagazine.com/about-klipsun-magazine-fcf4f1d605a7|title=About Klipsun Magazine |website=Klipsun Magazine|date=June 15, 2022 |last1=Magazine |first1=Klipsun }}</ref> Each issue of the magazine has a specific theme, and the periodical as a whole is intended to be an example of [[multimedia journalism]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publications |url=https://chss.wwu.edu/journalism/publications |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Journalism |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref>
* ''Occam's Razor'', as well as ''Jeopardy'', are formatted as academic journals, and aim to publish academic research done by Western [[Undergraduate education|undergraduates]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Occam's Razor |url=http://occamsrazorwwu.org/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Occam's Razor |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''The Planet'' is published as part of the university's [[environmental studies]] program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Planet {{!}} Western Student Publications {{!}} Western Washington University |url=https://cedar.wwu.edu/planet/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=cedar.wwu.edu}}</ref> The magazine promotes [[Environmentalism|environmental awareness]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://www.theplanetmagazine.net/our-story |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=The Planet Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Window: The Magazine of Western Washington University'' (often referred to as ''Window Magazine''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://window.wwu.edu/about |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Window |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref> a magazine published two to three times a year by the university.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Window Magazine |url=https://cedar.wwu.edu/window_magazine/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Western Publications (Contributing to Education through Digital Access to Research (CEDAR)) |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref> It won multiple silver and bronze [[Council for Advancement and Support of Education]] Circle of Excellence awards in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WWU's Window Magazine wins trio of awards at recent CASE conference |url=https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/news/wwus-window-magazine-wins-trio-of-awards-at-recent-case-conference |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Western Today |date=March 7, 2019 |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref>

The Student Publications Office of the university publishes the ''Front'', ''Klipsun'', ''Occam's Razor'', and the ''Planet'', as well as ''Jeopardy''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Student Publications |url=https://studentpubs.wwu.edu/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Student Publications |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref> The Associated Students of Western Washington University also operates media services, including ''Wavelength'', a weekly online and printed alternative news source.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organizations |url=https://as.wwu.edu/organizations/ |website=Associated Students of WWU |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref>

The KUGS radio station accepts albums from students to air. KUGS also has a large library of vinyl records that can be listened to in the studio.

== Police ==
[[File:WWU Police Ford Police Utility (18229352202).jpg|thumb|A WWUPD car in downtown Bellingham]]
The Western Washington University Police Department (abbreviated WWUPD) are a [[university police]] force at the university. The police chief of the department is Katryne "Katy" Potts,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://police.wwu.edu/contact-us |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=University Police |publisher=Western Washington University}}</ref> who was [[sworn in]]to the position in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New police chief takes helm at Western |url=https://www.cascadiadaily.com/news/2023/jan/29/new-police-chief-takes-helm-at-western/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Cascadia Daily |date=January 29, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The department also has a staff of "Green Coats" under their [[Public safety department|public safety]] branch, who offer "safety escorts on campus, event security staffing and building access services for current students."<ref>{{Cite Instagram|postid=CnnN7UpLM4d|user=westernwashingtonuniversity|title=Did you know that our University Police Department, through its Public Safety Assistant program, offers safety escorts on campus, event security staffing and building access services for current students?|date=January 19, 2023|author=Western Washington University|author-link=Western Washington University}}</ref>

==People==
{{Excessive examples|section|date=April 2025}}

===Notable faculty===
*[[James Bertolino]], English
*[[Jeff Carroll]], Psychology
*[[Catherine T. Montgomery]], Education
*[[Suzanne Paola]], English
*[[Richard Purtill]], Philosophy (''emeritus'')
*[[Ada Swineford]], Geologist<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gait|first=Robert I.|date=1991-07-01|title=Who's Who in Mineral Names: Ada Swineford (b. 1917)|journal=Rocks & Minerals|volume=66|issue=4|pages=279–284|doi=10.1080/00357529.1991.11761629|bibcode=1991RoMin..66..279G |issn=0035-7529}}</ref>
*[[Edward Vajda]], Modern & Classical Languages
*[[Christopher Wise]], English

===Notable alumni===
*[[Robert Angel]], creator of [[Pictionary]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Ravulur|first=Nandita|title=Game Boys|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1997/10/13/smallb1.html|access-date=October 31, 2012|newspaper=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=October 12, 1997}}</ref>
*[[Richard Barlow (Intelligence analyst)|Richard Barlow]], intelligence analyst<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/oct/13/usa.pakistan|title=The CIA agent who exposed US complicity in helping Pakistan develop a nuclear bomb|date=October 13, 2007|website=the Guardian}}</ref>
*[[Tori Black]], adult film actress
*[[Carrie Brownstein]], musician and actress<ref>{{cite news|last=de Barros|first=Paul|title=Carrie Brownstein: the Northwest's funny girl |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/carrie-brownstein-the-northwests-funny-girl/|access-date=April 29, 2020|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=March 3, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Ryan Couture]] (2004), professional [[mixed martial artist]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ryan Couture UFC Bio |date=September 14, 2018 |url=https://www.ufcespanol.com/athlete/ryan-couture |access-date=2019-03-26}}</ref>
*[[Sarah Crouch]], long-distance runner<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/apr/18/hockinsons-crouch-second-u-s-finisher-in-womens-boston-marathon/ |title=Hockinson's Crouch second U.S. finisher in women's Boston Marathon |publisher=The Columbian |date=2016-04-18 |access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref>
*[[William Dietrich (novelist)|William Dietrich]], author and journalist 
*[[Ben Dragavon]], professional soccer coach
*[[Mike Duncan (podcaster)|Mike Duncan]] (2002),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chss.wwu.edu/political-science/class-notes|title = Class Notes &#124; Political Science &#124; Western Washington University}}</ref> podcaster and author
*[[Dan Erickson]], creator of ''[[Severance (TV series)|Severance]]''
*[[Brian Fairbrother]], high school soccer coach
*[[Michael Farris (lawyer)|Michael Farris]], lawyer<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Michael P. "Mike" Farris|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=93351|access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alliance Defending Freedom|url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/alliance-defending-freedom|access-date=2021-01-01|website=Southern Poverty Law Center|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mark A. |first1=Kellner |title=Religious liberty attorney Michael Farris joins National Religious Broadcasters as general counsel |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/25/religious-liberty-attorney-michael-farris-joins-na/ |work=Washington times}}</ref>
*[[Darril Fosty]] (1992), author and documentarian
*[[Ben Gibbard]] (1998), musician<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwu.edu/alumni/eblast2013/wire/april.html#gibbard|title=The Wire Spring 2013 Edition |website=Western Washington University }}</ref>
*[[John Michael Greer]], author and [[druid]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2011-06-26|title=John Michael Greer: Independent scholar, History of ideas, Cultural critic, Neo-Druidism, Hermeticism|url=https://www.morebooks.de/store/fr/book/john-michael-greer/isbn/978-613-6-77535-7|access-date=December 31, 2020|website=}}</ref>
*[[Julie Larson-Green]], former CXO of Office Experience Organization at [[Microsoft]]
*[[Brian Holsinger]], college basketball coach<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brian Holsinger - Women's Basketball Coach |url=https://gogriz.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/brian-holsinger/1688 |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=University of Montana Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Daulton Hommes]], professional basketball player
*[[Peter Kalivas]], neuroscientist, author, and academic
*[[Kelli Linville]], politician<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kelli Linville|url=http://web.leg.wa.gov/WomenInTheLegislature/Members/LinvilleK.htm|access-date=2021-01-01|website=web.leg.wa.gov}}</ref>
*[[TJ Martin]], film director<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.wwu.edu/go/doc/1538/1307895/ |title=Oscar Nominee TJ Martin to Host Screening of 'Undefeated' at WWU March 1 |publisher=News.wwu.edu |date=February 14, 2012 |access-date=August 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Kam Williams|url=http://www.afro.com/sections/arts_entertainment/story.htm?storyid=74010 |title=Oscar-Nominated Director Weighs-In on His Heartwarming Documentary &#124; The Afro-American Newspapers &#124; Your Community. Your History. Your News |publisher=Afro.com |date=February 9, 2012 |access-date=August 20, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Agnes Martin]], abstract painter
*[[Douglas Massey]] (1974), sociologist
*[[Ralph Munro]], [[Secretary of State of Washington]]
*[[Odesza|Harrison Mills]] and [[Odesza|Clayton Knight]] (2012), musicians<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forms.alumni.wwu.edu/s/1710/interior.aspx?pgid=552&gid=2&cid=1392|title=From Here to ODESZA|author=Daneet Steffens}}</ref>
*[[Heidi Grant Murphy]], [[opera]]tic [[soprano]]
*[[Sarah Myhre]], climate scientist
*[[Ijeoma Oluo]], author and writer
*[[Matt Overton]], professional football player
*[[Elizabeth Peratrovich]], civil rights activist<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Alumni Profile - Jesse Moore|url=https://chssdepts.wwu.edu/political-science/alumni-profile-jesse-moore|access-date=2020-12-30|website=www.wwu.edu/}}</ref>
*[[Heather Purser]], LGBT rights activist and Native American advocate<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/us/12tribe.html|title=Suquamish Tribe Approves Same-Sex Marriage|last=Yardley|first=William|date=2011-08-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[Bob Robertson (announcer)|Bob Robertson]], college sports broadcaster<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lazenby|first=Oliver|title=BHS grad and voice of longtime WSU sports Bob Robertson passes away|url=https://www.thenorthernlight.com/stories/bhs-grad-and-voice-of-longtime-wsu-sports-bob-robertson-passes-away,11433|access-date=2020-12-31|website=The Northern Light|date=September 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Zoa Sherburne]], author<ref>{{Cite news |last=Norton |first=Dee |date=October 10, 1995 |title=Zoa Sherburne, Children's Author |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19951010/2146044/zoa-sherburne-childrens-author |work=[[Seattle Times]]}}</ref>
*[[Larry Springer]], politician<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biography – Larry Springer|url=https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/springer/biography/|access-date=2021-01-01|language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Erin Wall]], operatic soprano<ref>{{Cite news|last=Woolfe|first=Zachary|date=2020-10-14|title=Erin Wall, 44, Dies; Acclaimed Soprano in Mozart and Strauss|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/arts/music/erin-wall-dead.html|access-date=2020-12-31|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[Hiro Yamamoto]], musician

==See also==
*[[Northwest Film School]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Western Washington University}}
*{{Official website}}
*[http://wwuvikings.com/ Western Washington Athletics website]

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