Western Washington University

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Western Washington University

Image:Wwu logo 71.gif

Established February 24, 1893
School type Public
President Karen Williams Morse
Location Bellingham, WA, USA
Enrollment 12,684 undergraduate,
2,457 graduate
Faculty 618
Campus 215 acres (870,000 m²)
Sports teams Vikings
Website www.wwu.edu

Western Washington University (also referred to as WWU or Western) is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Western has consistently ranked among the top schools in its category and according to US News and World Report's ranking, is the number 2 public master’s-granting school in the western region<ref>USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2006: Universities-Master's (West): Top Publics</ref>, while placed 18th overall (both public and private)<ref>USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2006: Western Universities-Master's: Top Schools</ref>.

The university is noted for its orientation to teaching and the liberal arts, Vehicle Research Institute (once noted by Automobile Magazine as "very possibly the best school in the country for total car design"), and Outdoor Sculpture Collection. Also, the Philosophical Gourmet Report mentions Western as having one of the best philosophy departments among colleges and universities that only offer a B.A. in the discipline<ref>The Philosophical Gourmet Report 2004 - 2006 :: Undergraduate Study</ref>.

Contents

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History

Western was established on February 24, 1893 as the New Whatcom Normal School, a teacher's college for women, after Governor John McGraw signed legislation. The first class entered in 1899, composed of 88 students.

The institution that is now Western Washington University has since undergone several name changes. In 1901, the school's name was changed to State Normal School at Whatcom to reflect New Whatcom's name change. Again, in 1904, the name was changed to Washington State Normal School at Bellingham when the townships of Whatcom and Fairhaven joined, and again in 1937, to Western Washington College of Education when it became a 4-year university. Twenty-four years later it became Western Washington State College and finally, in 1977, the institution gained university status.

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, Fairhaven College was founded (1967), with non-traditional education methods that would serve as a model for The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Two years later, the Huxley College of the Environmental 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.

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 Sciences & Technology (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). During the 1999-2000 school year, Western celebrated its Centennial.

Today, WWU has a major presence in Bellingham's economy, and contributes significantly to the political social, and artistic aspects of the city. With a student body that currently consists of over 12,000 students, the university is the third largest in Washington. Dr. Karen Williams Morse has been serving WWU since 1993 as the University's 12th president.

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Campus setting

Image:High Above WWU.jpg WWU's scenic location in Bellingham, a rapidly-growing city of about 70,000 people, overlooks Bellingham Bay and many of Puget Sound’s 172 San Juan Islands. It was originally built on a peat bog, and due to this and the area's geography, the university has had to address problems from its buildings slowly sinking into the ground. The university is 90 miles north of Seattle, 55 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and an hour’s drive from 10,778 foot (3285 m) Mount Baker. Interstate 5 is located close to the university.

The campus is 215 acres (870,000 m²), including the 38 acre (154,000 m²) Sehome Arboretum, operated jointly with the city of Bellingham. Western also has off-campus facilities at Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington; a 15 acre (61,000 m²) student-university facility at nearby Lake Whatcom; and Whatcom County property used for environmental and aquatic analyses.

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Outdoor Sculpture Collection

Image:Wwusculpture.jpg WWU's prized collection of outdoor 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 24 works:

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Academics

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Academic organization

Western offers bachelor's degrees and the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Music. The university is composed of the following colleges:

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Accreditation

The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; National Association of Schools of Music; National Recreation and Parks Association; American Speech and Hearing Association; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; Computing Sciences Accreditation Board; Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business; and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs.

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Athletics

Image:Western Washington University Viking Ship.jpg

WWU is a NCAA Division II member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The university's mascot is the Viking.

The Vikings won the first three GNAC All-Sports Championships and placed 31st among 225 NCAA II schools in U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup standings in 2003-04. In January 2004, the women's basketball team became the 15th NCAA school to win 700 games. A total of 59 Vikings earned league all-star honors and 34 were GNAC academic all-stars in 2003-04. Starting fall 2006 the Vikings will be participating in football as a member the North Central Conference after the GNAC announced it would discontinue the sport following 2005.

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Trivia

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Notes

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External links

Template:North Central Conference Template:Great Northwest Athletic Conference

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