About Us

What is the Campus Community Coalition?
The Campus Community Coalition was founded in 1999 by Western Washington University President Karen W. Morse and Bellingham Mayor Mark Asmundson to prevent and address problems related to student alcohol misuse.

Our mission is to promote working relationships and communication between the campus and community by striving to enhance shared responsibility, prevent and address problems related to student alcohol misuse, and contribute to the health and safety of the entire community.

As part of WWU’s comprehensive alcohol and drug prevention program, the Coalition is housed within Prevention and Wellness Services at WWU.

Who are our members?
The Coalition’s philosophy is that shared problems – such as student alcohol misuse – require shared solutions. Our diverse membership reflects this collaborative approach: neighborhood association representatives, local bars and tavern owners, Bellingham Police Department and Liquor Control Board officers, rental property owners, City of Bellingham officials, and WWU faculty, staff and students.

How is the Coalition organized?
The Coalition is currently staffed by a part-time Coordinator, a Student Activities Coordinator, and an Office Assistant. Click here for contact information.

The Coalition has five work groups that focus on specific projects. The work groups generally meet several times a year to give input into designing and implementing the Coalition’s projects.

The Coalition also holds three all–member meetings per year, which give members the opportunity to network, receive updates on the Coalition’s projects, and discuss Coalition-related issues. Click here to view minutes of past meetings.

What is the model for the Coalition’s work?
The Coalition’s work is based on the model of environmental change. This means that our projects are not focused directly on individuals, but instead on changing the environment in which individuals and groups live and make decisions about their health.

For example:

• LateNight@WWU enhances the campus social environment to help students make meaningful connections and socialize without using alcohol.
• The NEST Project seeks to create a neighborhood social environment with deepened student involvement and positive relationships between students and non–student community members.
• Our enforcement efforts focus on a policy environment, by demonstrating and communicating Bellingham’s commitment to enforcing laws related to underage drinking and disruptive parties.

How is the Coalition funded?
The Coalition is currently funded by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).