Where is Fairhaven located?
The city of Bellingham is located in the northwest corner of Washington state, with Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands to the west, Mt. Baker and the Cascade Mountains to the east, Vancouver, BC 50 miles to the north and Seattle 90 miles to the south. Fairhaven College can be found on the southern edge of Western's campus, nestled into the trees of Sehome Hill.
How is Fairhaven College related to Western?
Fairhaven is one of seven colleges located within Western Washington University. Our role is to provide a liberal arts education which stresses interdisciplinary studies, innovative instruction, narrative grading and student involvement in developing their own avenues of study.
What are the other colleges within Western?
In addition to Fairhaven, the other colleges within Western are: The College of Arts and Sciences; The College of Business and Economics; The College of Fine and Performing Arts; Huxley College; Woodring College of Education; and The Graduate School. As part of their concentrations, Fairhaven students may choose courses from the other undergraduate colleges.
What is Fairhaven's Core Curriculum?
Fairhaven students enroll in the core Curriculum which is designed to widen students' exposure to areas of study and to make connections among disciplines. The methodologies and scope of knowledge in the major areas of human inquiry and creativity are explored and they are used by students as springboards to finding and designing Concentration proposals. Fairhaven's interdisciplinary Core Curriculum replaces Western's General University Requirements (GURs). Students who transfer to Fairhaven with college credit from other institutions may have some of the Core Curriculum waived.
Core Requirements
Can I get into a graduate program with a Fairhaven degree?
Fairhaven graduates have been admitted to graduate and professional schools throughout the world. These institutions recognize that Fairhaven students have successfully taken responsibility for the content and direction of their education and are well prepared for graduate level study.
Why do students choose Fairhaven?
Fairhaven students are attracted to the opportunity to structure their own education. Fairhaven stresses independent thought, choice, critical thinking, self-discipline, self-awareness, and social commitment. Special features include a core curriculum, the Interdisciplinary Concentration, independent study, and discussion/seminar style classes. Students enjoy the advantage of personal contact with faculty in a stimulating small college atmosphere, with access to the resources of a large university.
What is student life like at Fairhaven?
Fairhaven students are well-known for their involvement in Western's activities. They write for the Western Front, have shows on KUGS-FM, participate in intercollegiate athletics and contribute to literary publications, musical, and dramatic productions and art shows. They coordinate, work for, and hold leadership positions in many Associated Students organization. The activity of standing committees at Fairhaven is important to the College, and students, faculty and staff hold photons on all of them. The standing committees consist of the Curriculum Committee, Faculty Appointment and Affairs Committee, Rehiring, Tenure and Promotion Committee, Student Advisory Committee, Scholarship Committee, and the Technology Advisory Committee. Membership is for the academic year and meetings are open to the College community.
At the beginning of every fall quarter, Fairhaven hosts a retreat for all new students entering the College. This is a fun, relaxed events; a time to begin meeting people, building friendships and developing a sense of community for the year ahead.
In addition to introductory seminars for new freshmen and transfer students, the College also provides orientation sessions and faculty advisement each quarter to support new students, while peer advisors assist in schedule planning and answering questions.
In June, Fairhaven College celebrates graduation with a colorful ceremony following the Western commencement. Each student is presented by a faculty advisor, with a few words about accomplishments and challenges faced on his or her journey through Fairhaven.
What is the "Outback?"
The Outdoor Educational Learning Site (OELS), located at the southern edge of Fairhaven College, is a five acre site known as the Outback Farm. OELS containing a one-acre Class II wetland and licensed organic farm, provides a hands-on environmental education site for students and classes from Western's Woodring College of Education, Huxley College of Environmental Studies, and Fairhaven College, as well as the Bellingham Public Schools.
Is it true that Fairhaven College does not use letter grades?
Yes. Every student in a Fairhaven course completes a narrative self-evaluation and receives a written evaluation from the instructor in place of a letter grade.
I plan to transfer into Fairhaven College from another institution. Will all my credits count toward graduation from WWU/Fairhaven?
When a new student enters Fairhaven we provide a credit evaluation which indicates those courses we accept which count toward graduation from Western, as well as those credits which waive Fairhaven's Core requirements.
How do I apply to Fairhaven College?
For admission consideration submit the following to:
Office of Admissions
Western Washington University
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9009
360.650.3440
• The Western Washington University Uniform
Undergraduate Application form (please mark the
box on page one of the WWU application indicating
"Fairhaven College;"); or you may use our online
application form: http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~admit/applynow.html
• $50 application fee
• Submit official transcripts from each college,
university or professional school attended before or
after graduation from high school;
• High school transcripts (if applying as a freshman or
with 40 or fewer transfer credits); and
• Freshmen submit official SAT and/or ACT test results
sent directly from the testing agency or high school
guidance counselor.
And submit the following to:
Admissions Coordinator
Fairhaven College/WWU
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9118
360.650.3680
Fairhaven.College@wwu.edu
• A Personal Essay of Educational Intent
(write about academic interests, personal
interests, work experiences, travel, hobbies,
multicultural experiences, etc.);
• Two Letters of Recommendation from
Faculty and/or Employers.
• Call to schedule a personal interview
with the Fairhaven Admissions Coordinator.
Students must follow deadlines for application as noted in Western's undergraduate application packet.
Questions about Fairhaven should be directed to the College Office. |
