This spring, The Outback Farm at Western Washington University will implement new infrastructure and begin its Preservation Station, with new projects and continued efforts to provide food and community resources for students.
Last summer, 10 students from Western Washington University traveled to Denmark for two weeks to study sustainable design. After returning, they began working on three sustainable projects for Bellingham’s waterfront, which were unveiled March 20, 2026.
Western Washington University's photography club, the Society for Photographic Education, is holding a public gallery show at Voxel Gallery in downtown Bellingham from May 18-30.
Amazon Hub lockers have arrived on north and south campus near residence halls at Western Washington University, bypassing residence hall mail rooms for Amazon package delivery. Western’s Residence Life Programming Board and university mail services hope these lockers provide convenient package pickup for students living on campus.
Western’s annual Alumni Awards happened on Friday, May 15, to present the five award winners, allowing students and attendees to hear them speak in person and over video about their experiences as Western students, and the work they've been doing after graduating.
Western Washington University students and staff can now use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at Miller Market to purchase groceries and grab-and-go snacks. This change, which became effective on April 20, 2026, is a step toward improving food security on campus.
On May 6, 2026, students from across Western Washington University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts came together to work toward stepping outside of their comfort zones to learn music and dance in different ways.
From being assigned random genres to navigating the rush of last-minute editing, Western Washington University’s 48-hour film festival challenges students to create an original short film in just two days. Registration for this unique event is open now on the 48-hour film festival website. Kickoff is Friday, May 15 at 5:00 p.m. and films will be screened at the Pickford Film Center on May 21.
On Saturday, May 16, the Planting Hope Fun Run 5K will bring costume contests, food donations and community fundraising to Western Washington University. The 5K aims to support the local nonprofit Growing Veterans and students facing food insecurity.
Student delegates from around the world attend the National Model United Nations conference. This year, Western’s team of delegates won big, receiving an Outstanding Delegation award, which is only given to about 13% of groups that attend the conference each year, according to Riley Kessler, a Western Model U.N. delegate.
After years of conversation and planning, the Lhaq'temish-ew'xw e tse XwLemi' – House of Healing will open to the public on May 14, 2026, during the Native American Student Union's annual Spring Powwow and Coastal Jam. The longhouse sits at the south end of the Sehome Arboretum.
With Western Washington University Police reporting 10 stolen bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters in April, students are doubting the security of bike racks on campus. Amid the ongoing rise in theft, students who haven’t already experienced losses are searching for preventative solutions.
This year, Western Washington University’s racing club requested $20,000 and was given $22,000 from Porsche Club of America, which is – as far as sponsorship donations go – the largest sum of money the team has ever received.
Western Washington University's Arts & Music Productions began hosting WWU Bellingham Art Crawl on the first Friday of October and has continued the tradition on the first Friday of each month.
When Western Washington University first-year Adam Sutherland tried to buy food on campus, he had cash in hand, but no way to use it. After his debit card was deactivated and its replacement was still in the mail, Sutherland said he was unable to make purchases on campus due to the lack of cash payment options.
As the quarter picks up and deadlines begin to stack, some Western Washington University students turn to the yoga mat for relief. Yoga, often viewed through the American lens as a workout or just stretching and balancing, involves much more and is spreading through student communities at Western. On campus, the yoga community is growing and the benefits are noticeable, especially in stress and mood regulation.
With the election season wrapping up on May 10th for Western Washington University’s student government, the candidates are eager to share plans for initiatives such as renewing student fees and bringing about policies that support LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups.
As spring weather at Western Washington University arrives, it’s common to see groups of three to eight people standing shoulder to shoulder in the sun on campus lawns, bouncing around a small beanbag. At Western, students love the community this hands-free pastime – known as hacky sack – creates.
Organizers of Paddle and Flow, a paddling and yoga event, encourage students to step away from the academic grind and into nature on Saturday, May 9. The Lakewood Boathouse event combines outdoor activity and stress relief for attendees.
Operational student employees at Western received official certification as a union by the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission on April 15, 2026. Over 1,000 non-academic student workers were able to join Western Academic Workers United (WAWU), which had previously served only educational student employees.
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