Students being welcomed to campus
Western Welcome

Welcome to Western! We are thrilled to start this new school year with all of our new and returning students. We’ve put together a variety of Western Welcome events this fall to help you start the year strong as you get to know campus and everything it has to offer. Cheer on our student athletes at games with free admission, get to know clubs and campus resources at AS Fall Info Fair, come together as a class for Convocation, and get connected with your community through concerts and movie nights. There are so many fun events on tap just waiting for you to join them!

 

To request disability accommodations, please contact the sponsoring department or organization for the event or contact the New Student Services/Family Outreach office for assistance at NSSFO@wwu.edu or call us at 360-650-3846. We can help you connect! 

New Student Welcoming Convocation

fall leaves in Western colors, blue and green

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Western kicks off the academic year with the official welcoming ceremony, New Student Convocation. This formal ceremony introduces new students to academic life at Western and is the first assembling of the new academic class. Our Convocation Ceremony marks a new beginning and is the first of the formal ceremonies that frame academic life at Western. The Western community looks forward to welcoming new students to the University and commemorating the first step on your academic journey here!

Learn about Convocation

Early Arrival Programs & Events

Sunday, September 17 - Saturday, September 23, 2023 

Monday, September 18

September 18, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field

Thursday, September 21

September 21, 2023, 9:00am
All Campus
September 21, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field
September 21, 2023, 7:00pm
Carver Gym

Friday, September 22

September 22, 2023, 9:00am
All Campus

Saturday, September 23

September 23, 2023, 9:00am
All Campus
September 23, 2023, 10:00am
Lake Padden Park; Bellingham, WA
September 23, 2023, 11:00am
Viking Field
September 23, 2023, 7:00pm
Carver Gym

Fall Signature Events

Sunday, September 24 - Saturday, September 30, 2023

Sunday, September 24

September 24, 2023, 9:00am
All Campus
September 24, 2023, 11:00am
Virtual, 11:00am-12:30pm
September 24, 2023, 5:00pm
All Halls

Monday, September 25

September 25, 2023, 8:00am
Virtual, 8:00am-5:00pm
September 25, 2023, 1:00pm
Miller Hall, 1:00pm-2:30pm
September 25, 2023, 2:00pm
Meet on the Mann Family Skybridge, 2:00pm-4:00pm
September 25, 2023, 2:15pm
Meet at Info Desk in Wilson Library, 2:15pm-3:00pm
September 25, 2023, 2:30pm
Miller Hall, 2:30pm-4:00pm
September 25, 2023, 3:00pm
Outdoor Center Viking Union 150, 3:00pm-4:30pm
September 25, 2023, 9:00pm
Wade King Student Recreation Center, 9:00pm-Midnight

Tuesday, September 26

September 26, 2023, 10:00am
Carver Gym, 10:00am-11:00am (doors open at 9:30am)
September 26, 2023, 11:00am
Viking Union & Wade King Student Rec Center, 11:00am-2:00pm
September 26, 2023, 2:00pm
Meet on the Mann Family Skybridge, 2:00pm-4:00pm
September 26, 2023, 2:00pm
Outdoor Center Viking Union 150, 2:00pm-4:30pm
September 26, 2023, 2:15pm
Meet at Info Desk in Wilson Library, 2:15pm-3:00pm
September 26, 2023, 8:00pm
Communications Lawn (Rain locations: AH 100 & AW 210)

Wednesday, September 27

September 27, 2023, 8:00am
All Campus
September 27, 2023, 10:00am
Virtual
September 27, 2023, 11:00am
Viking Union & Wade King Student Rec Center, 11:00am-2:00pm
September 27, 2023, 4:00pm
Outdoor Center Viking Union 150, 4:00pm-6:00pm
September 27, 2023, 6:00pm
WWU & Downtown Bellingham

Thursday, September 28

September 28, 2023, 12:00pm
Outdoor Center, Viking Union 150, 12:00pm-3:00pm
September 28, 2023, 4:00pm
Outdoor Center Viking Union 150, 4:00pm-6:00pm
September 28, 2023, 4:00pm
Viking Union Multipurpose Room (VU MPR) & Multicultural Center, 4:00pm-6:00pm
September 28, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field

Friday, September 29

September 29, 2023, 3:30pm
Outdoor Center Viking Union 150, 3:30pm-5:30pm
September 29, 2023, 5:00pm
Viking Union Multipurpose Room (VU MPR), 5:00pm-7:00pm
September 29, 2023, 5:00pm
Red Square/Carver Gym, 5:00pm-9:00pm

Saturday, September 30

September 30, 2023, 12:00pm
Lakewood Watersports Facility, 12:00pm-6:00pm

Continuing Events

Sunday, October 1, 2023 - Saturday, October 28, 2023

October 03, 2023, 1:00pm
Multicultural Center 735, on the 7th floor of the Viking Union
October 05, 2023, 4:00pm
Harrington Field
October 05, 2023, 4:00pm
Viking Union Multipurpose Room (VU MPR), 4:00pm-6:00pm
October 05, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field
October 06, 2023, 9:00pm
Viking Union, 9:00pm-Midnight
October 07, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field
October 11, 2023, 12:00pm
Viking Union 735, 12:00pm-1:00pm
October 11, 2023, 1:00pm
Red Square, 1:00pm-3:00pm
October 12, 2023, 4:00pm
Disability Outreach Center, Wilson Library 165, 4:00pm-5:30pm
October 12, 2023, 7:00pm
Carver Gym
October 14, 2023, 7:00pm
Carver Gym
October 18, 2023, 12:00pm
Viking Union 735 & Virtual, 12:00pm-1:00pm
October 19, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field
October 20, 2023, 12:00pm
Wade King Student Recreation Center, MAC Gym, 12:00pm-4:00pm
October 21, 2023, 10:00am
Viking Field
October 21, 2023, 4:00pm
Harrington Field
October 26, 2023, 4:00pm
Harrington Field
October 26, 2023, 7:00pm
Harrington Field
October 28, 2023, 12:00pm
Viking Field
October 28, 2023, 1:00pm
Harrington Field
October 28, 2023, 7:00pm
Carver Gym

WWU Fall Family Weekend

jack-o-lanterns with I heart WWU, Make Waves, and WWU carved into them

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, October 20, 21, & 22, 2023

Western welcomes parents and family members back to campus to re-connect with their student during our annual weekend of fun, family-friendly events and activities. Choose your own adventure or from a flexible schedule of on and off-campus activities, comedy shows, student performances, faculty speakers, department open houses, outdoor excursions, WWU athletics, art exhibits, campus and Bellingham tours, and more! While most scheduled events are free or low cost, those requiring tickets will be available for purchase from the Fall Family Weekend website in late September.

Learn more about Fall Family Weekend