Whatcom Community College (WCC or Whatcom) is a public community college in Bellingham, Washington, in Whatcom County. Established in 1967, Whatcom has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1976.[1]
Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, online courses, and Community & Continuing Education classes.[2]
WCC's 72-acre campus, located in north Bellingham, is made up of 12 buildings: Auxiliary Services Building, Baker Hall, Cascade Hall, Foundation Building, Health Professions Education Center, Heiner Center, Kelly Hall, Kulshan Hall, Laidlaw Center, Pavilion, Roe Studio, and Syre Student Center.[2][3]
WCC competes in the Northern Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).[4] WCC has intercollegiate teams in three sports: men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball. Soccer and volleyball seasons begin in September and end in late November. Basketball begins in mid-November and runs through the end of February. All of the Orcas' home games are held in either the Pavilion or the Orca athletic field on campus.[5]
In October 2014, the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated Whatcom Community College as a national center of academic excellence in information assurance and cyber defense. WCC is among the first community colleges in the nation to earn this distinction.[6]
Whatcom Community College was one of three schools to receive the Progress and Succeed Award from Hobsons, an education software and services company, in July 2014. The award recognized WCC for using the company's online student advising and support technology, which replaces manual processes and integrates degree planning, advising, and scheduling.[7]
According to the Aspen Institute, WCC was among the nation's top 150 community colleges. The non-profit institute selected the colleges from a pool of more than 1,000 public two-year colleges that have demonstrated exceptional levels of student success. As of 2014, of Washington state's 34 community and technical colleges, Whatcom is one of six to receive this recognition.[8]
WCC's auxiliary services building earned LEED Silver certification for its sustainable design elements. The building, which opened in spring 2013, is home to the campus facilities department and the copy, print and mail center.[9][10]
During a high-profile White House cybersecurity meeting in August 2021, WCC announced they have been designated one of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education National Cybersecurity Centers. This will allow students to be fast tracked from academics to employment in cybersecurity and to train WCC's cybersecurity faculty.[11]
Bellevue College Big Bend Community College Blue Mountain Community College Centralia College Chemeketa Community College Clackamas Community College Clark College Columbia Basin College Douglas College
Edmonds College Everett Community College Grays Harbor College Green River College Highline College Lane Community College Linn-Benton Community College Lower Columbia College Mt. Hood Community College North Idaho College
Olympic College Peninsula College Pierce Portland Community College Rogue Community College North Seattle College Shoreline Community College Skagit Valley College South Puget Sound Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College Community Colleges of Spokane Tacoma Community College Treasure Valley Community College Umpqua Community College Walla Walla Community College Wenatchee Valley College Whatcom Community College Yakima Valley College
48°47′43″N 122°29′38″W / 48.79528°N 122.49389°W / 48.79528; -122.49389