[11][12] WWU also operates a marine center in Anacortes[13] and academic locations in Everett[14] and the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas.

[16] Eventually the school moved to Bellingham (then "New Whatcom"), and through the efforts of William R. Moultray and George Judson (Phoebe's son).

[17] Governor John McGraw signed legislation establishing the New Whatcom Normal School on February 24, 1893.

Designed by prominent Seattle architects Warren Skillings & James Corner, it was completed by early 1897 but could not be opened to students until funds could be secured to install heating, lighting, and to do general grounds maintenance, which were not included in the original contract.

Twenty-four years later it became Western Washington State College and finally, in 1977, the institution gained university status and changed to its present name.

That same year, on a spring afternoon, students gained headlines by blocking Interstate 5 to protest the Vietnam War.

WWU's prized collection of outdoor and indoor public art sculptures is a major presence on its campus.

The collection, funded by the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private donations, includes 36 works:[22] Founded in 1960,[23] the collection includes large-scale works by James FitzGerald, Isamu Noguchi, Robert Morris, Mark di Suvero, Anthony Caro, Nancy Holt, Beverly Pepper, Richard Serra, Donald Judd and Bruce Nauman, among others.

[38] Western is also a Fulbright Program Top Producing Institution,[39]and is ranked third among master's universities for the number of research doctorate recipients among its baccalaureate graduates.

[41] Additionally, from 2020 through 2022, the university was recognized by the Great Colleges to Work For program, published by ModernThink and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

"[56] The AS staff assist student development of clubs and provide advising, "continuity, referral and record keeping" throughout the entire process.

Currently there are over two hundred student clubs in the following categories: Arts and Music, Cultural, Political, Special Interest, Gaming, Social Issues, Departmental, Limited Membership, Service, Religious, and Recreational.

The History Department offers HIST 390 which is a special topics class with in-depth readings of primary and secondary sources.

[58] Students who desire to set up a table in Red Square to promote their club need to sign up for a space through the university.

A blue board at the West side of Red Square has general university policy on freedom of speech and also guidelines for using chalk on the bricks.

WWU's Office of University Communications operates several publications, including: There is a livestream of Red Square filmed from the top of Bond Hall.

[75] The Associated Students of Western Washington University also operates media services, including Wavelength, a weekly online and printed alternative news source.