Introduction
Dr. Roger W. Gilman, Dean
A College Within the University
Founded in 1967, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies is an undergraduate division of Western Washington University. Its purpose is to offer students the opportunity to take an uncommon degree of responsibility for the structure and content of their own education. Fairhaven is a small learning community where students design their own degree programs by drawing on the resources of a larger University. The college offers training in writing and research, critical thought and creative expression, independent judgment and scholarship, self-evaluation and narrative assessment.
As a learning community, Fairhaven is defined by five attributes: (1) interdisciplinary study, (2) student designed studies and evaluations of learning, (3) examination of issues arising from a diverse society, (4) development of leadership and a sense of social responsibility, and (5) curricular, instructional and evaluative innovations.
At Fairhaven, students are challenged to bring what they learn to bear on human concerns and crucial real-world problems, to experiment, to discover and to act. This style of education supports the development of certain values, virtues and skills: self-discipline, resourcefulness, initiative, self-development, adaptability, reasonable risk-taking, leadership, sensitivity to injustice, and respect for persons. Fairhaven courses prepare students to listen carefully and engage respectfully in discussion, to value and respect different world views and to appreciate multiple voices reflecting the diversity of experiences in our society.
Fairhaven College is committed to interdisciplinary study and serving a diverse student body in terms of age, ethnic background, academic interest, and life experience. The College is committed to a gender-conscious and multicultural approach to topics, resources and classroom practices. Courses and other learning experiences provide an opportunity to examine the impacts and contemporary and historical roots of race, class and gender relations.
Students are encouraged to find their connection with the world, to understand relationships of thought and action, theory and experience, to cultivate opportunities to apply what they learn and to develop a strong sense of themselves as individuals in a community, including the benefits and responsibilities that come from membership in it. Courses and experiences encourage students to practice and assume leadership roles and to challenge leaders responsibly and intelligently.
Fairhaven College’s role in the University is not only to provide a learning environment for students interested in self-designed study and interdisciplinary learning, but also to help the University ask questions about teaching and learning. Members of the Fairhaven community seek to learn from colleagues in other colleges both within and outside of Western.
A Structure for Learning
The structure of learning at Fairhaven College consists of close working relationships between teachers and students; we are known for our practice of student-centered learning. Classes are small and the emphasis is on open discussion and the exchange of ideas. Our classes are interactive; we believe everyone is an essential participant in the creation of knowledge and value – the discovery and decision process.
In any given quarter, students may select classes offered across the University and/or design independent study projects in consultation with their faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to formulate and carry out independent research projects. Faculty members sponsor and monitor these projects and help students develop the resources necessary to complete them. Field work, practica, internships, and study abroad can also form an important part of a Fairhaven education. Students are encouraged to work outside their comfort zone and to find ways to connect their learning with challenges and opportunities in the real world, ways to understand relationships of thought and action, theory and expertise, ways to cultivate opportunities for applying what they learn through campus and community volunteer activities, and through internships.
Collaborative learning is often used together with independent research. Narrative assessments, including a student self-evaluation and written responses from faculty replace letter grades, for charting a student’s growth and learning experience.
Academic Programs
Degree Requirements
Requirements for bachelor’s degrees awarded by Fairhaven College are as follows:
- The Fairhaven Core Program
- A Fairhaven Interdisciplinary Concentration (the individually designed major), the Upside Down Program or other WWU departmental major
- Minimum of 180 credits, including 60 credits at the upper-division level and 45 credits in residence
- Completion of at least 25 credits at Fairhaven and 50 credits outside of Fairhaven
- Completion of WWU upper-division writing proficiency requirements
- Scholarship and credit standards as prescribed by Fairhaven College
NOTE: Requirements common to all undergraduate divisions of WWU are listed elsewhere in this catalog.
Students completing the Fairhaven Interdisciplinary Concentration earn the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts in Education. Fairhaven College, in conjunction with majors in other Western Washington University departments, offers the following undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Arts in Education; Bachelor of Fine Arts; Bachelor of Music; Bachelor of Science.
Fairhaven students may not complete the General Studies major.
Special Opportunities
Independent field studies abroad or community internships might consume a full quarter’s registration. The Adventure Learning Program (ALG) provides opportunities for selected Fairhaven students to spend 10 months immersed in a cultural environment different than their own while engaging in a scholarly project of their own design. In recent years, ALG grant recipients have lived and conducted research in Madagascar, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, India, Korea, Thailand, Brazil, and Lebanon.
Professional Education. For students wishing to acquire teaching credentials, Western’s Woodring College of Education offers a choice of majors — including certain Fairhaven Concentrations — appropriate to public school teaching. Faculty advise students in the construction of their programs and work closely with the College of Education in helping students to complete requirements.
CIEL Student Exchanges. Fairhaven College is a member of The Consortium for Innovative Environments in Learning (CIEL), a growing network of distinguished, progressive higher education institutions. Through this network, students at Fairhaven College have the opportunity to spend a quarter or semester on one of the Consortium campuses. Visit www.Cielearn.org.
Information on these and other special opportunities can be accessed on the Fairhaven College Website or is available at the main Fairhaven office.
College Admission and Advisement
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies has selective admission and enrolls first-year students, transfer students, and students from other WWU programs fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. New applicants to Fairhaven and to the University complete the WWU Undergraduate Application (available online or in print form). Indicate interest in Fairhaven College in your application. Send the standard application, transcripts, and required test scores to: Office of Admissions, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9009.
In addition to the WWU application, Fairhaven requests a personal statement, two letters of recommendation and an interview (in person or by telephone). For more information or to make an appointment, please call 360-650-6680.
Students currently enrolled in other University programs may apply to transfer to Fairhaven’s program by the quarterly application deadlines. Current WWU students applying to Fairhaven do not need to submit transcript test scores or the WWU Undergraduate Application.
Visitors are welcome and with advance notice, appointments can be arranged with Fairhaven advising and admissions staff, students or other WWU staff.
Advising
Students benefit from high quality advising; extensive and intensive advising is a hallmark of the Fairhaven College learning experience for all its students. All full-time faculty members are academic advisors supported by professional staff, and student peer mentoring. Great thought has been given to the design of advising at Fairhaven – multiple advisors and kinds of advising at multiple points along the path from admission to graduation. We provide an organized sequence of required advising engagements with every student. Advising is continuous and embedded in the curriculum.
The role of the faculty advisor is to mentor, advise, question, recommend resources, and ultimately, oversee and approve the student’s satisfaction of degree requirements for graduation. The faculty advisor is a useful resource for facilitating connections for students with other departments and classes on campus; the advisor can also be an influential and important advocate for students seeking internships, study abroad recommendations, exceptions to policies, and graduate school information and references. Faculty advisors review each student’s writing portfolio, facilitate student transition conferences, and are essential mentors in supporting the development of the student interdisciplinary concentrations.
A professional Advising Coordinator oversees the complex system of advising at Fairhaven. This person advises new students regarding credit evaluation, degree planning, graduation processes, narrative assessment, and programs and services outside the college. The Advising Coordinator regularly reviews the academic progress of each Fairhaven student and works with faculty advisors, support personnel, and students to promote retention and satisfactory academic progress.
Faculty
ROGER W. GILMAN (2006) Dean and Professor, BA, Fairhaven College, Western Washington University; MA, PhD, University of Chicago.
BABAFEMI AKINRINADE (2008) Assistant Professor. LL.B University of Ife; BL Nigerian Law School, LL.M Obafemi Awolowo University, LL.M. University of Notre Dame, J.S.D. University of Notre Dame.
KATHRYN L. ANDERSON (1972) Professor. BA, MA, University of Iowa; PhD, University of Washington.
GARY BORNZIN (1981) Senior Lecturer. BS, California Institute of Technology; MS, PhD, University of Colorado.
JOHN L. BOWER (1998) Associate Professor. BS, PhD, Cornell University.
LESLIE CONTON (1980) Professor. BA, Oberlin College; MA, PhD, University of Oregon.
MARIE D. EATON (1975) Professor. BA, Pomona College; MEd, PhD, University of Washington.
LAWRENCE J. ESTRADA (1989) Associate Professor and Director, American Cultural Studies. BA, University of California, Santa Barbara; MEd, Whittier College; PhD, University of California, Los Angeles.
JOHN V. FEODOROV (2005) Assistant Professor. BFA, California State University-Long Beach; MFA, Vermont College.
JULIE A. HELLING (2000) Associate Professor. BA, University of Iowa; JD, University of Michigan Law School.
DANA C. JACK (1982) Professor. BA, Mount Holyoke; MSW, University of Washington; EdD, Harvard University.
DANIEL M. LARNER (1968) Professor. AB, Harvard College; MS, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
RAQUEL MONTOYA-LEWIS (2003) Associate Professor. BA, University of New Mexico; MSW, JD, University of Washington.
NIALL Ó MURCHÚ (2001) Associate Professor. BA, MA, University College, Dublin; MA, PhD, University of Washington.
DAN FIRST SCOUT ROWE (1998) Instructor. BA, Montana State University at Billings; MA, Purdue University.
TANIS S’EILTIN (1992) Associate Professor. BA, University of Alaska, Fairbanks; MFA, University of Arizona.
STAN TAG (1997) Associate Professor. BA, Whitworth College; MA, PhD, University of Iowa.
MIDORI TAKAGI (1994) Associate Professor. BA, Oberlin College; MA, American University; MPhil, PhD, Columbia University.
JOHN TUXILL (2007) Assistant Professor, BA Williams College, MS University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD, Yale University.
Faculty specialties. Areas of faculty study and interest include African American and Asian American history, American literature, anthropology, art and art history, constitutional and environmental law, creative writing, cross-cultural psychology, ecology, economics, history and philosophy of science, human development, mathematics, multicultural issues and literature, music, Native American issues, natural sciences, nature writing, ornithology, physics, poetry, psychology of women, queer studies, scriptwriting, social theory, theater and drama, theory and practice of teaching, video production, women studies, ethics, philosophy of nature, political philosophy, and other areas.
Other members of the Western Washington University faculty from various departments and programs contribute to Fairhaven’s curriculum as teachers of classes, members of advisory committees for concentrations and as lecturers. Visiting faculty and guest lecturers from other universities, and from a variety of other occupations, also add to the resources available to Fairhaven students.
Other College Information
Tuition, Financial Aid and Scholarships
Fairhaven students pay the same tuition and fees as students of other colleges in the University. See other sections of this catalog for specific details. Information regarding federal, state and private financial assistance and application procedures should be addressed to: Financial Aid , Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9006.
Fairhaven offers scholarships to selected students. Check the college’s website or the WWU scholarship center website for information.
The Registration Process
University Registration. Registration for Fairhaven College offerings occurs during scheduled University registration periods. Class schedules (timetables) are available online. Registration for Fairhaven College variable credit classes and independent studies is via the Web4U Independent Study Proposal process.
Fairhaven College Students. Credit earned by Fairhaven students taking Fairhaven classes may apply to the core requirements, to the concentration or to the general 180-credit requirement for graduation. Credit earned in other WWU classes by Fairhaven students may apply to the major or concentration, or to the 180-credit requirement for graduation.
Other WWU Students. Fairhaven College credit earned by students affiliated with Western’s other colleges is applied to the general 180-credit requirement for graduation. Occasionally department advisors in other colleges may approve Fairhaven courses as electives for majors. Fairhaven’s courses and studies are open to all WWU students (unless indicated in prerequisites or otherwise).
The Fairhaven College Quarterly Class Descriptions. Available prior to registration in the fall, winter and spring, this publication is available online. It announces schedule changes and additions and describes in detail Fairhaven’s offerings each term. Students are advised to consult the schedule before finalizing their programs.
Grading Evaluation
At Fairhaven, the A-to-F grading system is not used. Classes and studies are taken on a “Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory” basis. Academic credit is granted after requirements have been satisfactorily completed and the student has submitted a written self-evaluation of his or her work to faculty instructors. Faculty respond with a written evaluation of the student’s progress. The student-faculty evaluation becomes a part of the student’s academic file, and forms part of the student’s credentials for applying for employment and for graduate programs.
The official transcript, held in the University’s Registrar’s Office, lists all Fairhaven and other WWU classes (normally graded) and studies completed (A cumulative GPA is not displayed on the official transcript for Fairhaven Students). Fairhaven College follows the Student Records Policy of Western Washington University found elsewhere in this catalog. Fairhaven issues a separate official set of narrative evaluations to supplement the official transcript by request.
Assessment
A culture and pedagogy of self-assessment and reflection have been significant features of teaching and learning at Fairhaven College since its founding as an experimental college. Assessment is part of learning.
Students assess their own learning in each course and are also asked to assess the course and the faculty. Students assess their writing skills in the development of a writing plan, and later in their education revisit that plan when they create their college writing portfolio. A cumulative self-assessment, the Summary and Evaluation, is required of all students prior to graduation.
Faculty provide individual narrative assessment of students in each course they teach, and provide on-going assessment of student growth in the advising process. Faculty regularly revisit and respond to outcomes of their teaching through reviewing student self-evaluations, faculty and course evaluations. Faculty peer review of teaching practices happen regularly through team teaching, shared concentration committee mentorship of students, shared advising (often in student Transition conferences) and collaborative curriculum review and college governance.
The Fairhaven Curriculum Committee, which includes faculty, staff, and students, periodically assesses the entire core program and processes.
The Law, Diversity & Justice (LDJ) Concentration is an interdisciplinary course of study for students who are interested in law, diversity and access to the legal system for under-served communities. The Law, Diversity and Justice Concentration is open to all Fairhaven students with a passion for social justice. The concentration welcomes students who desire to effect change and who have the potential to act as leaders and role models in their communities using legal knowledge and processes. Through the Fairhaven College Concentration Seminar and faculty advisement, students combine the required Law, Diversity and Justice curriculum with courses throughout the University to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in law school and other careers in social justice work.
LDJ Required Curriculum Students pursuing the Law, Diversity, and Justice Concentration must take the courses in addition to satisfying the Fairhaven College Core curriculum. The required classes in Law, Diversity, and Justice are:
- FAIR 211b The American Legal System
- At least one of the following courses:
- FAIR 393b Rights, Liberties and Justice in America
- FAIR 334c International Human Rights
- FAIR 412e Advanced Topics in Law
- FAIR 422k Advanced Legal Writing and Analysis
Fairhaven Core Program and Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate Degrees and Programs
Fairhaven Interdisciplinary Concentration, BA
Fairhaven Interdisciplinary Concentration, BAE
The Upside-Down Program, BA
Fairhaven Courses
