Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
The Upside-Down Degree. The usual route to a BA degree calls for general education in the first two years and specialization in the last two years. Fairhaven’s Upside-Down BA gives selected students an option to reverse this process. Graduates of Washington state community colleges who hold the ATA, the AAS or other approved two-year technical degrees may apply to transfer their specializations to Fairhaven as the completed major. Stages 1 and 3 of the curriculum and a minimum of 90 credits are then required for graduation. Students are expected to complete as much as possible of their elective credit at the upper-division level (courses numbered 300 or above). Each application for this program is reviewed on an individual basis. Students are urged to contact Fairhaven College early in the admissions process.
Admission and Declaration Process
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.
Visitors are welcome and with advance notice, appointments can be arranged with Fairhaven advising and admissions staff, students or other WWU staff.
Fairhaven Grade Requirements
At Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, 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. Credit will be entered on Fairhaven students’ official transcripts only if they fulfill their academic obligations.
The official transcript, held in the University Registrar’s office, lists all Fairhaven and other Western Washington University classes completed. A cumulative GPA is not displayed on the official transcript for Fairhaven students. The student-faculty narrative evaluations are held in the student’s permanent academic file and form part of the student’s credentials for applying for employment and for graduate programs. For students enrolled in Fairhaven College a complete record of academic achievement includes both the official transcript and an official set of narrative evaluations to supplement this transcript.
Credits attempted but not completed will be recorded in the student’s Academic History with an NX. The college does not assign a K grade (incomplete) to Fairhaven students, but instead does not award credit until a class is completed. If a registered class is never completed and no credit is awarded, the incomplete class does not appear on the student’s official transcript. An NX, indicating “no credit awarded,” will appear in the Grade column of the student’s unofficial Academic History.
Students receiving an NX may request a Time Extension Contract from the instructor outlining the terms of work to be completed for the awarding of credit. The maximum deadline for credit to be awarded for an NX class is one year after the quarter of enrollment, pending instructor approval.
Federal regulations require all schools participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs to have a standard of Satisfactory Progress, which applies to all applicants/recipients of financial aid as one determinant of eligibility. Classes receiving an NX will count toward credits attempted in Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress and may affect eligibility for aid.
Fairhaven College follows all other student records policies of Western Washington University found elsewhere in this catalog.
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