Academic calendar
Fall Quarter 2026 runs Sep 21, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Summer Quarter 2026
- Fall Quarter 2026Relevant now
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 15 of 15 terms
A
- ASU
- Asian Student Union, a student organization focused on celebrating Asian culture and identity.
- ASWCC
- Associated Students of Whatcom Community College, the official student government body.
B
- BSU
- Black Student Union, a group providing a space for students identifying with the African American experience.
C
- CDR
- The official building abbreviation for Cedar Hall used in class schedules and campus maps.
- Cedar
- Cedar Hall, the only on-campus residence hall at WCC, which opened in 2020.
D
- Dining Hall
- The main food service area located within the Syre Student Center.
N
- NISU
- Native and Indigenous Student Union, a community space for Native students to connect and build community.
O
- Orcas
- The official mascot of WCC, used by students to refer to the college community and athletic teams.
P
- P.O.D.
- Place of Deposit stations located in Syre and Heiner where students can add funds to their Orca Cards.
R
- Running Start
- A common term for high school juniors and seniors who are enrolled in college-level courses at WCC for dual credit.
S
- SOCS
- Students of Color in STEM, a club for minority students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
- Sodexo
- The primary dining and catering service provider that manages the campus food services.
T
- The Cove
- The campus cafe and espresso stand located in the Syre Student Center, known for handcrafted drinks and baked goods.
- The Horizon
- The long-running, student-produced newspaper and magazine of Whatcom Community College.
W
- Whatcom Wednesdays
- A weekly event where students receive discounts at dozens of local businesses in downtown Bellingham by showing their ID.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- ctcLink
- The statewide online portal used by students to register for classes, check grades, and manage financial aid.
- Heiner
- The Heiner Center (HNR), which houses the campus library and the Learning Commons.
- HPEC
- The Health Professions Education Center, the specialized facility for nursing and health-related programs.
- Kelly
- Kelly Hall (KLY), an academic building housing various classrooms and faculty offices.
- Kulshan
- Kulshan Hall (KUL), a primary academic building used for science labs and general classrooms.
- Laidlaw
- The Laidlaw Center (LDC), the administrative building containing the cashier's window and registration services.
- Learning Commons
- The integrated study space in the Heiner Center that includes the library, tutoring, and the Student Help Desk.
- Orca Card
- The official WCC student ID that also serves as a WTA bus pass, library card, and pre-paid printing card.
- Orca Central
- The one-stop service center for admissions, registration, and financial aid questions.
- Student Help Desk
- The primary resource for technical support and ID card issuance located on the main floor of the Learning Commons.
- Syre
- The Syre Student Center (SYRE), the central hub for student life, the auditorium, and dining services.
- The Pavilion
- The campus athletics facility and gymnasium used for sports and recreation.
- the_cove_at_wcc
- The Cove At WCC
- wcc_dining_hall
- WCC Dining Hall
- WTA
- Whatcom Transportation Authority, the local bus system that provides unlimited rides to students with a valid Orca Card.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Quarter 2026 runs Sep 21, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 15 approved campus terms and 15 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.