Please call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 or use Starfish to schedule an appointment. Both in-person and virtual appointments are available.

New to Whatcom? Consider attending a New Student Orientation session to get to know the campus and enroll in your first quarter of classes!

Drop-in advising is designed for questions that can be addressed in 15 minutes or less. It is on a first-come, first-serve basis and no appointment is needed. Examples of things you can talk about include selecting classes for next quarter, completing the graduation application, making schedule changes, verifying degree requirements, etc.  

Advisors are offering drop-in advising during the following times:

• Tuesdays from 10am-12:30pm (in Orca Central)
• Wednesdays from 1pm-3pm (in Orca Central)
• Thursdays from 10am-12:30pm (over Zoom)*
  • Zoom meeting ID: 861 374 4511
  • Zoom link

*Running Start drop-in advising occurs on Thursdays over zoom. Information can be found here.

• AAS DTA with a future major in...
  • Communication Studies, Dance, Drama, English Composition & Literature, Film, Humanities/Interdisciplinary Studies, Journalism, Visual Art, or World Languages
• Associate in Music (transfer degree)

Hannah Swanson is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• Visual Communications ATA

Current students can log in to Starfish to schedule with Hannah. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance scheduling an appointment. 

Shannon Vacek is the advisor for students working toward a Professional Technical Business Degree and/or Certificate. These programs prepare students to enter the workforce directly after completion:

• Accounting AAS
• Accounting Certificate 
• Accounting Certificates of proficiency
• Business Administration AAS
• Finance AAS
• Finance Certificates of proficiency
• Hospitality & Tourism Business Management AAS
• Hospitality & Tourism Business Management Certificate 
• Office Administration Certificate
• Office Administration Certificate of proficiency
• Retail Management Certificate
• Retail Management Certificate of proficiency 

Shannon Vacek is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• Associate in Business (transfer degree)
• AAS DTA with a future major in Economics 
• Applied Business Management BAS

Current students log in to Starfish to schedule with Shannon. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance scheduling an appointment. 

For students working toward the following degrees, please email advise@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3080:

• AAS DTA with a future major in...
  • Anthropology, Communication Studies, Geography, History, Humanities/Interdisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or World Languages

Kelly Bashaw is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• AAS DTA with a future major in...
  • Archaeology, Environmental Studies
• AS-T with a future major in Archaeology

Current students log in to Starfish to schedule with Kelly. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance scheduling an appointment. 

For students working toward the following degrees, email advise@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3080:

• AAS DTA with a future major in Education/Teaching, or Psychology

Hannah Swanson is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• Criminal Justice AAS
• Criminal Justice Certificate
• Early Childhood Education AAS
• Early Childhood Education AAS-T
• Early Childhood Education Certificate
• Early Childhood Education Certificates of Proficiency
• Paralegal Studies AAS
• Paralegal Studies Certificate
• Paralegal Studies Certificate of proficiency

Current students log in to Starfish to schedule with Hannah. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance scheduling an appointment. 

Not sure what you want to study? For guidance and support in identifying your career direction, please contact the Career, Job & Transfer Center.  

Any advisor can meet with students that are exploring their area of study. To talk more about your options, please call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 or email advise@whatcom.edu.

For students working toward the following degrees, email advise@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3080:

• AAS DTA with a future major in Physical Education

Hannah Swanson is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• Massage Therapist Certificate
• Medical Assisting AAS
• Medical Assisting Certificate
• Associate in Nursing (transfer degree)
• Nursing Assistant Certificate of proficiency
• Physical Therapist Assistant AAS
• Pre-Healthcare Programs (Allied Health)
• Social Work BAS
• Substance Use Disorder Professional AAS
• Substance Use Disorder Professional Certificate 

Kelly Bashaw is the advisor for the students with the following degrees:

• Pre-Medical Programs 

Current students log in to Starfish to schedule with Hannah or Kelly. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance. 

Caroline Burns is the advisor for students working towards the following degrees:

• AAS DTA with a future major in Computer Science
• Computer Information Systems AAS
• Computer Information Systems Certificates
• Computer Information Systems Certificates of Proficiency
• Cybersecurity AAS-T
• IT Networking- Cybersecurity BAS
• Software Development AAS

Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• Computer Engineering AS-T/MRP

Hannah Swanson is the advisor for students working toward the Criminal Justice-Computer Forensics AAS. 

Current students log in to Starfish to schedule with Caroline, Petra or Hannah. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance scheduling an appointment. 

Walt Mehring is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• AAS DTA with a future in...
  • Anthropology

Kelly Bashaw is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• AAS DTA with a future major in...
  • Archaeology or Mathematics
• AS-T with a future major in...
  • Anthropology/Archaeology, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, or Ocean Science
• Pre-medical programs (medicine, pharmacy, veterinary, etc.)

Caroline Burns is the advisor for students working toward the following degree:

• AAS DTA with a future major in Computer Science 

Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• AS-T with a future major in Physics
• Engineering AS-T/MRP

Alex Sommerfield is the advisor for students working toward the following degrees:

• AAS DTA with a future major in Kinesiology/Exercise Science
• AAS DTA with a future major in Nutrition 

Current students log in to Starfish to schedule with Kelly, Caroline, or Petra, or Alex. Anyone can call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 for assistance scheduling an appointment.

ELL classes are for any refugees, immigrants (undocumented or documented), or US citizens wanting to learn English. Please email ELL@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3060 to connect with an ELL advisor. 

For more information, visit the English Language Learners (ELL) webpage. 

The Adult High School (HSC/HS+) Diploma is an online, accelerated program that helps you complete the required classes you have remaining for a Washington State High School Diploma. Please email HSC@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3069 to connect with an HSC/HS+ advisor. 

The GED is a certificate of high school equivalency for individuals who have not completed high school. Please email ABE@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3060 to connect with an advisor for the GED. 

 For more information, visit the High School Completion & GED webpage. 

You should have an International Programs Advisor assigned to you.

Forgot who your advisor is? Contact Beth Robinson, Ulli Schraml, or Ellen Harris, and they will put you in touch with your assigned advisor. 

For more information, visit the International Advising webpage. 

Whatcom Community College offers adult basic education (ABE) classes to help you develop skills in reading, writing, and math for college and career readiness. Please email ABE@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3060 to connect with an ABE advisor. 

For more information, visit the Reading, Writing, and Math Foundational Skill Development webpage. 

Please use Starfish to schedule an appointment with a Running Start advisor. Advisors are available year-round, even during the summer, and are assigned based on your last name. 

• Allison Kaneshige (last names A-K)
• Jackie Ferry (last names L-Z)

As always, email rstart@whatcom.edu or call 360.383.3123 if you need any assistance.

For Running Start drop-in advising hours, please see the Running Start webpage.

If students are planning to use VA education benefits, they must meet with a Veteran Services advisor. 

• Current students, please log in to Starfish, email daguilar@whatcom.edu, or call 360.383.3019 to schedule an appointment with David. 
• Prospective students, please call 360.383.3015 or email veterans@whatcom.edu to schedule an appointment.
• Students can also call Orca Central at 360.383.3080 to schedule an appointment. 

For more information, visit the Veteran Services webpage.