BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Western Washington University is rolling out a new plan to boost enrollment as the school year gets underway.

Bellingham’s getting a lot busier, as Wednesday was the first day of classes at Western.

Afterwards, hundreds of students filled the streets of downtown during the school’s annual First Night Out.

University President Sabah Randhawa welcomed in the incoming class during his State of the University Address last week.

He noted the challenges the school has faced over the past year, including layoffs in the face of a $23 million budget deficit.

In an effort to prevent further layoffs, Randhawa announced a new plan he calls the Presidential Strategic Enrollment Growth Initiative.

The initiative will automatically offer admission to eligible high school seniors in the area and make it easier for community and technical college students to transfer credits to Western.

The school is aiming to bring in a class of 3,200 first-year students and 1,200 transfers in fall 2026.