Mar 19, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

About Central


History

For almost 125 years, CWU has developed a distinctive expertise in preparing tomorrow’s leaders to be exemplary in their professions. Since established by the Washington State Legislature in 1891 as Washington Normal School, CWU has persistently redefined and advanced the face of higher education in Washington State.

Mission

Student success is the focus and measure of everything we do.

Vision

CWU is a national leader with award-winning quality, an exemplary institution with high national rankings providing an affordable education in beautiful Kittitas Valley at the center of Washington State. We are first in the Northwest with signature programs in Education, Science, Music, and more, developing strong and creative leaders in a vastly changing global world.

Core Values

CWU believes in:

  • Hands-on experiences in learning
  • Affordability
  • Diversity, inclusivity, equity
  • Safe and supporting learning and living environments
  • Unrestrained intellectual inquiry and exploration
  • Small classrooms, individualized instruction, meaningful mentoring
  • Transparency and collegiality
  • Innovation, state-of-the-art tools and facilities

Equal Opportunity Policies

CWU’s policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, or status as protected veterans. The university administers an affirmative action program for employment purposes and complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders. Policy statements on affirmative action, gender equity, and sexual harassment, as well as discrimination complaint and resolution policy and procedures available at www.cwu.edu/resources-reports.

The person responsible for institutional compliance with most federal and state laws and institutional policies dealing with discrimination is Gail Farmer, Manager, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 509-963-2206 or farmer@cwu.edu. She also serves as one of the university’s Title IX coordinators. Please contact Pam Wilson, Administrator, Disability Services for any questions or concerns related to disability-related laws and institutional policies, 509-963-2018 or wilsonp@cwu.edu. Human Resources is located in Bouillon Hall, room 140.

Accreditation

The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Some programs have been accredited by specialized accrediting associations, including:

American Chemical Society
American Council for Construction Education
American Dietetic Association Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS - Professions
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Schools of Music
Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology