University Services

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 The Archives at Central Washington University was established in 2004 to act as the repository for official and unofficial records that document the history of the university. The archives also serve as a regional repository to house, preserve, and promote the history of Central Washington. It is located on the fourth floor of the James Brooks Library on the Ellensburg campus.

The primary objectives of the archives are to appraise, collect, organize, describe, preserve, and make available university records and regional collections of permanent historical value. It also aims to support research, teaching, and public awareness of the rich heritage of central Washington and the university.

The archives consist of records, photographs, and artifacts produced by CWU or its predecessors: Washington State Normal School at Ellensburg (1891-1937); Central Washington College of Education (1937-1961); and Central Washington State College (1961-1977). The collection contains documents published by the university as well as materials produced by university administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The collection includes administrative reports, department and committee records, student publications, photographs, printed records, and the correspondence of former presidents, deans, and other university officials.

The regional manuscript collection, which is part of the archives, consists of historically significant 19th- and 20th- century personal papers, business and organizational records, photograph collections, and other materials produced in central Washington State by individuals, businesses, and organizations that reside, or have resided, in the region. One-of-kind unpublished works from the counties of Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima are represented in the collection. The collection includes materials relevant to the history and cultural development of central Washington. 

 The Center for Spatial Information (CSI) encourages, supports, and coordinates research projects for students and faculty using hardware and software technologies that gather and analyze “spatial” information to solve problems in the social sciences, natural sciences, and business. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), high-precision Global Positioning System (GPS), ground-penetrating radar, precision conventional laser surveying, and satellite image processing are some of the spatial technologies used by CWU faculty and students. Typical GIS applications include projects in resource geography, archaeology, field biology, geology, and planning. CSI also relies on the Department of Geography’s GIS laboratory, where a variety of undergraduate and graduate GIS courses are taught, and numerous large and small research projects are conducted using state-of-the-art computing systems.

CSI is also part of the National Consortium for Geospatial Innovations in America (RGIS) program, which is funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. As part of eight national RGIS centers, the goal of RGIS-PN is to evaluate emerging geospatial technologies and to develop methods to use geospatial data to solve real problems on the ground. These pilot projects are then used as a foundation on which to build educational materials for training appropriate personnel in rural agencies and communities around the Pacific Northwest, and to disseminate information to a broader rural audience via collaborations with other western universities, journal articles, bulletins, conference presentations, and web-based outreach. Where possible, RGIS-PN attempts to incorporate stakeholders and interest groups in GIS-based community and watershed modeling, and subsequent decision-making processes.

CSI encourages creative, interdisciplinary uses of spatial technology, and actively works with the private and government sectors to identify problems to which CWU personnel and equipment can provide effective solutions. CSI’s home page is at  www.cwu.edu/~csi.

The Central Washington Archaeological Survey (CWAS) is a research and public service office that is part of the Department of Anthropology. CWAS conducts archaeological investigations in the central counties of the state and promotes public involvement in the identification and protection of regional archaeological resources. CWAS involves faculty and students in research projects funded through external grants and contracts. CWAS cooperates with state and federal agencies, Native American tribes and nations, professional archaeologists throughout the state, and state and local archaeological societies in the study and preservation of central Washington’s archaeological resources.

 The GIS laboratory supports computer hardware/software systems for analysis of spatial data (maps, aerial photos, satellite imagery, digital terrain data, etc.). The laboratory provides an excellent teaching and research facility for faculty and students from a variety of fields, including anthropology, archaeology, biology, geography, geology, land-use planning, resource management, and sociology. In addition, the laboratory offers contract and consultation services to public and private agencies for GIS applications. Additional information can be found at http://www.cwu.edu/~geograph/.

 The Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) provides student computer lab management services, telephone services to the Ellensburg campus and university centers, networking and computer operations and services, maintenance and repair of university-owned computers, coordination of new purchases, desktop support, help desk services, and applications development and maintenance. ITS staff members work closely with all segments of the university to ensure that information technology is broadly developed, acquired, used, and available to all students, faculty, and staff. ITS information is available on the web at www.cwu.edu/~its and ITS can be contacted at 509-963-2924. The ITS HelpDesk can be contacted at 509-963-2001.

Faculty and students have easy access to computers and software in 30 general-purpose and discipline-specific computer labs spread throughout major academic buildings on campus. Every residence hall room is equipped with an Ethernet connection providing Internet services for those students that bring computers to campus. Students, faculty, and staff who reside off campus can access CWU technology resources (i.e. e-mail, file services, etc.) via the Internet.

Wireless access to the CWU network and the Internet is available across the campus and via laptop checkout in the SURC and library. Information on wireless at CWU is online at www.cwu.edu/~wireless.

University Police and Parking Services (UPPS) provide police service to the Ellensburg, WA campus of CWU. UPPS operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, providing commissioned and state certified officers with complete arrest and investigatory authority. The department employs 12 fully commissioned police officers by the state of Washington, two parking enforcement officers, and various clerical support personnel.

UPPS works closely with neighboring law enforcement agencies. “Blue-light” emergency telephones are installed in or adjacent to many parking lots and walking paths throughout the campus. Each phone has an emergency button and a two-way speaker that directly connects to KITTCOM.

UPPS employs students in a program called Courtesy Assistance Team or CAT. CAT provides walking companions from campus buildings to parking lots or residence halls. CAT employees also check doors to buildings and walk through buildings that are open.

Throughout the school year we give 60-75 crime prevention programs and have been invited to present “active shooter response” to numerous classes. We routinely work with the student newspaper and radio station, as well as other media, to provide safety tips and timely warnings of criminal activity.

Central Transit provides transportation from campus to various locations in the city of Ellensburg and other points of interest. For more information regarding this program please visit http://www.hopesource.us/routeMap.html.

Our mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for our community through education and enforcement. “Educate, Prevent, Protect”

Emergency Phone: 911
Non-emergency: 509-925-8534
Business Phone: 509-963-2959
Fax: 509-963-2750
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Courtesy Assistance Team (CAT) 509-963-2950
Central Transit: 509-933-2287