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 is 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 contain 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 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 One-of-kind unpublished works from the counties of Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima are represented in the collection.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 Disability Services (CDS) facilitates access to university programs, activities and services for students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities. Utilizing documentation of disability and information obtained in consultation with the student or employee, CDS staff assesses the effects of a student’s disability on his/her ability to access the educational process and the effects an employee’s disability has on his/her ability to perform the essential functions of his/her job. Based on this assessment, CDS staff identifies academic adjustments and reasonable accommodations designed to ensure these individuals “equal access” to all facets of the University. In addition, CDS works to sensitize the University community to the needs of individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments are determined for each student or employee on an individual basis. Students or employees wishing to request disability accommodations are responsible for contacting CDS.

Examples of accommodations/academic adjustments available to CWU students with disabilities include, but are not limited to, textbooks and academic materials in accessible formats (large print, Braille, electronic text), alternative examination procedures, sign language interpreters, speech-to-text transcription, permission to audio-record lectures, note-taking assistance, early registration, priority snow removal routes, special classroom furniture, access technology and temporary disability parking permits.

 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.

Center for Student Empowerment

The Center for Student Empowerment, located on the second floor, of the SURC in room 250, offers programs and services that support the overall development of students. It strives to empower students to reach their full potential, both academically and personally, by facilitating various types of learning opportunities that focus on gender, violence prevention, nontraditional students and veterans.
Some examples of educational programs are: Women’s History Month, Manuary (men’s activities and discussion groups), Women’s Achievement Celebration, National Women and Girls Sports Day, Operation E.L.F. (nontraditional student holiday event), and the Nontraditional Student Welcome Back Events.
The Center of Student Empowerment team includes the Early Childhood Learning Center, Family Resource Center, and Student Affairs (Westside Centers). It can be reached at 509-963-2127 or ecenter@cwu.edu. Find us online at www.cwu.edu/diversity.

Central Transit

A student transportation system in its seventh year of operation, Central Transit has been extremely popular. Highly visible mini-busses operate year round, connecting students with the Ellensburg business community. Central Transit boasts 25 signed pick-up and drop-off locations both on and off campus. Central Transit experienced significant growth with more than 35,000 student rides annually. Students have enjoyed the convenient stops at shopping areas, restaurants, and movie theaters.

Central Transit operates two routes during the academic school year. Summer hours vary, for additional information; hours and a map of the routes please visit the website at http://www.hopesource.us/routeMap.html.

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.

Diversity Education Center

The CWU Diversity Education Center (DEC) takes pride in its diverse student body and offers events, programs, and space that foster greater cross-cultural understanding, that celebrate diversity and inclusion, and honor individual perspectives. Our signature, thematic, and outreach programs include heritage months, Bias Incident response, Safe Space workshops, and much more. We provide resources to students on a variety of topics including diverse populations, LGBT issues, and social justice issues. All students are invited to participate in the center’s activities.

Educational Technology Center

The Educational Technology Center (ETC), located in Black Hall, provides instructional technology services, support, training and curriculum resources to all faculty, staff, and students in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The ETC library houses various library collections, computers, and a Multimedia Production Lab. The ETC is intended to serve as an exemplary model of educational technology resources and educational curriculum materials for K-12 pre-service and in-service teachers in the state of Washington. Wireless Internet access and computer workstations with printing capabilities are available. For more information call 509-963-3293 or visit the website at www.cwu.edu/~etc.

Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center (FRC) serves CWU, Ellensburg, and Kittitas County by utilizing a family perspective to enrich and improve the quality of individual and family life. The FRC offers educational programming to support families throughout their lives, coordinates family related research and civic engagement opportunities, and serves as a clearinghouse of information for resources of interest to families in the region. The FRC can assist students or other members of the community to identify services that can help to meet their family related needs and advocate for the needs of families on campus. The FRC works in close collaboration with the Center for Student Empowerment and the Early Childhood Learning Center, and seeks to partner with academic departments and community agencies to improve the access to information and knowledge that can strengthen families at CWU and the surrounding community. It is located in Michaelsen Hall, room 328, and can be reached at 509-963-2785. It’s also online at www.cwu.edu/~frc.

 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 www.cwu.edu/geography.

 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, applications development and maintenance, university website maintenance, and media services support in DE classrooms at the Ellensburg campus and at the 6 university centers. 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 Help Desk can be contacted at 509-963-2001.

Faculty and students have easy access to computers and software in 23 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.

James E. Brooks Library

The Brooks Library provides resources and services to stimulate intellectual curiosity and facilitate learning and research within the academic community. The library’s personnel are engaged in the creation of materials collections that support the curriculum and the provision of access to those materials. More specifically, these activities include the collection and preservation of materials, user instruction and guidance, information retrieval, analysis and organization, global access to library and information resources, and collaboration with instructional faculty in developing programs, collections, and research.

Students and other library users have 24/7 Web-based access to over 1.3 million books, films, government documents, maps, audio recordings, videos, and DVDs on site in the Brooks Library. Additionally, the library provides similar access to more than 28 million information items from the academic libraries of the Northwest that belong to the Orbis Cascade Alliance. Full-text electronic and/or paper subscriptions to over 15,000 periodicals and academic journals are available electronically or on site.

Library staff is available to provide personal service to students 98.5 hours per week. Group study areas and an open computer lab are available to those who visit the main library in Ellensburg. Students at the Centers have access through a toll-free phone number or e-mail and chat access to reference librarians. Internet connectivity for personal laptops is available on each floor of the library and 55 laptops are available for checkout by students. The libraries staff, services, and collections support the educational efforts of students, foster intellectual, social and ethical development, and assist students in locating, using, and evaluating information to equip them for independent, lifelong learning.

 University Police and Parking Services (UPPS) provides 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 

Student Employment

CWU hires more than 3,300 students to work on campus each year. Working allows students to meet a portion of their college expenses and gain valuable work experience.  Career-related employment is strongly encouraged. Student Employment posts notices for on- and off-campus job openings on the Student Employment website and on the bulletin board on the first floor of Barge Hall, including summer job opportunities. Visit the Student Employment office home page at www.cwu.edu/student-employment for additional information, and to view the online job board. Please see the Student Employment website regarding Work Study opportunities. Students must be eligible for need-based financial aid to be considered for Work Study. See the CWU Financial Aid home page for details on types of aid available at www.cwu.edu/financial-aid.

 

Veteran Services and Outreach 

The Veterans Center is located in the Bouillon Hall, room 206N. Students wishing to receive education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) must contact the Veterans Center office. Notification is NOT automatically sent to the DVA when a veteran or other eligible person enrolls. For more information, call 509-963-3028 or visit the website at www.cwu.edu/veterans. The Veterans Center provides information and guidance to veterans, dependents, and others regarding questions on Veterans GI Bill Education Benefits. It also provides information on veterans in foreign conflict grants and tuition waivers including police, firefighters, veteran survivors and dependents. Selected programs of study are approved by a Washington State Approving Agency for enrollment of those eligible for benefits under the Title 38 and Title 10 U.S. codes.