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 E. Brooks Library on the Ellensburg campus.

The primary objectives of the Archives is to 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 One-of-kind unpublished works from the counties of Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima are represented in the collection.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. 

It is the goal of the Center to promote equity, respect and social justice through our programs, structures, outreach and participation in the curricular, co-curricular lives of students, faculty and staff. Through programming an advocacy the center will work to build and nurture a campus community that understands and celebrates diversity, while facilitating inclusion at all levels of the university and supporting academic and creative expression. Our signature, thematic, and outreach programs include heritage months, Power and Privilege workshops, Safe Space workshops, and much more. We provide resources to students on a variety of topics including diverse populations, LGBT issues, gender issues and social justice issues. All students are invited to participate in the center’s activities.

The Center for Spatial Information and Research (CSIR) 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. CSIR 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.

CSIR 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. CSIR’s home page is at  www.cwu.edu/spatial-information.

Central Transit

Central Transit is a transportation service created many years ago. Students expressed a need for a convenient and consistent busing service. Through the years CT grew and now operates through a partnership with many entitles including the City of Ellensburg and CWU.

CT connects students with the community as it offers convenient stops around campus and at popular shopping areas, restaurants and stores throughout the City of Ellensburg. For more information go to 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.

Disability Services (DS), and Human Resources (HR), in partnership with the university community, are dedicated to creating an inclusive campus that celebrates diversity and provides individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to fully participate in and benefit from all aspects of the employment and educational environments. Utilizing documentation of disability and information obtained in consultation with the student or employee, DS staff assesses the effects of a student’s disability on his/her ability to access the educational process. HR staff assesses the effects an employee’s disability has on his/her ability to perform the essential functions of his/her job. Based on this assessment, DS/HR staff identifies reasonable accommodations designed to ensure these individuals equal access to all facets of the University. Students or employees wishing to request disability accommodations are responsible for contacting DS/HR.

Examples of accommodations available to CWU students and/or employees with disabilities include, but are not limited to, textbooks and academic/employment materials in accessible formats (large print, Braille, electronic text, PC-read audio), 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 or workplace furniture, access technology and temporary disability parking permits.

DS also serves as a resource for student, faculty, staff, and the community regarding disability issues.

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. 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 contains up-to-date computer hardware and various software suites employed in the analysis of spatial data such as maps, aerial photos, satellite imagery, and digital terrain models. The laboratory provides a 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.

Information Services (IS) provides computer, communications, enterprise application and networking services to the Ellensburg campus and university centers located throughout the state. IS 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. IS information is available on the web at www.cwu.edu/its and IS can be contacted at 509-963-2924. The Service Desk (formerly 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 and most residence halls have wireless access. 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/its-helpdesk/connecting-cwu-wireless-network.

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 are available to provide personal service to students 100 hours per week. The Academic and Research Commons on the first floor provides spaces for students, faculty and staff to work collaboratively to enhance teaching and learning, and is staffed by librarians, and the Writing, Math and Tutoring centers. 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 to Library services and materials at the main library and libraries at the Des Moines and Lynnwood Centers. Also academic support is available 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 Brooks Library and 73 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.

Multimodal Education Center

The Multimodal Education Center (MEC) embraces the vision that Technology Empowers Learning. We provide instructional and multimedia technologies, support, and training for all CWU students, faculty, and staff. Our goal is to create opportunities for exploration of emerging technologies, digital media, and innovative learning spaces. We can help you create multimedia projects, as well binders, posters, and bulletin boards. We have laptops, video cameras, and projectors for checkout, both Apple and PC computer labs, and an educational curriculum library. For more information visit us in Black Hall, call 509-963-3293 or visit the website at www.cwu.edu/ed-tech/.

Student Employment

The university supports the employment of current students, recognizing the reciprocal benefits of their work. Employment of students provides them the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and assists them with the financing of their education. Student employees are a valuable source of labor and spirit for the university.

We work to ensure that each student enjoys his or her CWU work experience and that employers have the resources needed to employ, mentor, and support student employees. The role of Human Resources is to facilitate connections between students and employers so that students can fund their educational expenses, obtain valuable work experience, and build career portfolios

Student Employment posts notices for on and off campus job openings (including summer job opportunities) on the CWU job board at jobs.cwu.edu  For additional information about Student Employment visit the our website at www.cwu.edu/student-employment  Contact us at 509-963-1202 or seo@cwu.edu or come see us in the Human Resource Office in Bouillon Hall, Room 140.

 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 fully commissioned police officers by the state of Washington, parking enforcement officers, and various clerical support staff and student employees.

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.

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

Veteran Center

The Veterans Center is located in the Bouillon Hall, room 206. 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.