University Services

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The archives program, through its central Washington historical collection of public records, manuscripts and photos, offers both undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity for primary archival research on local and regional topics. The collection is designed to preserve selected evidential materials of historical importance and seeks to encourage original research in the humanities and the social sciences. The history department facilitates archival research in northwest and local history through History 301, 395 and 496. The regional branch of the state archives helps researchers utilize its collections, while the state archives in Olympia loans collections to the regional archives and affords opportunities for archival training and internships. Moreover, for the general public, Central’s regional archive seeks to serve a broad clientele, including: public officials from city, county and state governments seeking help on archival records retention; personnel from libraries, museums, local historical societies and private archival collections in need of advice on archival techniques; private citizens and local groups interested in historical architectural preservation in 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, digital microscopy and satellite image processing are some of the spatial technologies used by CWU faculty and students.

CSI is responsible for carrying out the mission of the department of agriculture Global Invasive Species Program (GISP) for spatial technology education and transfer to local governments, through the Washington office at CWU, one of seven national GISP centers. Typical GIS applications include projects in archaeology, field biology, geology, natural resource studies and urban planning.

Major cooperating facilities and projects include the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array (PANGA) data analysis facility, monitoring the movement of the earth’s crustal plates in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Washington and Oregon; and the GIS laboratory where a variety of undergraduate and graduate GIS courses are taught and numerous large and small research projects conducted using state-of-the-art computing systems. CWU is one of three National Science Foundation-funded GPS analysis centers that produce high-resolution geodetic time series for the 1,400-station Plate Boundary Observatory component of EarthScope.

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 homepage is at www.cwu.edu/ ~csi.

The Central Washington Archaeological Survey (CWAS) is a research and public service office that is part of the anthropology department. An advisory board which includes the dean of Graduate studies, Research and Continuing Education, the dean of the College Of The Sciences and the chair of the anthropology department, provides direction and support for CWAS activities. CWAS conducts archaeological investigations in the central counties of the state and promotes public involvement in the identification and protection of regional archaeological resources. Closely integrated with academic programs in anthropology, 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, landscape images, 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/~gis/

The Information Technology Services department (ITS) provides student computer lab management services; telephone services to the Ellensburg campus and its 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.

Faculty and students have easy access to contemporary hardware and software in 30 general purpose and discipline specific computer labs spread throughout major academic buildings on campus. Virtually every dorm room is equipped with an Ethernet connection providing free Internet services for those students that bring computers to campus. Students who opt to live off campus can take advantage of free modern connections. In all cases, they can access their e-mail and centrally maintained file services directly via Internet connections.

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

Business Phone: (509) 963-2959
After Hours Non Emergency: (509) 925-8534
Emergency Phone: 911
Fax: (509) 963-2994

Central’s Police Agency operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is a general authority state police force. The department employs 12 armed police officers who are fully commissioned by the state of Washington and have the same arrest and investigative authority as other law enforcement officers in the state.

All of the officers are graduates of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s basic academy, and each has numerous hours of annual specialized police training. The majority of the officers hold bachelor’s degrees in law and justice or a related field of study. The department has the primary responsibility for law enforcement on Central’s campus and works closely with other law enforcement agencies. Commissioned officers patrol the campus 24-hours-a-day with emphasis on crime prevention and education including encouraging the reporting of all crimes.

Each year the officers conduct between 60 and 75 crime prevention programs for the University community, with the majority held in the residence halls for the benefit of students. These programs include personal safety, rape awareness and prevention, operation I.D., bicycle registration, drug and alcohol use/abuse, and related crime prevention techniques.

Outdoor emergency telephones have been installed at the entrances to residence halls, while other strategically located “blue light” emergency telephones are installed throughout campus. Each phone has a direct line to the KITTCOM (Kittitas County 911) dispatch center. University police officers respond to all campus emergency calls placed through KITTCOM.

In addition to the commissioned officers, the department employs two parking enforcement officers, a secretarial staff, a switchboard operator and student employees.