Dec 19, 2024  
2024-2025 BACKUP Catalog 
    
2024-2025 BACKUP Catalog

CWU Student Life


Dining at CWU

CWU Dining Services provides a wide range of options on campus, from fast-casual dining, to coffee shops and markets. Our talented culinary team includes nationally recognized and award-winning chefs, and they provide students with a culinary and educational experience. They have developed menu offerings that are fresh, fast, and flavorful to meet all of your nutritional needs. Locations may vary by year.

Follow @cwueats on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. For more information about dining on campus, visit https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/dining/.

Central Marketplace
Offers a wide variety of menu options. Fresh Bar focuses on locally- and sustainably-sourced ingredients and serves fresh cold-pressed juices, grain bowls, and much more. Pizza Pasta Panini offers fire oven pizza, upscale paninis, and made-to-order pasta. This location also includes all your classic favorites, like burgers and fries, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.

Holmes Dining Room
Includes dining options like Sesame | Ginger featuring ramen and made-to-order stir fry. At Eggs & Co. order all-day breakfast or custom omelets.

Northside Commons
Includes 1891 Café and Market, an upscale market and coffee shop, as well as Panda Express.

Coffee Shops and Markets
Available across campus, with monthly specials, as well as a variety of coffee, tea, and espresso drinks. Bistro on the Go, a fresh grab and go option made right here on campus, is also available at these locations.

Mobile Ordering
Order food and beverages with ease through the GET Mobile app for on-campus mobile ordering. Available at select locations across campus. Panda Express mobile ordering is coming soon!

Pop-Up Events
We host a variety of events throughout the academic year, giving you special food options and experiences to look forward to. Previous pop-up dinners include the Crab Feed, Pho Night, Wing Night, and $2 Slice Pizza.

Nutrition and Sustainability
Dining Services provides a variety of menu options that focus on health and wellness. Our Campus Executive Chef and Dietitian are available to you to assist you with any nutritional questions and can also help you navigate our dining program. Food-identifying icons are included on menu boards and will help you select options that align with your dietary needs. These icons indicate main allergens, and also identify choices that are gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

We strive to offer fresh and sustainably-sourced ingredients, and we work closely with many local and regional vendors, including our very own on-campus partner, the Wildcat Neighborhood Farm.

Residential Meal Plans
Students living on campus are required to have a residential meal plan. On-campus residential meal plans are only available to students living in residence halls and in on-campus apartments. Dining Dollars can be used at all dining locations on campus. (Dining Dollars can only be used at dining locations and cannot be used at the Wildcat Shop.)

Residential Discounts
The meal plan functions as a retail declining balance. Overhead is built into the cost of the plan, and the remaining value of the meal plan, called “Dining Dollars,” can be spent throughout the quarter at all Dining Services locations. Students receive a 65% discount applied at the point of sale at dining locations and a 25% discount on all purchases at campus cafés and market locations. Discounts do not apply to the Liberty Plan.

Important Meal Plan Information
For students on a meal plan, the new quarterly meal plan balance will automatically be added to your card at the beginning of each quarter. This dollar amount will be in addition to all remaining dining plan funds left over from the previous quarter. At the end of each Spring quarter, all remaining Dining Dollars are non-reimbursable, will be forfeited, and will not roll over to Summer or Fall quarters.

Meal Plan Changes
Meal plans can only be changed at the beginning of each quarter during the add/drop period. Modifications to meal plans can be made online through myCWU or in person at the Connection Card office. (Changes cannot be made over the phone.)

Apartment Plan
tudents living in a CWU-owned apartment may also elect to participate in a meal plan. Meal plan options for the Apartment Plan are Plan A, B, C, or D. These plans are optional. The same rates and discounts apply.

Wildcat Bucks
No meal plan? No problem: add Wildcat Bucks to your Connection Card and receive 10% off your dining purchases on campus. You can also use Wildcat Bucks for mobile ordering, available through the GET Mobile app.

Employment Opportunities
Apply to work for Dining Services! Convenient on-campus locations, flexible work hours, and on-the-job training are just a few of the perks of working here. To apply, visit careers.cwu.edu and search “Dining Services.”

Dining Services is a member of the National Association of College and University Food Services and is an active supporter of the academic mission of the university.

Housing and Residence Life

Housing and Residence Life develops premier experiences centered around our residential communities, provides well-maintained housing facilities, with an emphasis on student development, as part of the university’s academic environment, and works to augment classroom instruction with a learning environment that is supportive of students’ educational goals, personal and interpersonal growth, and cultural awareness. 

CWU is a residential university with most Ellensburg students living on or near campus. The residence halls and on campus apartments can house 4,200 students. CWU’s residence halls offer students a variety of quality living experiences and options.

The residences are within a few minutes’ walk of any classroom, library, or dining hall, which offers considerable convenience and flexibility to students. Residence hall and apartment staff provides crisis intervention and educational, cultural, social, and community services programs, as well as coordinating behavioral problem-solving interventions in cooperation with the dean of student success.

The residence halls offer a diverse selection of communities and environments. The residence halls, which house between 35 and 402 occupants, offer programs and environments to enhance classroom experiences. Furniture, internet, utilities, and coin-operated laundry facilities are also provided. Many halls have their own pool table, piano, or ping-pong table.  All residence halls and apartments are smoke-free.

Living and Learning Communities (LLCs) are available for students interested in the following areas: Education, Science Talent Expansion Program, Aviation, Music, Business, International House, Transfer Student, Sustainability, ROTC, William O. Douglas Honors College and College of Arts and Humanities. Students may request a residence hall offering a living-learning enrichment opportunity. Hall staff and faculty from these areas of interest collaborate to provide residents with educational and social activities that integrate their field of study, enhancing their residence hall experience.

To support the learning and student success of incoming students, Central requires all first year students who are under 20 years-of-age to live in the residence halls for one academic year. Running Start students under 20 years-of-age, regardless of class standing, must also fulfill the live-in requirement. Students requesting an exception to the policy must apply through Housing and Residence Life.

CWU also maintains 450 apartments (studio, one, two or three bedrooms) designed for single students and those with families. The apartment complexes offer activities for residents that focus on their needs and priorities. Complexes feature programs and facilities that support students emotionally, socially and academically.
At different times of the year, demands for apartments may exceed availability. For this reason, waiting lists are provided. To be eligible for apartment housing, a student must be currently enrolled in and must maintain at least 7 credit hours of coursework.

Students who are required to live in residence halls are not eligible to live in the apartments. Apartment complexes are either rented for an academic year of month to month. Written notice must be given prior to vacating an apartment based on the type of apartment complex/lease.  Pets are not allowed in any area of CWU housing. Central Washington University abides by all state and federal laws pertaining to service animals in on campus housing.

Location: Housing Service Center at Button Hall and Residence Life Office
Phone:  509-963-1831
TDD: 509-963-3323
Email: housing@cwu.edu
Visit us online at https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/housing/

KCWU-FM (88.1 the ‘Burg)

KCWU-FM, also known as 88.1 The ‘Burg, is CWU’s student run, professionally managed, nationally award-winning radio station that operates out of a state-of-the-art, industry standard, living media laboratory located on the first floor of the Student Union and Recreation Center. Utilizing high impact practices, student broadcasters master speaking and presentation skills while performing as music DJs, newscasters, sportscasters, and talk show hosts. Students learn production, audio editing, promotion, branding, marketing, and event management skills. The multi-platform new media approach of on-air, on-line, and in-person serves CWU and the Ellensburg community, fostering a culture of professionalism, diversity, and inclusion. Students from all majors and backgrounds are encouraged to get engaged with or tune into KCWU.

Location: SURC 120
Phone: 509-963-2282
Email: kcwu@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.881theburg.com/

Student Union

The Student Union serves as a centralized hub of student activity on campus. The state-of-the-art fusion facility is combined with a Recreation Center and houses the university bookstore, multiple dining options, banking, multiple student programming and service areas, and the student government. The welcoming, inclusive environment provides meeting, lounging and studying spaces in addition to a vast array of activities presented daily that contribute to students’ sense of belonging. Seamless, quality services through Student Union Operations include centralized scheduling, event coordination, and technical support of university facilities for all university and non-university events.

Location: SURC 146
Phone: 509-963-1321
Email: schedule@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/surc/

Campus Activities

Our Campus Activities program offers a variety of events including music, comedy, speakers, concerts, performances, movies, and special events such as Homecoming, Family Weekend, Boo Central, Ware Fair, and Student Appreciation Day. Wildcat Tickets provides university-wide event ticketing and support.

Location: SURC 263
Phone: 509-963-1352
Email: campus.activities@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/surc/

Publicity Center

The Publicity Center offers a full slate of creative services to promote campus events, programs and departments, and is also home to Hype, a multi-platform communication approach to spreading the word about campus events and opportunities for students to get involved outside the classroom. Student employees and interns work alongside professional staff with expertise in their fields to gain hands-on experience,  improve their professional portfolio/resumes, and develop strong communication, project management and presentation skills. They take pride in collaborating with others to  help students find connections through a rich variety of activities, events and resources. 

Location: SURC 272
Phone: 509-963-1677
Email: publicity@cwu.edu
Website: https://www.cwu.edu/about/media-resources/publicity/

Academic Success Center (The Learning Commons)

The Academic Success Center offers a wide variety of instructional resources and peer tutoring services. The Academic Success Center is located on the ground floor of Brooks Library and also provides virtual support options for students (please see https://www.cwu.edu/academics/academic-resources/learning-commons/index.php). The Academic Success Center includes five key program areas: 1) The Math Center provides academic support in quantitative skills for students in courses across the curriculum. Drop-in and scheduled tutoring sessions are available; 2) At the Writing Center, trained consultants work with students of all levels and disciplines, guiding them toward effective written communication. Tutors meet one-on-one with students by appointment or drop-in; 3) Peer Assisted Learning (PALs) provide free, out-of-class study sessions for historically difficult courses led by CWU undergraduate facilitators who have already taken and excelled in the course. 4) Online Tutoring offers tutoring in 15 different subjects, available 5am to midnight, 7 days per week during academic sessions; 5) Academic Coaching provides students 1:1 support in creating highly individualized strategies for academic success by appointment only. Students can contact the Academic Success Center by phone (509.963.1270) or via e-mail (tutoring@cwu.edu) with any questions. We encourage students to stop by and get to know us.

First Year and Exploratory Advising

Students who are undecided on a major work with academic advisors in the First Year and Exploratory Office, located in Bouillon 206 (phone: 509.963.2722). This office also administers the Student Transitions and Academic Resources (STAR) program. STAR is an intensive academic support program that assists academically at-risk students in completing transitions into, through, and out of the university.

Office of Academic Concerns and Dispute Resolution

The Office of Academic Concerns and Dispute Resolution helps CWU students resolve academic problems, conflicts, and concerns. The Director hears complaints, coaches aggrieved students in effective conflict resolution communication, and, when necessary, mediates to help students and faculty arrive at fair and sustainable solutions. The Director also facilitates the academic appeals and grievance processes, the academic early alert system, and other Student Success special projects, particularly those involving students with serious academic challenges. The office serves all CWU locations and students. The office is located in Bouillon 205 with check-ins at the Dean of Student Success Office in Bouillon 204 (Phone: 509-963-1515). https://www.cwu.edu/student-life/student-support/student-rights/report-behaviors-concern.php.

Honor Societies

Central Washington University maintains memberships in several national honor society chapters. Here is a list of those memberships. Please see the appropriate department for more information about these honor societies.

Alpha Eta Rho: (AHP) This International Professional Collegiate Aviation fraternity acts as a bridge between aviation colleges and the aviation industry. AHP was established in 1929 by Earl W. Hill, an aviation instructor at the University of Southern California and, with help from students and faculty, was founded on April 10, 1929. It is the oldest professional aviation fraternity in history. AHP members serve the aviation industry in fields such as: Aviation Captains, NASA Engineers, Flight Attendants, Aircraft Mechanics, Aerospace Engineers, Corporate Pilots, and many more. Please see the Department of Aviation for more information.

Alpha Kappa Delta: This is an internationally recognized honor society for sociology. Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) was founded in 1920, is an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies, and is a non-secret, democratic, international society of scholars dedicated to the philosophy of Athropon Katamannthanein Diakonesin or “to investigate humanity for the purpose of service.” AKD seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and other such social and intellectual activities that will lead to the improvement of the human condition. The honor society is open to undergraduate students who have declared sociology or social services as their major or minor, are at least junior status and completed at least four courses in sociology, have an overall GPA of 3.3 and maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 in sociology. Please see the Department of Sociology for more information.

Alpha Phi Sigma: This is the nationally recognized honor society for students in the criminal justice sciences. The society recognizes academic excellence by undergraduates as well as graduate students of criminal justice. The honor society is open to undergraduate students who have a declared law and justice major or minor, have completed four courses within the law and justice curriculum, have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale in their cumulative and criminal justice classes and rank in the top 35 percent of their class. Graduate students must be enrolled in a law and justice graduate program, have a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale overall and in law and justice courses,  and have completed a minimum of four courses within the law and justice curriculum. Please see the Department of Law and Justice for more information.

Alpha Sigma Lambda: This national honor society, established in 1946, provides the opportunity to recognize the special achievements of adult students. Alpha Sigma Lambda acknowledges adult students who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of family, work, and community. Members must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The CWU chapter of ASL is Psi Delta Omega and is advised by the Transfer Center. Invitations to join Psi Delta Omega chapter are sent out winter quarter of each academic year, and induction ceremonies are held during spring quarter. Please email the Transfer Center at transfer @cwu.edu for more information.

Beta Alpha Psi: This is a not-for-profit honor and service organization for accounting, finance and information systems students at AACSB-or EQUIS-accredited universities. Founded in 1919, the CWU chapter was installed in 2013. It provides opportunities for development of communication, leadership and professional skills, participation in community service, encouragement of ethical, social and public responsibility and interaction among students, faculty and professionals. Beta Alpha Psi requires its members to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. It is recognized and respected by the business community as a premier collegiate organization. Please see the College of Business for more information.

Beta Beta Beta: TriBeta is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Since its founding in 1922, more than 200,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 626 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Research grants are available to undergraduates (due September 31 each year). The CWU chapter, Omicron Gamma, was established in 1994. Please see the Department of Biological Sciences for more information.

Eta Sigma Gamma: Since its inception in 1967, Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Education Honorary, has had a rich history of contributions to the profession of health education and health promotion. It was through the commitment of a group of dedicated professors and students at Ball State University that the first chapter of the honorary was established. Today, there are over 80 chapters representing thousands of students in colleges and universities around the United States. Please see the Department of Health Sciences for more information.

Gamma Theta Upsilon: Gamma Theta Upsilon is an international honor society in geography. Gamma Theta Upsilon was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931. Members of Gamma Theta Upsilon have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in geography. Gamma Theta Upsilon chapter activities support geography knowledge and awareness. New members are inducted annually. Please see the Department of Geography for more information.

Kappa Delta Pi: The honor society in education, Kappa Delta Pi, encourages high professional, intellectual, and personal standards, and recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in the study of education. Membership is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty by invitation. Please contact the School of Education for more information at soe@cwu.edu.

Lambda Alpha: The Lambda Alpha National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology was founded on March 15, 1968 at Wichita State University in Kansas. To date there are over 200 chapters nationwide. Lambda Alpha (derived from the Greek Logos Anthropou, meaning “the Study of Humans”) was established for the purpose of encouraging and stimulating scholarship and research among students, faculty and others engaged in the study of anthropology. Lambda Alpha provides scholarships, research and publication opportunities to student members (undergraduate and graduate). Please see the Department of Anthropology and Museum Studies for more information.

Lambda Pi Eta: This is the national honorary society for undergraduates in communication. As an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) has an active chapter at CWU’s Department of Communication. LPH represents what Aristotle described in The Rhetoric as three ingredients of persuasion: logos (lambda) meaning logic, pathos (pi) relating to emotion and ethos (eta) defined as character credibility and ethics. Lambda Pi Eta recognizes, fosters, and rewards outstanding scholastic achievement while stimulating interest in the communication discipline. Please see the Department of Communication for more information.

Pi Sigma Alpha: (Mu Lambda chapter) This is CWU’s honor society for students of political science. This is a national honorary, first organized in 1920, with more than 740 chapters throughout the country. Membership is based upon scholastic achievement and a genuine interest in the understanding of politics and political issues, as evidenced by performance in several political science courses. Please see the Department of Political Science for more information.

Phi Alpha Theta: This is a nationally recognized honor society founded in March 1921 at the University of Arkansas, and today it numbers over 900 chapters, representing 500,000 members. Central’s Tau Iota chapter was chartered in 1972. Membership is composed of undergraduate and graduate students and professors who have been elected upon the basis of excellence in the study and writing of history. The society’s objective is the promotion of the study of history by the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication, and scholarly interaction among historians. Please see the Department of History for more information.

Phi Kappa Phi: The national honor society of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines. Membership is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members by invitation, with election based on superior scholarship. New members are inducted each spring. Please see the Department of Accounting for more information.

Phi Sigma Tau: This is the international honor society in philosophy. Its purpose is to recognize and encourage excellence in philosophic scholarship among students and faculty. It publishes philosophy articles from undergraduate students in its journal Dialogue. Central’s local chapter (Washington Alpha) meets periodically to discuss philosophic issues. Membership is based on scholastic attainments. Please see the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies for more information.

Psi Chi: The international honor society in psychology, was founded in 1929 with a mission to encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. A few popular Membership Benefits include international recognition for academic excellence, as well as access to psychology-related publications and more than $400,000 in annual awards and grants. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Psychological Science (APS). Lifetime Membership is open to undergraduate and graduate students, transfer students, full-time faculty members, and alumni. For more information, please contact the Department of Psychology and check out the application online at https://www.psichi.org/page/JoinToday#.Xdbtqn57nm0.

SALUTE: This is a national academic honor society recognizing student veterans and military personnel who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the academic setting. One of the primary goals of SALUTE is to acknowledge and recognize members who have shown courage, strength, leadership, excellence, and perseverance in their military endeavors and now are showing that same commitment to their academic careers. Please see the Veterans Center for more information.

Sigma Lambda Chi: The fundamental purpose of Sigma Lambda Chi is to provide recognition to outstanding students in construction curricula. Sigma Lambda Chi is the society that offers students the opportunity to be recognized locally and internationally for their academic accomplishments as a construction major. Please see the Department of Engineering Technologies, Safety and Construction for more information.

Sigma Pi Sigma: Founded in 1921, Sigma Pi Sigma is a member honor society of the Association of College Honor Societies. Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics; to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. Election to Sigma Pi Sigma is a lifetime membership with more than 90,000 historical members. Please see the Department of Physics for more information.

Theta Alpha Kappa: The only honor society devoted to religious studies. Theta Alpha Kappa granted Central Washington University a charter in 2007. Its overall purpose is to provide local and national recognition to students with high scholarship and an academic interest in the field of religious studies. In addition to promoting student interest in research and advanced study in the field, it provides opportunities for the publication of student research papers of merit through the Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa, encourages a professional spirit and friendship among those who have demonstrated an aptitude for excellence within the field, and popularizes interest in religious studies among the general collegiate and local community. Please see the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies for more information.

Wildcat Shop

The Wildcat Shop has everything you need right here on campus. We have saved students $4.2 million since 2017 on course materials, and we offer a wide variety of products and services, including:

  • Textbooks (new, used, rental, inclusive access, and ebook)
  • General reading and reference books
  • Computer hardware (special student prices)
  • Certified Apple repair
  • Electronics
  • Clothing, gifts, and Hydro Flasks
  • School and art supplies
  • Greeting cards
  • Dorm supplies
  • Health and beauty products
  • Stamps
  • Snack foods and more

We can order any product listed online and you can pick up in store, no extra charge. We also provide custom engraving, sublimation, laminating, binding, copying (color or black and white), mounting, fax services, embossing, plus vinyl art and signage.

Special order any book, computer, electronic product, or supply, at no additional cost. For your convenience, the Wildcat Shop buys back textbooks, no matter where they were purchased. During finals week, we buy back a wide range of books, including textbooks used in CWU courses, as well as textbooks and general books not required in courses. Buyback begins the Friday before finals and includes finals week. Contact the Wildcat Shop at (509) 963-1311, or at www.wildcatshop.net. We are open 24/7, 365 days a year online.