2018-2019 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OVERVIEW
With about 12,342 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students and more than 1,830 employees, CWU is a medium-sized university. However, its impact is large, especially in the state’s central region. And just as CWU gives the region a boost, the university’s ability to thrive depends on the success of and collaboration with the local community. The $113 million annual payroll for CWU’s educated workforce supports retail, food, housing, and entertainment businesses, particularly throughout central Washington. Student’s too, are a rich resource for local employers seeking innovative, energetic, and highly skilled employees. Business. Retailers in the Ellensburg area know that CWU employees, students, and guests generate more business throughout the year than any other single entity. Camps, conferences, and events hosted by CWU draw more than 50,000 people to restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses each year. CWU contracts for goods and services with small businesses throughout central Washington. From ice cream to fencing and concrete to print services, small businesses provide the materials and expertise essential to university operations. CWU partnerships are county-wide; in summer 2019 CWU provided housing for Suncadia’s summer workforce when none was available in the Cle Elum area. CWU partners with the Kittitas County Chamber on business development, including sponsorship of The Disney Institute, and Business to Community Stars, which helps understand local retailers how to appeal to half of their customer base – CWU students. Infrastructure. Partnerships with local government support economic development, and community infrastructure. The CWU physical plant eclipses all other facilities in Kittitas County. Its vast size and complexity make CWU a top utility customer for the City of Ellensburg and other providers, including the local fire department, for which CWU annual fees provide 80 percent of the fire suppression budget. CWU student fees also help fund the city’s free bus service, Central Transit. Public Safety. CWU’s Department of Police Services has mutual aid agreements with the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, the Ellensburg Police Department, the Cle Elum-Roslyn-South Cle Elum Police Department, and the Kittitas Police Department. CWU also works with the Washington State Patrol and supports federal law enforcement, and emergency fire, medical, and utility providers. CWU Police offer programs, activities, and events that educate the community and improve public safety. As a community member, CWU provides emergency support in times of crisis. When wildfires ravaged Kittitas County in 2013 and 2012, CWU moved quickly alongside local responders. The university opened residence and dining halls to displaced residents, firefighters, and Red Cross volunteers. CWU provided community meeting space, and storage for donations. CWU communications personnel worked side by side with state and federal response agencies to quickly publish accurate situation updates.
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