Campus and Community Collaborations
Our success is largely based within the community around us, building and developing a powerful network of connections. We regularly partner with on-campus and community organizations for service days, stakeholder collaborations, and a variety of other programs.
Through partnerships with on-campus clubs, organizations and departments the SLICE encourages collaboration and collective thinking skills. Additionally, by partnering with local community-based organizations, alumni, and various stakeholders to improve our collaborative efforts.
The SLICE has a variety of formal partnerships thorughout the community that have active Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs). These partnerships encourage community connections between the CWU community and greater Ellensburg area. We are always looking for new opportunities to connect wtih off-campus organizations to connect to our students.
SLICE loves to partner with off-campus agencies/organizations to promote serving our community off campus. If partners do not have an active memoradum of understanding but are interested, please complete the SLICE MOU Intake process. Please note that CWU requires an active MOU to advertise service opportunities to students (SAMPLE BLANK MOU). For more information about the MOU process, please email slice@cwu.edu.
- The Duncan Family Endowment
Central Washington University alumni Don and Verna Duncan have spent their lives championing education and philanthropy.
They have received numerous awards and recognition for their endeavors, including:
- CWU Distinguished Alumni Award (Don)
- Phi Delta Kappa Distinguished Service Award (Don)
- Monmouth-Independence [Oregon] Elementary Teacher of the Year Award (Verna)
- Monmouth-Independence First Citizens Award (both).
A study room at Western Oregon University (WOU) and a flute room at CWU are also named after the Duncans.
The Duncans have had long careers in education. Verna worked as an elementary teacher for 23 years. Don held numerous positions in higher education throughout his career, such as Dean of Men and Students at CWU, Dean of Education and Psychology at WOU and Professor Emeritus of Special Education at WOU. Don also served as a coordinator and district representative for Phi Delta Kappa.
In 1980, the Duncans used a small inheritance to create a scholarship in their parents’ names through the Western Oregon University Foundation. This act sparked an ever-growing devotion to providing financial support for educational endeavors. They have funded support programs for classroom enrichment through the Monmouth-Independence Community Foundation, for Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars through the Rotary Foundation, and scholarships such as the Don and Verna Duncan Community Service Scholarship at CWU. Ever thinking forward, the Duncans have planned for funding of the scholarship and neighborhood obligations to continue well into the future.
In recognition of their efforts, the library at WOU contains a Donald and Verna Duncan Group Study Room. In 2007, CWU’s Center for Civic Engagement was named in their honor.
- David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership
David Wain Coon, Ed.D. became College of Marin’s 10th Superintendent/President in December 2010. Throughout his 30-year career in higher education, Dr. Coon has been recognized for his leadership locally, regionally and nationally. He came to Marin following five successful years as President of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose where he championed a richly diverse student body and was recognized for being an inclusive and collaborative leader. Prior to Evergreen Valley College, Dr. Coon held several high-level administrative positions at various colleges in Washington State.During his tenure at College of Marin Dr. Coon has successfully presided over two facilities modernization programs in excess of $515 million, tackled a long history of acrimonious labor relations with a willingness to listen to all constituent groups and energized partnership opportunities with Marin County schools and nonprofits. Dr. Coon has had the unprecedented opportunity to hire a majority of full-time faculty across many disciplines at the College of Marin.
With a continued focus on social justice, Dr. Coon serves as co-chair to the Marin Promise Partnership with a focus on closing equity gaps in Marin County. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Coon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations from Central Washington University, a Master of Education degree in Student Personnel Administration from Western Washington University and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership with emphasis in Organization Development from Seattle University.
In 2016, Dr. Coon was presented with the Special Achievement Award by the Central Washington University Alumni Association. In May 2007, Central Washington University dedicated the David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership.
- Off-Campus Partnerships
The following partners are in agreement with our current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):
- American Red Cross
- ASPEN
- Catholic Family and Child Services
- City of Ellensburg
- Ellensburg Adult Activity Center
- Ellensburg Animal Shelter
- Ellensburg Energy Services
- Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department
- Ellensburg Public Library
- Ellensburg Public Works
- Ellensburg Youth & Community Center
- Cle Elum-Rosyln School District
- Conservation Northwest
- Discovery Lab School
- East Valley School District
- Ellensburg Downtown Association
- Ellensburg Morning Rotary Club
- Ellensburg Noon Rotary
- Ellensburg School District
- Elmview
- FISH Food Bank
- Gallery One
- Habitat for Humanity (Kittitas County)
- HopeSource
- Hospice Friends
- IOOF Cemetery
- Kittitas Co Community Network formerly SAFE Kids of Kittitas County
- Kittitas County Farmers Market
- Kittitas County Health Department
- Kittitas County Health Network
- Kittitas County Search and Rescue
- Kittitas Environmental Education Network (K.E.E.N.)
- Kittitas School District
- Kittitas Valley Event Center
- Kittitas Valley Health Care
- Lazy F Camp and Retreat
- Memorial Foundation
- Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (CBO)
- Naomi's Hope
- Olmstead Place State Park
- Open Door Health Clinic
- Pegasus Project
- Prestige Senior Living at Hearthstone
- Rod's House
- Salvation Army
- Second Harvest
- Skookum Kids
- Spirit Therapeutic Riding Center
- The Trellis Center
- Thorp Mill
- Thorp School District
- United Way (of Central Washington)
- US Forest Service
- Wahluke School District
- Washington FIRST Robotics
- West Valley School District
- WorkSource
- Yakima Humane Society
- Youth Services of Kittitas County