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Student Employment

picture of a student submitting an applicationWorking in Recreation is more than a paycheck - it's family, connection, and continuous development through RecFam! We teach transferrable skills in over 25 student positions and aim to provide solid experience in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies of career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork, and technology. We would love for you to grow with us and contribute to our success!

We may have additional opportunities come up for Summer quarter, so please follow us on social media for immediate updates for openings.

Additionally, it is recommended that applicants consult with the CWU Career Services Center in order to provide their best possible resume and cover letter.

  • Work for Recreation

    Entry Level Positions - starting at $15.74/hr
    (no experience needed; hiring occurs quarterly) (highlighted cells indicate currently hiring)

    Facility

    Operations Attendant Membership Attendant

    Operations

    Custodian

    Outdoor Pursuits & Rentals

    Shop Assistant

    Climbing Wall

    Climbing Wall Attendant*

    Marketing

    Photographer Marketing & Media Assistant

    Intramural Sports

    Intramural Official Special Event Staff

    Sport Clubs

    Sport Club Council Sport Club Scorekeeper

    Health Programs

    Personal Trainer* Group X Instructor*

    *Position requires passing national certifications

    Lead Positions - starting at $15.99/hr
    (CWU Recreation work experience preferred)

    Facility Operations

    Operations Lead

    Outdoor Pursuits & Rentals

    Adventure Programs Trip Leader*

    Climbing Wall

    Climbing Wall Lead* Route Setter*

    Intramural Sports

    Intramural Sports Lead

    Sport Clubs

    Sport Club Lead

    Health Programs

    Health Programs Lead*

    *Position requires passing national certifications

  • Hiring Process

    Students who are interested in working for the Recreation Center need to apply online in MyCWU by to the specific positions they are excited about. A coordinator will reach out to schedule interviews with those applicants who closely match their position needs.

    To View Students Jobs: MyCWU > Student Tab > Student > Employment > On-Campus

    It is recommended that while you go through the application/interview process, you should retrieve your official government identification documents to ensure a seamless transition to working on campus. Regardless if you work for Recreation, any on-campus position will require official documents (no copies or pictures) in order to complete the I-9 and hiring process. See the list below for appropriate identification documents.

    Acceptable documents for employment eligibility.

  • Internships and Practicums

    *As CWU increases in-person events and experiences, University Recreation will be offering limited internships and practicums.

    University Recreation prides itself on offering a variety of different internships. University Recreation offers a comprehensive Administrative Internship for 3 credits, as well as program-specific internships for varying credits based on student needs. All other program areas have pre-programmed objectives and will work with the student's personal objectives to ensure a wonderful and mutual learning opportunity.

    All internships are arranged through Career Services and must be approved by both a faculty advisor and University Recreation employee to go towards class credit. Placements are based on time of the year, staff available, programs offered, and skill set of the individual. University Recreation provides paid and unpaid internships based on the source of funding and nature of internship work.

    To apply for a University Recreation Internship:

    1. Register with Career Services
    2. Find an available internship from the list provided below or listed with Career Services.
    3. Meet with a faculty advisor to determine that the internship is appropriate for your education plan.
    4. Submit an application to University Recreation via the link below - remember to complete the application process by emailing your resume and cover letter to Dania.Cochran@cwu.edu
    5. Develop a Cooperative Education Learning Agreement form with the Internship supervisor.
    6. Receive Faculty Advisor approval and signature and submit all required forms to Career Services.

    Practicum learning opportunities are typically arranged with Faculty Advisor approval and occur within many disciplines in Recreation. Practicums can last as few as 40 hours or as many as 120 hours during each quarter. Students can receive experience in many different disciplines including:

    • Recreation Administration
    • Business Administration
    • Marketing and Media
    • Fine Arts (Photography, Videography)
    • Graphic Design
    • Recreation and Tourism
    • Exercise Science
    • Communication
    • Public Relations
    • Web Design

Contact Us

University Recreation
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA, 98926-7448
Phone: 509.963.3512
E-mail: recreation@cwu.edu