Organized alumni have existed nearly as long as Central Washington University. Meeting notes date from the early 1890's and in 1910, when a group of Olympia legislators suggested closing what was then the State Normal School in Ellensburg, the school's alumni quickly put a stop to such foolishness.

Today alumni are represented by the CWU Alumni Association, an independent nonprofit organization that exists to advance the interests of alumni and the university.

The Association works in partnership with CWU's Office of Alumni Relations. In practice it works like this: the Association Board meets three times per year to hear updates, offer advice and help set policy. Day-to-day operations are handled by Alumni Relations in conjunction with Association committees.