Pre-Arrival Information

As you prepare for your arrival to Central Washington University, please realize that there are several things you can do in advance to make your arrival a lot less stressful.

Arrange for housing

Make travel arrangements all the way to Ellensburg (if attending at the main campus)

If you’re attending at the main Ellensburg campus, be sure to make travel arrangements all the way to Ellensburg. Most international flights fly into Seattle, and from there you can take the Greyhound bus or the Airporter to Ellensburg (about a 2 hour ride).

You may also arrange a flight to Yakima, but will still need to take a bus to Ellensburg (about 45 minutes).

What to bring

Clothing – Ellensburg experiences all four seasons. Summers can reach temperatures in the high 90’s to 100’s (32C to 37C) while winters can get down to below zero (-20C) with snow. The spring and fall are breezy with occasional rain. In the Seattle area, rain is quite frequent and does not get as warm or cold as Ellensburg.

Vaccination records – it’s a good idea to bring a photocopy of your vaccination records, even though CWU does not require students to show them. The CWU Health Center recommends that each student receive vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, meningitis and tetanus (within the last 10 years). It’s also recommended to get a skin test or chest X-ray to check for tuberculosis.

Items representing home – throughout your time here, there will be several opportunities for you to share information about your home country. We suggest bringing items such as photos, recipes, traditional clothes, maps, flags, food or items that represent your culture. These items can also be used as decorations for your room and/or provide comfort when you feel homesick.

Keep documents, phone numbers accessible

Be sure to keep your passport, visa and I-20 safe and accessible. When you first arrive in the United States, you will be required to show these documents before collecting your luggage. You will risk not getting into the U.S. if you do not have your documents available when requested.

Because travel can sometimes be unpredictable, we recommend keeping emergency phone numbers with your documents and knowing how to call, depending on where you are.

If you need to call us, please call in this order:

- Office phone for the International Student Advisor: 509-963-3614
- Main telephone number to the Office of International Studies and Programs: 509-963-3612
- CWU operator: 509-963-1111
- Ellensburg Police for non-emergencies: 509-925-8534

If you call any of these numbers, please explain to the person answering the phone that you are a new, international student who is planning to attend CWU.

When to arrive

For students entering the United States for the first time, the Department of Homeland Security will allow you to enter the U.S. within 30 days of the start date listed in #5 of your I-20.

CWU is not able to receive students until a specific day (usually the day of move-in or orientation). The specific day will depend on your start term. Please contact the International Student Advisor for the date you should arrive.

If you were assigned an on-campus room, you should have received a “housing assignment letter” indicating the official move-in dates and times. Please contact the Housing Office if you applied for housing but did not receive a letter.

Provide detailed arrival information

We want to know when you plan to arrive. When you make your travel arrangements, please write to intlprog@cwu.edu with the following information:

• Complete travel itinerary (airline/bus, flight numbers, dates, times)
• Arrival date/time to Ellensburg
• If taking the bus or Airporter, your arrival date, time and location
• Whether you need a ride to CWU Campus from an Ellensburg location
• The best way to contact you between the date you arrive and the day you check-in

When you arrive in Ellensburg, please come to the Office of International Studies and Programs to let us know you’re here. If you’re attending at a CWU Off-campus Center, please check in at the Center Administration office.

Visit your doctor, optometrist (eye doctor) and dentist

Health care and medications in the United States are VERY expensive. We recommend that you take care of any medical issues before you leave home, including updating your vaccinations. CWU does have a fully staffed medical clinic for students, but not all services are free nor do they cover all aspects of medical care.

Get your eyes checked for glasses or contacts. Students often don’t realize they need corrective lenses until they begin classes and can’t read well or see the professor from a distance. Most student insurance plans don’t cover eye exams ($70 to $120) or glasses/contacts ($150 to $1000).

Dental care is also very expensive and is not usually covered by most insurance plans. Please visit your dentist and take care of any fillings, cleanings and/or extractions before leaving home.

If you’re transferring from another U.S. college or university:

Request that your final transcripts be mailed to CWU

In order to have all possible credits/courses transferred, CWU must receive final transcripts which include the grades for your last attended term.

Incomplete transcripts (such as those provided at the time you applied to CWU) are NOT sufficient to determine AA degrees, Direct Transfer Aagreements, transfer credits, pre-requisites or pre-admission requirements. Not submitting final transcripts may cause delays in registration and/or program admission (particularly when applying to a CWU Center).

Complete/submit the “CWU Transfer Form”

In order to issue a transfer I-20, the “CWU Transfer Form” must be received by the Office of International Studies and Programs. Please request a transfer form if you have been admitted to CWU, but have not yet received this form.

Once the transfer form is completed by you and your current International Student Advisor, please fax it to 509-963-1558 or mail it to the Office of International Studies and Programs.

If you are currently attending another U.S. school, your transfer I-20 cannot be issued until the Monday after the last day of the term of your previous school.