CWU Launches New Spanish Language Web Site

April 24, 2008

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - After nearly a year of preparation, Central Washington University has launched a Spanish language version of its Web site. The site is accessible at www.cwu.edu/sp, and can also be easily found on CWU's homepage, www.cwu.edu, by clicking the En Español link at the bottom of the page.

"This Web site is essential. It reaches out to a large part of Central's demographic, as well as the larger community that the university serves," says CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre. "I want to thank all the people who worked so hard on creating it."

CWU Spanish Professor Stella Moreno translated the site and said she was very proud to be part of the team that built it.

"Central is the only four-year state institution that has this," Moreno says. "We're the pioneers. It's not only a good recruiting tool for us, it reaches out to the Spanish-speaking families in our region, which sends a message that we care about diversity and the Latino population."

Work on the Spanish site began in 2007 and involved a close partnership between CWU's Information Technology experts, Moreno, CWU's Diversity Center and other entities and individuals. In order to organize the many facets involved, CWU created a committee dedicated to making the best site possible.

"We built it in the same template and style as our main university Web site," explains CWU Web Developer Jesse Days. "Currently the site has a greeting from the president, content covering administration, dining services, student employment, academic advising, financial aid, scholarship information and some departmental information. It's still a work in progress, and we plan to grow it in the future."

Translating the text to Spanish proved challenging, Moreno acknowledges. She began the work in January and spent a lot of time making sure it was translated in such a way that all Spanish speakers could understand the content.

"I wanted to make the content clear and engaging," she continues. "But people don't really understand what translating entails. Many people are bilingual and can speak two languages; however, to do a written translation, you must have a very good command of both languages."

Leslie Webb, former director of the Diversity Center, helped coordinate the committee and said the site is just one way that CWU is reaching out to the Latino population.

"Like our Living Learning Communities, this site is part of a wider initiative," Webb says. "We spent a lot of time identifying who our readers were going to be and we showed Spanish speaking students the site throughout the process. Their feedback was invaluable and very positive."

CWU plans to continue adding to www.cwu.edu/sp over time, increasing information on departments, tuition, the application process and other important areas of interest for potential students and parents.

Media Contact: Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, olint@cwu.edu, 509-963-1416

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.