CWU Closes Ellensburg Campus To Incoming Students

June 7, 2004

Contact: Mike Reilly (509-963-3012/fax 509-963-3022/e-mail: reillym@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Central Washington University today (June 7) closed undergraduate admission to the Ellensburg campus to both new freshmen and transfer students for next fall's classes.

This is the first time since 1987 that CWU has been in a position to close admissions to its Ellensburg campus, an event precipitated by the steady growth of the applicant pool over the last several years.

During the last four years, transfer-student applications have grown by 50 percent and freshmen applications by 54 percent, according to Mike Reilly, associate vice-president for enrollment management.

"At the same time, state funded enrollments at the university have grown by only 4.3 percent," he says. "We have really tried to maintain the accessibility that Central is known for, but demand has outpaced our ability to accommodate all qualified students who are looking to enroll with us. Those students who have not already applied, but are still interested in attending the Ellensburg campus, should apply now for admission to winter quarter (which begins Jan. 4)."

Contingent upon additional funding for high demand enrollments, CWU may reopen admission to the Ellensburg campus for specific programs, Reilly points out, adding "We are particularly concerned about finding spots for transfer students who make up the bulk of new students to the university each year."

In conjunction with Central's overall enrollment plan to serve the growing transfer-student population in the state, fall quarter admission will remain open at CWU's six university centers through at least Aug. 1, according to Reilly.

Central enrolled more Washington community college students this year than it did new freshmen and, despite the early admissions closure, expects to do the same next year.

The new CWU-Lynnwood Snoqualmie Hall facility opened at Edmonds Community College during fall 2002 and the newly constructed Deccio building, which houses CWU-Yakima, opened at Yakima Valley Community College last fall.

In addition, new facilities were recently completed for CWU-Pierce County. CWU also supports centers at SeaTac, Moses Lake and Wenatchee, where new facilities are now in the planning or construction stages.

"In the midst of talk about how expensive higher education is becoming - and the resources required to form new, autonomous campuses - our co-located campuses offer a creative and cost-effective way to provide higher education opportunities to citizens in the state of Washington," Dr. Jerilyn S. McIntyre, CWU president, says.

The CWU centers, some of which have been in operation for more than 25 years, are designed primarily to serve students whose professional or family obligations prevent them from leaving their communities.

About 20 percent of CWU's graduates earn their degrees at university centers, which offer bachelor's and master's degree program.