Human Resources

Vision

"Central Washington University will be a model learning community of equity and belonging."

Mission

"In order to be a community of equity and belonging, Central Washington University nurtures culturally sustaining practices that expand access and success to all students. We are committed to fostering high impact practices, sustainability, and authentic community partnerships that are grouded in meaningful relationships."

Vision and Mission website

The Wildcat Way is a university-wide commitment to service excellence tailored specifically for CWU and embraced, communicated and supported at all levels and across all departments and programs.

The Wildcat Way is built around the university's core values that embrace inclusivity, diversity, and treating all people with dignity and respect. The program institutionalizes these values through our active commitment to five principles:

• Be Welcoming
• Be Inclusive
• Be Knowledgeable
• Be Responsive
• Be Proud

Wildcat Way Website

We are proud to be Wildcats for many reasons! Take the time to:

• wear or display your CWU pin and Wildcat Way pin found in your Welcome packet.
• create a CWU branded e-mail signature block - Directions
• share about your new job on social media - Instructor will e-mail you a couple of different options.

CWU is composed of six university centers in addition to our main residential campus in Ellensburg:

• CWU-Lynnwood
• CWU-Des Moines
• CWU-Pierce County
• CWU-Yakima
• CWU-Moses Lake
• CWU-Wenatchee

We also have two instructional sites located at Joint Base Lewis McCord Military Base and Sammamish. A person doesn't need to live in Ellensburg to get a degree from CWU!

CWU Campus Locations

CWU employs nearly 3,200 people composed of students, faculty, temporary/hourly, nonpermanent, exempt, and classified staff.

Data as of February 2024:

• 48% students
• 19% faculty
• 18% classified
• 12% administrative exempt
• 3% temporary/hourly, nonpermanent

Being a public higher education institution, CWU has many policies and procedures that guide our daily interactions and the way we do business. Understanding the policies and procedures that pertain to you in your position is also key to your success at CWU. See links below for specific policies.

• Civil Service (non-represented), Temporary/Hourly, Nonpermanent: CWU policies and Washington Administrative Codes (WAC 357)
• Civil Service (Represented): Collective Bargaining Agreement
  • Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE)
  • Public School Employees of Washington (PSE)
  • Teamsters
• Exempt Staff: Exempt Employees' Code (CWUP 6-0)
• Faculty: Collective Bargaining Agreement (UFC)
• Student Employees: Student Conduct Code (WAC 106-125)

In addition to the key policies that pertain to your specific employee classification, you have a responsibility to familiarize yourself with other University policies and procedures as they relate to your employment.

• Log into MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Policies & Procedures folder on the left >> General University Policies

At the very least, familiarize yourself with the following four policies under 2-40 Ethics, Health and Safety, and Compliance:

• (2-40-030) Alcohol and Other Drugs
• (2-40-065) Conflict of Interest - All Employees
• (2-40-070) Conflict of Interest in Relationships
• (2-40-075) Ethical Conduct Standards

As a general reference, you might also check out the (2-30) Employee Policies.

One of the first things you will do related to ethics at CWU is to complete the Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure.

• The disclosure will be sent to your CWU Outlook e-mail account from Compliance@cwu.edu within 7 days of starting work.
• Promptly answer the questions in the COI disclosure.

To learn more about ethics at CWU, visit our Ethics in the Workplace web page.

CWU is a Drug Free Workplace, a workplace where "the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited."

There may be times when you observe an inappropriate behavior on campus. When this happens:

• report the behavior using the Concern and Support Form link within MyCWU
  • MyCWU >> Other Links pagelet >> Concern and Support Form

CWU employees are required to complete training courses not only for our own safety but for the well-being of the CWU university community as a whole. Recognizing that employees have different learning styles, CWU provides a variety of modes of instruction.

Keep in mind that differences exist in the required training for supervisors vs. non-supervisors.

• See the Required Training web page for details about required training including additional training requirements for supervisors.

To view all required training courses in MyCWU, go to the |Learning| tab and enter the term required into the search box.

Part of being informed at CWU is keeping abreast of development opportunities available to you.

• Central Learning Academy - Professional Development Opportunities

CLA Online

The Central Learning Academy team in Human Resources offers 24x7 access to an eLearning library with thousands of online courses, full-text books, and videos, to name a few.

• CLA Online

Education Benefits

CWU offers a variety of education benefits as well as a tuition waiver program to help faculty, staff, their spouses and children, among others, achieve their education goals.

• Benefits for staff ($15 total, up to 8 credit hours/quarter)
  • CWUP 2-30-050 Education Benefits for CWU Staff
  • Employee Tuition Exemption Request
• Benefits for Dependents (50% in-state tuition waiver)
  • CWUP 2-30-055 Education Benefits for CWU Staff Dependents & Retired Staff
  • Dependent Tuition Waiver

Employee Wellness

Student Union & Recreation Center, Outdoor Pursuits & Rentals, and more

• Student Union Operations Departments

• Lock Shop: for building/department key
  • must schedule an appointment
  • (509) 963-2917
• Brooks Library: check out items with your Connection Card; download the Flipster app to read current magazines on your smartphone
• Connection Card: your CWU ID card
  • Office located in the Student Union & Recreation Center (SURC) Info Center. Stop by to get your photo taken and pick up your card.
  • If remote, follow the directions under Online Access & Downloading the GET Mobile App on the Connection Card website to get your connection card.
• Parking Services: for parking permits
  • MyCWU >> Applications pagelet >> MyParking
• Workplace Accommodations website: for faculty & staff accommodations
  • (509) 963-1202 or e-mail hr@cwu.edu
• Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity
  • Join an Employee Resource Group:
    • Employees of Color Equity Council (ECEC)
    • Queer and Trans Council (QT)

Your supervisor, ambassador, and department secretary are excellent sources of information for you as you acclimate to your new role at CWU. In addition, you can rely on the following for more specific information:

• Service Desk - technology-related services or issues
  • located on 1st floor in Samuelson
  • (509) 963-2001
  • e-mail cwu.servicedesk@cwu.edu
  • New Employee Technology Guide
• Central Learning Academy - learning or professional development questions or issues
  • Central Learning Academy
  • e-mail cla@cwu.edu
• Payroll Services - payroll questions or issues
  • located on 1st floor in Mitchell Hall
  • Payroll
  • (509) 963-1202
  • e-mail payroll@cwu.edu
• Human Resources - general HR questions
  • located on 1st floor in Mitchell Hall
  • Human Resources
  • (509) 963-1202
  • e-mail hr@cwu.edu
• MyCWU >> University Directory (or Outlook Address Book) - find an employee

Human Resources serves as business and strategic partners. We provide access to and administer benefits, payroll and other programs that cover the entire life span of your employment. We provide HR- and payroll-related guidance and support, when needed, to managers and employees. As new employees, you will find most often that supervisors can answer employee questions and provide direction. The HR and Payroll Services websites are also valuable resources. If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to call us!

• located on 1st floor in Mitchell Hall
• (509) 963-1202 or e-mail hr@cwu.edu or payroll@cwu.edu
• HR or Payroll

Employee vacation and sick leave begin to accrue immediately upon employment and are available for use dependent on your hire date (review examples below).

• Leave and Holidays

Examples of when leave becomes available based on your hire date:

• Begin work on March 1...leave available for use April 1
• Begin work on March 16...leave available for use May 1

You will find more information about employee leave in your specific Policy/Bargaining Agreement.

For ease of explanation, the reader understands that the four sections below regarding leave pertain only to employees who are entitled to that respective kind of leave.

Vacation Leave

Civil service and exempt employees accrue vacation leave each month:

• Exempt employees: accrue 16.67 hours per month, prorated by FTE
• Civil Service employees: begin accruing 9.33 hours per month, which increases with years of service, until the maximum of 16.67 hours is reached after 25 years of service; prorated by FTE
• The month you begin employment is considered your anniversary month. On the first day of your anniversary month each year, you may not have more than 240 vacation hours accrued. If you do, that number will be reset (lost) to 240 hours on the first day of your anniversary month.

View your Vacation Leave accrual through MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Employee Leave Summary pagelet.

Sick Leave

Civil service and exempt employees accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month, prorated by FTE. There is no limit to the number of sick leave hours a person can accrue. In addition, there may be times when an employee is eligible for other types of medical leave including the following:

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML)

Bereavement Leave

Bereavement leave is paid leave due to the death of a family or household member.

Holidays

Holidays

All Washington State employees, including those at CWU, receive eleven paid holidays:

1. The first day of January (New Year's Day)
2. The third Monday of January (Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday)
3. The third Monday of February (President's Day)
4. The last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
5. The nineteenth of June (Juneteenth)
6. The fourth day of July (Independence Day)
7. The first Monday in September (Labor Day)
8. The eleventh day of November (Veterans Day)
9. The fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day)
10. The Friday immediately following the fourth Thursday in November (Native American Heritage Day)
11. The twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas Day)

You must be in pay status on the workday before the holiday occurs to receive payment for the holiday.

* Cyclic employees should refer to your specific policy or bargaining agreement for more information about this.

All civil service and most exempt employees also receive paid Personal Days:

• Exempt and non-represented Civil Service employees: three Personal Holidays that must be used between January 1st and December 31st - do not carry over to the next calendar year. Temporary exempt employees are eligible based on their employment pattern.
• Represented Civil Service employees:

WFSE and Teamsters

Personal Holidays

• 1 day
• use January 1 thru December 31
• does not carry over to next calendar year

Union Personal Leave Days

• 2 days
• use July 1 thru June 30 of following year
• do not carry over to next fiscal year

PSE 

Personal Holidays

• 2 days
• use January 1 thru December 31
• do not carry over to next calendar year

Union Personal Leave Days

• 2 days
• use July 1 thru June 30 of following year
• do not carry over to next fiscal year

Time & Attendance is the name CWU gives to our system for reporting time worked and absences.

Time & Attendance can be found in MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Report Time folder

All civil service employees and overtime-eligible exempt employees must report time worked as well as absences; exempt employees who are not eligible for overtime need only report absences.

There are two pay periods per month:

• 1st - 15th
• 16th - end day of the month

All hours worked and/or absences must be reported in MyCWU by the end of your shift on your last scheduled working day of the pay period.

For questions about Time & Attendance, contact Payroll Services at (509) 963-1202 or e-mail payroll@cwu.edu.

Pay Day

CWU employees are paid twice a month:

• 1st - 15th pay period: get paid for these hours on the 25th of the same month or, if the date falls on the weekend, get paid on the closest business day
• 16th - end day of the month pay period: get paid for these hours on the 10th of the following month or, if the date falls on the weekend, get paid on the closest business day

See the CWU Payroll Schedule for exact dates.

All new CWU employees will pick up your first one or two paychecks in the Cashier's Office located in Bouillon 101. You must pick up each paycheck before the next pay day or it will be mailed to your Home Address listed in MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Personal folder >> Personal Details >> Contact Details - to update Home address

Direct Deposit

We highly recommend all CWU employees set up Direct Deposit within your first couple of days of work to allow for electronic deposit of your paycheck directly into your bank account. Set up Direct Deposit through MyCWU:

• MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Payroll >> Direct Deposit

If you have worked on campus in the past, please check your bank information in MyCWU to make sure it is up-to-date.

If you do not set up Direct Deposit:

• visit Payroll (1st floor, Mitchell Hall) to complete a U.S. Bank Focus Prepaid Visa Debit Card form (may include fees).
• subsequent paychecks beyond the first two will be mailed to your Home address listed in MyCWU.

For questions about Direct Deposit, receiving a Prepaid Visa card, or about your paycheck, contact Payroll Services at (509) 963-1202 or e-mail payroll@cwu.edu.

W-4 Tax Information

All CWU employees also need to set up W-4 Tax Information.

• Do this through MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Payroll >> W-4 Tax Information.
• Keep this updated.
• Submit a new form if you have changes that affect the number of allowances you claim (i.e. marriage, new baby, change in dependents, divorce, death, etc.)

W-2 Electronic Consent

This provides employees an option to go paperless.

• Do this through MyCWU >> |Employee| tab >> Payroll >> W-2/W-2c Consent.