Academics
Sustainability Applied Learning
CWU faculty and students engage in applied, place-based sustainability learning across disciplines. Through research, community partnerships, campus projects, field experiences, and interdisciplinary teaching, students connect academic learning with real-world sustainability challenges.
Sustainability in the Curriculum Faculty Innovation Showcase Videos
These videos feature CWU faculty who participated in the Piedmont/Ponderosa Sustainability in the Curriculum Workshop and shared their work through CWU’s Faculty Innovation Showcase. Faculty discuss how they are incorporating sustainability into teaching through applied learning and community engagement.
ADMG 501 IT Management Boot Camp
ADMG 501 IT Management Boot Camp is the first course students in the Master of Science in IT Management take in their graduate program. We introduce a rigorous decision-making model that students apply to a real-world problem. For the last three years, these problems have focused on sustainability and the CWU Climate Action Plan:
- Micromobility programs for campus (Fall 2024)
- EV charging station selection and siting on campus (Fall 2023)
- Solar micro grids for climate resilience (Fall 2022)
ENST 480 Campus Sustainability
ENST 480 Campus Sustainability is a solutions-oriented sustainability class, in which students participate in projects to improve sustainability at CWU. Projects may address social, environmental and/or economic sustainability. Here are posters of students’ sustainability project posters from 2024 and 2025.
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2025 Projects
- Central Washington University Green Office Certification
- Fostering Accessibility and Healthy Living on CWU Campus: Campaigning for the Stairs
- Developing a New Way for Access to Donated Clothing
- Reducing Litter on the Yakima River
- Supporting Native pollinators with Bee Hotels at the Wildcat Farm
- Establishing Clothing Donation Bins on Campus
- Installing Water Refill Stations at CWU
- Implementing Bat Boxes on CWU's Campus to Promote Local Bat Populations
- Empowering CWU Minority Student Clubs by Increasing Student Recruitment on Campus
- Implementing Oscar Sort to Increase Effective Recycling
- Piloting a Campus Bike Share Program
- Enhancing Sustainability by Expanding the Wildcat Farm Food Forest
- Reducing Waste by Increasing CWU Student Participation in 'Don't Waste, Donate'
- Planting Native Plants on Campus to Increase Biodiversity and Decrease Water Use
- Introducing Sustainable Washing Practices to Campus
- Reducing Paper Towel Waste in SURC Restrooms Through Dyson Hand Dryer
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2024 Projects
- Striving for Sustainability at CWU by Divesting from Fossil Fuels
- Reducing Energy Use on CWU's Campus by Increasing Roof Reflectivity
- CWU Catering Waste Audit and Framework for Large-Scale Composting
- Developing a Pollinator Garden at the Wildcat Farm
- Expanding CWU Sustainability Education Through the Student Ambassador Program
- Increasing the Number of All-Gender Restrooms and Signage
- Supporting Sustainability at CWU through Wildcat Farm's Heritage Garden
- Enhancing Sustainability Awareness at CWU with a Series of Interview Videos
- Exploring Electric Scooters vs. Electric Bikes for Campus
- CWU Regalia Reuse Program
- CWU Water Conservation Plan Recommendations
- Enhancing Campus Life with 24/7 Building Access
- Introducing a Plan to Install 30 EV Chargers to Promote Clean Energy
CWU News
Ellensburg has helped CWU’s Campus Executive Chef reach new heights
September 30, 2026 by David Leder
Encanto Arts residency at CWU to feature internationally acclaimed musicians
September 30, 2026 by Rune Torgersen