Office of the President
University Initiatives
In order to elevate shared governance and increase transparency, we are inviting the university community and beyond to keep up to date on a variety of university initiatives. In many cases, we are involving members of the university community to participate in leading these efforts, including through open forums, listening sessions, and participation on committees. If you have questions about any of these initiatives, please be in touch with any of the individuals involved or with the president’s office.
Vision, Mission, Strategic Plan Update
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Central Washington University community worked collaboratively and inclusively to review and revise our Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plan. The shared governance process, announced in an email on March 18, 2025, was led by a steering committee that included shared governance leaders and provided the university community the opportunity to give feedback and input. After receiving input from the university community, the steering committee recommended revisions to the Executive Leadership Team, who concurred with the steering committee in their final edits for the Board of Trustees review process. The revised Vision, Mission, Values, and Strategic Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees on May 16, 2025.
Vision, Mission, Strategic Plan
During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Central Washington University community will work collaboratively and inclusively to develop a new Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plan. Our Vision will be aspirational and provide direction for where we want to go as a university. The Mission statement will capture the essence of who we are and why our work matters. And, importantly, the Strategic Plan will provide the roadmap for getting us to our aspirational vision.
Student Engagement and Success
Our goal in taking our student engagement and success work to the next level is to build a solid foundation for CWU enrollment long into the future, allowing us to weather any declines in high school graduation rates (the enrollment cliff of 2025, the enrollment cliff 18 years after the pandemic, etc.) and capitalize on the growing diversification of the state of Washington and the nation.
The Central Experience
CWU is here for one purpose: to deliver transformational learning experiences that have the power to enrich the lives of students, their families, and their communities. Our dedicated team of professionals shows up every day with the goal of helping people from all backgrounds find their place in the world. Whether it’s inside or outside the classroom, CWU faculty and staff are committed to going the extra mile for our students.
Culture of Respect Leadership Council (Gender-Based Violence Prevention)
One aspect of elevating our work on equity, and on creating a culture where students, faculty, and staff know they belong, is to assure that we have both physical and psychological safety across campus. Specifically, CWU continues to examine best practices in gender-based violence prevention, implement those practices in our own policies, procedures, and practices, and to continually review changes to state and federal legislation.
Elevating Shared Governance
Traditional shared governance is defined as the relationship between Trustees, Administration, and Faculty. Over the course of the academic year, faculty and academic administration will gather to review foundational statements regarding shared governance and then work to develop clarity around how we operationalize shared governance at Central Washington University.
Community Policing Workgroup
In April 2023, President Wohlpart called for the formation of a richly diverse and broadly representative shared governance workgroup of students, faculty, and staff to assess the current best practices and opportunities for growth in assuring CWU is a model for community-based approaches to public safety. The workgroup identified the strengths CWU employs to uphold equity-centered public safety policies and practices and any potential areas of growth that will further elevate the commitment the CWU Police Department (CWU PD) demonstrates to assure a care-centered approach to campus safety. Task force members were nominated through spring quarter 2023, and the selected task force members began meeting in late Fall 2023 to discuss the objectives and determine which campus groups could be consulted for their feedback. The final report for this workgroup can be found here.
CWU News
$4 million federal grant aimed at helping with school psychologist shortage
February 25, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
CWU Disability Services aims to provide equitable access to education
February 23, 2026 by Rune Torgersen