Resources

Campus Resources

Food & Supplies

SNAP benefits: Many college students (including everyone who is eligible for Work Study) are eligible for food assistance. If you’re eligible, you will receive a debit card with a monthly amount that you can use at the grocery store, many farmer’s markets, and other locations. To get help applying for SNAP, call 211 or visit FISH Food Bank.

211: Dialing 2-1-1 (or 1-877-211-9274) will automatically connect you confidentially with a referral specialist who can help you brainstorm solutions/resources to a wide variety of concerns, including but not limited to food and/or housing assistance. You will be asked for personal information, however they will not record any of it without your permission. They also are able to provide interpretation in over 200 languages.

CWU Wildcat Pantry: The Wildcat Pantry in Brooks Library 101C is a free resource for the CWU Community to access food, hygiene products, and the CWU Career Services professional clothing closet. Outside of the pantry, our work helps students finish their degrees, reach self-actualization, and get the most out of their CWU experience.

CWU Nutrition Counseling Services: Registered Dietitian provides medical nutrition therapy/nutrition education to clients on the CWU campus. Clients are also seen on an individual basis for food allergies, customizing food likes/dislikes to Dining Services menus, vegetarian dietary needs, and special dietary requirements.

CWU Career Services Professional Clothing Closet: Free interview, conference, and workplace attire for CWU students. Located at the Wildcat Pantry in Brooks Library. Please use the Clothing Closet booking page to make your appointment or call our office at (509) 963-1921 for assistance.

Parents & Families

CWU Family Resource Center: Offers services to CWU families and the broader community, including clothing, diapers, and toiletries.

CWU Family Study Space: Faculty, staff, and students with young children are invited to use the Family Study Space (FSS) located on the first floor of Brooks Library near the Learning Commons. In addition to child-friendly furniture, the space offers a selection of circulating children’s books, learning manipulatives, and creative play areas. Children must always be supervised.

Early Childhood Learning Center: Dedicated to support CWU student parents with children ages 4 weeks-12 years old.

Technology & Equipment

CWU Equipment Checkout: Multimodal Education Center offers a variety of equipment ranging from laptops and GoPros to projectors and lavalier microphones. Equipment checkout is free to all members of the CWU community with a current CWU Connection Card.

CWU Libraries Borrow & Request: Check-out books, media, laptops, Go Pros, and several other materials using your CWU connection card.

Transportation

CWU Transit: Safe reliable fare free Ellensburg Public Transit System which operates 7 days a week (except certain holidays). All buses are ADA accessible and are equipped with bicycle racks.

CWU Sustainability Transportation: Guide for regional transportation options as well as biking on campus.

Ride share: Facebook group to help CWU students find rides to and from Ellensburg.

Health Care & Wellness

CWU Financial Wellness Center: Located in Boullion 102, their goal is to educate the community on financial resources available and the financial obligations of higher education while helping students foster a healthy relationship with money through knowledge.

CWU Diversity & Equity Center (DEC): Centers the needs of students with marginalized identities. They provide holistic student support, identity-based & cultural programs, and social justice workshops to cultivate a sense of belonging and community at Central Washington University (CWU) and beyond.

CWU Student Health Services: Provides you with personalized, comprehensive health care focusing on wellness and prevention. Their team provides compassionate health care services to patients.

Disability Services: Serves students with permanent and temporary disabilities attending Central on the Ellensburg campus, online or at any of our eight University Centers. Our mission is to make university life accessible to students with disabilities.

CWU Student Counseling Services: Provide mental health services offered by licensed counselors, psychologists, and doctoral interns. Designated Telehealth rooms for virtual counseling sessions, as well as different support groups throughout the year.

WildcatCare365: a 24/7 “doctor in your pocket” with immediate access and connection to medical professionals in areas of medical help, counseling services, health coaching and more. Download the app TimelyCare and sign in with CWU credentials for access.

CWU Wellness Center: provides education, awareness, and health promotion for CWU students around the Dimensions of Wellbeing. Focus areas are Mental Health Education and Help Seeking Behaviors, Substance Misuse Prevention and Recovery Support, and Sexual Assault Response and Violence Prevention.

LEAD: Confidential advocate for Substance Misuse

PATH: Confidential advocate for those who have experienced Interpersonal Violence

CWU Office of Case Management: Strives to identify and connect with students experiencing obstacles to success, and enhances holistic student wellness through assessment, support, and connections to various formal and informal resources.

Campus Safety & Reporting

CWU Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Provides a comprehensive array of resources, education, and crisis management services.

CWU Behaviors of Concern: an online reporting and care referral mechanism for all members of the CWU Community through Guardian Conduct. This reporting form and information is private, but not confidential and does not route directly to confidential student services.

CWU We Care: When students experience sexual harassment and/or violence, they may want to report their experience to get support, request accommodations, or to initiate an investigation through the conduct process or law enforcement. We have a few different types of reporting at Central Washington University.

The Campus Connection page includes several more resources. If you are not sure which department can best assist you, meeting with a Case Manager is a great method to discuss potential resources.

Community Resources

The Ellensburg community offers additional resources to students and community members in need. See below for resources available.

Food Assistance

There are two food pantries in Ellensburg that are open to students to access. Services look different at each, but both welcome the CWU community to visit their pantries or sign-up for their services.

FISH Food Bank: Students are welcome to utilize services offered by FISH. FISH can also help sign you up for SNAP benefits.

APOYO: Offers groceries, internship opportunities, referrals, and more. No paperwork is required to receive food.

Meals on Wheels: Nationwide program that provides older Americans nutritious meals and safety checks at little to no cost.

Clothing and Shelter Resources

Ellensburg Community Clothing Center: Provides free and gently used clothing to those in Kittitas County. Weekly hours are Tuesday and Saturday from 9am-12pm.

Ellensburg Cold Weather Shelter: Partners with seven other churches around Kittitas County to house the homeless community during the winter months.

Additional Resources

The Department of Social and Health Services: Registration for Basic Food benefits and other state assisted programs.

HopeSource: Resources to help with housing assistance and paying bills.

Affordable Connectivity Program: Reduce your internet bill.