Eastern Washington University

Student life at EWU is about the community, and it’s different here. People smile. They give you high fives. They want to hear your story. They want you to belong.And that’s the way we like it.

EWU thrives on all kinds of diversity, and so will you. Our students come from 43 states and 70 countries. More than 1 in 3 are from diverse backgrounds, and over 50 percent are the first in their families to attend college.

Eastern Washington University is a regional, comprehensive public university located in Cheney, Wash., with programs also offered in Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Yakima. Eastern is a driving force for the culture, economy and vitality of the Inland Northwest region. The university's beautiful campus, NCAA Division I athletics and opportunities for hands-on, real-world learning provide a classic, yet unique college experience. A focus on personal attention, faculty excellence and community collaboration allows Eastern to accomplish its mission for preparing well-rounded students ready to hit the ground running in their chosen career fields.

Eastern Washington University expands opportunities for personal transformation through excellence in learning.

Communities flourish when multiple perspectives converge to create a powerful vision for all. EWU fosters a campus life that is vibrant, welcoming, and supportive of all. We provide opportunities for open thought and dialogue. As the state’s premier public diversity-serving institution, we are committed to catalyzing an equitable and inclusive climate on our campuses and in our communities.

EWU is one of the safest public university campuses in Washington. In fact, local families love to visit campus for picnics, childcare and even for trick-or-treating. The biggest contributor to such a safe campus is the shared commitment of faculty, staff and students.

Located on the main floor of JFK Library, the EWU Learning Commons fosters a community of inquiry and intellectual growth.The primary academic support units housed in the Learning Commons are: JFK Library; Program Leading to University Success (PLUS); Writers’ Center; Multimedia Commons (MMC); General Undergraduate Academic Advising (GUAA); Career Services; Office of Global Initiatives (OGI).

Program Leading to University Success (PLUS) is an integral part of EWU. From peer-facilitated group learning to 1-1 tutoring, there is something for every student who wants to increase their GPA and have a more successful college experience.Our Responders offer a collaborative experience that strengthens EWU writers of any ability, from any discipline, and at any stage of the writing process. Please stop by the desk in the Learning Commons and discover how we support our students. The MMC staff are available to assist you with consultation and support for multimedia projects. The MMC is not a 'drop off' service, but works with students, faculty, and staff in support of their multimedia project work.

Eastern Washington University is a public university. It is governed by the board of trustees, whose members are appointed by the governor. All legal powers, authority and responsibility for the operation of Eastern Washington University rest in the board of trustees. University President Mary Cullinan is the principal administrative officer of the university and has general supervision over all operations and programs of the institution. The president carries out the rules and regulations established by the board of trustees and state law.

Financial aid is not available for stand-alone certificate programs. State, institutional and private aid is still available. This restriction does not apply to students who are taking certificate programs as a part of a larger degree program or teacher certifications. Financial aid availability for summer 2018 is based on your remaining annual eligibility from the 2017-2018 school year. In general, most summer financial aid is loans only, although if you are Pell eligible, you may qualify for a Pell Grant in the summer. Certain restrictions apply and eligibility will need to be determined by the Financial Aid and Scholarship office. Students who are eligible for the College Bound Scholarship (CBS) may also obtain CBS during summer term. However, any CBS funding used during the summer counts against the 12 quarter maximum on the program.

In 1882, the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy opened its doors to more than 200 enrolling students. A generous contribution of $10,000 from Benjamin P. Cheney, a wealthy transportation industrialist, had at last fulfilled the dreams of Cheney citizens who had long desired an institute for higher learning in their community.

The academy became the State Normal School at Cheney in 1889, the same year in which Washington was given its statehood. The school was proudly designated as an institution “for the purpose of instruction of persons, both male and female, in the art of teaching the various branches that pertain to a good common school.”By the time it became Eastern Washington College of Education in 1937, Eastern was already a fully accredited four-year, degree-granting institution, offering majors in numerous subjects.

The campus grew rapidly in size and program offerings in the decades following World War II. In 1961, the name was again changed, this time to Eastern Washington State College. It was increasingly evident that the region needed professionals in many fields; in response, Eastern added a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Finally, in 1977, the state Legislature changed the school’s name to Eastern Washington University.