CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Ellensburg, Wash., U.S. It is one of six such institutions sponsored by the state of Washington. The university offers a curriculum in business, education, arts, and sciences for undergraduate and graduate (master's-degree) students. It enjoys student-exchange programs with over 100 universities in about 38 countries. Research facilities include the Central Washington Archaeological Survey and the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. Total enrollment exceeds 7,000. The university was established as the Washington Normal School in 1890. Instruction began the following year. It became Central Washington State College of Education in 1937. The college was elevated to university standing in 1977, and the name was changed to Central Washington University.