Eastern Washington University facts for kids
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Former names
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Eastern Washington State College (1961–1977) Eastern Washington College of Education (1937–1961) State Normal School at Cheney (1889–1937) Benjamin P. Cheney Academy (1882–1889) |
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| Type | Public university |
| Established | April 3, 1882 |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
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Academic affiliations
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COP |
| Endowment | $32.1 million (2023) |
| Budget | $223.3 million (2022) |
| President | Shari McMahan |
| Provost | Jonathan Anderson |
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Academic staff
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802 |
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Administrative staff
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830 |
| Students | 10,915 (2022) |
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United States
47°29′29″N 117°34′59″W / 47.49139°N 117.58306°W |
| Campus | Fringe town, 300 acres (120 ha) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Easterner |
| Colors | Red and white |
| Nickname | Eagles |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FCS – Big Sky |
| Mascot | Swoop |
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Washington State Normal School at Cheney
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Showalter Hall at Eastern Washington University, viewed northwest from 5th Street
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| NRHP reference No. | 92001287 |
| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1992 |
 Location in Washington (state)
Location in USA West
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Eastern Washington University (EWU) is a public university located in Cheney, Washington. It also has programs in Spokane and other places across the state. EWU was started in 1882. Today, it has four main colleges where students can study many different subjects.
Contents
History of EWU
How EWU Started
The city of Cheney was first mapped out in 1880. It was named after Benjamin P. Cheney, who helped build the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1882, Mr. Cheney gave $10,000 to start the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy. This school was private.
When Washington became a state in 1889, it allowed schools to train teachers. So, in 1890, the academy became the State Normal School at Cheney. A "normal school" was a place where people learned to become elementary school teachers. The first teacher training classes began on October 13, 1890.
Fires and Rebuilding
The school campus was almost completely destroyed by fire two times. The first fire happened in 1891. The original building was being made bigger when it burned down. Classes then moved to the Pomeroy building in downtown Cheney for a while.
A new building was finished in 1896. But in 1912, a second fire destroyed this building too! After this, a new main building was designed by Julius Zittel. It opened in 1915 and was later named Showalter Hall in 1940. The Herculean Pillars, which are still there today, were also built in 1915 using parts from the old 1896 building. They used to be the main entrance to the school.
Growing and Changing Names
The school kept growing. It opened its first dorms (student housing) in 1916. In 1937, the school's name changed to Eastern Washington College of Education. This new name showed that it was more than just a teacher training school.
After World War II, the school grew even faster. In 1961, it became Eastern Washington State College. During this time, Eastern started offering many more types of college degrees. Finally, in 1977, the state of Washington changed the school's name one last time to Eastern Washington University.
In 1992, the oldest part of the campus was recognized as a historic place. It is now called the Washington State Normal School at Cheney Historic District.
Where is EWU Located?
EWU has its main campus in Cheney. It also has another campus nearby in Spokane, which it shares with Washington State University.
EWU also offers college programs in other cities in Washington, like Bellevue, Everett, Seattle, Longview, and Vancouver.
What Can You Study at EWU?
EWU offers over 100 different subjects you can study. You can earn many types of degrees, including master's degrees and even a special doctoral degree in physical therapy. Some master's programs are offered in other cities like Everett, Vancouver, and Kent.
Becoming a Student
EWU is known for being welcoming to students. In 2010, about 82% of students who applied to be freshmen were accepted. Most freshmen that year were from Washington state.
Research at EWU
EWU has several special centers where people do research:
- Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis: This group studies information about the region to help businesses and communities plan for the future.
- Eisenhower Center/International Field Study: This program helps students travel and study in other countries while earning college credit.
- English Language Institute: This is for students who want to improve their English skills.
- Center for Farm Health & Safety: This center does research on how to keep people safe and healthy on farms.
- Fisheries Research Center: This center studies fish, especially salmon, to help protect them and their habitats.
Student Life at EWU
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 58% |
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| Hispanic | 19% |
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| Other | 13% |
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| Black | 4% |
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| Asian | 3% |
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| Foreign national | 3% |
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| Native American | 1% |
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| Pacific Islander | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 43% |
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| Affluent | 57% |
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Pence Union Building (PUB)
The Pence Union Building, or PUB, is like a community center for students at EWU. It's a place where students can gather, eat, and relax.
University Recreation Center (URC)
The University Recreation Center, or URC, is a large, three-level building for sports and fun. It opened in 2008. Inside, you'll find:
- A big arena that can be an ice rink or a sports floor.
- A 30-foot (9.1 m) tall indoor climbing wall.
- An indoor parking garage.
- A large fitness center and gym.
- A dining area called "The Roost."
- A 200-meter running track.
Where Do Students Live?
Eastern Washington University has eight main places for students to live, called residence halls.
- Brewster Hall was built in 2002 for students aged 19 and older.
- Dressler Hall and Pearce Hall are tall, round buildings that stand out on campus. Most first-year students live in Pearce Hall.
- Louise Anderson Hall (LA Hall) is right across from the Pence Union Building.
- snyamncut (pronounced sɪn-yæm-ɛn-sut) is the newest residence hall. Its name means "place of gathering" in the Salish language, honoring the Spokane Tribe.
- Other halls include Dryden Hall and Streeter Hall.
EWU also has apartments for students, called Anna Maria and the Townhouses Apartments.
The Student Newspaper: The Easterner
The Easterner is the student newspaper at Eastern Washington University. It shares the latest news about campus, sports, and student opinions. Students write and choose all the content for the paper. You can find The Easterner in print each week during the school year. It also has its own website and Facebook page. The first student newspaper started in 1916 and was called "The State Normal School Journal." It changed its name to "The Easterner" in 1951.
Student Groups and Greek Life
Students at EWU can join many different clubs and organizations. There are over 100 groups that cover many interests. The student government, called the Associated Students of Eastern Washington University, has been around since 1919.
EWU is the only regional university in Washington with an active Greek system. This means there are fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women) that students can join. As of 2015–2016, there were many active groups on campus.
Sports at EWU
EWU has many sports teams, both for fun (intramural) and for serious competition (varsity). The university's official sports teams are called the Eastern Washington Eagles. They play in the Big Sky Conference as part of NCAA Division I.
Some of the main sports places on campus are Roos Field (for football), Reese Court, and the Jim Thorpe Fieldhouse. EWU teams have won three national championships:
- Football in 2010 (NCAA Div. I FCS)
- Wrestling in 1977 (NAIA)
- Men's cross country in 1982 (NCAA Div. II)
The Seattle Seahawks football team used to hold their summer training camps at EWU for many years.
Famous People Who Went to EWU
Many notable people have graduated from Eastern Washington University. You can find a full list of them in the List of Eastern Washington University alumni article.
