What is Cornerstone?

CWU's Cornerstone Program is designed to offer highly capable students the opportunity to take rigorous college courses while in high school. The courses are taught by qualified high school instructors who have been approved by Central Washington University for lecturer status. All Cornerstone classes are the same challenging courses offered at the university. The credits earned, if applied at Central Washington University or transferred to another institution, should enhance students' progress toward a degree, reduce the cost of college and strengthen their chances of being accepted to their college of choice.

President Guadino

Welcome to Central Washington University from the President, James L. Gaudino

I am delighted to invite our state's high schools and their students to participate in the CWU Cornerstone Program. This partnership between Central Washington University and the state's high schools enables highly capable high school students to experience the challenge of rigorous college coursework and to begin their college experience in the familiar surroundings of their high schools. We want this to be a lasting partnership, one that works well for the schools and one that encourages students to continue their education at Central Washington University after graduation from high school. We believe that, through this program, students truly are "laying the foundation for a successful transition to higher education."

Mission Statement

Central Washington University's mission is to prepare students for responsible citizenship, responsible stewardship of the earth, and enlightened and productive lives. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni serve as an intellectual resource to assist central Washington, the state, and the region in solving human and environmental problems.

Message from CWU Interim Director of Admissions, Kathy Gaer-Carlton

Greetings from Central Washington University. I would like to encourage you to consider CWU as you continue your college career.

Central Washington University provides a great college experience. Our classes are small and are taught by faculty who have committed their careers to teaching undergraduate students. Our residential campus provides an atmosphere where you can meet with friends to study, attend a lecture, or just hang out, and you never have to walk more than a few minutes from where you live. Your professors will challenge you, and the new friends you meet—from around the country and the world—will provide new perspectives.

Feeding your mind and discovering yourself is what college is all about, and at CWU we’ll provide you plenty of ways to do both. Our Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) showcases the research and talent of students from all disciplines, from accounting to theatre to physics. Faculty invites students to join them in the laboratory or travel to other countries in the pursuit of new ideas.

The William O. Douglas Honors College is an independent four-year program offering an enriched academic environment for exceptional students. DHC has been around for over thirty years, but in 2009 we will be instituting a completely revised curriculum that is one of the most exciting and innovative in the Northwest. If you have any questions, please contact 509-963-1445 or dhc@cwu.edu, or you can find out more about us on the DHC website: http://www.cwu.edu/~dhc/.

CWU offers a full range of high-quality educational opportunities at an affordable price. I encourage you to visit our web site at www.cwu.edu where you can check out the program that interests you, schedule a visit to campus, or apply for admission using our online application.

Regardless of where you complete your college career, the CWU Cornerstone Program will provide a strong foundation for your academic goals.

Note: Check with your principal or counseling office to see which courses are offered on your campus.

Expectations

CWU Cornerstone Program courses offer students an experience that is identical, in most aspects, to that of students enrolled in the same course on CWU's campus - learning objectives, tests, instructional materials, coursework, grading standards and course design.

Certain CWU Cornerstone courses, specifically those offered through the Math and English departments, have prerequisites that must be met before students may register. These prerequisites typically include taking the ACT, SAT, or the CPT college placement test. Testing information is available here. Students should plan to take these tests in the spring prior to enrolling in the program. View a complete list of course prerequisites.

Rewards

Tuition for CWU Cornerstone Program courses is less than half the regular University tuition, which allows participating students to reduce their overall college costs.

CWU Cornerstone Program students may expect the credits earned through this program to be fully accepted by the majority of colleges and universities. Central Washington University credits are accepted by all regionally accredited institutions. However, standard practices of higher education institutions suggest that any type of transfer credit be made on a case-by-case basis, usually in conjunction with the student's high school record. Credits earned through the Cornerstone Program are fully transferable to Central Washington University.

CWU Cornerstone students have access to Central Washington University Library services when performing research projects for their courses. These services include access to more than 40 databases, all of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students also have access to Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. If a journal or article is not available via print in one of our databases, a photocopy from another library will be obtained for the students at no charge. Access the Library's website.