In a survey of 85 students conducted this week on campus and online via a Google form, CWU students most often cited dining and tuition as areas needing change, and finances and mental health as the biggest barriers to their success. 

The Observer’s motto, by the students for the students, guides what stories are written and published. This survey was created to gather student voices from across campus, and to inform The Observer of the most pressing issues to student success.

All student responses to the survey were collected anonymously, to promote the highest probability of gathering accurate information. Some 29.4% of respondents were freshmen, 28.2% were sophomores, 20% were juniors and 22.4% were seniors. The following are the results of the survey.

Student Safety

A vast majority of CWU students reported that they feel safe on CWU’s campus, with 96.5% answering yes and 3.5% answering no to the question, “Do you feel safe at CWU?” 

According to CWU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, to the most recent data (2023), reports of aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, liquor violation referrals and drug violation referrals have increased minimally since 2021. Reports of rape, sex offense, stalking and drug law arrests, however, remain low. Most notably on-campus reports of burglary have gone up around 333% from 2021 to 2023, from 3 to 13 total reports. Reports of stalking have gone down on campus 53.4%, dropping from 15 reports in 2021 to 7 in 2023.

Dining and Tuition

The survey asked, “In which area would you most like to see change from CWU?,” and listed the following options: housing, cost of tuition, dining, student emotional/physical health support, parking, safety, education and other. If a respondent chose other, they were prompted to fill in their own choice. 

Dining was the majority answer, with 31.8% of the responses. Following was the cost of tuition, with 22.4% of the responses and third was parking, with 16.5% of the responses. 

Dining underwent major changes at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Holmes became a buffet-style location and operational hours for restaurants across campus have been reduced since the 2023-2024 school year. Dining prices were also increased at multiple locations.

One student shared that they wanted to know why there aren’t very many vegetables available on campus, or healthy food options at the on-campus restaurants.

Another student commented on these complaints, writing that they want to know about, “The change in how dining is handled. Is it effective? As a student here, it is quite annoying when I want bigger portion sizes and actual food. However, through the weekdays, my dinner options in Central Marketplace are Lions Rock and Fresh Bar. Especially if dinner at Holmes doesn’t seem appetizing that night.”

CWU Support

In response to the question, “Do you believe CWU is doing enough to support their students?,” a majority of students, 58.8%, said yes while 41.2% answered no. Some of the students who responded “no” clarified what they think CWU could do to better support their students.

One student wrote, “CWU should be better about providing counseling/therapy to students. In addition, while the food pantry is a great resource it’s rarely open and when it is, it’s during times when students are in classes … Food on campus is expensive and generally unhealthy and most students are not getting nearly enough food and nutrients.”

Another student suggested, “I see students struggling mentally quite often. It may just be because it is the Winter quarter that I’m seeing it more but I feel they should have more mental health recognition. I don’t see it publicized often that we have therapy or any other resources for students.”

Incoming Students

With tours picking up across campus, The Observer surveyed students on if they would recommend Central to incoming freshmen. In response to the question “Would you recommend CWU to incoming college students?,” a majority of students shared that they would recommend CWU, with 85.9% answering yes and 14.1% answering no. 

Students who answered “no” were given a space to clarify why, with one student stating that they would not recommend Central because, “The recognition and support for the film program has been lackluster and seems like an afterthought from the university.”

Additionally, a different student cited complaints with CWU’s beginning of the year drag show. “I’m embarrassed about the drag show that was performed for the freshmen, which turned into a strip show. It made me very uncomfortable,” they said.

CWU Strengths 

Students were also asked which areas of CWU they thought were the strongest and responses were more varied. In response to the question, “In which area do you think CWU is the strongest?,” offering the same options as with changes, education was the majority response, with 28.2% of student answers, followed closely by safety, with 24.7% of the answers and in third was emotional/physical health support, with 14.1% of the answers.

Some students chose the “other” option and filled in their answers, listing 88.1 The Burg, Career Services, Professors and Clubs as some additional highlights of CWU.

Barriers to Success

The survey asked, “What area would you say presents the biggest barrier to your success as a student?,” and listed the following options: finances, mental health, academic struggle, housing, transport, nutritional wellbeing and other. Financial barriers was the majority answer, with 38.8% of the responses. Second was mental health with 30.6% of responses, and following that was nutritional well-being with 12.9% of responses.

Contact

For future surveys, check out our social media, both Instagram and Facebook, where all future surveys will be shared. For more direct contact information, visit the about section on our website.