ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University has secured roughly $130 million over the next two years to begin construction on two major university projects as well as increase staff salaries, expand its College in the High School program, and improve teacher preparedness, according to a CWU press release.

The two major construction projects are the university’s planned North Academic Complex, which will replace the university’s Farrell Hall and Language and Literature Building, and the CWU Multicultural Center, the press release said. The North Academic Complex will be heated in part by hot water from a naturally-occurring geothermal well, making it the first building on campus to be heated that way, the press release said.

“Adopting more environmentally-sustainable practices is a crucial component of our new vision and mission, and limiting our carbon emissions is an essential first step,” said Joel Klucking, vice president of finance and administration at CWU, in the release. “Building a geothermal well to heat our campus facilities makes good, long-term business sense, but it will also contribute to CWU’s goal of creating a healthier community for our students, faculty and staff.”

According to the press release, CWU’s College in the High School program served around 7,700 students in the 2022-23 academic year and is set to expand following the legislature’s passage of the 2023-25 biennial budgets.

“This new legislation will allow students across the state of Washington to access the College in the High School program at no cost,” CWU Director of Concurrent Enrollment Kyle Carrigan said in the press release. “With the cost of higher education continuing to go up, this funding allows more high school students across the state to access higher education.”