Eastern Washington University is a public regional university founded in 1882 in Cheney, a small city 17 miles southwest of Spokane. Serving about 12,000 students, EWU offers programs across a broad range of disciplines including health science, social work, criminal justice, engineering, and education. The Eagles compete in the Big Sky Conference and the university has strong connections to the greater Spokane metro area, which many students treat as an extension of the campus community.