Development of Eastern Wyoming College
Eastern Wyoming College was established in September of 1948 in Torrington, Wyoming, Goshen County, as the Southeast University Center–an extension of the University of Wyoming and part of the Torrington Public School District Number 3. In June of 1956, voters in the Torrington Public School District approved the formation of the Goshen County Community College District as an independent political subdivision of the state with its own Board of Trustees. At that time, the institution’s name was officially changed to Goshen County Community College.
Between the fall of 1956 and the fall of 1965, all public-school districts within Goshen County had voted to become part of the College District. In 1967, the institution was renamed Eastern Wyoming College, and in December 1968, the College District was officially designated as the Eastern Wyoming Community College District.
Following the reorganization in 1956, the institution experienced steady growth. Today, Eastern Wyoming College serves nearly 1,500 students in credit courses and approximately 500 students in non-credit activities. The College also operates a branch campus in Douglas and maintains Outreach Centers in Converse, Crook, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston counties.
Mission
Adopted 2017, Board Policy 1.0
Student success is our first priority; as a learning community we provide opportunities that enable students to achieve their goals and enrich our unique region through work, partnerships, and student achievement.
Strategic Goals
Revised 2021, Administrative Regulation 1.01
Strategic Goal #1
The College will advance student success through highly engaged educational practices that include associate degree opportunities and transferability, career and technical programs, certificate programs, duel credit, community and adult education, and workforce development to prepare students for the modern workforce.
Objectives:
- Create and implement an Academic Master Plan.
- Create and implement a Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Plan.
- Create an environment that enhances a sense of diversity, inclusive excellence, and campus engagement.
Strategic Goal #2
The College’s practices, financial resources and services are poised to provide quality educational programs, services, and a safe environment to our students and employees. The College commits to developing and implementing an infrastructure that will support facilities, quality programs, and technological solutions to address current and future needs of the institution.
Objectives:
- Efficiently utilize human, economic and environmental resources.
- Attract, recruit, and retain high quality people.
- Update, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, multi-year Institutional Technology Plan.
- Update, implement, and evaluate the Facilities Master Plan.
- Continuous commitment to campus safety.
Strategic Goal #3
The College’s structure and practices ensure clear and complete support for fair, ethical, and transparent processes to all that we serve.
Objectives:
- Foster a climate of inclusivity so that all students, employees, and visitors are welcomed, supported, and valued for their contributions.
- Advance a performance-based culture built on data-informed decisions and continuous improvement.
College Vision for the Future
Revised 2017, Board Policy 1.0
Eastern Wyoming College will be an innovative learning environment for academic excellence and community enrichment that champions student success.
Student Philosophy Statement
Approved March 2025
Eastern Wyoming College is committed to providing a student experience that promotes academic success in a challenging and supportive environment, facilitates the transition to college for first time students, and helps all students identify and achieve their individual goals. EWC’s student experience is designed to foster personal growth by increasing independence, promoting ethical behaviors and personal responsibility for learning, and affording opportunities for student involvement in campus activities to enhance social development.
College Diversity Statement
Lastest Revision November 14, 2017, Board Policy 1.0
Eastern Wyoming College envelopes a culture respective of our diverse communities, learners, and society. Through active dialogue we engage in enriching the lives of our students, faculty, staff, and community by providing the safe and free exchange of ideas, knowledge, and perspective. Central to our mission is the dynamic understanding of diversity to include but not limited to: age, culture, ethnicity, gender, class, creed, orientation, and perspective. Diversity at EWC forms the foundation of our values, skills, and learning- culminating into the norms for how we build relationships, communicate, and resolve conflict. As an institution, we affirm the holistic understanding of diversity and endeavor to foster an environment for its growth, support, and future as it reveals who we are today and whom we will become tomorrow.
Governance
Eastern Wyoming College is a public institution established under the provisions of the Wyoming State Legislature Community College Act of 1951 for the purpose of providing instruction in the first two years of college work, and for offering related services to the people of eastern Wyoming. The College is operated by the Eastern Wyoming Community College District. It is a tax-supported, co-educational institution under the control of an elected board, the members of which are residents of the College District.
The Eastern Wyoming College Board consists of seven members elected to four-year terms by the eligible voters within the College District.
Regular meetings of the Board are held on the second Tuesday of each month. Special meetings are called by the Board Chairperson to conduct business as required. Additional governance information can be found at Board Policy 1.1
Board of Trustees
First Elected |
Term Expires |
|
2022 |
2026 |
Jackie Van Mark, Chairperson |
2022 |
2026 |
Rick Vonburg, Vice Chairperson |
2019 |
2028 |
Randy Adams, Secretary |
2022 |
2028 |
Katherine Patrick, Treasurer |
2017 |
2028 |
Bob Baumgartner |
2022 |
2026 |
Doug Mercer |
2020 |
2028 |
Kurt Sittner |
Advisory Board Member - Jim Willox (Annually appointed by the Converse County Commissioners)
Accreditation
Eastern Wyoming College is accredited by the following professional organizations:
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: 800.621.7440/312.263.0456
info@hlcommission.org
www.hlcommission.org
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360
Telephone: 800.248.2862
Fax: 847.925.1329
www.avma.org
American Welding Society
8669 NW 36 Street, Suite 130
Miami, FL 33166-6672
Telephone: 800.443.9353
www.aws.org
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
Telephone: 404.975.5000
www.acenursing.org
Wyoming State Board of Nursing
130 Hobbs Avenue, Suite B
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Telephone: 307.777.7601
wsbn.wyo.gov
To obtain additional accreditation information, contact the Vice President of Douglas Campus at 307-624-7000 or visit the Accreditation web page.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Eastern Wyoming College complies with all local, state and federal laws, and the college is dedicated to providing opportunities and recognizing the talent of all people within this institution. There is a commitment to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons on the basis of merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, marital status, political belief, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. In accordance with the policy, Eastern Wyoming College affirms its commitment to non-discrimination in all matters relating to its educational admissions, programs, services and its employment practices as they relate to recruitment, hiring, selection, screening, testing, training, compensation, promotions, employment benefits, educational opportunities, access to programs, work assignments, application of discipline, access to grievance procedures, and any and all other conditions of employment which are provided by EWC policy, regulation, rule or practice (Board Policy 3.0).
All administrators, faculty and staff committees, and others involved in employment decisions will comply with this policy. The Director of Human Resources is responsible for administering and coordinating the college’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
Name, office location, and telephone number are: Director of Human Resources, Affirmative Action Officer, Tebbet Building 270, Eastern Wyoming College, 3200 West C Street, Torrington, Wyoming, 307-532-8330.
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