General Information

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 2025, Board Policy 1.0

Eastern Wyoming College champions student success through innovative learning, academic excellence, and community enrichment.

Strategic Pillars

Revised 2025, Administrative Regulation 1.01

Pillar 1: Cultivating success with our Students

A. Enhance Student-Centered Academic Outcomes

• Successful outcomes for our students is our business. Students will experience an engaging learning environment through rigorous and relevant curricula, innovative teaching practices, and applies learning experiences that respond directly to student needs, inspire lifelong learning, and prepare students for meaningful lives.

B. Champion a Comprehensive Student Success Framework

• As a comprehensive community college, our students vary in many ways. Our commitment to the whole student ensures removing barriers and providing access to personalized resources throughout their academic journey. Our framework emphasizes continuous support for the evolving needs of our students.

C. Invest in Facilities and Technology

• Evolving students and communities require an innovative and modern college. Our investment fosters an accessible, safe, and inspiring college setting that promotes academic achievement, student satisfaction, and advanced technology.

Pillar 2: Cultivating Success within our Community

A. Strengthen Strategic Community Partnerships

•  Our college is an economic engine for local and regional development, and community well-being. We commit to building strong, collaborative partnerships with our communities to enrich student learning, workforce development, and community vitality.

B. Expand Community Visibility and Presence

• ​Promoting awareness of our college’s mission and outcomes broaden access in the communities we serve. This will be achieved by expanding the college’s presence throughout all service areas by engaging in community initiatives and extending our programs and services.

C. Become a Cultural and Recreational Hub

• Quality of life ranks high by the constituents within our region. Through strategic collaborations and community programming, our college aims to become a regional centerpiece for shared experiences-celebrating the arts, recreation, and local heritage in ways that strengthen the well-being of our residents.

Pillar 3: Cultivating Success within our College

A. Employee Attraction, Retention, and Development

• People are at the heart of our college, and through proactive initiatives, we attract and retain talented professionals and ensure our employees are able to perform at their best. We foster a supportive, inclusive culture where professional growth is prioritized, meaningful contributions are recognized, and work-life balance is respected.

B. Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness

• Our college is committed to advancing operational efficiency through system development, resource optimization, and ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional assets. We will continuously assess effectiveness through data-informed practices to ensure sustainable growth and responsiveness to evolving student and community needs.

C. Fostering a Culture of Innovation

• Innovation is the cornerstone of institutional excellence, where creative thinking is encouraged, calculated risks are supported, and new ideas flourish. By investing in change initiatives, we position our institution as a forward-thinking leader in higher education.

College Vision for the Future

Revised 2025, Board Policy 1.0

Eastern Wyoming College is committed to service and striving for excellence.

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

Latest Revision November 14, 2017

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

Revised August 13, 2024, Board Policy 1.1

On behalf of the district’s citizens, the Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees is entrusted with the authority and responsibility for the effective governance of the College which include:

1. The Board of Trustees connects the College to the community to ensure outcomes of the institution match the expectations of the community.
2. The Mission, Vision, and Strategic Directions for Eastern Wyoming College are guided by the community. These Strategic Directions are also shared by the Trustees, President, and college community of faculty, staff and students.
3. The Board of Trustees is intent on meeting the expectations of the community through evidence-based, informed practices that support the learning and futures of our students.
4. The Board of Trustees believes in a culture of transparency and inclusion in setting the direction of the College.
5. Board members shall have authority only when acting as a Board in session and conducted in accordance with Wyoming Open Meeting statutes (W.S. §16-4-401 through 16-4-408).
6. The Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees is committed to active involvement of all internal College constituencies in the governance of the institution. This is provided via an ongoing participative process of shared governance. The Board of Trustees affirms this belief by supporting the right of faculty, staff, administration, and students to express ideas and opinions with the assurance their opinions will be given consideration regarding decisions of the College via their respective alliances. 
   • Shared governance provides an avenue of shared commitment for continuous improvements in both college effort and resources. Shared governance provides for all major constituents of Eastern Wyoming College to contribute to policies, procedures and practices. The Board of Trustees is the ultimate decision-making body and the Board entrusts the President with day-to-day administration of the College.
7. The Board of Trustees establishes the Office of President and delegates to the President the execution of its policies. The President is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the organization and operation of the College, the execution of the College employees’ duties, and the welfare of the student body. The President is expected to perform duties contained in the President’s job description and fulfill other responsibilities determined in annual goal-setting or evaluation meetings. The President has the authority to delegate to employees the responsibility for all or portions of these responsibilities; however, these responsibilities to the Board of Trustees reside solely with the President.

Board of Trustees

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

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.

Contact Information:

Director of Human Resources, Affirmative Action Officer

Tebbet Building 270, Eastern Wyoming College

3200 West C Street, Torrington, Wyoming 82240

307-532-8330