Central Wyoming College Trustees hosted Fremont County school officials for a community dialogue prior to the board’s regular monthly meeting on Jan. 16.
Over dinner, the guests discussed ways the college and the schools could collectively facilitate a smoother transition from high school to college.
Dr. Mike Bowman, who was hired this past year as Fremont County School District 1’s superintendent in Lander, said it would be helpful if the colleges and university made school districts aware of their expectations from students.
He said Monday that his math and language arts faculty had meetings with UW and CWC faculty and said it was a really productive dialogue. He intends to plan a similar exercise with science and social sciences faculty.
Terry Snyder, also a new superintendent at Riverton School District 25, challenged the community colleges to provide programs and services to students who are not ready to enroll at a large university. He said CWC’s dual and concurrent enrollment program provides high school students with a “focus on the future,” giving them necessary direction.
Fremont County Commissioner Keja Whiteman who contracts with the Wyoming Department of
Education on Indian education said she hasn’t focused on the reservation students transitioning to college and is more concerned about graduation rates. She did suggest partnerships with local businesses which would require post secondary education courses as a hiring incentive.
Bruce Palmer, a District 1 board member and the director of admissions at the National Outdoor Leadership School, complimented the college on its “solid programming” and CWC’s collaboration with other entities. As a parent of a former CWC student, he suggested improved articulation with the other colleges in the state and UW.
Susan Crane of Lander, a District 1 trustee and wife of CWC board member Colton Crane, encouraged regular meetings with county school officials to “get our goals aligned.”
Fort Washakie School District trustee Karen King recommended the college reach out to young adults who are three to five years out of high school and to consider giving college credit for practical work experience. King also suggested providing child care on campus as “many young adults have child care issues.”
CWC adjunct faculty member and School District 25 board member Mark Stone recommends the college develop a pre-college academy, providing students a review of upcoming college programs and services. He complimented the customer service of CWC’s Financial Aid Office staff and suggested more web-based courses.
Peggy Miller, a board member from Dubois, would like to see Dubois students invited to campus to investigate specific programs so that “they feel they are a part of CWC.”
Sergio Maldonado, a board member at St. Stephen’s and a CWC staff member, said role models willing to mentor students, would be helpful.
Colton Crane, who serves on the national Association of Community College Trustees board, said that schools are preparing students today for jobs that don’t exist. “The U.S. is falling behind as far as percentage of the population that is being educated,” he said, noting that by the year 2018 there will be a real shortage of educated labor to fill jobs. “I don’t see this meeting as an end but as a beginning,” Crane said and suggested annual meetings.
–CWC Public Information Office
