The legislative session is over, and I’m glad to set my advocacy hat aside. Overall, the colleges and WPBS fared well! The biggest news is that we will get funds for raises and some other funds to help us in other ways.
Overall, it feels as though we dodged a lot of bullets since many legislators were proposing major cuts. Please reach out and thank those who supported the colleges. Although we have significantly more money going into our budget, keep in mind that we are still budgetarily behind, mostly due to the impact of property taxes. So, although we celebrate the groundswell of support we’ve received, we need to keep telling our communities that we are still lagging behind and are still feeling the crunch of staff shortages and more.
Here are the details from this past legislative session:
CWC’s share of New Funds to the Community Colleges:
$730,000 more per year for employee compensation. THIS IS THE BIG WIN!
$250,00 more per year to our general budget block grant; The Governor’s recommendation for a small cut failed.
$46,000 more per year more to our rodeo program
$410,000 more per year to support Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Ability to apply for significant funds to support Dual Credit, but not Concurrent Enrollment students. (Dual Credit students are those high school students who come to us for college. Concurrent Enrollment students are those taking are classes via a qualified high school teacher at a high school.)
The Wyoming Community College Commission received:
$2.5 million/year for Wyoming Works CTE programming funds we can compete for
$292,243/year for Wyoming Works student scholarship funds we share with the other colleges
$3,929,004 for Adult Education that we can share with the colleges
$7,521,256 for Wyoming Investment in Nursing that we share with the colleges
$481,250 for Veteran’s Tuition that we share with the colleges
Wyoming Public Television received the support we wanted. Great work Joanna Kail:
No cuts to its standard budget!
$3 million for WPTV for operations. This will cover federal cuts.
$283,598 for WPTV employee pay increase
Increase in its spending authority from their state endowment to $400,000
Legislative Non-Budget Items:
The Hathaway Scholarship Awards were increased by 40.5 percent so this will help students and perhaps our enrollments.
The Wyoming’s Tomorrow Scholarship no longer requires continuous enrollment by our students so this will also help students and our enrollments.
CWC received permission to make renovations to the Foundation’s Blue Building on the CWC business park. We now can seek grants and private funds to fulfill our desire to convert the facility into a light manufacturing and construction trades facility.
Students now only need to be 18, down from 21, to qualify to be licensed for concealed carry, which as you know, is now allowed on many places on the CWC campuses.
The Long-Term Homeowners Tax Exemption, that passed last year, no longer has a sunset date. The tax year 2025 impact was $45 million.
Fall 2026 Vote to Cut Property Taxes More:
The big financial threat to our budget coming forward will be the vote this fall, 2026, to amend the state constitution to set the taxable value of residential property to zero percent. Although we do not have exact numbers, the impact of cutting all residential property taxes would be about 3 to 4 times the cuts we endured when property taxes around 25% were cut last year.
Tuition Increases Coming this fall:
The Wyoming Community College Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to increase tuition by $7 per credit hour, raising the current rate from $105 to $112 beginning in the fall of 2026. The WUE tuition rate, for some of our neighboring states, is $10 more and out-of-state tuition will be $21 more. If these higher rates don’t result in fewer students, CWC could bring in about $290,958 more annually. To read the rationale for this tuition increase, you can read the WCCC’s news release here. Most notably, the commissioners “recognize that community colleges are not solely state-funded, but also receive funding from local property taxes and tuition and fees. With recent reductions in local property tax revenues, Commissioners ultimately decided that increasing tuition rates was a necessary action.”
Thank you RUSTLERS!
I am very grateful for your Tenacity. Collectively we have worked strategically and hard to make CWC an outstanding institution. When so much of the state and country has struggled to retain and attract students - whose lives we critically help transform - you all resiliently pushed to provide top-notch academic, student and institutional support. As per a recent WCCC report, we see that we are now the 4th largest community college in the state by Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment.
The Jackson Building Project:
Dr. Wells reports that the Jackson faculty and staff are working diligently to prepare for a fall semester in a new facility. Mr. Noseep reports that the project is still on schedule and on budget. We are now working on the designs of the space between the building and the parking lot. Here is just a first schematic image:
Now imagine nice furniture, a fire pit, string lights and more.
Central Wyoming Innovation & Entrepreneurship Conference
Central Wyoming College will host the second annual Central Wyoming Innovation & Entrepreneurship Conference on April 23–24, bringing nationally recognized speakers and innovators to campus for two days of professional development and inspiration.
Highlights include:
Featured Keynotes: Daymond John (Shark Tank investor), Kristen Hadeed, Gary Schoeniger, and award-winning Indigenous chef Sean Sherman
Professional Development: Engaging breakout sessions and presentations designed to spark ideas and support growth
Campus Opportunity: Free registration for CWC faculty and staff
Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired.
Professional staff across Central Wyoming College continued expanding programs that serve students, families, and the broader community. February brought strong participation in recreation, community education, and campus events that strengthen connections between CWC and the region.
Highlights include:
Community Recreation: The new Jr. Wolverine Basketball League launched for students in grades 3–6, giving youth the opportunity to develop their skills and even showcase their progress during halftime at Riverton High School basketball games.
Community Engagement: The annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day event welcomed young athletes to participate alongside CWC women’s soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams.
Adult Wellness: Morning and evening adult fitness classes began at the CWC Fitness Center, providing expanded opportunities for community members to stay active.
Community Education: Hands-on enrichment courses, including the Spring Baking Series, continue drawing strong interest from participants across the community.
Campus Events: Monthly Bingo nights and family recreation programs continue bringing community members to campus for fun and connection.
Admissions also hosted its annual Discover Day, welcoming approximately 180–200 prospective students, families, and teachers to campus. Student ambassadors and deputy recruiters played a major role in making the event a success.
Programs that support student success continue to show measurable impact at CWC, particularly through the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program.
Recent highlights include:
Improved Retention: TRIO SSS provides an 11.2% retention increase for associate degree-seeking students compared to eligible students not enrolled in the program.
Academic Progress: Approximately 80% of TRIO participants meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, helping them remain eligible for financial aid and on track toward graduation.
Support for At-Risk Students: Nearly 70% of TRIO students begin college needing developmental coursework, yet they maintain higher academic success rates than peers without program support.
Program Success: TRIO SSS recently completed its Annual Performance Report and met all program goals, including persistence, academic standing, and student transfer outcomes.
These results reflect the continued commitment of staff and faculty to helping students succeed academically and persist toward their educational goals.
The Lander Center and Alpine Science Institute continue expanding educational opportunities and community partnerships across the region.
Recent updates include:
New Team Member: Spencer O’Malley joined the team as Maintenance Supervisor, bringing experience in facility management and operations.
Freight Farm Demonstration: Students and staff hosted a demonstration at Meadowlark Market and Kitchen showcasing produce grown through the Freight Farm system.
Community Education: The new Band for Grownups class launched with 18 students learning to perform in an ensemble under the direction of a local music educator.
Outdoor Education: A Wilderness First Responder course attracted students from across the country, combining community education with CWC’s Outdoor Education and Leadership program.
Upcoming Programs: Registration will soon open for summer outdoor recreation classes and camps for PreK–12 students, along with adult courses in climbing, ethnobotany, mountain biking, and technology skills.
These programs continue to support experiential learning and strengthen CWC’s role in outdoor education and community engagement.
CWC Gear Up WY continues working with regional schools to support college readiness and increase access to higher education.
Recent initiatives include:
New School Partnerships: Staff met with leadership at Wind River High School and Middle School to expand program services for students in those communities.
Recruitment Efforts: Outreach continues across local middle and high schools using new digital applications, informational flyers, and community partnerships.
Family Engagement: A recent Family Night and FAFSA event at CWC brought together 37 families to learn more about financial aid and college opportunities.
Community Awareness: Program materials are being distributed to local schools, community organizations, and partner agencies to increase student participation.
Gear Up WY remains focused on helping students prepare for college and successfully navigate the transition to higher education.
CWC’s Customized Training department continues to support workforce development across the region through targeted training programs.
Highlights include:
Workplace Readiness Series: A new hybrid training program launched this spring, combining in-person workshops with individualized online coaching.
Participant Engagement: The first session welcomed 31 attendees representing multiple organizations.
Training Topics:
Emotional intelligence and self-awareness
Professional communication
Collaboration and teamwork
Conflict resolution
Time management and problem-solving
Industry Partnerships: Additional professional development workshops, including Myers-Briggs training sessions, are being delivered to local businesses.
These programs help strengthen the local workforce while supporting professional growth and leadership development.
CWC’s Recompete Grant programs continue expanding workforce training and education opportunities across the Wind River Reservation, helping build career pathways in high-demand fields.
Highlights include:
Program Growth: Ongoing training in CNA, culinary, trail building, and workforce development, with CNA programs continuing to fill each session.
Industry Certifications: Culinary students are earning credentials such as ServSafe Manager certification.
Workforce Partnerships: Training collaborations with Eastern Shoshone Tribal Health and Wind River organizations will expand services to hundreds of employees.
Hands-On Projects: Trail Building students will complete community projects, including connecting local school pathways and improving recreation areas.
Program Expansion: A new HiSET instructor has been hired, and an EMT program is in development with workshops planned this summer.
These efforts continue to strengthen workforce readiness and support economic development across the reservation.
Classified staff across Central Wyoming College continue to support students and campus operations through high levels of service, collaboration, and community engagement.
Recent highlights include:
Rustler Central Support
Rustler Central assistants have been helping students prepare for graduation, schedule advising appointments, and resolve financial aid and IT questions.
Since January 1, the Rustler Central phone line has handled more than 1,100 calls, averaging about 29 calls per working day.
Staff have also taken on additional IT Help Desk support responsibilities following staffing changes.
Testing Center
The Testing Center continues to administer a wide range of proctored exams for both CWC students and community members.
This semester includes a new online high school class whose students must take exams at the center.
February also brought strong participation in TEAS nursing program entrance testing, supporting the next generation of healthcare students.
Student Wellness Programming
Classified staff partnered with faculty and campus committees to host a Physical Wellness Education event, encouraging students to take short breaks for movement, healthy snacks, and conversation about wellness resources on campus.
The event provided students with information about the CWC Fitness Center and other ways to maintain healthy habits during the semester.
Campus Improvements
Grounds crews have been enhancing campus landscaping by updating flower beds, installing new mulch and rock, and adding protective mulch rings around young trees to promote long-term growth and sustainability.
Athletics & Student Life Support
Staff are currently coordinating logistics for the Region 9 Basketball Tournament, supporting travel arrangements and academic coordination for student-athletes.
Planning is also underway for the Rustler 500, the athletics department’s largest annual fundraising event scheduled for April 10.
These efforts demonstrate the vital role classified staff play in supporting students and maintaining campus operations.
Faculty across Central Wyoming College continue advancing student learning through hands-on experiences, research opportunities, and professional accomplishments.
Recent highlights include:
Agriculture & Livestock Programs
Students in the Agriculture Safety course visited Brown Company to learn about tractor safety and agricultural equipment operations.
The CWC Livestock Judging Team will host three major events this spring, including competitions and fundraising activities that will bring approximately 150 4-H and FFA students to campus.
Experiential Learning
Students in the Feeds and Feeding course toured Lucky 7 Angus Ranch to explore feeding practices, efficiency strategies, and economic decision-making in livestock production.
Faculty Achievements
Professor Melena Osborne received the John P. “Jack” Ellbogen Dean’s Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award and was nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Student Award at the University of Wyoming.
Osborne also has a forthcoming article in a national mathematics education journal and is developing curriculum materials that integrate Wyoming Indian Education for All standards into mathematics instruction.
STEM & Research Opportunities
CWC hosted the West Central Regional Science Fair, where students from regional schools presented independent research projects that could advance to the Wyoming State Science Fair.
Biology & Biotechnology Innovation
Biology faculty implemented new CRISPR biotechnology modules into General Biology courses through a National Science Foundation grant.
The grant funded more than $27,000 in laboratory equipment across Riverton, Lander, and Jackson campuses and provided hands-on biotechnology learning experiences for 96 students.
International Partnerships
Through a partnership with Rishihood University in India, visiting faculty member Dr. Chitra will spend time at CWC this spring participating in lectures, student activities, and the Central Wyoming Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference.
These experiences continue to connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities for students.
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