EWC Successful Through Partnerships
September 26, 2003
(Torrington, WY) Eastern Wyoming College is flourishing due in part to external partnerships and service agreements. Academic, program-specific, and student services partnerships help the college stay an integral part of the community. According to a Partnership Report for Instruction and Student Services compiled for the Wyoming Community College Commission by Eastern Wyoming College, the following reflects the College's external partnerships for the 2002-2003 academic year.
A partnership with the University of Wyoming allows students a choice of six bachelor's degrees, 10 master's degrees, and three certificate programs on the Torrington campus. Seventy-five students are taking university classes within the EWC service area under this arrangement. The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) provides communities with additional opportunities for educational services including post-secondary education and adult education. Wyoming Post-secondary Education Options Program allows thirteen high school's in EWC's service area enhanced learning opportunities for qualified high school juniors and seniors by offering concurrent enrollment. To strengthen the workforce skills needed within our communities, college and high school faculty have collaborated to develop technical courses that build on each other rather than repeat information through Tech-Prep Agreements in areas of Business Office Technology, Welding and Joining Technology, and Agriculture. Eastern Wyoming College provided customized non-credit training for ten local businesses last year. For easy transfer to four-year colleges, EWC has Articulation Agreements with UW, Chadron State College, Black Hills State College, and the University of Great Falls. EWC participates in high school career fairs, and hosts the Wyoming High School Academic Challenge competition. EWC sponsors community book discussion groups throughout its service area through the Wyoming Council for the Humanities. The Fine Arts Council sponsors performances on the Torrington campus and Goshen County Community Theater provides opportunities for students and staff to collaborate with community members in producing theatrical performances each year.
Specific partnerships are provided at practicum sites for Veterinary Technology, Criminal Justice, Education, Computer Networking, Business, and Agriculture. Students get hands-on experience from working at veterinary practices, law enforcement agencies, schools, businesses and the UW Extension Center. The Lancer Club promotes participation in and support for EWC athletics. ABE-GED-ESL program partnerships include Literacy Volunteers of America, Wyoming Job Services, NOWCAP/EvenStart, and the University of Wyoming EOC. These programs provide literacy services, testing and assessments for clients, and facilitate interest inventories and financial aid assistance.
Student Service partnerships include health services provided by Goshen
County Health Department, and career and vocational assessments through Southeast Mental Health. Other student support activities
include Daniels Fund, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Job Services of Wyoming, Wyoming State
Department of Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation, books on tape for visually impaired or disabled students, and TTY telephone services for
deaf or hearing-impaired students. "Adopt-A-Highway" and "Make a Difference
Day" are programs that allow students the opportunity to give back to the community through volunteer service. Student financial assistance is
provided by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Wyoming
Department of Family Services, Wyoming Student Loan Corporation, the Eastern
Wyoming College Foundation and thirty-one scholarships provided by local organizations and businesses.
President Jack Bottenfield said, "Eastern Wyoming College is truly a comprehensive public college engaged in a broad array of partnerships with many entities to better serve our county, district and service area. EWC takes service to the community very seriously and we appreciate the opportunity to serve through partnerships with others."
