Wyoming Community College Commission Statewide Strategic Plan Planning for the Future of Wyoming’s Community Colleges Wyoming Community College Commission Statewide Strategic Plan Planning for the Future of Wyoming’s Community Colleges January 2010 Submitted by the Prepared by Wyoming Community College Commission MPR Associates, Inc. Ann Chambers Noble, Chair Amanda Richards Larry Atwell Laurel Sipes Charlene Bodine Carol Studier Lois Distad Sandra Staklis Jack Russell Beverly Farr Steve Skordas Laura Horn Wendy Sweeny With assistance from former Wyoming Community College Commissioners Don Bryant Jack States ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iii Acknowledgments The idea for a statewide community college Stra- House Bill 114. The Legislature approved the bill tegic Plan originated from the governor’s Blue and the governor signed it into law in 2009. Ribbon Commission on community colleges in 2007 and was incorporated into legislation in 2008. The Strategic Plan is submitted by the Wyoming In summer 2008, the Community College Planning Community College Commission and was guided Task Force amplified the role of the Strategic Plan by an Advisory Council representing the Commis- in guiding the community college system, and sion, community colleges, business and industry, those expanded responsibilities became part of legislators, economic development, workforce de- velopment, education, and the public. The Wyoming Community College Strategic Plan Advisory Council William Bender, P.G. Philip Gilbertson Ann Noble EHS Lead—Wind River Basin Resident Physician Chair EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. Wyoming Life Resource Center Wyoming Community College Riverton Lander Commission Cora Richard A. Boettcher, Jr. Darrel Hammon President, Dick Boettcher State President Lorraine K. Quarberg Farm Insurance Agency Laramie County Community Representative, Wyoming State Trustee, Western Wyoming College Legislature Community College Cheyenne Director, Thermopolis/ Rock Springs Peter M. Jorgensen Hot Springs County Economic Development Dave Bonner Representative Company Representative Wyoming State Legislature Thermopolis Wyoming State Legislature Jackson Powell Sherri Lovercheck James O. Rose Executive Director Bruce Brown President, Eastern Wyoming Wyoming Community College Former General Manager College Board of Trustees Commission McMurry Training Center Vice President, Wyoming Cheyenne Casper Association of Community College Trustees Jack Russell Randy Bruns LaGrange Commissioner President and Chief Executive Wyoming Community College Officer Bryan Monteith Commission Cheyenne LEADS Superintendent Cody Cheyenne Park County School District #6 Cody W. M. Stalcup, Jr. Kevin Drumm Business Management Consultant President Self employed Northern Wyoming Cheyenne Community College District Sheridan iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Wyoming Community College Commission The WCCC, Advisory Council, and MPR would (WCCC), the Advisory Council, and MPR Asso- also like to thank Leslie Hall, Jolene Wun, and Ro- ciates’ researchers would like to extend our ap- sa Van Khau for providing background research preciation to the many Wyoming partners who and administrative support; John Vavricka and assisted with this project. Their insight into Janell Scott for creating the project website; and Wyoming’s community college system and the Barbara Kridl, Donna Fowler, Andrea Livingston, state’s educational priorities were an invaluable Natesh Daniel, Alicia Broadway, Martha Hoeper, resource in creating this Plan. and Patti Gildersleeve of MPR Associates for edit- ing, designing, and producing the report. MPR thanks Sherrin Bennett for her contributions as facilitator and consultant. CONTENTS v Contents Acknowledgments iii List of Exhibits vii INTRODUCTION 1 Planning in a Time of Economic Scarcity 2 Pursuing Excellence in Wyoming’s Community College System 2 The Mission 3 The Strategic Plan Framework 3 The Details 5 CHAPTER 1 History and Governance 6 History 6 Governance 7 CHAPTER 2 The Colleges 10 Community College Profiles 12 Tuition and Fees at Wyoming Community Colleges 18 Benefits of Community Colleges to Individuals and the Public 19 A Performance Snapshot of Wyoming Community Colleges 20 The Education Pipeline 24 CHAPTER 3 Population and Economic Trends in Wyoming 25 A Small and Aging Population 26 A Strong but Changing Economy 27 CHAPTER 4 A Strategic Plan for Wyoming’s Community Colleges 29 State Interests 30 Strategic Objectives 32 vi CONTENTS STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 1. Student Access and Success 34 2. Quality Programs 48 3. Distance Learning 50 4. Alignment of Programs and Workforce Opportunities 55 The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Wyoming 57 5. Partnerships 59 6. Coordination and Collaboration 62 7. Adequate Resources 65 8. System of Continuous Improvement 69 Wyoming Community College Persistence, Completion, and Student Characteristics Data 76 CHAPTER 5 Implementation 81 REFERENCES 87 APPENDIXES 97 Appendix A—Evaluation Tools A–1 Appendix B—Interviews and Focus Groups B–1 LIST OF EXHIBITS vii List of Exhibits EXHIBIT PAGE EXHIBIT PAGE 1. Strategic Objectives Support State 10. Percentage of Graduates According to Interests ........................................................... 4 Their Level of Agreement With “(This college) did an excellent job preparing me 2. Enrollment in Wyoming Community for full-time work in my chosen career or Colleges: 1998–99 and 2008–09 ..................... 13 profession”: 2004–05 ...................................... 21 3. Wyoming community colleges and 11. Percentage of Transfer Students and outreach centers ............................................. 13 Graduates According to Their Level of Satisfaction With “Please indicate your 4. Tuition and Fees at Wyoming degree of satisfaction with the following Community Colleges: 2009–10 ..................... 18 aspects of (your college)”: 2004–05 .............. 22 5. Percentage of Individuals Living in Households in Poverty, by Household 12. Pipeline of Students Entering 9th Grade Type and Education Level: 2005 .................. 19 and Graduating from Community College in Wyoming Compared With the 6. Percentage of Individuals Living in United States and Other Western States: Households That Participated in Public 2006 ................................................................... 24 Assistance Programs, by Education 13. Population Trends in Wyoming: 1990, Level: 2005 ...................................................... 20 2000, and 2008 ................................................. 26 7. Percentage of Individuals According to 14. Estimates and Projections for Population the Importance They Placed on Trying to by Age in Wyoming and the United Understand Opinions of Others, by States: 2006, 2011, and 2016 ........................... 26 Education Level: 2004 .................................... 20 8. Percentage of Transfer Students and 15. Long-Term Employment Projections for Graduates According to Their Level of Wyoming: 2006–16 ......................................... 28 Agreement With “I accomplished my 16. Relationship Among State Interests and community college educational goals Strategic Objectives ........................................ 33 while at (this college)”: 2004–05 ................... 21 17. Hathaway Merit-Based Scholarships in 9. Percentage of Transfer Students and Wyoming ......................................................... 35 Graduates According to Their Level of Agreement With “(This college) did an 18. Comparison of Undergraduate Grant excellent job preparing me for further Receipt in Wyoming and Other States: study at a four-year institution”: 2004–05 .. 21 2008 ................................................................... 35 viii LIST OF EXHIBITS EXHIBIT PAGE EXHIBIT PAGE 19. Writing COMPASS Assessment Cut 30. Number of First-Time, Full-Time Scores for Wyoming Community Students Enrolled in Wyoming Colleges as of June 2009 ................................ 39 Community Colleges: Fall 2003 .................... 77 20. Reading COMPASS Assessment Cut 31. Percentage Distribution of First-Time, Scores for Wyoming Community Full-Time Students Enrolled in Various Colleges as of June 2009 ................................ 40 Academic Programs at Time of Enrollment: Fall 2003 ..................................... 77 21. Pre-Algebra COMPASS Assessment Cut Scores for Wyoming Community 32. Percentage of Fall 2003 First-Time, Full- Colleges as of June 2009 ................................ 40 Time Students Who Graduated by End of Summer 2004 or Were Still Enrolled in 22. Algebra COMPASS Assessment Cut Fall 2004 ........................................................... 77 Scores for Wyoming Community Colleges as of June 2009 ................................ 41 33. Percentage of Fall 2003 First-Time, Full- Time Students Who Made Progress 23. College Algebra COMPASS Assessment Toward Completing a Degree or Cut Scores for Wyoming Community Certificate by Summer 2008 .......................... 78 Colleges as of June 2009 ................................ 41 34. Percentage of Fall 2003 First-Time, Full- 24. Trigonometry COMPASS Assessment Time Students Who Completed a Degree Cut Scores for Wyoming Community or Certificate Within Four Years .................. 78 Colleges as of June 2009 ............................... 41 35. Percentage of Fall 2003 First-Time, Full- 25. English ACT Assessment Cut Scores for Time Students Who Transferred to Wyoming Community Colleges as of Another Postsecondary Institution by June 2009 ......................................................... 42 Summer