EWC trustees, president plan for future

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TORRINGTON – Although it was one of the final comments made by President Lesley Travers during the Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees Retreat on Oct. 19, the words summarized a day’s efforts in planning for the future.

“Students just have to come first,” Travers said. “Student success. We really want to focus on that.”

Laying the groundwork for progress toward that goal, Travers presented four strategic directions for board discussion. 

Travers recommendations included: 

• Empower and enhance student success; 

Promote pride and unity among the college community; 

Provide high quality programs, and;

Foster partnerships.

Each received lengthy discussions on how the best of Eastern Wyoming College could be promoted and expanded upon in the six counties served by EWC, which reach north to Montana, west to a few miles east of Casper, and south to a few miles north of Cheyenne.

Finances, trustees, human resources, student services, academics, the EWC Foundation, and media, all came
under scrutiny.

To get on course and stay there, it was recommended that goals and strategic plans be evaluated annually, and regular evaluations be made for all instructors and staff. 

“Our goals need to be purposeful and we need to be going in the same direction,” Travers said.

She also said that student access, performance and success need to be monitored and evaluated regularly. To reach this goal Travers offered ideas, including getting students into remedial classes upon entry into college, when needed, and student participation in evaluations in order to know what is working and what is not.

The day’s discussions also touched on life-long learning opportunities, focus groups in distance learning centers, a more active alumni association, and the Roundtable discussions she initiated earlier this fall.

“We need to get our name out there,” Travers said. “We need to look at more ways to connect with the communities we serve.”

Following the day’s discussions, Travers instructed trustees to keep in mind the retreat was only part of the
planning stage.

“It was an opportunity for the Board of Trustees to discuss strategic planning,” she explained. “Because we have changed our mission and vision statements, we needed to assess whether or not our old strategic plan was still working. 

“The strategic plan will be looked at by the President’s cabinet, and then taken to the entire EWC staff and faculty at our January in-service as we move forward.”