TORRINGTON – Eastern Wyoming College’s new Vice President of Student Services will begin July 1, with three final candidates vying for the position. The college kicked off the first of three public forums on Tuesday with Heath Martin, who spoke about his experiences and fielded questions from the crowd and college officials in the EWC Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall.

Martin is currently the Assistant Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services at Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio. His education background includes a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. and a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Martin also has two chapters remaining on a PhD dissertation of higher education admissions from the University of Toledo in Ohio.

This year, he earned the Distinguished College Administrator award from the National Phi Theta Kappa Association.

Martin grew up on a large dairy farm in Kansas.

“I value my rural upbringing. It taught me a lot about the value of our community,” he said. “I very much believe in the community college mission. I believe we’re the open door to the American dream.”

In order to increase enrollment at community colleges, Martin discussed the importance of implementing an all-encompassing strategic management plan.

“My thought process is, typically community college enrollment is fairly predictable … based on different things (including the economy and unemployment rate),” he said. “What we need to really think about is, how can we increase the margins?”

Martin said one of the first steps in the student recruitment and retention process is to create a framework.

“You have great learning spaces (here),” he added. “I would really encourage my faculty and colleagues to focus on what makes us distinctive.”

Martin listed some of his strengths as his passion for community colleges and supporting students.

“I will take a lot of time to build a sense of community and get to know folks,” he said. “I will ask, ‘What are your biggest challenges, and how can I use my experience and expertise to help you?’

“We will see progress,” he said. “I’m very results-driven. I have high expectations of myself and my team … but at the same time, I’m a person who likes to have a lot of fun.”

Speaking on the topic of student success, Martin said, “community colleges today are dynamically transforming … in regards to the arena of student success,” explaining the emphasis has shifted from the number of classroom seats filled to the percentage of students graduating.

“We must really focus on how do we get more students to walk across that stage?” he said.

The next public open forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. today (Friday, April 20) in the Fine Arts Center Lecture Hall. Remaining candidates include Dr. Boomer Appleman, Assistant Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students at East Central University in Ada, Okla. and Dr. Don Appiarius, former Dean of Students at University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Questions regarding the open forums may be directed to Mr. Edward Meyer, EWC Director of Human Resources,
(307) 532-8330.