Explore Western Wyoming Community College

Hotel could provide student housing

2010-01-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

ROCK SPRINGS — Not long ago, largely because of the energy boom, workers could hardly find a vacant house or hotel room in Sweetwater County.

It was even harder for students at Western Wyoming Community College facing full dorms and long waiting lists.

How times have changed.

College officials are negotiating to buy the vacant Wingate Inn located about a mile from the Western Wyoming campus for use as a residence hall, administrators said.

A new student residence hall will help fill the school’s need for living quarters for full-time students.

At the behest of the WWCC Board of Trustees, the college has been negotiating with the now-defunct hotel’s owners to purchase the empty building, according to Marty Kelsey, vice president for administrative services.

Officials estimated it will cost approximately $5.3 million to buy the property and building, an adjacent lot that would be used for parking, dormitory furniture and other items.

The college recently opened a new dorm that was constructed on campus, but there are still more than 80 students on a waiting list seeking student housing.

The Wingate Inn is expected to house about 120 rent-paying students.

“We’re hoping we can get this deal done,” Kelsey said. “This would really help us with our housing situation. It would be huge for us.”

WWCC currently has six residence halls, three of which were built in 1975. Two additional dorms were built in 1985 and 1995, and another residence hall opened last year.

Kelsey said the purchase has been approved by the Wyoming Community College Commission.

The project also requires the approval of the Wyoming Legislature since any capital construction or acquisition of $1 million or greater must receive state approval, even though no state funding will be used.

“We have some money from local sources we’ve had for a while and it’s enough to pay for this residence hall,” Kelsey said. “What we didn’t have enough money to do in the last couple of years was to build a new residence hall.”

Located atop College Hill near downtown Rock Springs, WWCC is the fifth of seven community colleges in Wyoming. The school was established in 1959.

Just 40 students enrolled for college credit courses during the school’s first year. The school occupied the former Reliance High School briefly in the early 1960s, before a new $1.8 million campus was constructed in 1969.

WWCC now enrolls more than 2,500 students for college credit courses and full-time equivalent students.

About 45 percent of students come from Sweetwater County and 45 percent from surrounding counties in southwest Wyoming. Roughly 10 percent are from out of state.

Kelsey said other colleges around the region have converted hotels and motels to residence halls.

“This building is particularly attractive to us because it’s very close to the campus -it’s about 1.1 mile from the Wingate to the college entrance -and because it was built in 2005 and appears to be in wonderful shape,” he said.

Kelsey said the college hopes to have the purchase approved and in place by March, with an eye toward opening the new residence hall in August in time for the 2010-11 school year.

Free GED Month at Western Wyoming Community College

2010-01-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

Rock Springs – February is Free GED Month at Western Wyoming Community College. To qualify for the free GED test (a $60 value), students must visit their local GED preparation center and complete an assessment. The assessment will indicate if there are any areas in which they need to study. There is a $5 fee for the assessment.

The student must show that they have the skills to pass the entire test before the fee will be paid for them. Actual GED testing must begin before February 28 to qualify.

GED Preparation Centers are located in Rock Springs, Green River, Kemmerer and Big Piney, Pinedale and Wamsutter. Instructors are available to help them prepare for the test.

Last year, WWCC awarded more than 30 test fees in the four communities. Director Jami Anderson said, “We would like to encourage people to come into their local GED center now so that they can be prepared to take the test in February. It is not an easy test and people often need time to study in order to pass it.”

For more information, contact Jami Anderson at 382-1829.

New Student Registration Program

2009-12-14T08:21:00.003-07:00

Attention all new students preparing to attend Western Wyoming Community College for the Spring 2010 semester. On Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. all full-time students and transfer students with less than 12 transferable credits or a college GPA below 2.0 are required to be on campus to register for their classes.

Student are able to register for the program by either going online, http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/advising/orientationreg.htm or by phone at 307-382-1827 or 800-226-1181 ext. 1827. There is also a parent session being held on campus that day during the student registration program. Parents will have a chance to meet WWCC staff and faculty and will also have the chance to attend the "Nuts and Bolts" session which talks about ideas and tools for parents to support their college student.

New Head Coach at Western!

2009-12-08T08:49:00.003-07:00

Western Wyoming Community College has a new wrestling head coach. Art Castillo of Green River, Wyoming is now the Mustangs Wrestling Coach. In addition, Nick Mamalis is the new assistant coach. Like Art, Nick is also from Green River, Wyoming. Nick wrestled for Western Wyoming Community College following high school. Check out the article posted in the Green River Star last Wednesday by clicking on the title.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T15:08:00.002-07:00

Western Wyoming Community College wishes everbody a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Offices will be re-open on Monday the 30th of December.

Record Number Attend Choices Program!

2009-11-11T09:36:00.010-07:00

If you missed The Choices Program on Tuesday, November 10th, you missed out on a record crowd. About one hundred and eighty six students and twenty six parents flooded the halls of Western Wyoming Community College to get more information about degree programs, students life, financial aid and online learning. If you missed this great day, you can schedule a campus visit by going to http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/ , click on Apply for Admissions, and click on Visiting WWCC. Come get a tour and your questions answered by one of our oustanding Student Ambassadors! We look forward to seeing you!

Choices is this coming Tuesday the 10th!

2009-11-02T19:11:00.004-07:00

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 is Western's Choices day! Make sure you reserve your spot. Go to our home page and scroll to the bottom. Click on the Choices - Fall Preview Day link and enter your information to reserve your spot. This is a free program and we encourage students to bring parents. This is a chance to visit Western Wyoming Community College and get your questions answered.The Choices program is designed for high school junior, seniors and their parents to learn about the choices regarding college. The day will consist of sessions talking about college life, on-campus living and career choices. The parents sessions include information on Financial Aid, Housing and adjustment to college issues. Free lunch is provided for all who attend.

If you have any questions please contact Admissions at 307-382-1648 or 800-226-1181.

See you on Tuesday the 10th!

Ladies Hockey Club!

2009-10-23T15:24:00.004-06:00

It still is not too late to become involved with Western Wyoming Community College Ladies Hockey Club! If you have the slightest interest in learning more about hockey, please join us at the skating rink every Sunday at 5:45 p.m and Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. Practice consists of skating drills and puck handling. If you do not have any equipment, do not worry! The Ladies Hockey Club will help you find some. The Ladies Hockey Club welcomes all ability levels and any student taking one credit or more. We also welcome faculty and staff to join in on the fun! For more information please contact Heather at extention 1790 or hsanders@wwcc.wy.edu. See you on the ice!!

CHOICES - Fall Preview Day!

2009-10-15T10:36:00.002-06:00

Come join us at Choices on Tuesday, November 10 2009.

Choices program is designed for high school junior, seniors and their parents to learn about the choices regarding college. The day will consist of sessions talking about college life, on-campus living and career choices. Parents are encouraged to attend the Parent Workshops on Financial Aid, Housing and adjustment to college issues. Free lunch is provided for all who attend.

If you have any questions please contact Admissions at 307-382-1648 or 800-226-1181.

2009-10-01T08:13:00.003-06:00

HAPPY 50th, WESTERN WYOMING COMMUNITY COLLEGE!!!

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., commemorating the 50th anniversary of Western Wyoming Community College. The bill’s passage marks the first piece of legislation written by Lummis to pass the U.S. House.

“Across our nation, community colleges play a vital role in the higher education system,” Lummis said. “No state feels their significance more than the state of Wyoming. Wyoming is almost 100,000 square miles and is served by one four-year University. Western is the fifth of seven comprehensive community colleges that bridge this geographic span, making college affordable and accessible across the state.”

“Western has been a pillar in our state’s educational community since 1959. The work being done there is absolutely critical to the future of Wyoming and its people. I congratulate the school’s board, educators, students and Sweetwater County for fifty years of success.

H.Res. 696 recognizes 50 years of achievement and service by Western Wyoming Community College. Western began in the fall of 1959 serving only 40 students out of Rock Springs High School. Today, they have an award-winning campus on College Drive in Rock Springs, as well as an extended campus in Green River, which collectively serves 4,000 credit and 2,000 community education students each semester.

Western serves Sweetwater, Uinta, Carbon, Sublette, and Lincoln counties – all of Southwestern Wyoming. It is a valued partner with industry, education, and local business in its service area to provide transfer and technical education, workforce training, cultural and athletic activities, and community education courses.

For more information on WWCC’s 50th anniversary celebration visit: http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/50years.

Website<http://lummis.house.gov/

Headed To Colorado

2009-09-11T08:15:00.003-06:00

“On the road again, we can’t wait to get on the road again!” It is that time of year, where we head out on the road to discuss with high school students their college options. Our first trip we are headed to Moffat County High School for a visit on Monday the 14th of September from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. After Moffat County High School, we are headed to Steamboat Springs High School for their College Night from 6:00p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Our last stop will be at Middle Park High School in Granby, on Tuesday the 15th of September from 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. We look forward to speaking with all students and parents about Western Wyoming Community College.

Kick-Off Day

2009-08-26T13:16:00.005-06:00

Western’s Kick-Off Day was a hit! Hundreds of new and returning students gathered on-campus to celebrate the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. Students flooded into the theater to discuss campus safety, living, and life. Onlookers ranging from Alaska to Louisiana enjoyed entertainment and positive words from student ambassadors and Life Unlimited speaker, Troy Stende. After Troy and the large crowd emptied from the Atrium, students spread across campus to participate in various events sponsored by their academic departments.

Celebrating the West of Wallace Stegner

2009-08-26T08:04:00.002-06:00

Celebrating the West of Wallace Stegner

In an event marking the centennial of his birth, Wallace Stegner’s literary work and legacy will be celebrated at the Wallace Stegner Centennial Summit, September 24-25 in Rock Springs.Speakers will include writers Page Stegner, Will Bagley and Lynn Stegner. Events will be held at the Rock Springs Museum and Western Wyoming Community College.“Stegner’s preeminence among American writers who deal with the West cannot be seriously questioned,” said Kevin Holdsworth, co-organizer of the summit. “For many readers and writers, Stegner is an essential guide to understanding our region.”Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. He wrote numerous books including Angle of Repose, Crossing to Safety, The Spectator Bird, Beyond the Hundredth Meridian, The Sound of Mountain Water, The Gathering of Zion, The Big Rock Candy Mountain and Mormon Country.“We are fortunate to be close to South Pass and the Green River, places he wrote about in important books,” added Holdsworth.“We are trying to highlight several areas where his influence remains strong,” said Jennifer Sorensen, summit co-organizer. “These include writing—both fiction and nonfiction, history, conservation and teaching. We have invited speakers uniquely qualified to discuss each of these areas.”The event will begin on September 24 at 6 p.m. at the Rock Springs Museum with an informal reception followed by a showing of the 2009 KUED documentary, "Wallace Stegner." On September 25, sessions will be held from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. in room 1302 of Western Wyoming Community College. All events are free and open to the public.Speakers include writer/teacher and WAC fellowship recipient Holdsworth, who will open the sessions with remarks about Stegner as a mentor and note different types of political change in the West. Historian Will Bagley is set to address the historic and cultural importance of South Pass and propose ways to maintain it as “a good place to sit on a rock and feel history.” Linda Baker of the Upper Green River Valley Coalition will discuss issues related to resource development in Sublette and Sweetwater Counties. Mary Lynn Worl, chair of Citizens United for Responsible Energy Development, will talk about returning to her hometown of Pinedale and organizing citizen involvement to achieve healthier air quality.In the afternoon sessions, writer and teacher Jennifer Sorensen will discuss her own relationship to the places Stegner writes about and reflect on her experiences in teaching his work. Writer and teacher Lynn Stegner will provide an appreciation of Wallace Stegner’s fiction. Writer Page Stegner will relate anecdotes and challenges involved in the process of collecting and editing his father’s correspondence for The Selected Letters of Wallace Stegner.The Wallace Stegner Centennial Summit is made possible by grants from Chevron and the Sweetwater Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Other sponsors include the Rock Springs Museum, the Sweetwater County Historical Museum, and WWCC’s Western American Studies program.FMI: Kevin Holdsworth at (307) 382-1724 or Sorensen at (307) 382-1716 or email kholdswo@wwcc.wy.edu

Back in Action!!

2009-08-19T10:33:00.002-06:00

Welcome to Western Wyoming Community College! It is that time of year again for classes to get underway. The students and staff have been preparing campus wide events to start this year off with a bang. Sunday is the official, “Move-In Day.” Faculty, Staff and Student Ambassadors will be available to assist new and returning students with their moving needs. In addition to our move-in day, we invite students and staff to join the Kick-Off Orientation Day on Tuesday, August 25th.

Schedule is as follows:
8:15 a.m. Check –In
8:30 a.m. General Session Located in the Theatre
9:15 a.m Adjusting to College Skit
10:00 – 11:00 Life Unlimited Keynote – Troy Stende
11:00 – 12:30 Icebreakers, Getting to Know Each Other

Please join us as we kick off our 50th year of Education at Western Wyoming Community College!

WWCC Nursing Program Earns Approval

2009-08-12T15:17:00.000-06:00

Rock Springs – The Western Wyoming Community College (WWCC) Associate Degree Nursing Program has earned continuing approval from the State Board of Nursing and continuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). These two entities assure nursing programs meet rigid requirements and high quality standards for nursing education. The WWCC program has been granted continuing approval and accreditation for eight years, the maximum allowable interval.According to program director Marlene Ethier, MS, RN, CNE, the approval and accreditation process is rigorous. “It takes about two years to prepare the self study document. After the document is submitted, the Board and the NLNAC send visiting teams to spend three days on campus confirming the information in the document and the quality of the program. They interview faculty, administration, students, and members of the community. They visit clinical agencies in the community and interview staff to confirm the nursing program is meeting agency needs.”The nursing program was commended for the progressive Problem-Based Learning Curriculum and for the high level of community support. Ethier said, “Problem-Based Learning is student-centered, active learning. Students become expert learners, learn to work collaboratively, and learn how to effectively evaluate themselves and their peers. This is exactly what nursing education should be.” Ethier added, “The site visitors were impressed with the generous financial support and the high level of collaboration between the nursing program and clinical agencies. “ The entire nursing program is available in Rawlins, largely due to community support.The Associate Degree Nursing Program has steadily increased enrollment. Between the main campus in Rock Springs and the outreach facility in Rawlins, there are eighty students currently enrolled. For further information about the WWCC nursing program, contact Crystal Radke at 307-382-1713.

Sen. Mike Enzi's to visit WWCC!

2009-08-12T10:47:00.001-06:00

Rock Springs - Friday, August 21Enzi plans to tour the Sweetwater County Hospital (1200 College Dr.) from 10-10:45 a.m., followed by a tour of the Western Oil Technology at Western Wyoming Community College (2500 College Dr.)from 10:55-11:40 a.m. From 12-1:15 p.m. Enzi is scheduled to speak at the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce luncheon, location to be determined. Check www.enzi.senate.gov under the Wyoming events tab for updated location. Enzi plans to speak about reforming health care and the cap-and-tax proposal. Organizer: Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce (contact 307-362-3771).

Distinguished Alumni

2009-05-28T17:12:00.002-06:00

To commemorate the 5oth anniversary of WWCC, we will recognize distinguished alumni and friends who have brought prestige and pride to Western.

The Distinguished Alumni and Friends Award will recognize a recipient for his/her achievements in their chosen profession, for his/her service to the community and/or for his/her outstanding contribution to Western. This award represents excellence in areas such as service to community and country. personal character, educational attainment and career success.

To nominate an individual, please complete nomination form and return it to the address below. They may be submitted electronically here: http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/50years/alumni_form.pdf

Additional documents of support, such as letters of recommendation, newspaper articles or excerpts from professional journals may be sent to the WWCC Alumni Office.

For questions, contact WWCC's Alumni Office at: (307) 382-1827 or (800) 226-1181 or email: alumni@wwcc.wy.edu

Deadline for receipt of nominations is Monday, June 15th, 2009

The Distinguished Alumni and Friends Award will be presented at the 50th Anniversary event "Celebrating Western" on Saturday, October 3 at the Rock Springs Holiday Inn.

Return nominations to:

WWCC Alumni Office

2500 College Dr.

Rock Springs, WY

82901

Fax: (307) 382-1654 (please call to confirm receipt)

Summer Classes Starting!

2009-05-28T17:08:00.002-06:00

Summer Classes are starting June 1st 2009! It is not too late to sign up, visit http://www.wwcc.wy.edu to see more important dates and to view the class schedule!

Labor Night Saturday, February 7

2009-02-05T12:20:00.002-07:00

"Labor Night" is a great time to come check out the basketball teams. This event is sponsored by the United Steel Workers. Admission to the games is free and the USW provides free food for everyone too. What could be better than some exciteng sports action and free food!

The women play at 3:00 and the men play at 5:00.

Get Away Day 2009 (for high school juniors)

2009-02-03T12:04:00.005-07:00

If you are a high school junior this is for you if you're not a junior then you should pass this information along to any juniors you know.

Wednesday, February 18th we will be hosting Get Away Day, an event specifically for juniors. This event is an opportunity to "Get Away" to college for a day. Having a WWCC student show you around for a few hours is a great way to get a glimpse into the life of a college student. If you are interested in registering for this event or just learning more go to www.wwcc.wy.edu/admissions/getawayday

We'll see you soon!

Now even more ways to stay in touch

2009-01-21T11:38:00.002-07:00

WWCC student ambassadors want to be your friend on MySpace or Facebook.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to stay in touch with us. Stay up to date on the latest at Western by conversing with our student ambassadors. We have set up profiles on both MySpace and Facebook to make it easy for you to ask your questions and our student ambassadors will be able to easily send you a quick response. What better way to learn about life for a student at Western than by talking with some of our current students. Check out our profile on MySpace at www.myspace.com/wwccsa or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/people/Wwcc-StudAm/1035371656. We can’t wait to receive your friend request.

Poetry Slam!

2009-01-20T08:54:00.001-07:00

Poetry with a twist! That’s what a poetry slam is.

It is a performance of your poems with random audience members as the judges. They will score you on a scale from 1-10. The slam consists of three rounds; those with the highest scores move on into the next round, until you end with three and a champion. If this sounds like fun then you would love participating in a poetry slam at WWCC. The “Slammers” are looking to build a strong Slam team this year. Their goal is to take Collegiate Nationals in April.

The main students participating in the Slams are also in the class. The class consists of just a few students but don’t let that fool you. They have plenty of heart and are willing to do what it takes to get to the top. They work hard and are always writing and revising their poems. They have chosen to be on the team because they believe that it helps you become more articulate, improves your writing skills and it’s a good outlet. Some of the things these students enjoy most about their class is the laid back atmosphere, the fun they have and that it motivates and inspires them to write.

Recently a Slam was held on campus and it was a great time. The evening began with dancing and commenced with an open mic session, which was followed by the much anticipated competition. It was an evening filled with fun and laughter, sprinkled with a hint of sarcasm and seriousness. The audience and competitors alike seemed to be enjoying themselves. Thank you to those of you who came and showed your support.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T10:53:00.006-07:00

What do like to do for Thanksgiving. I usually look a lot like this guy!

Sometimes though the family will actually get off the couch and go outside (if the weather is good) and have our own game. Last year we had so much fun! The whole family got a touch football game going. We had the guys and girls yound and old all playing together and it was a blast.

Does your family have any fun traditions?

Campus tour video

2008-11-06T10:37:00.003-07:00

David Phillips, one of our student ambassadors, created this campus tour video in 2007. It's kind of an interesting way to view much of our campus without actually being here. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV_kkUCvOK8

Welcome back!

2008-09-09T22:45:00.003-06:00

Can you believe we're back in school again. It's good to be back though. Here's wishing you all a succesful and fun school year. Did you all get out to see the vball team takin' care of businees on Sept. 26. It was a great atmosphere as the team swept Colorado Northwestern and the fans had the place rockin'. They play at home again this weekend, Friday the 12th at 7:00 and Saturday at 3:00, see ya' there.

Guess what else! Thunder now has a MySpace page, become Thunder's friend by visiting http://www.myspace.com/westernwyomingcc.

How do you celebrate Leap Day?

2008-02-28T16:56:00.005-07:00

February 29th is Leap Day. It only comes once every four years, so we get to experience only a limited number of them in our lives. I say make it a special day. Tell me how you are making Leap Day special. Does anyone out there have a birthday on Leap Day? If so, tell me what that has been like to have a birthday only once every four years.

Hopefully you will all Jump for joy this Leap Day, 2008!

Juniors Enjoy Get Away Day!

2008-02-28T14:21:00.003-07:00

Admissions Coordinator, Brant Brown spoke to visiting high school juniors before pairing them with a student host for the day. If you missed this event then you really missed out. Guest students had the opportunity to join their hosts in classes and enjoyed other activities familiar to college students such as Guitar Hero, shooting some pool, and just hangin out in all the best hang-out spots on campus.

If you attended the event, what did you think?

Fun at High School Night

2008-02-25T11:48:00.003-07:00

If you didn't make it to High School Night this past Saturday at the Mustang basketball games then you missed out on a really good time. Pictured here are some of the high schoolers that had the opportunity to compete in basketball musical chairs. Congratulations to Skylar Reed of Rock Springs, winner of a MP3 player and to Jordan Catron of Manila, winner of a DVD player. All contestants recieved a t-shirt autographed by the entire basketball team. We all had a great time watching the contest and the basketball games.

Phi Theta Kappa Inductions

2008-02-20T09:24:00.004-07:00

Every semester Phi Theta Kappa inducts their new members into the club with a nice ceremony. PTK is exclusive to students who achieve a GPA of 3.8 with 12 credit hours or more. PTK members coordinate activities to raise money for the organization but more importanly, they raise money for donations to various causes. If interested in joining and you would like more information, contact Jackie Freeze or Debbie Clawson.

Root Beer Pong!!!

2008-02-20T09:14:00.004-07:00

Resident Assistants (RA's) in our on-campus housing host events such as Root Beer Pong!! In this fun and safer version of quarters, participants threw ping pong balls into cups of root beer. This is just one of many ways in which the RA's bring dorm dwellers together to get to know each other and have fun!

Intramurals

2008-02-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

I went down to watch one of the boys intramural games and it was a very intense game! Bryan Welchman went up for 2 points against two other opponents and made the shot helping his team out. Unfortunately they didn't come away with a win. Maybe next time.

Looking for a new president.

2008-01-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

After 20 years of service Dr. Tex Boggs has announced his retirement. Thank you for everything Dr. Boggs!

The search for our next president, who should start this summer, has begun. What do you think we should be looking for in our next president?

You don't want to miss these Mustangs!

2008-01-17T11:06:00.001-07:00

The men's team is also looking good this year. The team boasts a 14-2 record right now. The men have home games coming up on January 25th and 26th. The women will also have a game on the 26th just before the men's game. It is a perfect chance to come see both teams play. January 26th is also "Labor Night" at the basketball games so there will also be lots of free food and prizes. See you there.

Women's bball heats up the court!

2008-01-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Our women's basketball team is doing awesome again this year. Right now they have a 12-3 record. Come see them play this Friday, January 18th at 6:00 PM!

Our student ambassadors are super heroes!

2007-12-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

Our student ambassadors have a good time as they pose for pictures back in May. Look for positngs from a few of these students on this site. Hopefully you will have a chance to get to know some of them this year. They are a great resource to anybody that wants to learn more about Western.

2007-12-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

This blog was created to help you explore what Western Wyoming Community College has to offer. I hope it will be enjoyable to see what is happening in the life of some of our current students. Check out our homepage at http://www.wwcc.wy.edu/ or you can also post comments to this blog to ask questions about admissions or really anything here at WWCC and we will do our best to answer your questions in a timely manner.