EWC President Hosts First Community Listening Session in Guernsey

Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) President Dr. Jeffry Hawes hosted the first in a series of community listening sessions Tuesday, March 11, in Guernsey, offering an opportunity for local residents and educators to share their thoughts on the college’s future.

Around 11 people attended the session, including members of the Guernsey-Sunrise School and the Guernsey community. Culinary arts students from Guernsey-Sunrise School provided refreshments for the event.

These listening sessions are an essential part of EWC’s ongoing strategic planning process, which began last fall with a team of faculty and staff. The first phase involved surveying students and community members, while phase two includes meetings in communities across the college’s service area. The feedback gathered will help guide the update of EWC’s strategic plan for 2025-2030, which is expected to be presented to the EWC Board of Trustees in May.

“We were pleased to hear that the Guernsey community feels a strong connection to EWC,” Dr. Hawes said. “We look forward to exploring new opportunities to collaborate with the school and the community.”

During the session, attendees discussed a range of topics, including the benefits of the college’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program for high school students and the community’s ongoing interest in trades programs. The group also explored potential partnerships with EWC as Guernsey moves forward with plans to build a new library.

Eastern Wyoming College Vice President of Douglas Campus Dr. Margaret Farley answers questions during the first community listening session in Guernsey on Tuesday, March 11. The listening session, hosted by EWC, was held at the Guernsey-Sunrise School.

The next listening session is scheduled for March 20 at noon in the Niobrara County High School auditorium, located at 702 West 5th Street, Lusk, Wyoming. These sessions are designed to provide community members with the opportunity to offer feedback on what’s working well, suggest areas for improvement, and ask questions about EWC’s programs and initiatives.

For more information on the upcoming listening sessions, call Karen Posten at 307-532-8349.