Community College Board

Wyoming Statute: (Wyoming Statute, Title 21, Chapter 18, Article 3 – COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS (21-18-303) (a) The statute gives general authority to each seven-member board to set management and operational policies in pursuit of their statutory mission to “…provide access to post-secondary educational opportunities by offering broad comprehensive programs in academic as well as vocational-technical subjects.” (b) District boards have specific authority to approve one mill levy tax for up to two years to augment other statutory levies; (c) District boards have specific authority to procure professional services.

Responsibilities and Authority:

Duties: https://www.wyoleg.gov Community College Governance
Wyoming Statute, Title 21, Chapter 18, Article 3 – COMMINITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS (21-18-304)
Each Community College District Board

sets graduation requirements;
confers degrees and certificates;
collects tuition and fees;
prescribes and enforces rules for its own government;
determines priorities for spending;
controls and disburses funds;
manages their own facilities, and
issues bonds for such purposes as construction;
appoints its own chief administrative officer, or president;
determines salary schedules and benefits for its employees.
submits reports on their activities as required by the Wyoming Community College Commission, whose seven trustees are appointed by the governor.
makes rules that are consistent with rules made by the state commission.

Experience and Skills:

The duties of the Board as a whole are many and varied. Informed choices for new members would be enhanced by comparing knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) of current candidates with those of the vacating and remaining trustees to make sure all required KSAs are represented.
In general, the best Trustee candidates will

Dedicate the next four years of their lives toward providing quality post-secondary continuing education and vocational-technical training appropriate for the local area.
Attend meetings and work as a member of a team, with an open mind considering many factors, exercising an ability to engage in give-and-take and conflict resolution to arrive at decisive group consensus.
Communicate clearly, encouraging other trustees, college staff, student body, and to members of the community they serve to speak freely.
Listen actively to community needs for program development and make sure facts and opinions of all stakeholders are heard.
Work as a member of a team to make sure professionals are hired who will develop and deliver quality programs for students.
Continuously seek and find relevant information through study, reading, listening, and critical thinking in order to become and to stay fully informed about management of post-secondary education and vocational-technical training.
Maintain accountability for professional conduct by
- Treating everyone the same.
- Practicing and valuing honesty.
- Keeping commitments.
- Practicing humility. Admitting mistakes. Conducting self-assessments.
- Giving maximum effort.

Impact on Citizens:

Community colleges are extremely important for the overall educational health of the state and for the quality of the workforce. Colleges provide access to knowledge and skills for students who otherwise would not have that opportunity.
“Although the needs of the many communities in the United States are diverse and change over time, an effective community college must see itself and be seen as an institution dedicated to serving the needs of its community, whatever those needs may be.” ~winning-the-skills-race-action-agenda-community-colleges.pdf