At Central Wyoming College (CWC) in Riverton four students will be receiving bachelor's degrees in Organizational Management and Leadership this week. The degree has three potential concentrations including Tribal, Business, and Outdoor Program Leadership tracks. The group will be the first in the state to graduate with a bachelors from a community college.
CWC president Brad Tyndall said the bachelor’s program has been in the works since before he became president in 2016.
He said it’s the community college's responsibility to develop the local workforce for people who can’t pick up everything and leave to acquire their bachelors.
“It's pretty much we need to grow our own business people, grow our own professionals, meet them where they are and saying, ‘Okay, what do you need next, in terms of organization, management and leadership to advance your forward?’” he said.
Tyndal said the bachelor degree idea was driven by a need on the Wind River Reservation.
“So, if you want to be a leader on the reservation, then you learn about tribal history and learn about treaties. You learn about how you do business with TERO and other things on the reservation or reservations. And it's so critical for people to be able to be their own leaders,” he said.
The graduation is this Friday at the Robert Peck Auditorium in Riverton. Last Fall, the college also added a bachelors in Early Childhood Development.Laramie Community College also will graduate bachelors recipients at their ceremony next week.