Lisa Watson

Northwest College President Lisa Watson kicked off the 2022-23 academic year Monday with an upbeat “State of the College” address that noted steady enrollment for the fall semester and the “exciting” prospect for construction of a new student center to support students.

Classes begin Wednesday at Northwest.  Watson welcomed faculty and staff back to campus and paid special recognition to new hirings.  She also asked the college community to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Jay Collins, former men’s basketball coach who died suddenly on July 30.

Headcount encouraging

Watson, named full-time president at the conclusion of a search this spring, said fall semester enrollment as of  Aug. 22 was almost identical to year-ago numbers. Headcount totaled 1,191 this year, compared to 1,192 last year.  The numbers are preliminary and don’t include dual and  concurrent enrollments. 

Out of state enrollment was up, as NWC introduced a new Welcome to Wyoming scholarship program. In-state student registrations were down slightly.

“These numbers are still too variable to predict final outcomes,” Watson said. 

She called residence hall occupancy another bright spot.

“We are currently 60 students up from last year’s numbers (in dorms),” she added.  “More students on campus means more activities, energy and hopefully engagement.”

The college will start the fall without coronavirus pandemic protocols and restrictions such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

“We will transition into endemic-based guidelines, focusing on self-care, support and consideration,”  she said. “We will continue to monitor the CDC and Wyoming Department of Health guidance, and most importantly, the current health conditions of our campus. If conditions change, we can easily transition back to pandemic protocols.”

The NWC president offered a look to the future with a status report on construction of a new student center, a project that received state legislative funding support of about $14 million in the last session. Timetable for completion of a new student center is July 31, 2024.

Already underway is construction of a support facility that will serve as a temporary dining facility while the student center is being built.

Watson and college officials have been saving ahead to meet NWC’s share of the construction cost.  With extremely tight budgeting, NWC has been able to build up a reserve account of about $3 million for the project.  There is also some contingency funding set aside by the college and the state at a time of accelerated building costs on most state projects.

The present DeWitt Student Center will be closed at the end of December 2022  for the start of demolition in January.

Partnerships in place

Watson reviewed five partnership programs that demonstrate college engagement.

— NWC is the first community college in Wyoming to partner with the University of Wyoming in a new science initiative funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, purpose of which is to advance basic medical research and science education;

— a grant from the Wyoming Department of Family Services will provide one-time grants to provide child care assistance to qualified students;

— opportunity scholarships from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation will be available to Wyoming residents 24 and older to attend community college in pursuit of a degree or certificate;

— a mental health first aid program will “train the trainers” with funds from the Wyoming Department of Health; and

— a $20,000 grant from the Wyoming Department of Health, along with an ambulance donated by Cody Regional Health, will support a new community paramedic program.