Amid falling natural gas prices, Gov. Matt Mead has called on all state agencies to prepare for eight percent budget cuts. For Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, the decrease in funding could mean staff reductions and elimination of certain programs.
With an eight percent budget cut, Eastern Wyoming College would likely have to make tough hiring decisions, says Bob Cox, vice president of finance and administrative services for the college.
“Odds are we’ll be looking at freezing positions as they come open, and not filling them right away, or assessing them very closely, and looking at possibly programs that we may not be able to continue to offer,” said Cox.
Cox said, those types of cuts would hurt, because with its enrollment rising, the college would like to have more faculty – not less.
Laramie County Community College is considering reducing classes and part-time faculty. President Joe Schaffer says they are hoping to save money by being efficient.
“A likelihood is reducing the number of section of courses that we offer, we can do that by limiting the number of part time faculty or adjunct faculty that offer those sections. What that may mean for students is that they may not have access to the number of sections or the availability of certain courses, and could potentially extend their time to completing their degree”
Schaffer says the college will try to avoid cutting faculty and personnel.
