EWC holds regular meeting

Tyler Martineau
Posted 6/17/22

TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Board of Trustees discussed business for the next school year during the regular meeting on Tuesday.

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EWC holds regular meeting

Posted

TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Board of Trustees discussed business for the next school year during the regular meeting on Tuesday.

Trustee Judith Bartmann was absent from the meeting and incoming President Jeffry Hawes attended the meeting via Zoom.

During actions items, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with Goshen County Taskforce to allow for a room on campus for students to meet with taskforce members.

Interim President Dr. Rick Patterson said during the board’s work session there is a need for such a service as the school is currently short staffed in the area. Patterson said it will act as an outreach position and students will be made aware of the space if needed. Hours will be posted although Patterson is unsure of when it will be.

The board also approved honored retiree status to Raymond Gutierrez for his 22 years of service at the college, a College and Career Readiness Center proposal to increase hours for the Instructor/Outreach Coordinator to 20 hours a week with benefits, a contract with the Goshen County Fair Association for the 2022-23 school year for $37,700, the appointment of Paris Hendry to the position of English instructor for fiscal year 2023 and the appointment of Dr. Monica Teichert for the EWC Nursing Director starting July 1.

The approved consent agenda also included a resignation from math instructor Brandon Wilson effective May 16 and an agreement of employment for Patterson as interim president.

Discussion on board policy changes, which was set for the work session before the meeting, was tabled until July’s regular meeting. Before going to dinner, the board also discussed whether or not it was a matter which they could discuss in executive session.

In other business during executive session, Ellen Creagar gave a presentation on her history class’s trip to Colorado and North Central New Mexico to visit and learn about ancestral Puebloan structures, people and cultures.

Dr. Patterson gave his final report as the interim president during the regular meeting and highlighted some of the key issues he dealt with including communication. Patterson said meetings were held with groups and individuals and accurate information was sent out to employees and to the community.

Patterson also talked about the increase in salaries as there was a 10% increase across the board. While the increase benefited the current employees, Patterson said it has also helped to fill the vacant positions as well. There were 17 open positions on May 1 which Patterson said many have been filled since.

Patterson also gave an update on the cyber-attack which happened a year ago and said the goal is to have most systems fully functional by the fall.

The issue for Patterson is the transition between him and Dr. Hawes as president which has said has gone well and believes the college will be in good hands with Hawes’s leadership.

The next board meeting is July 12 at 5:45 p.m.