The Francis Emroy Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming is the location of the 90th Missile Wing and employs over 3,000 active military members, some of whom are pursuing a college education while on the base. On Oct. 27, UW President Laurie Nichols visited the base, accompanied by Jean Garrison and Mark Lyford and discussed what more accessible education opportunities the University of Wyoming could extend to those serving on the base.
“They can apply just like any other student,” Nichols said. “There’s nothing closed to them in that aspect. They are essentially putting an education on top of a full-time job, and there are barriers to them because of that duty.”
Those at the Warren Air Force Base pursuing degrees are forced to take online classes, because of location and accessibility. UW is looking toward offering not only more courses online, but also making them more accessible in the future.
“We have to look at their needs and recognize that they’re very interested in access, they’re very interested in some flexibility on when we start classes,” Garrison said. “That’s the kind of thing that you can’t just do immediately, but if you know that there’s an interest and there’s enough interest, then that’s something you can work toward.”
The University of Wyoming is already present in Cheyenne through one of its outreaches at the Laramie County Community College. There is strong encouragement within the base for Air Force men and women to pursue an education.
“People who are active service and those who are veterans have an education benefit that comes with it,” said Garrison. “There’s a real opportunity for them to finish out or start their degrees.”
In addition to expanding the list of online classes, Nichols also mentioned potentially extending invitations for guest speakers coming to the university to the military members on base.
“Maybe we could share,” Nichols said. “If there’s a speaker coming to UW, they could speak at the base before they come to campus.”
This interest in expanding education opportunities on the Warren AFB is not an entirely new concept to UW. There was an effort made several years ago to extend an MBA program to the Air Force Base, but the proposal hit a barrier and nothing came of it. Nichols said this recent conversation is not a continuance of the previous effort, but something different.
All of the opportunities would not only be available to the Air Force base but to anyone pursuing an education with the University of Wyoming. Much of the recent interest actually stems from a new strategic plan in the Engagement Taskforce that Garrison is chairing to be further involved in the community.
“We are in the process of planning for an office of engagement and outreach to be of service to our community,” Garrison said. “Part of that is to provide educational opportunities. Warren AFB is part of that community, and it’s nice that we are in a position to move that partnership forward.”
UW works with air force base
