Education in Wyoming's Economy
"Wyoming is open for business, constantly seeking to innovate and improve, I can proudly say Wyoming is on a roll."-— Governor Mark Gordon
Wyoming's economic history is marked by periods of boom and bust, and to this day, the state relies heavily on the notoriously unstable energy and agriculture industries. Throughout these tumultuous periods in Wyoming, education and innovation have been at the forefront of the state’s priorities. In fact, the right to quality education has been enshrined in the state’s constitution since the 1889 Constitutional Convention with Article 7 Section 16 mandating the requirement that education at the State of Wyoming be as nearly free as possible. This is backed by the fact that U.S. News and World Report ranks Wyoming the second best state for higher education. Most recently, the state has embarked on expanding education in the energy sector through the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP). This has already resulted in the creation of the Powerline and Substation programs at Western Wyoming Community College (Western). All of this would have been nearly impossible without the help from WIP.
The key to Wyoming’s economic success has always been access to quality education and affordability. The state goes above and beyond to ensure access to quality education for all residents through programs like the Hathaway Initiative, Wyoming Works and a plethora of local partnerships and private scholarships. Wyoming’s support of higher learning has resulted in an educated workforce, which propels the state forward toward innovation.
The support of local education does not come without challenges, especially with a state like Wyoming where the lack of a significant tax base means a generally smaller budget. The state has also struggled with a brain drain as graduates from the University of Wyoming and the other community colleges often move to work in other states. Budget constraints have always been a difficult problem for the state to overcome, and often education is placed on the back burner for other more high priority projects. For instance, in February, the Wyoming state senate voted in favor of cutting funding for school construction projects, while leaving funds for major maintenance. The lack of funding for the expansion of K-12 education is neglecting a key aspect of the state’s future, and there is potential for higher learning to be affected as a result.
The future of Wyoming remains bright, provided the state can continue to support higher education and balance the budget in a manner that helps support the expansion of K-12 schools and ensures access to quality education. The recent support of the WIP has already paid dividends in supporting the establishment of specialized and quality education that will support Wyoming’s growing energy sector. The recent growth in Wyoming’s economy alongside the increasing importance of a highly educated workforce will only further encourage the state to support education.
