Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 950 - Higher Education Council
1. What it is
The Wyoming Administrative Code (WAC) is a collection of all administrative rules adopted by state agencies in Wyoming. These rules have the force of law and guide how laws passed by the Wyoming Legislature are applied in practice.
Agency 950 – Higher Education Council is the specific section of the WAC that deals with the Wyoming Higher Education Coordinating Council (sometimes called the Higher Education Council). This agency is responsible for policies, planning, and oversight of postsecondary education in the state.
2. Purpose of the Higher Education Council
The Higher Education Council exists to:
Coordinate postsecondary education in Wyoming:
Ensure colleges and universities operate efficiently without unnecessary duplication of programs.
Align higher education with state workforce and economic needs.
Develop long-range plans for higher education:
Study trends in enrollment, degrees, and workforce demands.
Recommend policies to the Legislature and Governor.
Review and approve academic programs:
Any new degree program or major change in existing programs must often be reviewed by the Council.
Allocate funding and resources:
Make recommendations for budget priorities among state colleges and universities.
Collect and analyze data:
Track graduation rates, enrollment patterns, and financial performance.
3. Structure of the Council (as seen in Agency 950)
The rules in WAC 950 describe how the council is organized and functions:
Membership:
Usually includes appointees from the Governor, Legislature, and higher education institutions.
Members often represent both public interests and institutional perspectives.
Meetings and Procedures:
The Council must hold regular meetings.
Public notice requirements are included to ensure transparency.
Decisions usually require a majority vote.
Powers and Duties:
The Council can adopt rules for coordinating education programs.
It can request reports from institutions.
It can make recommendations to the Governor or Legislature.
Program Approval Process:
Colleges submit proposals for new programs.
The Council reviews them based on criteria like:
Need in the state
Duplication of existing programs
Costs and funding
Potential student demand
Funding Recommendations:
The Council reviews requests for new facilities or major capital projects.
It may recommend priorities to the state’s budget office.
Reporting Requirements:
Institutions must report enrollment, completion rates, and financial information.
The Council compiles this into statewide reports.
4. Legal Authority
The Higher Education Council’s rules are authorized under Wyoming Statutes, Title 21 – Education.
Its rules in the WAC ensure that the council can legally coordinate higher education programs, approve degrees, and advise the state on funding.
5. Summary
Think of WAC 950 – Higher Education Council as the rulebook for coordinating colleges and universities in Wyoming. It tells:
Who is on the Council
How it operates
How it approves programs and allocates resources
How it tracks higher education performance
Its main goal is efficient, high-quality, and strategically aligned higher education in Wyoming.
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