On Aug. 19, 2024, CNCC’s Fall semester began with the college seeing a positive and steady enrollment trend that includes a surge in growth among our concurrent enrollment, aviation and bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene programs. These programs among others at the College are wildly popular because the institution takes great pride in what we do that differs from other institutions and are unique hallmarks of the Colorado Community College brand.
The CNCC Vision Statement Reads: Colorado Northwestern Community College will be the college of choice for students seeking a unique education grounded in the Colorado experience.
To understand what this means for students and employers who hire our graduates and transfer institutions who accept them after completion at CNCC, we turned to the exemplary faculty at the College led by immediate past faculty Senate President Mario Sullivan and current President, Jennifer Lamanski.
Faculty members agree on the following statement to explain how we educate at CNCC and what makes the student experience unique from other post-secondary institutions:
Faculty leverage the natural and institutional resources of NW Colorado to enhance student learning as appropriate for specific course Student Learning Outcomes.
Though the following are examples of how this is done by course or program, faculty and staff at CNCC continue to develop ways to which students are exposed to and learn from the beauty and benefits of Northwest Colorado.
• By not overcomplicating the impact of the beauty of our environment. Drawing students’ attention to it in meaningful ways
• Incorporating the outdoor experience into the curriculum or involving students in outdoor recreation aside from classroom activities
• Highlighting the diversity and compassion of our community members by visiting the Deserado coal mine, the water treatment plant and the hydroelectric facility
• Students participating in seedball distribution along the white river
• Ethics students touring local coal mines and organic farms
• Aviation students’ mountain flying and use of local airfields for training
• Biology students participating in local caving lab searching for life in extreme environments
• Math course students collecting and analyzing data on water flow rates through the local cave systems, or collecting and analyzing data from AG animal production projects
• Geology students locating all five biomes in the region
• All students learning to camp, river raft, hike, snowshoe, ski
• Pre-allied health/medical students utilizing CNCC cadaver lab
To learn more about what we do and how you or your student might benefit from these experiences, please stop by the Administration Building in Craig or the Johnson Building in Rangely or visit cncc.edu. Here’s wishing you a great start to the beautiful Fall season.