Online Poll: Laramie County Community College Name Change

Laramie County Community College President Dr. Joe Schaffer recently proposed changing the name of the school to Wyoming State College.

The proposal will go to the college board of trustees on Sept. 16th. If they sign off on it, the change would officially take on July 1, 2027.

Why Change The Name?

In a news release last week, results of a survey were cited as reasons to change the name:

Research conducted by the College and its partners found that more than 65% of respondents outside LCCC’s immediate service area had never heard of the College. Among those familiar with LCCC, only 15% correctly identified Cheyenne as the location of its primary campus. Half of Wyoming respondents outside the local area said “Laramie County” created confusion about the College’s location, while 56% said the term “community college” suggested a limited range of degree optionS.

Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins on Friday came out in support of the proposed change:

"The truth is the college has outgrown their name and has chosen Wyoming State College to take them into the future. I love the leadership and vision the administration and trustees have shown in this endeavor. I like the name as well."

Proposal Draws Mixed Reaction On Social Media

But reaction on local social media pages was mixed, with some liking the change and others reacting less positively. Concerns about the proposal included people arguing the cost of changing the name could be better spent elsewhere. Others said the proposed name is misleading because while LCCC does offer a couple of four-year degrees, it is still primarily a community college.

There was also some questioning about whether the new name addresses the geographical confusion. Several people pointed out that ''Wyoming State" is not Cheyenne-specific and said it does little to clear up confusion about where the school is located.

Another group of commenters liked the idea of changing the name to something other than Wyoming State College. Cheyenne State College and Southeast Wyoming Community College were among the proposed alternatives. LCCC also has an Albany County branch, so some might say the Southeast Wyoming" designation is more accurate than the current name of the school.

So what do you think? Should the school move forward as Laramie County Community College, Wyoming State College, or something else? Take our poll and give us your opinion!