PHASE I, II, & III PROGRAMS
TOURISM & HOSPITALITY
CULINARY & HOTEL/RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
There is a need for additional infrastructure to digitize credentials and increase the state’s agility and responsiveness in a rapidly changing hospitality and culinary industry. These projects are focused on expanding the number of short-term certificates and credentialing, improving coordination of tourism/hospitality training, expertise and information sharing across the state, and increasing culinary and hospitality offerings, particularly in areas with strong tourism sectors and tourism corridors but limited workforce.
TOURISM TRAINING
Expanding educational offerings across the tourism sector is critical to meet the workforce needs of the industry. Across several community colleges, this project seeks to develop of new offerings in trail building, mountain biking, outdoor adventure and education, craft brewing, agritourism, event planning, anthropology, and search and rescue.
WORTH CENTER
The mission of the WORTH Initiative is to support, expand, and diversify Wyoming’s economy through the outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality industries. The WORTH Initiative will achieve its mission by identifying gaps/needs across Wyoming; supplying diverse workforce training products to students and industry professionals; delivering timely and relevant applied research for WORTH industries; and providing extension and outreach to the tourism industry across Wyoming.
PHASE I KEY METRICS
The Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) is strategically addressing the evolving landscape of the hospitality and culinary industry, recognizing the need for enhanced infrastructure to digitize credentials and boost the state's adaptability. Focused on expanding short-term certificates and credentials, improving coordination in tourism/hospitality training, and fostering information sharing across the state, these initiatives aim to fortify Wyoming's culinary and hospitality offerings, particularly in areas with robust tourism sectors and corridors experiencing workforce limitations. Notably, the project extends beyond traditional hospitality education, with a multifaceted approach encompassing trail building, mountain biking, outdoor adventure and education, craft brewing, agritourism, event planning, anthropology, and search and rescue.
PHASE II KEY METRICS
Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry plays a large role in the state’s economy. By expanding short-term certificates, improving tourism and hospitality training coordination, and promoting statewide information sharing, the WIP aims to strengthen Wyoming’s offerings, especially in high-tourism areas and regions with workforce challenges. This initiative goes beyond traditional hospitality education, incorporating elements such as trail building, mountain biking, outdoor adventure, craft brewing, agritourism, event planning, anthropology, and search and rescue.
PHASE III KEY METRICS
Wyoming’s tourism and hospitality industry is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, and the WIP is expanding education and workforce pathways to strengthen this sector. The Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute—evolved from the WIP-driven WORTH Initiative—is driving workforce training, research, and outreach, providing internships and higher education programs while supporting certifications and statewide curriculum development. Community colleges are enhancing opportunities across the state too, with hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and new degree and certificate pathways. All of this is designed with the goal of preparing students for careers in hospitality, outdoor recreation, culinary arts, and tourism so that Wyoming’s workforce is ready to meet industry needs while promoting economic growth and sustainable development.
Phase I witnessed the development or initiation of 11 new programs, involving 453 workforce training participants, as well as 52 postsecondary students and 291 high school students enrolled in WIP-funded programs. The inclusion of resources and infrastructure, such as a mobile teaching kitchen, computers, classroom materials, and various trainings, demonstrates a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of industry professionals and students alike.
TOURISM
WYOMING OUTDOOR RECREATION, TOURISM, AND HOSPITALITY (WORTH) INITIATIVE
The WORTH Initiative is actively shaping the workforce landscape by supporting the development of new credentials and bolstering existing ones to meet workforce development needs. The initiative, funded in part by the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP), encompasses several key programs aimed at advancing Wyoming's economy through the outdoor recreation, tourism, and hospitality sectors:
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Hospitality Track in the B.S.B. in Management Degree:
A new addition to the existing B.S.B. in Management Degree, this Hospitality Track addresses the evolving needs of the industry. It provides students with specialized training to excel in hospitality management roles, contributing to the state's thriving tourism sector.
B.S. Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management:
Launched in 2018 as a collaborative effort between the University of Wyoming, the Haub School, and the College of Business, this degree program has become a cornerstone in preparing students for careers in outdoor recreation and tourism. With over 80 enrolled students, it represents a substantial commitment to developing a skilled workforce for the growing industry.
Hospitality Management Minor:
Designed to complement various academic pursuits, the Hospitality Management minor equips students with foundational skills in hospitality. This minor program offers flexibility for students to integrate hospitality expertise into their broader educational goals.
The WORTH Initiative, with its mission to support, expand, and diversify Wyoming's economy, achieves its goals through diverse workforce training, applied research, and outreach to the tourism industry. As tourism is the second-largest industry in Wyoming, WORTH plays a vital role in the expansion of industry support and engagement.
Learn more at: Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Initiative (WORTH) (uwyo.edu)
TOURISM
TOURISM TRAINING PROGRAMS
Central Wyoming College: Outdoor Education and Leadership
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Central Wyoming College (CWC) is actively involved in expanding outdoor recreation and leadership offerings, introducing programs such as mechanical trail construction and mountain bike instructor certificates. These certifications integrate various skills, from interpretative guide skills to wilderness first responder training, preparing students for careers in instruction, sustainable trail development, and natural surface trail systems.
Learn more at: https://www.cwc.edu/outdoored/
Casper College: Search and Rescue Training
Recognizing the high number of critical incidents involving tourists and outdoor enthusiasts, Casper College collaborated with a local certified search and rescue company. The goal was to train search and rescue teams across the state, enhancing safety for those visiting Wyoming. In 2023, Casper College partnered with Peak Rescue to offer Mountain Rescue, Confined Space, and Rescue Training SAR Rope for SRT training to the Casper Fire Department, Evansville Fire Department, Mills Fire Department, and the Natrona County Sheriff’s Department.
Learn more at: Search and Rescue Customized Training - Casper College Continuing Education (augusoft.net)
Northwest College: Outdoor Education and Recreation Leadership
Investing in outdoor education instructional space and curriculum enhancements, Northwest College focuses on outdoor leadership certifications, aerial, climbing, and water spaces. The outdoor program contributes to the local economy through graduates' leadership in domestic and international tourism.
TOURISM
CULINARY & HOTEL RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Wyoming's second-largest industry, the tourism sector, contributed over $4 billion in direct spending in 2021 and remains the largest employment sector, spanning over 30,000 employees. With a strategic focus on expanding degree offerings, certificate programs, and just-in-time credentials, Wyoming is enhancing its workforce recruitment and retention capabilities.
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Efforts include the expansion of short-term certificates and credentialing to ensure that the industry has access to a diverse range of tourism enterprises. The initiative also aims to improve the coordination of tourism and hospitality training, expertise, and information across the state, especially in areas with robust tourism sectors and corridors facing limited workforce availability.
Central Wyoming College: Mobile Teaching and Catering Kitchen
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Central Wyoming College’s (CWC) culinary students, program director, and chef instructors/mentors collaborated to turn a 32ft trailer into a state-of-the-art mobile teaching and catering kitchen called Cooking With Community. This mobile unit allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real life work scenarios, as well as fuels innovation and creative endeavors.
Cooking With Community is committed to mentoring future students to expand our reach and impact. Many graduates working successfully in the culinary and hospitality world have been inspired by taking additional steps as entrepreneurs. Current adjunct faculty are also inspired by this project and are encouraged to share their passion and love for their industry by integrating curriculum with educational internships and practicums to meet the needs of the whole community.
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Learn More about Central Wyoming College’s culinary programs at: https://www.cwc.edu/culinary/
Sheridan College: Culinary Arts and Hospitality
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Sheridan College is making significant modifications to their existing culinary arts and hospitality programs. The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Foundations Certificate Program, designed to prepare students for immediate entry-level job placement, reflects real-world techniques and ideas. This program seamlessly transitions into the Hospitality and Tourism Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program, preparing students for leadership positions within the hospitality and tourism industry.
Sheridan College also expanded its hospitality offerings through the newly developed Agritourism and Event Planning Certificate. This certificate equips graduates with the training they need for careers as agritourism enterprise managers or non-formal educators, as well as training individuals in planning and implementing various occasions, from conferences to special events.
Learn more about the Event Planning Program: Event Planning – NWCCD (sheridan.edu)
Learn more about Agritourism at: Program: Agritourism Certificate - Northern Wyoming Community College District - Acalog ACMS™ (sheridan.edu)
Learn More about Culinary Arts & Hospitality: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Foundations - Sheridan College
Casper College: Graphic Design and Marketing Integration
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Casper College is contributing to the workforce development landscape with its Graphic Design and Marketing Integration project. This initiative merges marketing principles with tangible skills in digital graphic design, providing students with the knowledge and creativity to create their own materials for marketing purposes. The integration of these two fields will provide students the opportunity to not only learn the principles of marketing, but also provide the knowledge, creativity, skills, and abilities to create their own digital graphic design for images, social media, fliers, etc. The integrated program is set to launch in Fall 2024.
Learn more at: Graphic Design – Casper College and https://www.caspercollege.edu/program/marketing/
Casper College: Disney Institute Hospitality and Customer Service Training
In Spring 2023, Casper College provided a Disney Institute training for over 400 Casper College students and community members. This training offered participants a hands-on learning experience in the field of hospitality and customer service and insight from a company renowned for their contributions to this industry on a large scale.
Learn more about Casper College’s Hospitality and Tourism Management at: https://www.caspercollege.edu/program/hospitality-tourism/
Laramie County Community College: Craft Brewing
LCCC expanded the regional and national marketing of its craft brewing program, aiming to increase student enrollment. Covering all aspects of the brewing process, the program prepared students for careers in the craft brewing industry.
Learn more at: Program: Craft Brewing, CD - Laramie County Community College - Acalog ACMS™ (wy.edu)
In collaboration with the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP), these initiatives and programs contribute to the state's tourism and hospitality sectors' sustainable growth.
