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WORLAND – Northwest College is redefining the way it delivers its high school equivalency test to Worland students.

While the college will still maintain an office in the Worland Community Center Complex, the use of a computer lab will no longer be available to students trying to receive their high school equivalency test.

Ronda Peer, dean of Extended Campus and Workforce, said part of the decision to no longer have a computer lab was usage.

“We have found online students don’t use the labs,” Peer said.

Students can check out iPads if they do not have access to a computer for their online class or course work, and while they are not available at the center, Peer said she would bring them to students if needed.

The decision comes after the “impending imbalance between the cost of operation and expected revenue,” with Northwest College’s operating fund dropped to $18.6 million following two rounds of cuts.

“The college has made plans to reduce its roughly $22.5 million operating fund by $2.3 million in response to Wyoming’s revenue situation, the result of depressed energy prices. On April 22, 2016, Governor (Matt) Mead sent a letter to all state agencies stating that an additional 8 percent (that percentage may change) must be reduced for fiscal year of 2017; this latest round of reductions is estimated to result in a loss of an additional $1.6 million for Northwest College, bringing the total to about $3.9 million,” Mark Kitchen, Vice President for College Relations said.

Peer said the program in Worland has been redefined before to limit the number of onsite classes and move toward online courses.

Peer said the high school equivalency test and the adult education program will still be available for Worland students, but the use of an onsite instructor will only be available for the adult education program.

For credit classes Northwest College serves an average 11 students per semester on site in Worland and 39 students per semester in workforce trainings, Kitchen said.

To combat the use of no instructor for the high school equivalency test and no computer lab, Peer said, “What we will have is a list of phone numbers where people can call, toll free, for help all the time. We’re going to maintain the office and that office will be used by the adult education program.”

“The adult education program serves adults who perform at levels below eighth grade. That’s a specific program where we deliver basic skills training in math, English and reading comprehension,’ Peer said.

The workforce training will be the same as it has always been, and Peer said the college will just have to rent a room rather than having one available all the time.

Workforce training is a noncredit course offering training in job needs. For example, Peer said if everyone moved to Windows 10, Workforce training would do a course on Windows 10 basics.

One thing that will change is the partnership with the Worland Community Center Complex to deliver a community education program, which primarily dealt in personal interest classes, Peer said.

If something had to be cut, it would have to be the community education program because, “That is not our primary focus,” Peer said.

The program had run for three semesters with an average of 41 participants per semester.

Peer said the course could be continued in the community if someone else took on the responsibility, but they have not approached anyone about it.

The community education program is not the only Northwest College program facing an indefinite suspension.

Northwest College also recommended the discontinuation of three academic programs based on the criteria of cost and revenue, number of declared majors job prospects and other funding sources.

Film/radio/television, journalism and farrier business management are the three programs recommended. On Monday, the Northwest College Board of Trustees approved eliminating the programs, according to the Associated Press.

Trustees also voted to accept 17 early retirement applications and approved eliminating four classified or professional staff positions. The number of faculty jobs is not being reduced.