Sheridan College Still Mulling Financial Future Regarding Athletics And Gillette College Separation

While an athletics program can help bring in some of the green, Sheridan College is trying to make sure it’s still in the black whenever athletics return, and not in the red like it was more than 3 years ago.

When the COVID pandemic started in 2020, it was facing a $4.2 million shortfall, and cutting the athletic program helped solve more than half of that problem.

Although Gillette College is separating from the Northern Wyoming Community College District, the separation is not complete until Gillette College is recognized as an accredited learning institution by the Higher Learning Commission.

Once that happens, Sheridan College will no longer receive revenue from Gillette College, and will receive less funding from the state legislature.

Board of Trustees President Debra Wendtland says whenever that eventually happens, the trick then will be to figure out where Sheridan College stands financially, can the college bring athletics back, and if so, when and how much can be brought back.

She adds the future is a bit cloudy for now.

“As fossil fuels decrease nationwide, we will be hit most hard here in Wyoming, and that’s where 66% of our school budget comes from. So if there’s less in the state pod, there’s going to be less coming to the community colleges, right at the very time we’re wanting to bring athletics back. So, we’re trying to be frugal now, but keep that discussion going, because it is a priority.”

The Junior College basketball season started about 1 month ago, and Casper will host the women’s basketball national championship tournament in both late March 2024 and late March 2025.