Our Future, Our Name

March 30-April 1: 1:1 Interviews in Cheyenne

• 24 1:1 interviews with a broad range of employees and some community members.

End March/Early April: Stakeholder Surveys:

• A Brand Survey will be sent via email to
• LCCC Employees will be asked to participate in an Archetype Survey

End of April/Early May: Validation

• Focus groups to test naming and positioning direction

Additional elements of Phase 1:

• Competitive landscape review
• Naming criteria and platform

Establish naming criteria aligned to mission and future scale
Develop naming territories tied to institutional direction
Create long list and short list options

• Trademark & linguistic screenings
• Trademark vetting

Timing & Deliverable: May/June Final name recommendation package

August: Naming recommendation to the Board of Trustees

September: Naming recommendation by the Board of Trustees at regular business meeting.

September/October: Begin work on implementation plan

Approximately 1 month after Phase 1 is complete

Parallel with Phase 2

Approximately 1 month after Phase 3 is complete

Development of project budget

Post-Launch Evaluation & Brand Governance Recommendations

One-Year Stakeholder Brand Survey

LCCC has evolved significantly, but its name has not evolved with it. Today, the College offers bachelor’s and associate degrees, university-transfer pathways, residence halls, and nationally recognized career and technical programs. Yet research shows that many prospective students and families - particularly outside our immediate area - do not understand where LCCC is located or the breadth and quality of what it offers. Among off-campus respondents, 65% had never heard of LCCC, and of those familiar with the College, only 15% correctly identified Cheyenne as its location. The words “Laramie County” also cause persistent confusion with the City of Laramie and Larimer County, Colorado, while “community college” can suggest to some audiences that LCCC offers fewer educational options than it actually does.

This matters now because LCCC is competing for fewer traditional-age students while seeking to engage a broader range of learners across Wyoming and the region. A name that causes confusion, understates our capabilities, or makes the College appear relevant only to local students creates a barrier before prospective students ever explore our programs. Remaining relevant and reaching more students are essential to LCCC’s ability to continue developing the skilled workforce and talent our community needs - the very purpose for which the College was established more than 50 years ago.

The name change does not alter LCCC’s mission or turn away from its community-college roots. It positions the College to carry that mission forward: removing barriers, more accurately communicating what LCCC has become, and ensuring it remains strong, accessible, and relevant for generations to come.

It is clear to many people who already know us. Local residents understand that Cheyenne is in Laramie County and know what LCCC offers. But a college’s name must also communicate clearly to people who have no prior knowledge of the institution or the area.

That distinction is increasingly important as LCCC works to reach prospective students within 350 miles of Cheyenne. Expanding our reach will help the College respond to changing demographics, remain strong and relevant, and broaden the pipeline of skilled workers and talent available to our community and region. Our research shows, however, that the current name is not clear to this broader market. Many prospective students and families mistake Laramie County for the City of Laramie or confuse it with Larimer County, Colorado. Others assume the College serves only local residents or offers a narrower range of educational opportunities than it actually does. Even half of the Wyoming respondents living outside our local area said “Laramie County” created confusion about the College’s location.

The current name may make sense once it is explained, but a strong name should not require an explanation. It should help prospective students immediately understand where we are, recognize the breadth of opportunities available, and see themselves as someone the College is prepared to serve.

Better marketing is important, but marketing alone cannot fully overcome a name that creates confusion about where the College is located, what it offers, and whom it serves. LCCC could invest significant resources repeatedly explaining that it is located in Cheyenne (not the City of Laramie or Larimer County) and that it offers far more than many people associate with a traditional community college.

That creates what might be called a “communication tax.” Before we can tell prospective students about our programs, outcomes, campus experience, and affordability, we must first spend time and resources correcting misunderstandings created by the name. We can continue paying that tax in every advertisement, recruitment conversation, and introduction - or we can remove it.

A clearer name makes it easier to focus the conversation on what matters: the opportunities LCCC provides and the futures it helps students build. The name change will not replace the need for effective marketing; it will make that marketing more effective. By introducing the new name and brand together, the College can more clearly communicate where we are, what we offer, and the broad range of students and communities we are here to serve.

No. Geographic confusion is one part of the challenge, but the broader issue is whether the current name accurately reflects the College LCCC has become.

Today, LCCC offers bachelor’s and associate degrees, university-transfer pathways, residence halls, high-demand workforce and technical programs, healthcare education, athletics, student life, and community learning opportunities. Yet many people, especially those who do not already know the College, assume its offerings and reach are much narrower. In our research, 56% of off-campus respondents said the term “community college” suggested limited degree options, while 58% said it made LCCC seem hyper-local.

These assumptions create another communication tax: before we can introduce the value of an LCCC education, we must first overcome an incomplete picture of what the College is. The question is not only whether people can find us on a map. It is whether our name helps prospective students recognize the full range of opportunities available, understand the quality and value of the institution, and see LCCC as a place where they can achieve their goals.

LCCC has been working with expert consultants to guide the process through which potential names are identified, tested against criteria, and ultimately recommended.  On August 17, LCCC President Joe Schaffer will announce his recommendation for the new name change to the campus during the annual State of the College Address, and then later that day to community partners. The Board of Trustees will consider this recommendation and take formal action on September 16 to adopt a new name.

No. LCCC’s commitment to the communities that established and continue to support the College remains foundational. Expanding our reach is not about serving local students less; it is about ensuring the College remains strong enough to serve them and our businesses well for generations to come.

Demographic changes mean there will be fewer traditional-age students in our immediate area. Reaching more learners within 350 miles of Cheyenne can strengthen enrollment, sustain and expand academic programs, and bring additional talent into our regional workforce. A broader student base also helps create the financial capacity needed to invest in scholarships, faculty, facilities, student services, and new programs that benefit local students and employers.

LCCC will continue responding directly to the educational, workforce, and community-development needs of Laramie and Albany counties. Growing our reach strengthens our ability to fulfill that local responsibility; it does not replace it.

No. LCCC is not abandoning the community-college mission; it is embracing its next evolution.

Our foundational commitments will remain unchanged: open access, affordability, responsiveness, and meeting students wherever they are. We will continue fulfilling the four essential roles our community established LCCC to provide - preparing people for the workforce, creating pathways to transfer and bachelor’s degrees, helping students become ready for college-level learning, and contributing to the development and vitality of our community.

How we fulfill those responsibilities must continue to evolve as students, employers, and communities change. That may mean offering new types of credentials, expanding applied bachelor’s degrees, creating more flexible ways to learn, or serving students across a broader region. But our purpose remains the same: transforming lives through the power of inspired learning. Meeting that purpose unlocks opportunity for our students and our community.  The name change helps carry that community-college mission forward; it does not leave it behind.

No. LCCC offers bachelor’s degrees in select applied fields where there is a demonstrated workforce need, but the College is not trying to become, or imitate, a university.

The traditional distinction between “two-year” and “four-year” colleges no longer reflects how people learn or what today’s economy requires. Valuable education can range from a short-term industry certification completed in a few weeks or a semester, to an associate degree, an applied bachelor’s degree, or a pathway into graduate education and lifelong learning. The length of a program should not define the institution or limit the opportunities it can provide.

LCCC also deeply values and supports the University of Wyoming. As the state’s land-grant university, UW fulfills responsibilities that are distinct from, and complementary to, ours. Wyoming needs a strong university that advances research and creates new knowledge and economic activity, provides a vital statewide extension presence, offers a broad range of bachelor’s and graduate degrees, and creates clear pathways for students completing AA and AS degrees at LCCC and Wyoming’s other community colleges. LCCC’s goal is not to duplicate or compete with that role, but to strengthen the overall educational ecosystem in Wyoming.

LCCC will continue serving students across the educational spectrum: those preparing for college-level work, earning short-term credentials, training for careers, completing associate or applied bachelor’s degrees, transferring to universities, or returning later in life to gain new skills. The goal is not to become a university, rather it is to evolve into the next generation of community college our students, employers, and communities will need for the future.

Those are all worthy investments, and LCCC will continue making them. But they do not address the underlying challenge this effort is intended to solve. A scholarship can help a student for a year or two, and a new program can create an important opportunity. But even the best scholarship, program, or advising service cannot benefit a prospective student who never considers LCCC because the College’s name creates confusion or causes them to underestimate what we offer.

The name change is an investment in LCCC’s long-term capacity to serve students. It is designed to remove barriers to consideration, reach a broader audience, strengthen enrollment, and help the College remain relevant in the face of changing demographics. Unlike a short-term initiative, a clearer name and stronger brand provide a durable foundation for every program we promote, every student we recruit, and every partnership we build in the years ahead.

If successful, broader student engagement and stronger enrollment will expand the resources and support available to invest in the very priorities this question raises - including more scholarships, new and improved programs, stronger advising, and other student services. In that sense, the name change is not separate from investing in students; it is intended to strengthen our ability to make those investments well into the future.

LCCC will not take funding away from existing scholarships, academic programs, advising, or essential operations to complete the name change. We will continue serving today’s students while making a strategic investment in the College’s ability to serve even more students tomorrow.

The final decision rests with the LCCC Board of Trustees. President Joe Schaffer will present his recommended name following an extensive research and development process, and the Board will consider and take formal action on that recommendation at their September 16 Board meeting.

The process has included multiple years of research into LCCC’s awareness and reputation, on-campus focus groups, surveys of students, employees, alumni, prospective students, and members of the public, and input from community and institutional stakeholders. The research did not show an overwhelming public demand for a name change. It did, however, consistently reveal geographic confusion, limited awareness beyond our local area, and a gap between what LCCC offers and what unfamiliar audiences assume based on its current name.

Public input has informed the process, but the decision is ultimately a governance responsibility. College leadership and the Board must consider that feedback alongside demographic trends, workforce needs, enrollment projections, financial sustainability, and LCCC’s long-term responsibility to remain relevant and strong.

No. A new name does not change the College’s underlying institution, governance, or public mission. LCCC will continue to be governed by its locally elected Board of Trustees and will remain committed to open access, affordability, workforce preparation, university transfer, college preparation, and community development.

The College will retain its institutional accreditation, and credentials earned before or after the transition will remain valid. LCCC will complete all required notifications and approvals with its accreditor, government agencies, financial-aid partners, and other organizations to ensure continuity.

The name change will not, by itself, alter the College’s local taxing district, statutory responsibilities, service areas, admission practices, or students’ eligibility for federal financial aid. It changes how the College presents and communicates its identity—not the public institution, responsibilities, and commitments behind that identity.

LCCC has been engaged in research for the past two years to identify our brand reach and awareness while also soliciting feedback from campus and stakeholders. This research has brought us to today and the recommendation of a name change to the Board of Trustees on Sept. 16. If approved, the College will develop a comprehensive implementation plan with an official name change to be formally completed on July 1, 2027. 

Current students will not need to reapply, change programs, repeat coursework, or take any immediate action because of the name change. Degree requirements, academic credits, financial aid, scholarships, and progress toward graduation will not change as a result of the College adopting a new name.

The official transition is planned for July 1, 2027. Diplomas and transcripts issued after that date will use the new name while also preserving a reference to Laramie County Community College so students’ academic histories remain clear and easily verified. Records created under the current name will remain valid.

Some administrative details, such as email addresses, websites, student systems, and identification materials, may change during the transition. The College will communicate those changes well in advance and design the process to minimize disruption. Students will receive clear guidance if any action is required.

The name change will require an investment, and the College is committed to managing that investment carefully and transparently. A final cost has not yet been determined because LCCC is completing a comprehensive inventory of everything potentially affected - from major exterior signs and digital systems to printed materials, uniforms, vehicles, and other branded items. That work will allow the College to distinguish between changes that must occur immediately and those that can be phased in over time.

Not everything bearing the current name will be replaced at once. Whenever practical, LCCC will make updates through normal purchasing and replacement cycles, use existing materials before ordering new ones, and phase other changes over 12 to 18 months. The official name may change on July 1, 2027, while some physical items are updated gradually to avoid unnecessary expense and waste.

The College will identify the resources designated for this strategic investment and will not take funding away from existing scholarships, academic programs, advising, or essential operations. Once the inventory, implementation plan, and budget are complete, LCCC will share the anticipated cost and explain how those resources will be used. The goal is to make a disciplined, one-time transition that creates lasting value rather than repeatedly spending resources to overcome the limitations of the current name.

The Golden Eagles will remain our mascot, blue and gold will remain our school colors, and our existing logos will continue to serve as the foundation of our visual identity. Our research found that these elements are well received, widely recognized, and not barriers to the College’s future growth. They represent important sources of pride and connection that we intend to preserve.

There will be some visible changes as the new name is incorporated into the College’s logos and introduced through updated materials. The broader rollout will also include a refreshed brand, a clearer brand promise, and supporting elements such as taglines and messaging that better communicate who we are, what we offer, and the opportunities we create.

These changes are not intended to erase or discount LCCC’s history. They will build upon the strong foundation created by generations of students, employees, alumni, and community members while helping the College communicate more clearly and confidently about its future. We will remain the Golden Eagles, wearing blue and gold, with an identity that honors where we have been and reflects where we are going.

No, tuition will not increase because of the name change. Tuition is determined by the Wyoming Community College Commission and not the individual College’s. 

No. Your diploma reflects the College's name at the time you attended and completed your education. It remains a valid and official record of your academic achievement. You will keep your current diploma, and you will not receive a new or updated diploma as a result of the College's name change. Your existing diploma continues to represent your educational experience and credentials earned during your time at LCCC.

If you request a transcript after July 1, 2027, this will reflect the new name. However, your transcript will also reference the College’s name from 1968 – 2027 as Laramie County Community College.  

No, we will plan to utilize the current academic year to prepare and implement the name change. The College will not formally change its name until July 1, 2027. We will invite both our campus and community to help us celebrate this milestone in August 2027. 

The success of the name change will not be measured by new signs or a new logo. It will be measured by whether the change helps LCCC reach and serve more students, communicate its value more clearly, and strengthen its ability to meet workforce and community needs.

The College will use its existing research as a baseline and track measures such as public awareness, correct identification of the College’s location, perceptions of its academic quality and breadth, prospective-student inquiries, applications, enrollment, and engagement from within the broader 350-mile market. Over time, LCCC will also assess whether stronger enrollment and visibility contribute to expanded partnerships, philanthropic support, scholarships, programs, and services.

Some results will take several years to emerge. The College will monitor progress and adapt its recruitment and brand strategies as necessary rather than assuming that changing the name alone guarantees success.

We encourage our community members, students and alumni to share their feedback – excitement or concerns – with us. Please use our feedback form.