RALEIGH, N.C./LARAMIE, W.Y. (June 22, 2026) — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal today released Blueprint for Reform: Wyoming, a comprehensive policy agenda designed to strengthen higher education in the Cowboy State through academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and institutional accountability.
The report examines key challenges facing Wyoming higher education, including declining enrollment at the University of Wyoming, administrative bloat, misalignment between academic programs and workforce needs, and concerns about viewpoint diversity on campus. It also offers a series of practical reforms aimed at improving outcomes for students and taxpayers.
“The Wyoming higher education landscape has changed,” said Dr. Jenna A. Robinson, president of the Martin Center. “The University of Wyoming should address this new reality by making evidence-based reforms.”
Among the report’s findings:
- University of Wyoming enrollment declined by 21 percent between 2015 and 2024.
- More than 30 percent of UW bachelor’s degree programs have historically generated a negative return on investment for students.
- Administrative spending per student increased by more than 70 percent between 2014 and 2023.
- Wyoming’s higher education system faces growing pressure to align academic offerings with workforce needs and student demand.
- UW faculty and staff appear overwhelmingly left-leaning: In 2025, 97% of their political donations went to Democratic candidates or progressive causes.
To address these challenges, the Blueprint recommends:
- Expanding accreditation choice and reducing accreditor overreach.
- Reviewing academic programs based on student outcomes, return on investment, and enrollment.
- Strengthening general education with a rigorous liberal-arts core focused on history, civics, and Western civilization.
- Reducing administrative bloat and prioritizing instructional spending.
- Promoting viewpoint diversity and free expression on campus.
- Encouraging competition, innovation, and workforce-aligned education.
The report also calls for expanding the Hathaway Scholarship to students attending eligible private institutions in Wyoming and increasing opportunities for public-private partnerships that improve educational access and efficiency.
The full report, Blueprint for Reform: Wyoming, is available HERE.