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University of Wyoming

History of Outreach

In 1892, University of Wyoming president Albinus Alonzo Johnson saw extension as the "missionary spirit of the church applied to education." UW's extension program was the first of its kind west of the Missouri River to offer correspondence courses.
Since that time the University of Wyoming has offered extension classes as part of its effort to help remove the obstacles to learning presented by geography, and to meet the needs of site-bound adult students.

During the early years of extension, the railroad played a major role in transporting instructors, exhibits, and demonstration equipment to Wyoming communities. In the early years, UW began using the airplay to fly instructors to teach classes. Instructional technology entered the scene in 1984, providing alternative methods of course delivery such as audio teleconferencing. In the 1990s, the first interactive video course was offered through video conferencing and the first online class was delivered via Online UW, the university's online campus. Today the UW Outreach School uses a variety of methods to deliver education using the most up-to-date technology available.

The Outreach School has long been the conduit for an expanded access to learning. For more than a quarter of a century UW degree programs have been available at the UW/CC Center, and for more than a decade those degree programs have been available statewide through Outreach Credit Programs. Wyoming Public Radio has brought news and entertainment to the state for over 35 years. And Community Service Education and Outreach Technology Services continue to serve expanding and growing numbers of students, viewers, and clients with their highly skilled staffs and professional services. Through a variety of avenues, the Outreach School is a critical part of UW's mission to serve Wyoming.

In 1886, Wyoming Gov. Francis E. Warren signed a bill establishing the University of Wyoming. Today, over 13,000 students are enrolled in courses on and off the main campus.