Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. – Southern Big Horn County residents will find something a little different in their mailboxes this year—a survey package with a chance to win one of three $100 gift certificates to an area grocery store or gas station of their choice.
The community survey is being conducted by Northwest College to better understand how residents in Basin, Burlington, Emblem, Greybull, Hyattville, Manderson, Otto and Shell view the college. NWC officials are hoping the gift certificates will entice more returns. Respondents can choose to mail back their completed survey or fill it out and submit it online.
NWC surveyed southern Big Horn County residents five years ago and is now checking in again to see how residents’ needs and their perceptions of the college may have changed in the intervening years.
“The college's image is its most important asset,” Mark Kitchen, NWC's vice president for college relations, said. “Because perceptions often drive behavior, it's important to know how NWC is perceived.” Kitchen said Northwest is trying to get a better understanding of attitudes, perceptions and needs as it makes curricular and promotional plans for the future.
Designed to take only five minutes or fewer to complete, the survey includes questions about classes, training needs, enrollment status, factors in choosing a college, campus visits and how information about Northwest College is received, among others.
“The last question asks residents to tell us what changes would improve their perceptions of the college,” Kitchen said. “This gives people an opportunity to share specific thoughts, concerns and ideas.”
He added that respondents’ individual comments will be kept confidential; names and contact information will only be used for the drawing and to respond to questions.
The survey is part of NWC's second five-year plan to survey all residents in the college's service area, which includes Park, Big Horn and Washakie counties.
Northwest asks that survey responses be returned in the mail or submitted online by Feb. 18.
For more information about the survey, call or email Mark Kitchen at (307) 754-6405, or toll-free at (800) 560-4692.