July Online UW Enrichment Course to Focus on Wyomings Future

What would characterize a transformed Wyoming economy in the future?

“Wyoming’s Future,” a three-week enrichment course running July 6-24, will be offered online by the University of Wyoming’s College of Business and will address that vital question.

The course, led by marketing Professor Mark Peterson, will feature Wyoming-based content and marketplace heroes, such as Buffalo Bill Cody, country singer Chris LeDoux, management guru W. Edwards Deming, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss and rock climber Todd Skinner.

“This approach of the short course will emphasize fun in learning about Wyoming and its marketplace heroes,” Peterson says. “Each of the marketplace innovators from Wyoming featured in the course vividly illustrates the kind of entrepreneurship Wyoming will need in the coming years in order to successfully transform the Wyoming economy.”

The course will focus on three stages for economic transformation: disruption, change and success.

Sheridan author Samuel Western's thoughts on Wyoming culture and the possibility of change in Wyoming culture will be examined in the first week of the course. Thought leaders in business innovation from leading business schools will frame discussion in the course about the change stage of economic transformation.

And, perspectives on doing new things in the marketplace to achieve success will be provided through the teachings of Deming (1900-1993), the developer of Total Quality Management from Powell, and Skinner (1958-2006), from Pinedale.

Over a three-week period, students will learn about Wyoming’s colorful business past -- and consider future paths for venture development in light of the recommendations of the Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming (ENDOW) project initiated during Gov. Matt Mead’s term, Peterson says.

“Wyoming business heroes will spice up learning throughout the course and offer those in the course opportunities to think about their own heroic role in Wyoming business in the years to come,” Peterson says.

Students will be graded on threaded discussions in the online environment based on course readings, an online examination, as well as a case analysis and reflection, he adds.

Registration fee for the course is $50. To view all short courses offered and to register, click here.

For more information about the “Wyoming’s Future” course, call Peterson at (307) 766-2054 or email markpete@uwyo.edu.