Two of three elementary education faculty for the University of Wyoming/Casper College Center have resigned, according to school officials.

"Both of them have been here for a number of years and have chosen to advance their careers by moving to some other opportunities," said Keith Cottam, UW/CC director.

The two, Associate Prof. Susan Thompson and Assistant Prof. Wendy Smith, are also members of the University of Wyoming's 16-person Department of Elementary Education in Laramie, said Cottam.

"I've had wonderful opportunities with the University of Wyoming and I'm looking forward to new opportunities at (the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley)," Thompson said.

She has accepted a position there as associate professor of education, she said.

Wendy Smith said she will be going to Loyola College in Baltimore as an assistant professor in reading.

"They had seen some articles I had published and asked me if I would apply," said Smith. She has taught with UW/CC for seven years.

"Faculty resignations are quite common within the university," Cottam said. "Especially for ambitious people who want to do more with their careers."

Cottam said the staff members will be replaced, at least temporarily, by fall.

"The elementary education and early childhood education programs will continue," Cottam said. "I'm working with the College of Education and the Department of Elementary Education to make sure we have faculty in place for fall and we will begin a process, at the time the college approves, to begin recruiting to fill those two positions."

Cottam said he did not foresee the college attempting to fill the positions permanently for the fall. The UW/CC program has used professors who travel from Laramie to teach courses, as well as hiring adjunct faculty from the community, he said.

Casper College will also see some long-time staff departing at the end of this semester, said Bill Landen, the director of college relations for CC.

The following 10 staff members were honored Saturday night: Charles Adkins, accounting instructor; Robert Edwards, drafting instructor; Sharon Harris, business office; Shirley Jacob, grants coordinator and English instructor; David Jacobson, mathematics instructor; Sunny Munns, reference librarian; Dena Roberts, residence hall director; Jack Schachterle, vehicle maintenance; Jeffrey Turner, physical plant director and industrial arts instructor; and Rob Wilkes, psychology instructor.