FVCC adds eight short programs

Flathead Valley Community College trustees adopted eight new, short-term certificates and endorsements Monday.

College Vice President Kathy Hughes said the new programs, requiring from 16 to 30 credits, responded to the needs of the workplace.

Within one or two semesters, students may pick up a credential to improve their resumes or job performances. New programs include:

-Payroll accounting certificate (30 credits)

-Entrepreneurship certificate (30 credits)

-Customer service specialist endorsement (16 credits)

-Marketing/sales specialist certificate (30 credits)

-Marketing/sales specialist endorsement (16 credits)

-Welding and fabrication technology certificate (30 credits)

-Plumbing technology certificate (30 credits)

-Electrical technology certificate (30 credits)

Hughes said employers, advisory committees and students participated in developing the programs.

Area business owners stressed the need for a two-semester payroll/accounting certificate. Hughes said the additional training would provide career advancement to people employed in accounting.

Students pushed for the two-semester entrepreneurship certificate. Classes will teach business planning, management, marketing, economics, accounting math and other skills.

"We're targeting the entrepreneurship certificate to have as an online program," Hughes said.

According to information prepared for the trustees, the business advisory committee advocated for the customer service endorsement as a way of helping businesses survive in an increasingly competitive market.

Numerous business requests prompted options for a marketing/sales endorsement and certificate. They fill a gap left when the marketing/sales emphasis was removed from the college's business curriculum.

Hughes said the plumbing technology certificate was designed to provide a smooth transition into the plumbing apprenticeship programs.

Trustees approved those and the rest of the new certificates and endorsements by unanimous vote.

In other business at the meeting, Faith Hodges, director of enrollment planning and research, reported that summer semester enrollment brought more students but a drop in overall course enrollment.

Summer attendance followed a trend as identified in spring semester statistics. Hodges has noted that thriving employment in the valley often accompanies a growth in students enrolling in few classes.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.