Regent resolution troubles FVCC

Flathead Valley Community College trustees voted Monday to object to a resolution pending before the Montana Board of Regents that could financially impact the college and restrict course options in the name of statewide uniformity.

At a special meeting, trustees approved concerns raised in a draft memo about some of the nine strategies prepared by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education for endorsement by regents in the "Two-Year Resolution." Trustees empowered college President Jane Karas and board President John Engebretson to work out a final version to submit with Montana's two other state-affiliated community colleges.

During the discussion, Karas and the trustees lauded the resolution's stated goal of expanding two-year education to generate more college graduates in Montana. But they said their concerns raised during the development process were not acknowledged or addressed.

Little time remains, with the resolution slated for an adoption vote by regents today at 11 a.m.

If implemented, the strategies would impact the colleges of technology within the university system, tribal colleges and Miles, Dawson and Flathead Valley community colleges. Trustees and officials at the three community colleges take issue with:

n Lack of assessment of financial impact of the proposed initiatives.

n A proposed limited two-year college transfer core, which they say conflicts with the philosophy of a liberal-arts education.

n A "common related instruction requirement" which may limit students' class options as well as limit the college in addressing needs of local employers.

The boards of trustees at Dawson Community College and Miles Community College were also scheduled to meet Monday to consider the same draft memo.

At the Kalispell meeting, Karas reviewed the evolution of the pending nine-point resolution. She said it began with the hiring of Mary Moe as Montana's deputy commissioner of two-year education in May of 2008.

Moe received a planning grant from the Lumina Foundation to develop goals and strategies to bump up Montana's low production of college graduates compared to the rest of the United States.

The planning effort was geared to produce a second Lumina Foundation grant application due in September for dollars to implement the strategies.

In the process, Moe held a series of meetings and workshops around Montana, including meeting with heads of two-year schools last November.

According to Karas, many questions were raised in that meeting about the plans and strategies. She said that participants agreed on many of the basic premises but not on details of implementation.

"We haven't met since," she said.

Moe attended the July meeting of the FVCC trustees, at which time members asked more questions and brought up concerns. Karas said those issues were not clearly stated in Moe's meeting summaries.

At that July meeting, Moe discussed strategies including the one to establish "common related instruction requirements' to create conforming requirements among two-year colleges.

As an example, she cited radiologic technology. Moe pointed out that algebra requirements varied from introduction to algebra at Montana State University - Great Falls College of Technology to intermediate algebra in Kalispell.

Using the same example on Monday, Karas said she was concerned that the process might force the minimum algebra requirement systemwide, reducing the success of future radiologic technology students at FVCC.

"Our students do well," she said. "A community college is supposed to be able to set programs that meet community needs."

Trustee Bob Nystuen, who was involved in one of the policy workshops, said the commissioner's office could have done a better job of explaining the impact of the nine strategies on those at the end of the process - the students and those who employ them.

He said he didn't want changes "to diminish our core values and what we deliver." Nystuen said he did not have the comfort level he should have.

"We're not provided adequate information to solidly endorse items one through nine," he said.

Trustee Tom Harding saw problems with seeking education changes specifically to garner grant dollars. He said the process should continue over a longer time period with Montana dollars.

"We're chasing dollars for a deadline," he said.

Trustee Mark Holston agreed that grant dollars were driving the process, but he recalled that Moe had said at the July meeting that Montana stands little chance of success in the grant competition.

Trustee Tom McElwain said he would urge the regents to table the resolution until the various college boards of trustees could discuss the consequences in more detail.

"We're on the same level as the board of regents except we're elected and they're appointed," McElwain said. "We report to the taxpayer."

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