College enrollment surges to new high marks

Flathead Valley Community College continued its enrollment boom during 2010 and added new programs, a new logo and shared the national spotlight on community colleges.

The year started with a bang in January with registration up 40 percent over the spring semester of 2009. Brad Eldredge, director of institutional research, said displaced workers accounted for some of the surge as the recession continued.

“I’m sure the economy is one of the real drivers,” Eldredge said.

In May, the college graduated the largest class in its 42-year history.

President Jane Karas and other dignitaries awarded 358 degrees and certificates to 340 graduates, including 183 associates of arts and science degrees, 86 associates of applied science and 89 certificates.

Also in May, college trustees approved buying a home on 7.5 acres next to the college’s south border. Located on Grandview Drive, the property includes a 2,361 square-foot home, a 534-square-foot garage and a tennis court.

The college paid $690,000, the midpoint of two appraisals, as an investment in future programs and growth.

“This is a great opportunity to set the college up for future development and use of the property,” Karas said.

Healthy enrollment continued into the fall semester with a 4.2 percent increase in course enrollment over the record-setting fall of 2009 figures. At the time Eldredge noted a nearly 23 percent drop in out-of-state students and a trend in nontraditional students 25 and over outnumbering younger students.

“Maybe we need to change the name,” he said. “Now they’re the traditional students.”

The fall figures may reflect a changing trend line since course enrollment dropped by 14.4 percent compared to spring 2010 numbers. Historically, student enrollment peaks as unemployment rises, then drops as employment picks up.

 College officials continued adding new programs to address needs identified in the community such as the Auto Body Technology Certificate, a new music course of study, a Physical Therapist Assistant Associates of Applied Science degree, a Nursing Associate of Science degree and an Emergency Management Associate of Applied Science degree.

Bill Roope, director of career and technical education, said the recession boosted demand for the auto body certificate. 

The music program allows a cost-effective way for students to begin study in the Flathead Valley toward a bachelor’s degree or minor in music.

The new physical therapist assistant, nursing and emergency management associates address career fields with good prospects for employment in the future.

Also in 2010, the college trustees approved a new logo with new colors as one step in effectively marketing the college to new students. The logo features a diamond shape with a slate-blue stylized mountain on top and a burgundy  “V” shape on the bottom.

It marks a new direction from the old blue-and-gold logo of an eagle — the college mascot — over mountains in front of a sun. The concept was to have an icon, rather like a corporate logo, that becomes identified with the college with repeated use.

The last year also saw faculty and staff honored for their service on campus as well as off. Karas presented the prestigious Eagle award to Ruth Ackroyd, who retired in 2008 as director of college relations.

Ackroyd helped grow the college foundation’s assets from $65,000 to $6 million while expanding the college relations office to include marketing, communications, grant writing and resource development.

Flathead Valley Community College psychology instructor Ivan Lorentzen was named the 2010 Association of Community Colleges Trustees Faculty Member of the Year for the association’s Western Region. A faculty member since 1971, Lorentzen served on numerous committees to strengthen academic standards.

He also headed efforts to introduce innovative programs such as the Scholars Program and directed the annual Honors Symposium, a series of lectures on topical themes open to the community.

In October, Karas was one of two Montana officials selected to represent the state at the White House Summit on Community Colleges. Karas said she was honored by the selection and said it was a good day with a lot of thinking about the direction of community colleges and education.

She discovered that Flathead Valley Community College’s many work-force initiatives and displaced worker programs were a vital part of the new national focus of two-year education.

“It was gratifying to hear that the things we’re doing are on a par or ahead of others,” she said.