FVCC board considers new programs

Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees meets Monday to consider adding several new degrees.

Scheduled for 3:45 p.m. in the board room of Blake Hall, the meeting  includes consideration of the following new programs recommended for approval by the college’s curriculum committee:

n Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree — Sue Justis, chairwoman of the Allied Health Division, and Lori Elwell, instructor of anatomy and physiology, will attend the meeting to discuss the program.

The two have worked with a local advisory committee to develop the curriculum.

n Nursing Associate of Science degree — A feasibility study for the degree was approved by the Board of Nursing at its October meeting. Myrna Ridenour, director of the nursing program, will attend the meeting to discuss this program that follows the Montana model nursing curriculum.

n Emergency Management Associate of Applied Science degree — Kris Long, director of the paramedicine program, has worked with a local advisory committee and the state Department of Emergency Services to develop the program that would be the first emergency management program in Montana.

She will discuss the degree and answer questions.

Trustees also will consider a recommendation to delete the Welding and Fabrication Technology Certificate of Applied Science.

Curriculum and certification for this degree remain available to students in the Welding Technology Certificate and the Welding and Inspection Technology Associate of Applied Science degree.

According to information with the agenda, development of the new programs and realignments made it unnecessary to offer this degree. Bill Roope, director of career and technical programs, will answer any questions about the deletion.

Also at the meeting, the board will consider a recommendation for tenure for Hillary Ginepra, instructor of the culinary arts program. She has been with the college since 2005.

A graduate of Ohio University and the Natural Gourmet Cookery School, Ginepra also attended the Culinary Institute of Culinary Education. She had experience working at restaurants and catering businesses as well as running her own business in New York City.

Ginepra also worked as a teaching assistant at the famed New England Culinary Institute in Montpellier, Vermont, then managed one of the school’s outlets in the kitchen of a large corporation.

She held additional instruction positions at Calphalon Culinary Center and the Cooking and Hospitality Institute.