FVCC students taking more classes this fall

Fall student numbers and course enrollment at Flathead Valley Community College reflect the continuing hard-hit economy in the valley.

Compared to the fall of 2009, student numbers increased by 1.5 percent while course enrollment jumped by 4.2 percent as people seek to better their employment potential through education.

Another interesting trend is that out-of-state student numbers dropped by 22.8 percent.

“Nine out of 10 students are from Flathead or Lincoln county,” said Brad Eldredge, director of institutional research, who reported the fall semester 15-day figures at the September meeting of the college’s board of trustees.

Eldredge noted another trend: Nontraditional students ages 25 and over outnumber traditional students for the first time.

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

Class credit enrollment numbers, expressed as units of full-time equivalent students, grew from 1,613.9 last fall to 1,687.7 this fall.

Compared to the spring semester, however, course enrollment has dropped a bit — by 14.4 full-time equivalent students — and the student head count decreased by 282 students or 9.9 percent

In spring 2010, the college made record-breaking gains with enrollment up 40 percent over spring 2009. Historically, student enrollment peaks during economic downturns, then begins to decline in periods of recovery, reaching the lowest points during days of full employment.

Trustee Bob Nystuen commended the faculty and staff for putting in the extra work required to deal with challenges from the unprecedented number of students on campus in recent years.

“Thanks for rising to the occasion,” he said.

To serve the booming student body, the college has expanded its faculty with adjunct instructors and made other accommodations such as building an extra parking lot and leasing the former Department of Natural Resources building site for high-demand occupational trades courses.

Chuck Jensen, vice president for administration and finance, said the 7,000 square feet of office and shop space originally was leased for the new auto program. With fenced outside grounds, the location also proved a good fit for the heavy equipment operator program as well as commercial driver’s license training.

“This year, the construction trades program is building an on-site house there,” he said. “It will be modular — in two halves — that can be moved.”

Jensen said some electrical classes also will be taught on the state site across U.S. 93 from the Kalispell campus.

He said the property, leased through May, works well since it is close for students, faculty and staff who have other classes and duties on the main campus. It augments the new Occupational Trades Building on campus, which Jensen said remains busy every day.

“We do a lot of partnering with the high schools,” he said.

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