Dual-enrollment programs praised

Montana Lt. Gov. Angela McLean visited Flathead Valley Community College on Wednesday morning to discuss the progress of the dual enrollment program.

McLean and Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian met with faculty members from the school as well as two students who have participated in the program.

“This area has really been a pioneer of the dual enrollment program, even early on,” McLean said. She praised the willingness of the teachers and faculty to continually push new programs forward in area high schools and create easy access for the students.

One way Flathead and Lincoln counties strive to make access easier is giving students their first six college credits for free. Any high school student in those counties can take six credits of FVCC classes completely cost free.

“We as a state need to mull that kind of program over,” McLean said. “Even though we’ve tried to lower tuition costs, it can still create a challenge for students and their families.”

McLean said the state has looked to Flathead County for leadership in the program, since Flathead was one of the first to jump into the program when it was first presented several years ago and has continued to push the limits to create easier access for students.

Clinton Kunhardt, a Montana Academy high school student currently participating in the program, said this made it easy for him to get started. He’s now taking 13 college credits at FVCC.

“I can’t tell you how fantastic it is to be able to do this,” Kunhardt said. “I was frustrated with high school, very discouraged.”

Kunhardt said college classes made him stretch himself intellectually.

Several FVCC faculty members referred to studies that showed when students begin college with at least six college credits under their belt, they have a greater chance of success.

One student, Kiera Roberson, attested to this.

Roberson, now 20, participated in dual enrollment when she was home-schooled during high school. Roberson said the program helped her adjust to college life slowly and made her transition to full-time studies ar FVCC much smoother the following year.

“I am the first in my family to go to college,” Roberson said. “Now my little brother is in the program.”

McLean praised Roberson’s success story, and said that is exactly the goal of dual enrollment.

“What we want is to create an accessible pathway,” she said, “as well as an affordable pathway.”

Currently, there are around 300 students from area high schools enrolled in some sort of dual enrollment program. This includes attending FVCC for classes in person, taking classes online or attending classes at their high schools taught by FVCC instructors.

Over the past year, FVCC has tried to synchronize classes with local high schools to make sure classes aren’t repetitive between high school and college. That way, students are gaining the maximum learning experience through dual enrollment without redundancy or missing information.

“Flathead has made dual enrollment work very well,” Christian said. “We’re anxious to see what you’ll do with it.”

Wednesday’s visit was part of a back-to-school tour by Gov. Steve Bullock and his staff focusing on innovation for student success in Montana public schools. Throughout the week, Bullock, McLean and Christian will visit schools throughout the state.

Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.