Monday, April 2, 2012

FVCC borders one of Montana’s busiest highways

(Fall 2011)

By EMILY MOHLER

The stretch of U.S. Highway 93 that runs adjacent to FVCC is one the most heavily traveled roads in the state of Montana, especially during the summer. While adjustments have been made to the stoplight at the school’s main entrance on Grandview enabling easier access to the campus, another traffic light at FVCC’s north entrance isn’t planned.

Studies indicate “a light was simply not justified,” said Ed Toavs, a Montana Department of Transportation construction engineer. “It was a cluster for the traffic on the mainline,”.

The traffic light at the Grandview entrance has been recently upgraded with radar detection and a turn signal.

“The college recently pushed for the new left turn signal for southbound Highway 93 traffic turning onto Grandview which helped with campus access,” said Steve Larson, director of physical facilities at FVCC.

While no major changes are in the works for the school’s current access off Highway 93, much is happening just down the road that will lessen the traffic and congestion in the area.

Alleviating some of the traffic will be U.S. 93 Alternate Route Bypass. The bypass is about 50 percent complete. The state is completing the final right-of-way acquisition and developing interim design options such as rebuilding the intersection at Highway 93 and Reserve to accommodate the bypass traffic. The Department of Transportation is also working with the city of Kalispell and private developers to align the roads accessing the Hutton Ranch Plaza and the large stores on the west side of the highway, just north of the FVCC campus.

A new road, the“Hutton Ranch Connector” is proposed to wind north of Hutton Ranch Road and connect to West Reserve by the Stillwater River bridge acting as a “traffic relieve valve,” Toavs said.

Kalispell-based LHC Inc. has been awarded the contract and will begin construction in November with a completion date planned for late summer 2012.

Increasing congestion on Highway 93 indicates the need is there for the new projects.

In the mid 1990’s there were about 12,000 to 15,000 vehicles passing the school each day. This number has grown to about 40,000 per day, making this section of Highway 93’s traffic flow comparable to some of most traveled roads in the State during peak summer traffic flow. The annual average daily traffic count is slightly less than Main Street in Billings, and neck and neck with Missoula’s North Reserve and 10th Avenue South in Great Falls.

Emily Mohler is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.

Students build FVCC’s first wood-fired kiln

(Fall 2011)

By RACHEL HAWKINS

Flathead Valley Community College has installed an experimental wood-fired kiln in the Arts and Technology Building. The kiln was built by ceramics instructor David Smith and his students last summer, and is the only wood-fired kiln at the college.

The experimental kiln is considerably smaller than the ceramic’s program’s other two kilns, which are large, down-draft soft-brick kilns.

Smith said the new kiln will expand the firing techniques students can learn.

“One reason we built the experimental wood-fired kiln is that we wanted to use salt and soda and of course wood ash, and all three will deteriorate soft brick kilns,” Smith said.

The kiln is unique in the way that the pieces that go in the kiln come out glazed with wood ash. In the wood-fired kiln the glaze and the clay change color due to the ash from the wood, creating a very unique, natural pattern on the clay. The kiln also provides a little visual history for students on how ceramics would have looked in earlier eras.

“Kilns have always been fired with wood, or in some cases with coal or dung, and people have been firing ceramics for thousands of years,” Smith said.

The kiln is still in its experimental stages and has only been fired twice due to the fact that it is difficult and time consuming to heat. Paula Engle, a ceramics student at FVCC, managed to set the high-temperature record at 2,350 degrees.

Smith said he wants to heat the small wood kiln to around 2,400 degrees or higher. Wood ash does not start to melt into a glaze until above 2,200 degrees, so there is “little point in firing it if we cannot consistently reach 2,400.”

The kiln is soon going to go through some remodeling. Smith said the chimney is too small, restricting airflow and making it harder to heat. A larger chimney encourages more consistent airflow because oxygen is necessary to burn fuel, which in turns make the kiln hotter.

“It will make it easier to maintain high temperatures,” Smith said.

Because of the kiln’s small size, it is easily affected by weather changes. With a bigger chimney the air will keep moving through the kiln regardless of the weather.

“That’s what I love about ceramics,” Smith said. “You can make anything.”

Rachel Hawkins is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.

Monday, October 3, 2011

FVCC Bathroom signs spark controversy around handicapped accommodations

(Spring 2011)

By WILL RAPHAELSON

Signs reading “Handicapped use only” were posted on bathroom stalls in March, and promptly removed after the physical facilities department received complaints.

“We’re generally really good about handicapped accommodations,” said Steve Larson, director of physical facilities. “We put in extra effort in the winter to shovel out parking spaces, and make sure the students are represented in meetings. This issue just never crossed our minds.”

The signs went up in the first place because a group of students voiced complaints to the safety committee about non-handicapped people using the handicapped stalls. In keeping with the schools accessibility standard, Larson had the signs installed to prevent fully capable students from intruding on the special stalls.

After posting the signs, Larson received more complaints; this time from the other side. Protestors stated it was uncalled for to limit the use of the large stalls if there was no other stall open.

Larson promptly removed the signs. With pressure from both sides, he had signs made that may make both sides happy. They read “For handicapped use only when other stalls are open.”

In the future the physical facilities department plans to increase accommodations by including handicapped students in monthly safety meetings. They already have plans to add handicapped parking spots to the surrounding lots, and repair existing ramps around campus.

The school is open to suggestions and supports making FVCC a better place for handicapped students to learn.

“There’s no reason why we can’t continue to improve our facilities to make it easier for people to learn,” Larson said.

That’s exactly what one handicapped student, who asked to remain nameless, said about campus facilities.

“FVCC is great at making school a place we feel welcome,” the student said. “I see this bathroom sign issue as a snag if even that. I’m confident things will continue to get better for us, and for everyone.”

Will Raphaelson is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.

FVCC’s online enrollment hits all-time high

(Spring 2011)

By WILL RAPHAELSON

The FVCC online education program now has more students than ever. The number is expected to continue growing in the coming years.

“We’ve experienced a 48 percent growth in the past three years,” said Kathy Hughes, FVCC vice president of instruction. “I think it will keep growing and taking on new dimensions.”

The online Education Program at FVCC was created in 2001 to reach students who would otherwise be unable to receive an education. Twenty-one percent of all FVCC students now participate in at least one online course. Nearly 600 students are enrolled online this semester, which is 55 more than the fall, said Brad Eldridge, FVCC executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning.

Pat Pezelle, FVCC Director of Extended Learning, credits the increased enrollment to the flexibility factor associated with the online education program. With highly customizable class schedules, as well as the ability to learn from the home, people who used to have to choose between supporting a family and taking classes, can now do both. The childcare aspect is particularly relevant, as 73 percent of students enrolled online are female.

“It would be a lot harder to get a degree if I had to come in every day, impossible really,” said FVCC student Rose Hodun.

Some people question the quality of online education compared with traditional face-to-face teaching. Enthusiasts agree though, that the standard of online education is just as high as traditional education.

“The professor gets a semester to learn about how to teach online, and to develop and/or adapt their course to fit the online criteria,” said Pezelle. “After that the course is reviewed for a semester before a student even sees it. FVCC has become the model for online programs in Montana.”

Though the standard is high and the work to develop courses rigorous, the teachers seem to generally enjoy teaching online courses. Hughes said aspects such as graded forum threads provide the ability for quiet or shy students to speak up and participate in a way that traditional teaching frequently lacks. Often teachers and students end up forging relationships that may never have existed without the online connection.

“They just love it,” Hughes said.

FVCC has ambitious plans for the future. Coming this fall, students will be able to earn the entirety of an associate’s degree of science online.

“We’ll never stop improving, there’s no room to say ‘that’s good enough.’ We understand how important this is, and won’t stop,” Pezelle said.

Will Raphaelson is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting

FVCC enrollment hits new high

(Spring 2011)

By QUINN LEWIS

More students than ever are attending FVCC this spring, but the numbers indicate the rapid enrollment growth of recent years may be slowing.

FVCC officials point to the recession and high unemployment for the recent enrollment boom.

"Student headcount is 2,841, which is an all-time high," said Brad Eldredge, FVCC executive director of institutional research,assessment and planning. "A lot of this surge is driven by the economics."

While headcount is up 0.7 percent at the college, the full-time equivalent, or FTE (calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled by 15 credits) is down 1.2 percent from spring 2010. FTE is used by the state when allocating funding for colleges. There has been a 75 percent increase in FTEs at FVCC in the last 10 years, and a 33 percent rise since last year.

The increase is led by valley residents with nine out of 10 FVCC students living in Flathead, Sanders or Lincoln counties. Flathead County's unemployment rate has reached 14.1 percent and in neighboring Sanders and Lincoln counties unemployment has creeped above 20 percent.

Eldredge said the long-term enrollment increase is driven by non-traditional students, or students age 25 or older. More than half of FVCC's student body is considered nontraditional.

This increase in nontraditional students is absolutely positive," Eldredge said. The staff has been good about stepping up. The more people we can serve the better."

The enrollment increase has challenged FVCC with campus parking issues, increased class size, registration difficulties and more responsibility for instructors and staff. These issues continue to facilitate a welcome change at the college when viewed by officials.

"We have met all challenges," said Kathy Hughes, FVCC vice president of instruction. "The new buildings and online curriculum have provided good expansion. Adjunct instructors provide an incredible pool of talent allowing for more classes."

An extra parking lot has been built to help meet campus needs. Also, the leasing of the former Department of Natural Resources building has helped aid the occupational trades courses.

The student body has changed along with the economy and campus. A broader range of student age and ability is now present in the classroom.

The diverse student body is exciting,"Hughes said. "The nontraditional students have enriched the classroom itself and brought life experience, while younger students bring energy and skills."

Quinn Lewis is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.

Cross country ski trail at FVCC now open

(Fall 2010)

By MICHAEL MINEAU

Glacier Nordic Club, in cooperation with FVCC, has groomed a cross country ski trail on campus that is available to students and the community. This will be the third winter that Glacier Nordic Club and FVCC have put a groomed trail on FVCC property.

There had been times when maintenance was needed due to vandalism. People driving their vehicles on the trail behind Walmart and Home Depot have left huge ruts, which are hard to remove. Ruts from vehicles are not the only source of vandalism that occurs on the trail.

“The newest problem has been students and non-students walking on the groomed trail,” Steve Muller, who is with Glacier Nordic Club. “This creates deep footprints in the trail, which freeze solid. We're working on educating students not to walk, run, or snowshoe on the groomed trails.”

There are approximately five miles (eight kilometers) of cross-country ski trails suitable for people of all abilities. There is a beginners' loop at the beginning of the trail, and the trail-head is in the Arts of Technology parking lot on the north side of the Early Childhood Center building. A $2 minimum is requested for maintenance of the trail, and the donation box is located at the trail head.

“Most skiers have been very generous with donations, and often putting in more than the requested donation,” Muller said. “Grooming is done as needed, but usually Tuesday, Thursday, and on the weekends.”

Weekends draw the most cross-country skiers. This year the Junior Nordic Team practices on the trail after school. The best time to use the trail is during the week days because that is when it is least crowed.

“The best time to ski there would be after a recent grooming,” Muller said. “The trail also gets a lot of use weekdays after work. It's actually very bright on the trails w/ the ambient light from the shopping centers. I love to ski in the dark with a headlamp.”

With the establishment of this trail more people in the Flathead are going to be introduced to the sport.

“I see more and more new faces each year,” said Shae Weber, who has been cross-country skiing for the past five years. “I'm excited for this sport in this valley. Cross-country skiing is not only therapeutic, but it sure beats going to the gym. I think this trail will help the growth of the sport.”

Glacier Nordic Club's goal would be that this can continue for the years to come, and to make the trail available all year.

“I envision having a permanent all-season trail that could be used for running and walking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter,” Muller said. “FVCC has been very supportive of this great community service.”

Michael Mineau is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.

Enrollment increases parking woes

(Fall 2010)
 
By MICHAEL MINEAU

The increase in student enrollment the past two years has lead to overcrowded parking lots at FVCC. In response to these problems, courtesy notes have been issued to students who have not parked in a designated parking space.

“We're issuing stickers to people that are parking in driveways and in areas that they shouldn't be parking in that blocks traffic,” said Chuck Jensen, FVCC vice president of administration and finance. “We're not currently giving them to people who are parking on the grass. At this point we have not towed anybody and if anybody created a situation where it was a hazard, then we would have to tow them.”

FVCC does not have a campus police force to issue tickets to those violating parking laws. If a campus police were implemented, then that would be an expense to the college, and may lead to an increase in tuition.

There are 2,539 students enrolled at FVCC for fall semester, and growth is expected in future. The construction of a new parking lot would be expensive and there are no plans on building a new asphalted parking lot.

“We are looking to see where our problem areas are at and maybe even go so far as to designate some areas where people can park. Maybe even go so far as to lay some gravel, so when winter comes we can have some safe parking for people,” Jensen said.

Barack Evans, who is an FVCC student, does not think that it is necessary for FVCC to build a new parking lot.

“Shouldn't be on a list of high priorities for the college. I'm all about a gravel parking lot. I think that it will help the flow of traffic, but it seems that people are driving in circles to find that one front-row spot. Students here have it pretty good compared to other colleges, but they just don't know any better,” Evans said.

As of now, FVCC officials do not have plans to build a new parking lot, but are aware that in the future it may be an issue that will need attention.

“If our enrollments continue to stay where they’re at, yeah, we would be looking at that (a paved parking lot) in the future. But for now we’ll continue to look at temporary things that we can do, i.e gravel parking lot if needed,” Jensen said.

Michael Mineau is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.