By WENDELL ROBINSON
More students have enrolled at FVCC than ever before. This enrollment increase has created both opportunities and challenges for the college.
“We’ve added more students this fall than any college in Montana,” said Brad Eldridge, FVCC executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning. “It has been a struggle to fit all the students wanting to take certain classes, to ensure classes are at a teachable size, and to find adjuncts or hire more permanent-teachers.”
According to FVCC officials, 2,539 students enrolled in the college this fall. This is 463 more students than last year.
FVCC officials credit the recession as one of the reasons more people are enrolling in the college. Unemployment has been particularly high in the Flathead Valley. Flathead County's unemployment numbers were 10.2 percent in August compared with 7.4 percent unemployment statewide, according to the Flathead Valley Job Service.
Unemployed workers often return to college to gain new skills and build a stronger resume. FVCC administrators report that the college finds jobs for 90 percent of their students. Many of these newcomers are older than 25, students often classified as non-traditional.
These students have different challenges than those of the traditional 18-year-old freshman.
“I am taking two culinary classes while taking care of my child and juggling a part-time job,” said a young woman who has asked to be kept anonymous. “I am hoping that earning a culinary degree will improve my chances of finding a more stable, full-time job.”
More students have also created challenges for the college, including increased class size.
“It definitely affects the way classes run from a teacher’s perspective,” said Brian Bechtold, an FVCC English professor. “I don’t have as much time to get personal with each student, especially when I am grading papers.”
While FVCC has a headcount of 2,539, that number represents the equivalent of 1,828 full-time students. University Montana in Missoula is the largest post-secondary institution in the state with the equivalent of 11,717 full-time students. Montana State University in Bozeman is next with 10,876 students, followed by Montana State University-Billings with 3,246, Montana Tech with 2,192 and FVCC.
Wendell Robinson is a student in News Writing and Reporting at Flathead Valley Community College.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Trade Adjustment Assistance Program helps FVCC retrain workers
By TROY CASE
Recently unemployed workers are returning to college in droves. With the help of TRIO and the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, FVCC is providing the tools to retrain these unemployed.
TRIO is a federal outreach program designed to motivate and assist students facing financial challenges that otherwise might prevent them from going to school. The TRIO program works closely with non-traditional students helping them integrate into college life.
“We are teaching these folks how to be college students and providing a large support group for the emotional transition,” said Lynn Farris, FVCC TRIO director.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance program is a federal program passed in 2007 and revamped in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Assistance program provides a variety of benefits and services to workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade. The program’s aim is to create and retain jobs by providing grants to communities that have job losses. Benefits include job retraining, educational and income support and relocation allowances. Eligible recipients of federal aid receive two years paid educational expenses and unemployment benefits.
Unemployment doubled in the Flathead Valley from 6.1 percent in 2008 to 13.7 percent in January of 2010. The closures of Plum Creek pulp mills and the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, along with the sale and restructuring of Semitool (now Applied Materials) all contributed to high unemployment in the valley. Approximately 615 Flathead workers were eligible for federal aid through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. Many of these laid-off workers in the Flathead have sought retraining at FVCC.
With hundreds of additional new students, many without any recent educational experience, FVCC officials decided to create a way to help these non-traditional students transition from the blue-collar work force to college life. Learning Communities have been established on campus for students who are struggling with the transition. These students can spend a semester with their peers brushing up on rusty academic skills. Transition to College and Adult Basic education classes are offered such as reading, writing, math and computer applications.
“The focus of the Learning Communities is to help new students overcome their lack of competence,” said Matthew Springer, FVCC Coordinator for Resource Development and Grants. “For FVCC the hurdle is mathematics with new enrollments.”
Larry Netzel is a sophomore and is receiving financial aid through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. He has not been to school since 1964. Netzel worked at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company for more than 25 years before he was laid off in 2009. Job Services of Kalispell held several meetings at the plant to discuss assistance opportunities with the workers.. After “a lot of paper work” Netzel decided to go back to school for a welding and inspection certificate.
“The transition was hard,” he said “but they helped me get this far. When you’re used to working everyday it’s hard to get your brain into books.”
Netzel started in the summer of 2009 in a learning community of his peers taking intensive reading, writing and basic math classes to prepare him for college classes.
“Smaller classes made it easier to get help and talk to the teacher,” Netzel said. “They really help you get through the program.”
About 8 percent of FVCC students are supported by the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which has an 88 percent retention rate at the college. Overall success of the program is still unknown with the first Trade Assistance students due to graduate this year, but the small success are noticed on campus everyday.
“I feel the program is very successful,” Farris said. “The TAA students treat education like a job where they invest 40 plus hours a week, and they are focused because this is a deliberate choice.”
Troy Case is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.
Recently unemployed workers are returning to college in droves. With the help of TRIO and the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, FVCC is providing the tools to retrain these unemployed.
TRIO is a federal outreach program designed to motivate and assist students facing financial challenges that otherwise might prevent them from going to school. The TRIO program works closely with non-traditional students helping them integrate into college life.
“We are teaching these folks how to be college students and providing a large support group for the emotional transition,” said Lynn Farris, FVCC TRIO director.
The Trade Adjustment Assistance program is a federal program passed in 2007 and revamped in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Assistance program provides a variety of benefits and services to workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade. The program’s aim is to create and retain jobs by providing grants to communities that have job losses. Benefits include job retraining, educational and income support and relocation allowances. Eligible recipients of federal aid receive two years paid educational expenses and unemployment benefits.
Unemployment doubled in the Flathead Valley from 6.1 percent in 2008 to 13.7 percent in January of 2010. The closures of Plum Creek pulp mills and the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, along with the sale and restructuring of Semitool (now Applied Materials) all contributed to high unemployment in the valley. Approximately 615 Flathead workers were eligible for federal aid through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. Many of these laid-off workers in the Flathead have sought retraining at FVCC.
With hundreds of additional new students, many without any recent educational experience, FVCC officials decided to create a way to help these non-traditional students transition from the blue-collar work force to college life. Learning Communities have been established on campus for students who are struggling with the transition. These students can spend a semester with their peers brushing up on rusty academic skills. Transition to College and Adult Basic education classes are offered such as reading, writing, math and computer applications.
“The focus of the Learning Communities is to help new students overcome their lack of competence,” said Matthew Springer, FVCC Coordinator for Resource Development and Grants. “For FVCC the hurdle is mathematics with new enrollments.”
Larry Netzel is a sophomore and is receiving financial aid through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. He has not been to school since 1964. Netzel worked at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company for more than 25 years before he was laid off in 2009. Job Services of Kalispell held several meetings at the plant to discuss assistance opportunities with the workers.. After “a lot of paper work” Netzel decided to go back to school for a welding and inspection certificate.
“The transition was hard,” he said “but they helped me get this far. When you’re used to working everyday it’s hard to get your brain into books.”
Netzel started in the summer of 2009 in a learning community of his peers taking intensive reading, writing and basic math classes to prepare him for college classes.
“Smaller classes made it easier to get help and talk to the teacher,” Netzel said. “They really help you get through the program.”
About 8 percent of FVCC students are supported by the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which has an 88 percent retention rate at the college. Overall success of the program is still unknown with the first Trade Assistance students due to graduate this year, but the small success are noticed on campus everyday.
“I feel the program is very successful,” Farris said. “The TAA students treat education like a job where they invest 40 plus hours a week, and they are focused because this is a deliberate choice.”
Troy Case is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Is FVCC No. 4 or 5? It depends how you count students
By MONTANA ZIGLAR
FVCC is either the fourth or fifth largest postsecondary institution in Montana, depending on how enrollment is measured. However, the impact of growth on the college may be more important than rankings.
FVCC’s 2010 fall enrollment is 2,539, while the community college's rival for the fourth spot, Montana Tech, has 2,304 students. But the Montana University System calculates enrollment based on the equivalent of full-time students. Based on this calculation Tech has 2,192 students, or full-time equivalents, while FVCC, with a larger part-time population, has 1,870 students.
FVCC President Jane Karas said she is pleased the college continues to grow, but the dramatic rate of that growth presents challenges to FVCC's core mission.
“In the future we hope to see a steady increase in enrollment but not a 33 percent increase every year,” Karas said. “We wouldn’t be able to provide quality education.”
According to Montana University System enrollment records, FVCC has grown 75 percent since 2000, including a 33 percent increase in just the last year. The only school to see a larger rate of growth in recent years is the College of Technology in Billings, which added a new technology program in 2008.
“The economy has a lot to do with our heightened enrollment,” said Brad Eldredge, FVCC executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning. “As workers get laid off they go to school. Tuition differences between four-year universities and community colleges are another big reason.”
Just three years ago, FVCC was dealing with declining enrollment. In 2007 FVCC had the equivalent of 1,360 students. By 2009 that enrollment had grown to 2,076. This fall FVCC added another 463 students.
“The word is getting out that you can get a quality education at FVCC with an affordable cost,” Karas said. “Students understand that this is a great place to start and build a foundation.”
FVCC has grown faster than anticipated, but Karas said that it means more people are coming to college and investing in their education.
The University of Montana is the state’s largest post secondary institution with 11,637 full-time students. Montana State is second with 11,206. MSU-Billings is third with 3,254.
Montana Ziglar is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.
FVCC is either the fourth or fifth largest postsecondary institution in Montana, depending on how enrollment is measured. However, the impact of growth on the college may be more important than rankings.
FVCC’s 2010 fall enrollment is 2,539, while the community college's rival for the fourth spot, Montana Tech, has 2,304 students. But the Montana University System calculates enrollment based on the equivalent of full-time students. Based on this calculation Tech has 2,192 students, or full-time equivalents, while FVCC, with a larger part-time population, has 1,870 students.
FVCC President Jane Karas said she is pleased the college continues to grow, but the dramatic rate of that growth presents challenges to FVCC's core mission.
“In the future we hope to see a steady increase in enrollment but not a 33 percent increase every year,” Karas said. “We wouldn’t be able to provide quality education.”
According to Montana University System enrollment records, FVCC has grown 75 percent since 2000, including a 33 percent increase in just the last year. The only school to see a larger rate of growth in recent years is the College of Technology in Billings, which added a new technology program in 2008.
“The economy has a lot to do with our heightened enrollment,” said Brad Eldredge, FVCC executive director of institutional research, assessment and planning. “As workers get laid off they go to school. Tuition differences between four-year universities and community colleges are another big reason.”
Just three years ago, FVCC was dealing with declining enrollment. In 2007 FVCC had the equivalent of 1,360 students. By 2009 that enrollment had grown to 2,076. This fall FVCC added another 463 students.
“The word is getting out that you can get a quality education at FVCC with an affordable cost,” Karas said. “Students understand that this is a great place to start and build a foundation.”
FVCC has grown faster than anticipated, but Karas said that it means more people are coming to college and investing in their education.
The University of Montana is the state’s largest post secondary institution with 11,637 full-time students. Montana State is second with 11,206. MSU-Billings is third with 3,254.
Montana Ziglar is a student in Journalism 101C, News Writing and Reporting.
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