FVCC on-campus housing debated

On-campus housing at Flathead Valley Community College was the center of discussion during the FVCC Community Conversations session at the Back Room in Columbia Falls on Tuesday morning.

FVCC President Jane Karas spoke to about a dozen community business people about the college in Kalispell, which is now 40 years old. She said that 48 students were in the first graduating class; this year, there were 215 graduates who received degrees or certificates.

Karas said a lot more students understand the quality of education they can get at FVCC, which is the fifth largest institution of higher learning in Montana. In speaking of the college's constant growth, Karas said new pharmacy technology and medical transcription programs have been added to the curriculum. FVCC has expanded its online presence and distance learning as well. The college has also added "study abroad" programs.

The Running Start program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to complete courses for college credit. Karas said it is not uncommon for a high school senior to receive a two-year degree from FVCC even before they graduate from high school.

The building trades program has been quite successful at FVCC, according to Karas, who said, "We've had excellent business partners. We've been able to work with them and put things together."

With the growth of FVCC comes increased discussion of on-campus housing, and Mick Holm asked about the future of the issue. Karas said student housing will be affordable if it does come to pass on campus.

The FVCC Board of Trustees is looking at a number of options. One is to construct student housing — apartments or dorms — that would be managed by the college. A bond issue could provide funds needed for the project, but no bond election is planned at this time. Another option is to have the housing privately built and operated.

Karas asked the million-dollar questions: Will it really benefit students in the community? What is the most cost-effective way to build it?

Session attendee Dee Brown said that as we grow and grow and grow the dollar is stretched too far. That is her main worry.

Carol Pike, Executive Director of the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, said that Flathead County supports FVCC with its "tax dollar." Therefore, taxpayers may not want to support student housing on the campus.

Board member Mark Holston said there was tremendous resistance to establishing a community college in Kalispell 45 to 50 years ago, and it took 30 years to develop the campus. He spoke of FVCC's "tremendous worth." Holston said after the meeting that the FVCC board will look at on-campus housing options in December.

I can identify with the distance that FVCC has come over the last half century. I went to Central Wyoming College, a two-year college in Riverton. The college was only about six years old at the time. There were only three buildings on campus — classroom, administration and maintenance. There was no on-campus housing. Students like me had to live in apartments or share houses with other students. We didn't have any food services on campus, either, which was quite a challenge — and expensive to eat off campus.

Many two-year colleges begin operation to serve the needs of primarily local students, those who commute to class. But with more and more out-of-area students attending schools like FVCC, needs of many students have changed. Many of them need a place to live and on campus would be a good choice — and maybe more economical than living off campus.

Having gone through what FVCC students are experiencing, I support on-campus housing, but not at the expense of local taxpayers. I believe the best option is to have a modest number of housing units built on the Kalispell campus that are privately built and owned. With fuel prices being so high, every dollar saved at the pump can go toward education.

Joe Sova is managing editor of the Hungry Horse News.