Flathead Valley Community College

MentorLinksStrengthening Natural Resources Programming

October 2004

MentorLinks Partners

• Mentee College Flathead Valley Community

CollegeKalispell, MontanaDr. Robert Beall, Instructor

• Mentor CollegeChemeketa Community CollegeSalem, OregonDr. Ara Andrea, Instructor

Collaborative Problem SolvingMentor Recommendation:Using MentorLinks funding, contract with a graphic designer to design a Natural Resources website to market FVCC nationally. The website will capture the essence of the scenic beauty and resources of the Flathead Valley while highlighting the natural resources curriculum and the college’s outstanding champion loggers’ sports program.

FVCC Action:FVCC has contracted with Pixel Graphix and a new website design is in progress to be completed in November 2004. Companion brochures and materials will be distributed to high school and career counselors.

FVCC WebsiteUnder Development

FVCC’s Marketing for 2004-2005

Career Supplement

Daily Inter Lake 9/25/04

Collaborative Problem SolvingMentor Recommendation: Develop more curriculum options around the current

strong courses in technical applications of GIS and GPS systems in emerging careers.

FVCC Action: FVCC formed a GIS advisory committee of local GIS

professionals consisting of federal, state and private employers. This group endorsed broadening pre-GIS instruction to include: Dbase, SQL and courses in Geology/Geography. The committee supported development of interdisciplinary courses to be taken by students from other disciplines. In spring 2004, FVCC offered “Projects in GIS” for Natural Resources Management students and Surveying students.

Recommendation: Acquire written articulation agreements with the

University of Idaho (UI) and the University of Montana (U of M) and market these agreements to prospective four year baccalaureate students, attracting them to FVCC for their first two years.

FVCC Action: A meeting with U of M School of Forestry administration

took place with FVCC instructors to update the existing articulation agreement March 26, 2004. Final written reconfirmation is to be sent by the U of M Registrar. Courses suggested for possible future development are: Tree Biology, Introductory Soils, Dendrology and Forest Biometrics.

Collaborative Problem Solving

Collaborative Problem Solving

FVCC Action: Communications with the University of Idaho will be

refreshed in fall 2004 to consider renewal of the UI College of Natural Resources’ recognition of FVCC’s Natural Resources courses. The articulation was originally initiated in 1983, but in the 1990s, with restructuring of the FVCC Natural Resources program, agreements ceased.

Collaborative Problem SolvingRecommendation: Join forces with our mentor-college program and with

other two-year natural resources faculty in the Northwest. Participate in the Western Instructors in Natural Resources Technology (WINRT) collaboration, comprised of two-year natural resources faculty from Oregon, Washington, California and Canada.

FVCC Action: FVCC, once a participant in the Western Forest

Technology Instructors Forum (a predecessor to WINRT), will look at renewing ties with other two-year natural resources programs in 2004-2005.

FVCC Natural Resources Program Future

We look forward to the opportunities ahead for FVCC’s Natural Resources Management program and applications for GIS and GPS education, expanding career pathways in health care, homeland security, agriculture, law enforcement and transportation.