Page 9 - Flathead Beacon // 4.2.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS
APRIL 2, 2014 | 9

Jane Karas,
president of
Flathead Valley
Community Col-
lege, discusses
education in the
Flathead Valley
at the Kalispell
PROTECT
Chamber of Com-
merce luncheon.
GREG LINDSTROM
FLATHEAD BEACON

the

present

College Looks to Expand Opportunities

FVCC to seek proposals
FVCC is also pioneering “hybrid” class-
from four-year universi- es that incorporate online lessons and FVCC Hosting Annual
traditional face-to-face learning.
Job Fair in April
ties for more degree “We need to adapt our business
model to the rapidly changing technol-
opportunities in Kalispell
FVCC is hosting its annual Job Fair on
ogy landscape,” Karas said.
campus April 16 from noon to 4 p.m.
Even the possibility of adding a foot- Registration is open for employers
ball program came up last week. Karas actively seeking applicants for current
By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
said it’s a common question she receives,
to which she has an easy answer: “We’re job openings.
A football stadium is still a long shot, ready, whenever someone gives us $20 Organized by the Flathead Job Service
but the campus of Flathead Valley Com- million.”
and Flathead Valley Community College,
munity College is poised for further de- The school’s music program is grow-
the event will provide employers the
velopment and expansion, according to ing, and students can now receive a two- opportunity to connect with job seekers
the school’s president.
year transfer degree. Karas said the con- from the college and the community in
Jane Karas devoted her lunchtime tinued growth of music and ine arts on a one-stop environment. Job seekers
last week to telling business leaders and campus could lead to a performing arts will be asked to bring their resumes,
other community members at the Ka- center, which would also serve a valu- dress professionally and be prepared to
lispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon able need in the community.
about the ongoing evolution of FVCC.
As far as other potential facility ex- be interviewed at the event. Last year’s
event attracted nearly 1,000 active job
Karas touted the strong growth and pansion, Karas said an on-campus it- seekers.
success of a community college that be- ness center and student center could be
gan in 1967 with only a few courses and tapped as valuable developments in the The event is open to the public, and there
now boasts more than 50 occupational future.
is no fee for employers or job seekers
programs and more than 2,200 students “We certainly have a lot of students to participate. Employer registration
each semester.
who spend time on campus now and is required to participate in the event.
The school’s priorities for education- we’re seeing more and more students Employers are encouraged to register
al programs include partnering with who are spending time on campus,” she early as space at the event will be limited.

four-year universities to expand degree said.
opportunities in Kalispell, as well as fu- The school has also made it a priority
ture growth, including new potential identiied a need for more graduates to focus on providing students a “global
facilities like a student center and per- with degrees in business, accounting, education,” Karas said. FVCC has incor-
forming arts center.
education and information technology. porated more study abroad programs
“For people who because of family or Health care degrees were also identi- and worked to develop partnerships spe-
work or they just don’t want to leave this ied as a need in the Flathead Valley, and ciically in Brazil and China, where stu-

great valley, they’ll be able to complete Karas said the school’s nursing program dents are exposed to other cultures and
their four-year education at FVCC,” will be expanding with more associate economies. The school has also made an
Karas said.
science and practical nursing opportu- efort to develop partnerships with oth-
This month school oicials will seek nities.
er schools overseas to exchange faculty
proposals from within the state’s uni- Karas said the school’s priorities in- and students for semesters abroad.
versity system to add new four-year de- clude maintaining strong technology “Like businesses, our students must
gree opportunities at FVCC, and the on campus and in the classrooms. The be equipped to thrive in a world where
new programs could be implemented by school recently purchased a 3D printer, languages and borders no longer are well

www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
the fall semester, according to Karas.
which is being used by students and fac- deined,” Karas said.
A community survey taken last year
ulty as a state-of-the-art teaching tool.
[email protected]