Flathead Valley Community College trustees learned Monday that the college has raised more than $1.3 million to match the $4 million donated by the Broussard family for the new center for nursing and health sciences.

College President Jane Karas made the announcement at the regular June meeting of the board of trustees. She said the building campaign has raised $1,311,992 in cash and pledges and another $52,845 in in-kind donations.

Karas said surpassing the goal of $1 million goal in just 10 months demonstrates the huge community support for the college. She added that the public may continue to donate to the project.

“We can always use more for equipment,” she said. “There’s never a donation too small, too large or too late.”

Board chairman Robert Nystuen congratulated the president and foundation for raising this money amid the challenge of the down economy. Nystuen said it does show “wonderful support”  for the college.

Karas said the construction has progressed on the new building with three-quarters of the footings and stem walls now installed.  

Also during her report, Karas said the college has again been named to the President’s Honor Roll for Exemplary Community Service Contributions.

“As much as the community gives to us, our students continue to give back to the community,” she said.

Karas said the 2012 honor roll marks the third year that Flathead Valley Community College has been listed.

In other business at the meeting, trustees received a review of summer enrollment from Brad Eldredge, executive director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning.

Enrollment as of June 18 showed a decline of 18.7 percent in credit units equivalent to full time students compared to a year ago.

The head count of actual students declined by 12 percent from 869 in the summer of 2011 to 765  students this summer. The average credit load decreased by 7.7 percent in summer 2012.

Eldredge said the enrollment drop was partly affected by the withdrawal of Pell Grant money for summer classes. This was the first summer that students didn’t have access to those dollars to help pay the cost of tuition and fees.

He said he didn’t know what the summer enrollment portends for fall enrollment.

Since Pell Grant money returns for fall students, the enrollment slide may not be as severe.

“It’s too early to tell,” Eldredge said.

Enrollment projections continued as a discussion topic before the vote on the first reading of the college general fund budget of $15,962,086 for fiscal 2013.  

Karas told trustees that the college had been fairly conservative with enrollment forecasts used to prepare revenue and expense projections in the budget.

She said the college had anticipated a leveling of students from the extreme peaks of recent years. Karas pointed out that enrollment remains 23 percent above the numbers of three years ago, the period before the flood of displaced workers into campus to retrain under federal programs.

Trustees discussed the budget at a recent retreat where Karas said the college began planning years ago for an enrollment downturn by not hiring permanent employees to handle the explosion of students in the first years of the recession.

Trustees unanimously passed the first reading of the budget, including the continuing education budget of $830,000 that included $50,000 for the Lincoln County Campus.  Trustees vote on the second reading at the next board meeting July 23.

In other action items, trustees :

n Approved a new certificate offering in metal arts fabrication. Karas said this short-term training prepares students for a number of job opportunities in the Flathead Valley.

n Reviewed the college’s mission statement but opted to make no changes.

n Heard a report from trustee Tom Harding on the Finance and Audit Committee meeting prior to the regular trustee meeting. He said the college received a very complimentary audit report from the Legislative Audit Division, receiving only one finding that has been corrected.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.