Full-time enrollment at Flathead Valley Community College fell another 5 percent for spring term, according to Brad Eldredge, the college’s director of institutional research, assessment and planning.

He gave the enrollment update at February’s Board of Trustees meeting Monday afternoon, saying the dip in enrollment hours matches a national trend for community colleges as the economy continues to recover from the recession.

Despite the drop in full-time enrollment, the college actually has seen an increase in the total number of students, with a growth of .8 percent, or about 20 students.

“This is largely due to our dual-enrollment figures,” Eldredge said. “Last year we had 274 students, this year we have 417. We’ve seen tremendous growth.”

The college has 1,371.1 full-time equivalent students and 2,390 total students.

Dual-enrollment students — those using the Running Start program in high schools — come from Flathead Valley Community College’s service area, which includes Flathead and Lincoln counties, and from places outside the service area such as Hot Springs and Plains.

Eldredge said statistics have shown about 31 percent of high school students who participate in Running Start will come to the college as degree-seeking students.

The loss in full-time enrollment comes as a part of a significant drop in non-traditional students — those over the age of 25 — as they head back to work.

“It fits the story of the economy,” Eldredge said. 

Callie Langohr, the newest board member and principal of Glacier High School, said she had seen a great outreach to her high school students in the last year.

“I saw a one-page, clear, concise flier on what Running Start could be,” she said.

In other college news:

•  The Gay-Straight Alliance was approved on campus as a club.
•  Student disabilities specialist Anna San Diego read a student success report on student disability services, reporting more than 10 percent of Flathead Valley Community College students need some sort of disability accommodation from her office. Students with disabilities are expected to master the course material at the same speed as other students, but can get accommodations for sensory impairment, physical or cognitive disabilities or mental health issues. A writing and math lab is available for students to get additional help out of class.
•  Chemistry professor Janice Alexander gave a report on a sabbatical to the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, where she helped design an “attitude” experiment for students at the university by updating equipment, data acquisition methods and class methodology.
•  Board members Tom McElwain and Bob Nystuen and college President Jane Karas attended the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., meeting with Montana’s congressional representatives and looking into the expansion of Pell Grants.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.