Salish Kootenai College began its fall quarter on Sept. 15, although some students are still completing registration. The school usually has between 650 and 700 students. 

However, this year might be different. Amie Tryon, academic SKC vice-president, and Cammie DuPuis-Pablo, who also works in the president’s office, said there’s a huge increase in incoming freshmen, with 200 enrolled. 

SKC already offers students more than 60 course programs from workforce certificates to master’s degrees in nine areas of academic study. They also have 72 faculty members to guide, teach and mentor students.

The ladies reiterated that although SKC is a tribal college, everyone is welcome.

New courses at SKC include a pathway for students in SKC’s heavy equipment program. The director separated the commercial driver's license classes from heavy equipment so high school students can complete the classwork, fill out the paperwork while they’re still in high school, and then finish their CDL when they turn 18, Tryon said. 

“We have a new track in our psychology program,” she said, “a behavioral track … a two-year path … we still offer the four-year ”

“SKC also is offering a brand new bachelor’s degree in public health; … it’s more focused on community health,” Tryon said. 

Students can take their own individual interest in supporting their community

Three new master's programs are also available: one in education, one in natural resources management and one in chemistry. The college also offers unmanned aerial drone training. 

Grant writing courses are available as a track in office administration and operations. Students can earn a one-year office certificate focusing on customer relations or grant management.

Regardless of the field a student goes into — education, forestry, fisheries — the job might require applying for grants, Tryon said, and DuPuis-Pablo agreed.

For kids who are not interested in college, SKC has a thriving building trades program which includes high school kids. At SKC, they can earn National Center for Construction Education and Research credentials and access job sites.

The homelessness program is working on a house located on Maggie Ashley in Pablo, and students have fixed the building up, DuPuis-Pablo said. Homeless student trainees are learning employable skills while remodeling the building and adding more rooms.

“The house on Maggie Ashley is meant to be more stable and transitional,” she said. It’s meant for people who are working or looking for a job.

SKC is reaching out to all sorts of learners and creating new programs and degree paths.