The Bitterroot College Program of The University of Montana
Meeting Minutes: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Steering Committee of the Bitterroot College Program (BCP) of The University of Montana met on
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from 3 – 5 PM at the Ravalli County Commissioners Meeting Room in
Hamilton. The meeting was chaired by John Robinson. In alphabetical order, committee attendees
included: Sharon Alexander, Tim Bronk, Chuck Jensen (via conference call), Patricia Meakin, Kimberley
Mills, Deb Morris, Rick O’Brien, John Robinson, Bobbie Roos, Dixie Stark, and Lynn Stocking.
Committees members excused were Royce Engstrom, Carlotta Grandstaff, and Mary Moe. Also present
was BCP Interim Director Victoria Clark.
No members of the public were in attendance.
Members of the press in attendance included one reporter from the Ravalli Republic (Jeff Schmerker).
Taking meeting minutes was Bruce Weide.
The meeting opened with Chair Robinson calling the committee to order and conducting roll call,
followed by Robinson making a short introductory speech congratulating the committee on its recent
successes and reminding the committee of the road ahead. The full text of Chair Robinson’s speech:
As a coach sometimes I had to beat on the players ears to get them to perform a little
beyond their ability. I did beat on their ears on occasion. When they did perform up to or beyond
the level of their abilities I also soothed their ears with words of praise and adulation.
I may have beat on the ears of this committee a little. Now I want to heap praise upon your
laurelled heads for the splendid job you have accomplished in getting two year higher education
started in the Bitterroot Valley.
I’m an optimistic person by nature, but in my wildest dreams I could not envision what has
been achieved in establishing this unit of two year higher education.
We were concerned about doing a big needs assessment to determine if we had educational
needs in the valley, and what those needs were. The vast outpouring of people seeking further
education is a clear and positive demonstration that the desire for two year higher education is
rampant in this valley.
Victoria and I communicate often. We are both wild dreamers. Between us we could not
create a dream as wild as what has happened in the last few months. In a very short span, when
we were dreaming of 70 or 80 students registering, 150 signed up. Classes we thought might
only be partially filled, overflowed with students. A lot of the credit for that goes to Victoria’s
untiring efforts..
Victoria tells me students are coming in at about the rate of five each day who want to
register for the fall classes. Our wild dream is 400 students for the fall classes. With the interest
that is being shown those dreams appear to be to rather ordinary. We may be looking at many
more than 400 students seeking education this fall. We should be prepared to provide.
You have all been a necessary part of reaching this plateau on the educational mountain. We
need to climb higher. Victoria and I want to pat each of you on the back, and give you a hearty
hug for the wonderful work you have helped accomplish. So, PAT, PAT, HUG, HUG to each and
every one of you. Let’s dig in and head for the top of the hill.
Just as failure can cause great problems, success can also cause large problems. With the
great success we have created in higher education in the Bitterroot Valley, there remains one
The Bitterroot College Program of The University of Montana
Meeting Minutes: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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overwhelming problem. How do we pay for it? Who is responsible for the funding? Who will
provide the money that is desperately needed to sustain this great educational project?
At this moment we are part of the University of Montana, and we are thankful for their
willing participation in this adventure. The Governor has requested all units of the state to
reduce their budgets by 5%. This unit of the University in the Bitterroot Valley is on an extreme
upward expansion. We are succeeding beyond our wildest dreams, and as our success continues
we will require more funding, not less.
When we were trying to establish a community college we were required to submit a budget
to the legislative education committee. We were required to amend the budget, revise the
budget, amend the revision of the budget, which we did, but all for naught as our blinkered
legislature could not envision the need or the economic value to the State of Montana for
establishing two year higher education in the Bitterroot Valley.
A few weeks ago most of our local legislators expressed their very negative views on
education in our local paper. Though they all profess to being in favor of education, they fail to
understand the State Constitution requires them to provide for all citizens to obtain an
education. They fail every session to provide the state’s monetary share of K through 12 funding.
Education is always the department that is cut to balance the budget.
Examining our efforts closely I don’t see how we can continue to be part of the University’s
budget. We are growing at a much faster pace, and initially will need more money to satisfy our
needs on a different basis than those of the University.
Section 9 of Article 10 of the State Constitution places the budget burden for higher
education on the Board of Regents. I think it is to the Board of Regents we have to look to. The
Board should provide a budget for this project that will allow us to expand at the rapid rate we
are growing. We should have a separate budget so as not to put an additional strain on the
University’s financial situation, and so we can grow according to our expanding educational
needs.
I’m just a poor ignorant retired farmer, school teacher and lawyer. I’m not sure how to bring
this about. I’m putting it out as a problem in need of solving to this committee. You have all done
a splendid job so far. I am sure you will find the key to open the door that will reveal the solution
to this problem.
Now, on with our monthly adventure in education.
Following his statement, Chair Robinson called for approval of the December 17, 2009 and January 26,
2010 minutes. Deb Morris moved to approve both sets of minutes as is. Lynn Stocking seconded the
motion. The motion carried with an unanimous vote of the committee.
Next, Chair Robinson gave the floor to Interim Director Victoria Clark for the presentation of the
Director’s Report. Clark’s report began with an itemized breakdown of current operational issues.
Clark’s operational comments included: 1) enrollment update—13 courses underway with 142
duplicated students, representing an increase of 316 percent over Fall 2009’s 45 duplicated students;
headcount is at 74 students with 70 students from Ravalli County communities and four from Missoula,
representing an increase of 255 percent over Fall 2009’s 29 headcount; enrollment held steady since the
beginning of the semester with Anthropology, Computers, Communications, Psychology, and
Developmental Writing all at capacity enrollment; notably, there are 32 students in the BCP’s
Developmental Math courses – representing 43 percent of the BCP student body; 2) Montana Western
and Early Childhood Education AAS Degree—Clark and Lynn Stocking are meeting with representatives
from Montana Western on Wednesday, February 24 to work on admissions and financial aid issues
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Meeting Minutes: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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involving the BCP’s partnership with Montana Western to offer the Early Childhood Education AAS
degree in Hamilton; 3) new student orientations—these orientations are set to start up again in March
and run the first and third Thursday of each month through August. Clark complimented UM-COT
personnel for all the help they had given during the initiation of the orientation series in December and
January; Clark expressed some concern about seating capacity for the orientations as she has been
getting a lot of interest from local residents about attending the BCP for the Fall 2010 semester; the
orientation program will remain essentially the same as the earlier series, although there would be
some revisions to the presentation as things had been learned from the December and January events;
4) contracted training with Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA)—Excel,
QuickBooks, and Business classes are set to begin the first week of March; to date, John Schneeberger
with RCEDA has 6 students signed up for each Excel and QuickBooks class and 7 for the Business class;
Schneeberger is confident all the classes will reach the cost-recovery minimum of 7 students by the time
they begin; 5) music appreciation series—118 students enrolled in the Hesla Piano Series sponsored by
UM Continuing Education, UM College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the BCP; Dean Sharon
Alexander stated that the series was “an enormous success,” and that she hoped to continue the
partnership and produce two more series for Fall 2009 and two more series for Spring 2011; a survey of
the 118 students should provide direction for planning the future offerings; 6) new staff—work study
students Brandy Mattoon and Terri Duncan have been hired for evening employment to keep the BCP
facility secure during evening operations and to assistant with clerical tasks as assigned; 7) Making
Opportunity Affordable (renamed College! NOW)—Clark and Stocking attended the first College! Now
ABLE Workgroup meeting in Helena on Monday, February 22 (ABLE=Adult Basic Literacy Education); the
meeting emphasized seamless transition to college for ABLE students with an emphasis on co-locating
ABLE programs with 2-year units, improving career and academic pathway advising for ABLE students,
and improving developmental programming within 2-year units; Dixie Stark stated that with the opening
of the BCP there has been a 400 percent increase in Literacy Bitterroot’s ABLE students selecting
postsecondary as a goal; Dean Alexander wondered if Literacy Bitterroot would consider merging with
the BCP; Stark responded that she was comfortable working with Clark and was “excited about future
collaboration;” Tim Bronk noted that he was pleased that the term “developmental” was being used
rather than the more pejorative term “remedial;” Stark added that Salish Kootenai College calls their
developmental program the “Department of Academic Success.”
Clark then moved onto educational planning issues: 1) data analysis—Maas contract has been signed;
online survey has been designed and was launched Friday, February 19; already over 100 responses;
survey will close Friday, March 19; Patricia Meakin suggested that a reminder to complete the survey be
put on computers at the county’s three public libraries; others suggested that local fire departments be
notified as well as Chamber members, the 4H network, Job Corps students, local private schools, and the
home school network. Clark said she would try to pursue all these groups; Moss representative Dan
Rosenberg is also working on the demographic report and hopes to have an initial draft for the
committee by the group’s March meeting; 2) community conversations—Clark summarized that a
January meeting with Ravalli County school superintendents was positive, with the superintendents
receptive to collaboration and high school recruitment; a meeting with county high school principals and
counselors was planned for Wednesday, February 24; a thanks was put out to Tim Bronk and BCP
volunteer Candy Lubansky for facilitating both school related events; Deb Morris then presented on the
Health Care Sector Conversation, which was held February 2 at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital; Morris
provided a handout summarizing the meeting (see attachment), with the following highlights noted and
commented on by various steering committee members—UM-COT medical coding program not
certified by AHIMA and therefore graduates are not qualified to do coding for Marcus Daly Memorial
The Bitterroot College Program of The University of Montana
Meeting Minutes: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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Hospital, need for short certification courses in IT, need for less costly (locally available) critical care
certifications (e.g., EMT, ambulance), need for LPNs and RNs throughout the Valley with locals going the
distance, literally, to find needed programming (several locals travel daily from Hamilton to Salish
Kootenai College for RN training, as Missoula’s RN program is always full); Dean Alexander wondered if
Lynn Stocking could look into some of the health care community’s concerns in the short term; Stocking
agreed that she would do some investigating; Clark ended the community conversations summary by
announcing various upcoming community conversation dates and directing individuals to the BCP
website for event details; Clark did note that the Small Business Sector Conversation was being
rescheduled as the original January 28th event had no attendees due to a variety of internal personal
issues with the event’s organizers.
Chair Robinson then recognized Clark to conclude her Director’s Report with an update on fiscal issues.
Clark first mentioned that the fiscal summary provided did not include expenses for the BCP Summer
2010 term, that an “okay” was still needed from Dean Alexander that money was available for the BCP
classes; Dean Alexander said that she had spoken with her staff and that they would find the needed
money to run the classes; Stocking stated knowing that the funding was there, she could then meet with
UM-COT department chairs and finalize the BCP Summer 2010 course list (from a preliminary list which
had already been provided by Clark); Stocking thought that such a meeting would take place later in the
week. Stark then asked that for the benefit of the taxpayer could future fiscal reports show revenue.
Dean Alexander noted that all revenue went to the State General Fund and not to the BCP. Stark said
she understood this but still wanted to see trends in expenses versus revenue. Dean Alexander
remarked that she agreed with Chair Robinson’s opening comment that in the end the Regents will have
to address funding for the BCP. Clark stated that from Provost Engstrom’s comments from the
committee’s last meeting, she would put current revenue at about $52,000 for the fiscal year. Clark
noted that the BCP was not yet at a 50-50 subsidy (students support 50 percent of costs and state
supports 50 percent of costs). Chuck Jensen commented that Flathead Valley Community College
receives about 50 percent of its revenue from the state, 30 percent from its students, and 20 percent
from its district’s residents. Jensen then suggested that in the future the BCP might consider adding a
“distance learning fee” to recoup costs, as was done at the Lewistown Higher Education Center via its
relationship with Montana Northern in Havre. Patricia Meakin responded that if a fee was to be added
for BCP students, then all the UM-COTs fees needed to be reconsidered in terms of the BCP students, for
some, like the Health Center fee, were not applicable to BCP students. Dean Alexander summarized by
stating that there needed to be a new and different fee matrix designed for BCP students. Meakin
closed the fiscal discussion remarking that she was still hearing from people in the community who
expected “the UM to produce the more cost-effective program that [Higher Education Commissioner
Sheila] Sterns said could be offered” in lieu of establishing a local community college district.
Chair Robinson then recognized Kimberley Mills to provide the Student Issues Update. Mills said she
had received positive student feedback on the BCP’s current instructors, on the local availability of
textbooks, and on Clark’s ability to deal with a range of “snafus.” She mentioned that students were
concerned about there still being no summer course schedule available; students needed to plan their
summers, especially if the plan might in the end involve having to drive to Missoula. Mills also noted
that deadlines for Fall entry into some programs was fast approaching and that students needed to be
informed of these deadlines. Clark and Stocking said they would be sure to organize this information
and put it out to students.
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Meeting Minutes: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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Chair Robinson then introduced New Business—Discussion on FY2011 curricular objectives and funding.
Clark asked that this discussion be put on hold until Provost Engstrom, Dean Alexander, Stocking, and
Clark had met to confer on the number of courses to be offered with respect to the amount of funding
the BCP would have to work with. Clark stated that she had put together a list of courses which would
allow a student to fulfill the Montana University System General Education Core through the BCP during
the FY2011 academic year, but that she did not want to release this list until internal funding decisions
had been made, as well as internal curricular decisions. Clark did remark that her goal was to have all
Fall 2010 course decisions in place by the end of March, allowing BCP courses to be ready for enrollment
on the opening day of UM-COT Fall 2010 registration, which was April 7. Clark reiterated that she knew
Dean Alexander and Stocking were aware of how important the March deadline was to her.
Chair Robinson then observed that with no public present, there was not public comment.
Chair Robinson moved to adjourn the meeting, and all agreed. The meeting was adjourned at 5 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Weide (with Victoria Clark summarizing)
ATTACHMENT TO BCP SC FEBRUARY 23, 2010 MINUTES – HANDOUT TO COMMITTEE
BCP Conversation: Health Care
Place: Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital (MDMH)
Date: February 2, 2010
Organizer: Deb Morris
Presenter: Victoria Clark
Attendees
First Name
Janelle
Pam
Joanna
Susan
Becci
Kelly
Judy
Last Name
Campbell
Chaplin
Gleason
Hill
Rose
Schrammeck
Thornbrugh
Position
Dietitian, Nutritionist
Nursing Director
Summary of Comments
Medical Coding:
MDMH wants medical coders to be AHIMA certified; UM-COT medical coding program is not AHIMA certified; MDMH
does not direct potential students to UM-COT because of lack of AHIMA certification; Great Falls COT Medical Coding
(online) in AHIMA certified (?); MDMH directs potential students to Weber State (Utah) Medical Coding online program;
MDMH medical coding staff is Weber State alum; MDMH has 4 full-time medical coders
Culinary Arts
MDMH Kitchen staff wants a culinary arts program; Missoula for Culinary Arts is too far to drive if one is also trying to
work; 10 people in MDMH kitchen
IT
Need workers who are Microsoft certified IT professionals – networking and desktop support; 5 to 6 IT staffers needed
at MDMH alone
Physical Therapy Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants needed; no program in Montana; is a 2-year program;
Casper College in Wyoming has program(s)
Ambulance, EMT, Critical Care certifications – have to send people out of state at great expense, Billings offered these
certifications recently for only $890 – this was a significance savings
Acute care CNAs needed; local CNA training focuses on nursing home care; CNA training in Hamilton needed;
appropriate space might be available at Valley View Nursing Home (in basement) – Janelle suggests to call Patrick at VV
at 363-1144
Local courses in Cardiac monitoring and Telemetry needed
Local course for LPNs regarding new IV rules needed
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Meeting Minutes: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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All local health care facilities and providers need LPNs and RNs; need to be training current LPNs to become RNs as
many of current RNs will soon be of retirement age