Flathead Valley Community College
MentorLinks
Strengthening Natural Resources Programming
October 2004
MentorLinks Partners
• Mentee College
Flathead Valley Community
College
Kalispell, Montana
Dr. Robert Beall, Instructor
• Mentor College
Chemeketa Community
College
Salem, Oregon
Dr. Ara Andrea, Instructor
Collaborative Problem Solving
Mentor Recommendation:
Using MentorLinks funding, contract with a graphic
designer to design a Natural Resources website to market
FVCC nationally. The website will capture the essence of
the scenic beauty and resources of the Flathead Valley
while highlighting the natural resources curriculum and
the college’s outstanding champion loggers’ sports
program.
FVCC Action:
FVCC has contracted with Pixel Graphix and a new
website design is in progress to be completed in November
2004. Companion brochures and materials will be
distributed to high school and career counselors.
FVCC Website
Under Development
FVCC’s Marketing for 2004-2005
Career
Supplement
Daily Inter Lake
9/25/04
Collaborative Problem Solving
Mentor Recommendation:
 Develop more curriculum options around the current
strong courses in technical applications of GIS and GPS
systems in emerging careers.
FVCC Action:
 FVCC formed a GIS advisory committee of local GIS
professionals consisting of federal, state and private
employers. This group endorsed broadening pre-GIS
instruction to include: Dbase, SQL and courses in
Geology/Geography. The committee supported
development of interdisciplinary courses to be taken by
students from other disciplines. In spring 2004, FVCC
offered “Projects in GIS” for Natural Resources
Management students and Surveying students.
Collaborative Problem Solving
Recommendation:
 Acquire written articulation agreements with the
University of Idaho (UI) and the University of Montana (U
of M) and market these agreements to prospective four
year baccalaureate students, attracting them to FVCC for
their first two years.
FVCC Action:
 A meeting with U of M School of Forestry administration
took place with FVCC instructors to update the existing
articulation agreement March 26, 2004. Final written
reconfirmation is to be sent by the U of M Registrar.
Courses suggested for possible future development are:
Tree Biology, Introductory Soils, Dendrology and Forest
Biometrics.
Collaborative Problem Solving
FVCC Action:
 Communications with the University of Idaho will be
refreshed in fall 2004 to consider renewal of the UI
College of Natural Resources’ recognition of FVCC’s
Natural Resources courses. The articulation was originally
initiated in 1983, but in the 1990s, with restructuring of the
FVCC Natural Resources program, agreements ceased.
Collaborative Problem Solving
Recommendation:
 Join forces with our mentor-college program and with
other two-year natural resources faculty in the Northwest.
Participate in the Western Instructors in Natural Resources
Technology (WINRT) collaboration, comprised of two-year
natural resources faculty from Oregon, Washington,
California and Canada.
FVCC Action:
 FVCC, once a participant in the Western Forest
Technology Instructors Forum (a predecessor to WINRT),
will look at renewing ties with other two-year natural
resources programs in 2004-2005.
FVCC Natural Resources
Program Future
We look forward to the opportunities
ahead for FVCC’s Natural Resources
Management program and applications
for GIS and GPS education, expanding
career pathways in health care, homeland
security, agriculture, law enforcement
and transportation.