By Anthony Varriano
Ranger-Review Staff Writer
Dawson Community College administrative staff have been working for years to increase revenues and right the Buccaneer ship, and it looks like the work could start paying off in the spring.
Dual Enrollment
Dual-enrollment is tentatively scheduled to be available to Dawson County High School and even Glasgow High School students starting in January. A verbal agreement has already been reached with DCHS instructors.
At a meeting of the DCC board of trustees, Monday, DCC Vice President of Administration Kathleen Zander said the college should have a memorandum of understanding with Glasgow instructors “in a couple of weeks” to offer dual-enrollment in math courses.
DCC Trustee Bob Stanhope was pleased to hear progress was made on dual-enrollment.
“I heard [DCHS] were looking to MCC for dual-credit, and that’s a pretty big slap in the face to the college,” he remarked.
The college is also working with Nelson Academy of Agricultural Sciences Online to provide dual-enrollment courses on the web.
During a conference call at the Monday meeting, Deputy Commissioner John Cech informed that Montana is a finalist for a JP Morgan Chase Foundation grant totaling $2 million that he hopes to invest in dual-enrollment expansion throughout the state if awarded.
New Programs
While dual-enrollment should lift enrollment, new programs of study could contribute more. A new certificate program for childcare workers was presented to the board a few months ago and will allow DCC to count a maximum of 20 students registered in those two classes towards its full-time enrollment. Each class is capped at 10 students each, but course instructor Gail Harden said she doesn’t even need to use DCC’s facilities. Childcare professionals in the state are required to have passed the two courses.
Another proposal was submitted to the board last December regarding a certificate program that could provide an even bigger boost to enrollment. Workforce education coordinator Traci Masau asked the board to approve the draft of course offerings for a certificate of public service — a 27-credit “mini-certificate” for public service workers.
The certificate is offered to public employees seeking additional training for advancement and leadership in the public workforce. The classes will be offered online through DCC by the State Professional Development Center.
At the March 2016 Board of Regents meeting, establishment of a certificate in public service was approved, and the board of trustees also approved the draft on Monday. Masau is working with Patrick Edgar of SPDC to finalize the outstanding needs to allow DCC to start offering the courses in the spring.
Other News
President Scott Mickelsen said all five wage claims brought against DCC were dismissed, and he didn’t hear if any appeals had been filed by the deadline. Mickelsen also informed that the online criminal justice program at DCC was rated in the top 10 nationally for affordability.
Mickelsen is also looking to change the way remedial English and math courses are taught at DCC to improve pass rates, but those changes won’t likely happen until Fall 2017. Basically, instead of offering an 095-level course to those requiring extra help in the subject area, all students would simply register for a 101-level course, and those needing extra help would meet more often to avoid paying for two separate courses.
Mickelsen stated that under this new “co-requisite” model, 62 percent of math students complete the course in one semester compared to just 22 percent of students completing the courses in two years under the old model. In English, 22 percent of students complete the gateway course within two years, while 64 percent pass the co-requisite course in one semester.
The college is also working with Western Governors University, an accredited, online university that would have its students come to DCC to complete their Associate’s degree. Upon graduation, they would stay on campus, take a leadership class to check their online progress and work on leadership styles and practices. Then, they’d complete their bachelor’s degree online through WGU, and while the model is in its infancy, Mickelsen stated it “has some great promise.”
Mickelsen also informed that a 34-credit general education certificate had been approved by the Teaching and Learning committee. The program will be used as a recruitment tool to attract students to stay at DCC and finish an associate’s degree, but if they choose to leave they would leave with a recognized credential.
Mickelsen has also been serving on the statewide committee to align DCC’s program approval process with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. That process is in its final stages and should be ready to implement by the middle of December.
DCC is also looking to provide education services to one of the largest veteran populations per capita in the country. Veterans can transfer their GI bill to their children and spouses, so the college will continue meeting with U.S. Senators Steve Daines’ and John Tester’s representatives to discuss how to best serve veterans and their families.
Vice President of Student Affairs John Bole informed that a DCC volleyball team could be right around the corner, too.
“The conference is begging us to get back into volleyball,” he said. “It would really help with scheduling for all the members of the conference.”
Bole said his next meeting on the subject could provide “significant updates.” A Lady Buccaneer volleyball team could increase the number of full-time students at DCC by about a dozen or more.
Reach Anthony Varriano at rrsports@rangerreview.com.
