Apr 27, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Academic Catalog Archived Catalog

About FVCC



Mission

Flathead Valley Community College promotes excellence in lifelong learning, focused on student success and community needs.

Governance

Flathead Valley Community College is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees. The trustees are elected by the citizens of Flathead County. Members serve three-year terms on a rotating basis with elections held yearly on the Tuesday following the first Monday in May. The trustees are charged with the primary responsibilities of setting college policies and selecting a president to administer the operations of the institution.

FVCC coordinates with the Montana Board of Regents.

Funding

Flathead Valley Community College receives funding from federal, state, and local sources. The total budget authority is based on projected student enrollments and determined according to a formula. State of Montana appropriations, state and federal grants, and local sources (i.e. county taxes, student tuition, and other income) provide funding for FVCC.

Accreditation

Flathead Valley Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process.  An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.

Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.

The last comprehensive review and reaffirmation occurred in the spring of 2020.

Inquiries regarding an institution’s accreditation status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact

Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue, N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA  98052
(425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org

 

Six FVCC Career and Technical programs have been awarded specialized accreditations.

  1. Medical Assistant is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE).
  2. Medical Laboratory Technology is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS.)
  3. Nursing (Associate of Science in Nursing, ASN) program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN-CNEA), located in Washington, DC.
  4. Paramedicine is accredited through the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions through the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP).
  5. Physical Therapist Assistant AAS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
  6. Surgical Technology is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), in cooperation with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA).

Three FVCC Career and Technical programs have been approved by State Boards.

  1. Practical Nursing is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing. 
  2. Registered Nursing is approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.
  3. Surveying is approved by the Montana State Board of Professional Land Surveyors.

Lincoln County Campus (LCC)

The Lincoln County Campus of FVCC, located in Libby, provides access to the beautiful Cabinet Mountains, alpine lakes, and the famous Koocanusa Reservoir. The facility is home to LCC’s administrative offices, nine classrooms, an art lab, science lab, computer labs, in addition to the Adult Education Learning Center, free tutoring, a health care study lab and Makerspace. The single-story, remodeled building provides a comfortable, pleasant learning environment. LCC offers students a variety of ways to earn a degree or certificate. Students may opt to (1) attend live-site classes in Libby (2) take online classes, and/or (3) take courses via interactive teleconferencing.