Mission
Flathead Valley Community College promotes excellence in lifelong learning, focusing on student success and community needs.
Core Themes
FVCC has identified four core themes that individually manifest essential elements of its mission. Each element serves as an important component of lifelong learning. Collectively, the core themes encompass lifelong learning, supporting FVCC’s role as a comprehensive community college.
The four core themes are
- Transfer preparation;
- Workforce preparation; and
- Developmental education.
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.
Finance
All Funds
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 2019.
Five FVCC Career and Technical programs have been awarded specialized accreditations.
- Surgical Technology AAS 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).
- Medical Assistant CAS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE).
- Medical Laboratory Technology AAS is accredited through the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS.)
- 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.
- Paramedicine AAS 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.
- Physical Therapist Assistant AAS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Three FVCC Career and Technical programs have been approved by State Boards.
- Surveying AAS has been approved by the Montana State Board of Professional Land Surveyors.
- Practical Nursing CAS has been approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).
- Registered Nursing ASN and Practical Nursing CAS programs are fully approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.
FVCC is an Accredited Test Facility for the American Welding Society (AWS ATF).
Memberships
FVCC is an institutional member of various organizations, including the American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community College Trustees, Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Bigfork Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Lakeside and Somers Chamber of Commerce, Libby Area Chamber of Commerce, Montana Association of Community College Trustees, Mountain States Association of Community Colleges, and Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.
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 and three computer labs, in addition to the Adult Education Learning Center and the Academic Reinforcement Center. 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 and Troy, (2) take online classes, and/or (3) take courses via interactive teleconferencing.
Lincoln County Library
The Lincoln County Library serves as a resource center for the Lincoln County Campus. The library has an extensive collection of books and periodicals available to students and is connected electronically with a network of university libraries providing extraordinary access to academic data.
Lincoln County Academic Reinforcement Center
Free tutorial services are available to all students enrolled at the Lincoln County Campus. A professional tutor provides individual or small group instruction on most course offerings. Research tools such as style guides and internet access are available in a computer lab with seven workstations.
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