What do a single mother of two, an unemployed constructionworker and a medical office employee have in common? They are allreal-life examples of the students seeking a brighter future forthemselves and their families through Gallatin College Programs,your local two-year college.
The Bozeman Daily, Chronicle recently reported on the work ofthe College!now Initiative to enhance two-year education across thestate. Some of those enhancements can be seen right here, atMontana State University’s Gallatin College Programs. It has been18 months since MSU receivedauthorization from the Montana Board of Regents to provide two-yeareducation programs, including associate degrees. And in that time,we’ve received regent’s approval for two, new, one-year workforcecertificate programs: medical assistant and bookkeeping. Theseprograms started in August 2011.
This past semester, Gallatin College taught more than 200students in the three associate of applied science degree programs:aviation, interior design and design drafting, and three one-yearcertificate programs: welding, medical assistant and bookkeeping.we have also taught developmental math, developmental writing andcollege study skills to more than 700 students, the majority whomare MSU freshmen.
Our program development continues. we have a number of degreeprograms up for regent’s approval at their January and Marchmeetings. we are proposing to teach general education coursework tomeet the needs of students pursuing an associate of arts degree, anassociate of science degree, or a certificate of general studies.These programs will provide a great opportunity for studentsinterested in a solid academic foundation before transferring to afour-year university. we are also proposing the development of aone-year certificate program in residential building performance(weatherization) in conjunction with the MSU Extension – Montana Weatherization TrainingCenter.
Gallatin College Programs has also reached out to local highschools, developing dual enrollment so students can earn collegeand high school credit simultaneously in a single course. Studentsat Bozeman High School are taking these dual enrollment courses,and we are working with Belgrade and Park County High Schools toadd courses in the future.
The development of our new programs wouldn’t be possible withoutthe generous support of the City of Bozeman. in January 2011, theBozeman City Commission allocated the equivalent of 1.5 mills oraround $124,000 annually for two-and-a-half years to support newprogram development at Gallatin College. The commission’sallocation was an investment in the people of this region, knowingthat with education and training, working adults and young peoplealike would have a better chance at finding good jobs.
The college has also benefited from our partnership with theBozeman School District and Bozeman High School. This fall westarted teaching evening courses in the unused “B” wing atBHS. This meets our immediate needs fordedicated classroom space and is a cost-effective arrangement.
With the assistance of community partners, we recently conducteda workforce needs assessment. The study provided us with valuableinformation on the employment requirements of local industries andwill help us prioritize our program development efforts.
As with all new projects, challenges remain for the developmentof the college. a long-term funding model needs to be formalizedthat will assure the development and sustainability of high qualitytwo-year education programs. we need to start planning for a newfacility that will meet the classroom and support service needs ofthe students of Gallatin College as we project to soon outgrow ourspace at MSU and the space Bozeman HighSchool has so generously provided. Our goal is the creation of afacility on the MSU campus where studentswould have easy access to the main campus and the community wouldhave better access to Gallatin College.
While our vision is ambitious and much work lies ahead, we areconfident that with the continued support from our partners in thecommunity and our committed faculty and staff at Gallatin College,we will build a two-year college benefiting our citizens for yearsto come.
Bob Hietala is the dean of Gallatin College Programs atMontana State University in Bozeman.
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