Bitterroot Valley Community College Initiative

Bitterroot Valley Community College Position Statement Residents of the Bitterroot Valley seek to replace the current Bitterroot College University of Montana, with the Bitterroot Valley Community College, signifying a structural change to a state-recognized, locally controlled Community College District. The new Bitterroot Valley Community College will provide a comprehensive two-year education plan as outlined by the Montana University System, which includes: • Workforce development, including Certificates, Applied Associate Degrees, & Industry-Recognized Credentials • Transfer Education through Associate Degrees & general education coursework • Developmental & Adult Basic Education • Lifelong Learning • Community Development Our Bitterroot Valley Community College will have three critical organizational features which will optimize its potential as a two-year education campus. These features are: • Programming Authority o Enables the college to be timely, flexible, and self-directed in meeting the educational and workforce training demands of Ravalli County • Independence & Permanence o Allows the college to be established as a distinct local and regional entity, essential for recruitment clarity, recruitment opportunity, resource opportunity, collaboration leverage, and evidence-based decision making • Funding Equity, Predictability, and Control o Allows the college to plan, develop, and implement programming and services at levels commensurate with Montana’s other two-year education providers