NIC expands course offerings at Bonners Ferry Center

By KENNY RUNYAN

Staff Writer

Bonners Ferry's North Idaho College will increase the number of classes available to the community in the Spring semester.

The NIC office in Bonners Ferry started Fall 2006 with only six credited classes, and they will be increasing the number available to 10 this Spring.

"Going from six to 10 credited classes in that short amount of time really shows the need for college class programs in Boundary County. The need is amazingly huge," NIC Center's Educational Resource Coordinator Christine Callison said.

Registration for the new semester begins on November 6 for currently enrolled students, and on November 27 for new and former students.

"This distance center is a facility where students can get the variety of classes they need and/or want. The goal is for a student in Bonners Ferry and Boundary County, can get the things they need at the center. We will have the capacity to offer a two-year degree and we will have the potential to do it," Callison said.

NIC provides the services that allow you to get a GED, financial aid, tutoring, test proctoring, placement testing, student photo ID cards, scholarship information, advising, registration, and admissions. NIC also has a computer lab that will be operational soon. NIC offers credited classes online as well.

For students that meet certain guidelines, Job Education Training, or JET, is available. JET is a six-week, short-term, intense program that gives students the tools needed to help achieve a better, higher paying job. JET's intent is that people will get some essential job training that will help them in later life. Most of the program focuses on computer and technology uses, which will be available when the computer lab is finished. This program is also available to student who do not meet those guidelines, but they will be required to pay for the program themselves.

"We really want students to be able to go to school and do what they need in life to get by. We have students that have children, spouses, full time jobs, and other things that won't allow them to drive to Coeur d'Alene every day," Callison added.

Jeffery Cook, a 41-year-old Bonners Ferry man, husband to his wife, father to his three children, and with NIC's assistance, a student. Cook originally enrolled himself at NIC's main campus, which took him approximately three- to four-hour drive every day just so he could attend two classes four days a week.

"Every opportunity I get, I take classes through the center, and I would to anything possibly in my power to not have to drive that distance everyday," Cook said.

The center is also offering professional technical programs, and a lot of different higher education advances. NIC accepts high school students for their dual enrollment program which allows high school students to achieve a college credit that will also go on their high school transcripts. In addition, grandparents, parents and all kinds of middle aged families have these things available to them.

"A whole lot of people living their lives don't have the time to get to where these classes are offered, but our goal is to have anyone be able to get what they need in order to happily continue their lives," she said. "Most of the people I talk to ask me what the face of a Bonners Ferry college student looks like, and I have to tell them the truth. We have a very widely diverse demographic including senior citizens, and young and old teenagers. We want to make the center in a way that suits the needs of the Bonners Ferry community. We have the ability, and permission. With enough students and a professor, well then we have a class. We want common involvement. What that means is I find out what Bonners Ferry citizens want or need, and I relay the message to Coeur d'Alene."