It’s time for Rainy River Community College to refocus on programs that better fit and support the future of the college.

That’s how Provost Wayne Merrell sees the future in the aftermath of the termination of Rainy River Community College’s football program. He said he believes the community understands the reason for its demise.

He noted that past RRCC football players were largely responsible for the highest student loan default rate in the state and the current team showed the lowest comparative midterm grade-point average since the program’s inception,

“And honestly — not one student came in, nor did anyone in the community give me a call when it ended,” Merrell said of the cancellation of a program that he said received no preliminary analysis or feasibility study for it even began.

With the college in jeopardy of losing all eligibility to provide any student loans, Merrell said he asked Coach Tim Myles if he foresaw any improvement in the default trend which was already a serious problem by 2005.

“He told me that he couldn’t say that. He couldn’t predict,” said Merrell.

Minnesota Rep. Tom Anzelc, after reviewing the loan default statistics, spoke with Merrill to discuss the merit of an appeal to the U.S. Department of Education to request a default waiver for the program. Merrell clearly stated that the program was over, according to Anzelc, and ultimately, Anzelc is in agreement with that decision.

“We cannot risk losing further loan participation in the education of students,” Anzelc said. “We are a poor county, an economic-challenged community, and this is a small higher-education institution.

“Myles did say that there could be a positive outcome for the approximately 18 (of 49 total) successful RRCC football players,” according to Merrell. The coach referred to the possibility of eligible players transferring to Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College in Cloquet to play football.

“Fond du Lac would be happy to be handed those players who would also have better access to travel connections,” Merrill said. The transfer of RRCC football players to Fond du Lac would keep dollars in the Minnesota community college system.

Asked if the RRCC basketball program would come under the same scrutiny, Merrill said it is not an issue. He reports a successful basketball program with minimal ineligibility.

What now?

What will dropping a football program which involves more than four dozen students whose enrollment represents a sum equivalent to about 10 percent of RRCC’s annual operating budget, mean for the future of RRCC?

“This was never really about football as far as I was concerned. It’s about the strength of the college and young people getting an education,” Anzelc said.

But Anzelc is concerned about the RRCC student population.

“This is very serious,” Anzelc said. “We cannot have less kids.”

Asked to rate a positive future for RRCC on a scale of one to 10, Anzelc gave it a five — citing geographical and economic obstacles.

“Rainy River is the smallest of the community colleges,” he said. “The geography means we will always be challenged to find niche programs that will attract and keep local kids in the community.”

Anzelc compared RRCC with the Hibbing, Itasca and Mesabi community colleges in order to illustrate the isolation issues of a rural institution in a rural community along the Canadian border.

“All of the things that make Koochiching County unique — population, critical mass, position — are the things that challenge us.”

Anzelc said he spends a lot of time promoting RRCC because he understands its importance to the community’s vitality. “This institution, among all in the state, is special to the community,” he said.

Anzelc says he sees many good things at the college:

“I think RRCC has a strong faculty and I think Dr. Merrell does a good job. I like the relationship that’s developing between the mill and the college. That’s a very good thing. But we need more examples of that, more partnering,” said Anzelc.

Falls Mayor Shawn Mason agrees: “A regrouping with others within the community who care about the college is needed, and we need to accentuate the positive and the programs that are working — how we can build upon them.”

Success plans

The college shall continue to be strong, according to Merrell.

He reports that a new industrial technology program is solid with more than 20 full-time students, and the promise of 24 new IT students and 15-20 part-time Boise production students next fall.

A 24-student building trades diploma/associate of applied science degree program will be initiated in the fall, with the potential for a 20-student concurrent enrollment cohort from Falls High School next year.

A 10- to 15-student welding certificate program will be initiated next fall as well.

A long with RRCC’s stable nursing programs, the provost’s “New Day Initiatives” should see the college’s enrollment actually increase next year, according to Merrell. He reports that the enrollments of native students under Steve Briggs and the customized training program under Julie Schumacher continue to grow steadily.

Paul Nevanen of the Koochiching Economic Development Authority, and also a member of RRCC’s reconstituted advisory board, shares Anzelc’s concerns about student population. Nevanen added that he didn’t think the football program was a good fit for the college for a variety of reasons.

“The new programs certainly seem to make more sense,” Nevanen said. “We (KEDA) always look at the college as a partner for job readiness and training. A question the general public just doesn’t appreciate is that if we get a call for development, ‘Can we provide that work force today?’ In most instances, ‘no.’ But Julie’s (Schumacher) work force training is key, then we can provide virtually any workers.”

Nevanen also thinks the possible medical merger of Falls Memorial Hospital and the International Falls Duluth Clinic may expand the need for more nurses locally. The area has not experienced the nationwide nursing shortage due to the saturation provided by RRCC’s nursing programs, according to local medical staff.

Merrell said he is not concerned about the player vacancies created in Rainy Hall, the college’s dormitory.

“Football players come in early and take those rooms,” Merrell said. “But this opens some interesting opportunities — like offering the top floor as a quiet floor with no noise after 9 p.m.; the middle floor for the general student body; and the bottom floor for women only. There’s so many students looking.”

Merrell said the recently implemented study initiatives have helped the whole college population and he continues to encourage RRCC staff to become more involved.

Working together

The pros and cons of the recently derailed football program have brought the relevance and the function of the community college to the center of discussion, garnering the attention of a larger number of  residents who realize the impact of its viability. It was the doomed football program that rallied community support in December 2006 and extended the program.

Anzelc said he hopes the community will stay interested and stay engaged to work with the college for the future.

He added that work will continue with the federal government’s Department of Homeland Security to station a Border Patrol training center locally, although currently at a stand-still.

“I think the trustees that oversee the colleges need to learn and invest more in our challenges,” said Anzelc. He said Congressman Jim Oberstar is dedicated to moving RRCC into a stronger position.

Nevanen said he thinks people better understand the importance of the college.

“Some of these changes that have occurred have presented the question ‘How can the college serve the area?’” said Nevanen.

Merrell intends to continue to be responsive to the community and to return to a focus on state and regional students for growth potential.

“The city council is committed to working with the college,” Mason said, “and looking outside the box to ensure its success.”