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Workforce & Community Outreach

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Miles Community College is committed to workforce development and lifelong learning by supporting the needs of small businesses, employers, and the broader community. The college offers a wide range of courses, training programs, and customized learning opportunities designed to meet regional workforce demands, strengthen employee skills, and reflect the interests and priorities of the communities we serve.

Helpful Links

Pioneer Express Tuition & Fee Schedule Current Academic Catalog

Contact:

Carolyn Kimball
Academic Affairs Technician &
Community Outreach Coordinator
2715 Dickinson Street
Miles City, MT 59301
Office: (406) 874-6164
kimballc@milescc.edu

Elizabeth Smith
SBDC Regional Director &
MCC Workforce
Development Coordinator
2715 Dickinson Street
Miles City, MT 59301
Office: (406) 874-6168
smithe@milescc.edu




SBDC Montana Logo The Montana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network is a partnership between the MT Department of Commerce (DOC), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and regional organizations and institutions of higher education - like MCC.

The SBDC Lead Center is located in Helena, and it supports ten centers around the state. SBDCs provide free, one-to-one, confidential consulting and low-cost training programs to aspiring and existing small businesses.

Please contact the Miles City Regional Director, Elizabeth Smith, by calling 406-874-6168 or emailing SmithE@milescc.edu.
The local SBDC office is located on the MCC campus in Room 221.

    To sign up for services, please visit the Montana SBDC website to create an account and request new client services.

    The Miles City SBDC region includes Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Powder River, Prairie, Rosebud, Treasure, and Wibaux counties.

  • Business planning
  • Start-up assistance
  • Financial analysis
  • Loan packaging assistance
  • Market research assistance
  • Marketing plan development
  • Entrepreneurial development
  • Business management and sustainability

    No. However, the SBDC can help you prepare your loan paperwork and/or help you locate additional funding options.

    As a part of our Free 2 Explore Program, your first two dual enrollment classes will be free. If you're also taking concurrent enrollment classes (taught at the high school), these also count towards your two course total, unless you are enrolled at CCDHS or Sidney High School. After you've taken your first two free courses through Free 2 Explore, you'll still receive a significant discount. Tuition is waived for all other classes, but students are responsible for the cost of mandatory fees, course fees, and textbooks including embedded textbook fees. These equals a savings of 60-70% off the full price of a college course.

    Federal financial aid is available beginning the summer after the student graduates from high school. Students enrolled in high school are not eligible for financial aid, which is why we've chosen to waive tuition for the classes taken while still in high school.

    Only Pioneer Express credits count towards Pioneer Promise eligibility. Concurrent enrollment credits do not.

    Students who pass at least six credits from MCC through Pioneer Express will be automatically eligible for a $1,000 scholarship to MCC if they enroll at MCC as a degree-seeking student after high school graduation. We call this scholarship our "Pioneer Promise" scholarship-it's our promise to help make college degree attainment affordable for Montana high school students!

    Only Pioneer Express courses (MCC online or on-campus classes) will count for eligibility. Credits earned through concurrent enrollment (those courses taught at the high school) will not count towards the six credits of eligibility for the Pioneer Promise Scholarship. Students must earn at least a C or better in their MCC Pioneer Express courses to be eligible. The scholarship will be awarded as a $500 tuition waiver per semester for their first year of degree-seeking enrollment, provided students maintain good academic standing while enrolled at MCC (2.0 semester GPA).

    Not sure if this program is right for you? Here are a few things to discuss with your high school counselor and parent or guardian prior to enrolling in the Pioneer Express Program.
    • Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the MCC campus.
    • The MCC academic calendar starts and ends at different dates and has different holidays than the CCDHS calendar. Students are expected to attend MCC courses even if the high school is not in session for a particular day.
    • Tuition is waived while students are still enrolled in high school, but students are responsible for the cost of mandatory fees, course fees, and textbooks.
    • Enrolling in college courses is a commitment of your time and energy! Please consider whether enrolling in college courses is a realistic option based on your extracurricular activities and family schedules.
    • Grades earned through the program are part of your permanent academic record at MCC, and will follow you should you transfer to another college or university.

    Miles Community College integrates input from employers, community partners, and other stakeholders to ensure its programs and services align with regional workforce needs and emerging opportunities. These insights guide the effective use of resources to support strategic academic priorities and career-focused goals that benefit both individuals and employers.

    MCC is committed to creating, implementing, and continuously improving education and workforce training programs that respond to a changing economy. The Workforce Development Coordinator supports this mission by assisting with Workforce+, Workforce Solutions, and Teachers Institute initiatives, helping connect education, training, and workforce needs across the region.

    Please contact the MCC Workforce Development Coordinator, Elizabeth Smith, by calling 406-874-6168 or emailing SmithE@milescc.edu.

    MCC wants to connect students with meaningful careers. By offering Workforce+ for high school age students as a part of its Opportunity Realized Program, MCC will help individuals gain the knowledge needed to enter an industry of their choice.

    The eight identified Workforce+ industries include:

    • Animal science and agriculture
    • Digital technology
    • Education and childcare
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Financial services
    • Healthcare
    • Retail and hospitality
    • Trades and automotive

    Students will be able to use concurrent and dual enrollment courses to acquire approved micro credentials. Visit the Pioneer Express page on our website for current courses.

    Workforce+ is designed to be a low- to no-cost option.

    The Workforce Solutions Program (WSP) is designed to help Montana businesses upskill their employees using MCC curriculum. The MCC Workforce Development Coordinator is available to help companies develop customized certificate pathways comprised of current MCC courses. Certificate requirements may include anywhere from two to five courses. Each business has the option to address employee skill gaps and select courses best aligned with their identified outcomes.

    The annual Teachers Institute provides professional development opportunities. It features one- or two-day courses, focused on a variety of subjects, and is aimed at supporting teachers and community leaders seeking continuing education units (CEUs). Classes are also open to the public for those interested in the subjects offered. In-person, online, and hybrid options are available in June and July.

    Please visit the Teachers Institute registration page for more detailed information. (Registration page is updated annually in the late spring.)

    The courses available vary by school and are specified each year in the school-specific registration forms.

    Once your application and registration form is submitted with all necessary signatures and your high school transcript and placement scores, you'll be enrolled in the course by our office. You'll receive a confirmation email that includes your student ID number and additional instructions. If you're taking an online class, you'll also get an email from the Distance Education office with instructions on accessing your course in Canvas, our online learning management system. Finally, you'll be sent a bill for any charges owed.

    If you are only taking concurrent enrollment courses, your first two courses are 100% free through the Free 2 Explore program. Free 2 Explore eligibility also applies to Pioneer Express classes, and many students take advantage of both options - keep in mind, however, that the two class limit is a one time limit, and any dual enrollment course you take is included. For any courses taken after your first two Free 2 Explore classes, you'll be charged only fees for your course. The current rate is $90.00/credit for mandatory fees. Online and course fee rates vary by course.

    Please note that the Free 2 Explore limit for concurrent enrollment courses does not apply to CCDHS and Sidney High School. Free 2 Explore eligibility can be shifted to Pioneer Express classes for those schools, as they are still a part of an existing pilot project for free concurrent enrollment for all classes.

    Federal financial aid is available beginning the summer after the student graduates from high school. Students enrolled in high school are not eligible for financial aid, which is why we've chosen to waive tuition for the classes taken while still in high school.

    Only Pioneer Express courses (MCC online or on-campus classes) will count for eligibility. Credits earned through concurrent enrollment (those courses taught at the high school) will not count towards the six credits of eligibility for the Pioneer Promise Scholarship. Please consider Pioneer Express courses if you'd like to attend MCC and be eligible for this scholarship!

    If your school is interested in pursuing concurrent enrollment partnerships with Miles Community college, please contact us! We can work with your school administration to determine if specific courses or instructors meet the necessary requirements. We would love to have you join us!

    MCC Community Outreach provides opportunities for enrichment and makes available the use of its personnel and physical resources to benefit area residents through quality programs and classes for students of any age.

    MCC partnership with Ed2Go offers courses that fit your needs through online instruction with the accessibility that ensures that individuals can pursue education for professional or personal development. Through this platform, MCC is able to offer undergraduate college credit, OPI Renewal Courses, and courses for personal enrichment. Learners can earn college credit and OPI Renewal Units by completing all quizzes and final exams in the Ed2Go course. (OPI certificates will be mailed afterward).

    Choose from two flexible learning options: instructor-moderated courses or self-guided study. Instructor-moderated courses run on a six-week schedule with monthly start dates and twice-weekly lessons, while self-guided courses offer immediate access to all materials with up to three months to complete.

    For more information, contact Carolyn Kimball kimballc@milescc.edu or call 406-874-6164.

    Ed2Go courses can be found by viewing or downloading the Ed2Go Course List on our website.

    To register, please visit the Ed2Go website and create an account.

    Submit a Non-Degree Seeking application through our online application portal.

    Payments must be made through the MCC Business Office or online through our payment website. (Do not pay Ed2Go. See last tab for more information on how to pay online.)

    Once registration and payment are completed, you will be verified on the Ed2Go website.

    For classes for OPI renewal or personal enrichment, visit Ed2Go for costs.

    For classes earning college credit, view or download the current MCC Tuition & Fee Schedule on our website.

    Payments may be made in person to the MCC Business Office on the MCC campus or online on the AccessGov Payment page. (Do not make payments on the Ed2Go website.)

    Contact the Business Office at 406-874-6159 or by email at businessoffice@milescc.edu for questions regarding payments.

    Once you are above your two class limit you'll be charged only fees for your courses - tuition is waived for ALL additional courses. Mandatory fees are $90.00/credit, and you may pay additional fees depending on the type of class and whether you take it online, on-campus, or in your high school. The Pioneer Express course list has prices for those classes.

    The two class limit is a one time limit; the program does NOT provide two free courses per semester. However, the two free courses can be spread across multiple terms. (Example: one concurrent enrollment course in the spring at your high school, and one online Pioneer Express course in the summer.) If you withdraw or fail your two Free 2 Explore classes, however, you will not be eligible for additional free courses and will need to pay the regular rates (tuition waived, fees only).

    Federal financial aid is available beginning the summer after the student graduates from high school. Students enrolled in high school are not eligible for financial aid, which is why we've chosen to waive tuition for the classes taken while still in high school.

    Yes! The Free 2 Explore pilot applies to all eligible students starting fall semester 2018. Previous enrollment or completion of dual enrollment classes prior to Fall 2018 doesn't change your eligibility.

    Miles Community College is continuing its free concurrent enrollment pilot project with Custer County District High School and Sidney High School. For the current academic year, these students will continue to receive ALL of their concurrent enrollment course credits (for courses taught at the high school) absolutely free.

    Students at these two schools can still take advantage of Free 2 Explore by enrolling in online or on-campus classes through the Pioneer Express program at MCC. Their first two Pioneer Express courses will also be free. CCDHS and SHS students can maximize their savings by taking both concurrent enrollment and Pioneer Express classes!

    Only Pioneer Express credits count towards Pioneer Promise eligibility. Concurrent enrollment credits do not.

    Students who pass at least six credits from MCC through Pioneer Express will be automatically eligible for a $1,000 scholarship to MCC if they enroll at MCC as a degree-seeking student after high school graduation. We call this scholarship our "Pioneer Promise" scholarship-it's our promise to help make college degree attainment affordable for Montana high school students!

    Only Pioneer Express courses (MCC online or on-campus classes) will count for eligibility. Credits earned through concurrent enrollment (those courses taught at the high school) will not count towards the six credits of eligibility for the Pioneer Promise Scholarship. Students must earn at least a C or better in their MCC Pioneer Express courses to be eligible. The scholarship will be awarded as a $500 tuition waiver per semester for their first year of degree-seeking enrollment, provided students maintain good academic standing while enrolled at MCC (2.0 semester GPA).

    Effective July 1, 2000, Miles Community College adopted a Return Policy that conforms to the updated version (Section 668.22) of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. Students with Title IV funding who withdraw or cease attendance will be subject to both the Federal Refund Policy regarding the possible return of Title IV funds awarded to the student, as well as the Miles Community College Return of Funds Policy. Only that amount of the semester's aid that has been earned (as a result of the prorated amount of time the student has been in school for the semester) will be eligible for retention on the student's behalf on or before the 60% point in the semester. Title IV and all other aid is viewed as 100% earned after that point in time. Any aid that is not earned must be returned back to its source. If there is a student account balance resulting from these adjustments, the student is responsible for payment. Students who withdraw without attending any class owe a repayment of 100% of the aid they received. Title IV funds will be returned to its source in the following order: Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Plus Loan, Federal Pell Grant, SEOG, Montana Grant, Other Title IV Programs, Students/Parents.

    For more information on the proper withdrawal procedures, see the withdrawal section in the Educational Policies of the MCC catalog. Any questions concerning these policies should be directed to the Miles Community College Financial Aid Office at (406) 874-6182 or 1-800-541- 9281.


Interested in workforce solutions, training opportunities, or getting involved with MCC?
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