Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for their regular board meeting.
Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, talked to the board regarding a proposal to partner with Union County Habitat for Humanity for the third year on construction of a house during the 2014-15 school year by SWCC’s high school carpentry program in Creston. Students from area high schools are eligible to enroll in the high school carpentry program. The Habitat for Humanity house will be built at 622 North Birch Street in Creston. The board authorized the college to enter into the building partnership agreement.
Tom Lesan, vice president of economic development, reported to the board that a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the Southwestern Community College Education Association and Southwestern Community College. The board ratified the agreement, which included a salary increase of $8 per day for faculty members. The agreement also includes an increase of $2,500 for the Professional Development Fund, an increase of $500 for each level of the faculty hiring base, and a not-to-exceed amount of $4,200 on the insurance adjustment.
The board approved a proposal by Teresa Krejci, SWCC chief financial officer, to raise in-state and out-of-state tuition by $6 per credit for the 2014-15 school year. Fees will remain at $12 per credit; therefore, total tuition and fees will be $160 per credit for in-state students and $167 per credit for out-of-state students.
Changes to other fees for the 2014-15 school year, which were approved by the board, include:
• Nursing Fee LPN and RN – Fee will remain $10 for clinical ID badge and syllabi but be added to the nursing fee, as opposed to being paid at the SWCC Bookstore.
• Embedded Online Content Fee – This is a continuation of a fee, generally falling within the range of $40 to $117 per semester, based on the content required by the instructor for the class. Embedded content allows students to access additional course content and labs linked directly to the online courses.
• ELE214 Commercial Electrical Systems – Fee of $55 for second-year electrical technology students to cover costs of CPR training.
• CON159 Carpentry Level IV – A fee of $55 for second-year carpentry and building trades students to cover the costs of CPR training.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Loyal Winborn, information technology systems networking instructor, at the end of his current contract. Winborn has been an instructor at the college since 2006.
The SWCC board approved a 3.3 percent salary increase for Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president; Bill Taylor, vice president of instruction; and Lindsay Stoaks, assistant vice president of instruction. Their contracts were extended through June 30, 2015.
Lesan reported to the board on the ongoing construction of Spartan Court, the new residence hall on campus. Lesan said construction is going very well. According to Lesan, the paving of the access road will be complete this week and inside painting has begun on the second and third floors.
Dr. Barb Crittenden informed the board of summer commencement, which will be held on Fri., June 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium.
The board approved the college’s annual dues to the Iowa Association for Community College Trustees (IACCT).
The board toured the student-constructed carpentry and building trades home immediately following the board meeting.
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