The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tues., May 10, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. in the SWCC Administration Center for their regular monthly board meeting.

During the meeting, Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer, spoke to the board regarding refinancing of the college’s 2010 dorm revenue bonds due to the availability of lower interest rates.  According to Samo, the new rate would allow the college to save $166,000 over the life of the bonds.  Maggie Burger, senior vice president of Speer Financial, Inc., was in attendance at the meeting.  Burger explained to the board that advanced refunding occurs prior to the scheduled call date on the bonds.  The call date for these particular bonds is June 1, 2017.  Following the explanations provided by Samo and Burger, the board approved the resolution directing the sale and delivery of $2,039,000 dormitory revenue refunding bonds, series 2016, as well as the resolution appointing trustee, approving the trust indenture, and authorizing the execution of same as presented.
Next, the board approved the college’s Tax Exemption Certificate as presented.

The board then approved the resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance and securing the payment of $2,039,000 dormitory revenue refunding bonds, series 2016, of Southwestern Community College, state of Iowa, under the provisions of the Code of Iowa, and providing for a method of payment of the bonds.

Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, spoke to the board regarding the college’s ongoing building partnership with Union County Habitat for Humanity.  Taylor said this will be the fifth year the college has completed a joint project with Union County Habitat for Humanity.  He explained that these projects allow the college to provide required lab experience for students without incurring the expense and risk associated with building a spec home.  Union County Habitat for Humanity pays for all associated building materials.  Following discussion, the board approved the building partnership contract, which will allow the college’s high school carpentry and building trades Career Academy program to construct a home on Habitat for Humanity-owned property located at 908 West Adair Street in Creston.

Taylor then discussed a proposed joint construction project between the college and Sonntag Development, LLC, for the college carpentry and building trades program to build a duplex on property owned by Sonntag Development, LLC, and located at 404 and 406 Maple Street in Creston.  With the details of this contract, Sonntag Development, LLC, carries expenses of the project during the construction period, again allowing students to complete required lab experience without the college incurring the expenses and risk associated with building.  The board approved this first-year joint project.    

The board approved a proposal to raise in-state and out-of-state tuition by $6 per credit for the 2016-17 school year.  Fees will remain at $12 per credit; therefore, total tuition and fees will be $170 per credit for in-state students and $177 for out-of-state students.

Changes to other fees for the 2016-17 school year, which were approved by the board, include:
•    WEL 800 Welding Capstone - $55 course fee for second-year welding technology students.  Covers the cost of a student’s CPR training during the spring semester course.  
•    IND 114 General Industry Safety - $100 course fee for all first-year welding technology and industrial maintenance technology students.  Covers costs associated with the OSHA 10-hour general industry safety certification during the fall semester course.  Upon successful completion of the training, students will receive a portable OSHA 10-hour course completion card and certificate.  
•    CON 141 Basic Construction Skills - $100 course fee for all first-year carpentry and building trades students to cover the costs associated with the OSHA 10-Hour construction safety certification during the fall semester course.  Upon successful completion of the training, students will receive a portable OSHA 10-Hour course completion card and certificate.  
•    ELE 178 Introduction to Wiring - $100 course fee for all first-year electrical technology students to cover the costs associated with the OSHA 10-hour construction safety certification during the fall semester course.  Upon successful completion of the training, students will receive a portable OSHA 10-hour course completion card and certificate.
•    PEA 295 Scuba Diving - $100 course fee removed from the fee schedule as the course will no longer be available.

The board had a brief discussion regarding the status of the college’s food service provider.  At this point, requests for proposal have been distributed and are due back to the college by May 23.

During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president, informed the board summer commencement will be held on Fri., June 24, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium. 

Rachel Ramaeker, SWCC coordinator of secondary programs, gave the board an overview of learning opportunities available at the college for high school students through Career Academies, the college’s Arts and Sciences Academy, and the Online Academy.

Following the president’s report, Jerry Smith, SWCC board member from Osceola and also SWCC’s Iowa Association for Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, reported on the recent IACCT board meeting. 

The board then went into closed session until 7:12 p.m. when the meeting was adjourned.

###