The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.
The board set a public hearing for review and approval of the college’s fiscal year 2019 budget. The public hearing was set for March 13, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., in the board room of the college’s Administration Center.
Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer, spoke to the board regarding the need to purchase network infrastructure to upgrade the college’s wireless internet system. According to Samo, due to increased technology use on campus by students and employees utilizing multiple devices, the college’s wireless internet system is inadequate and outdated. Samo said access is oftentimes unavailable or disconnections occur. The current system was installed at SWCC in 2008-09. Samo told the board an analysis was conducted by the college’s current provider and the updated system is estimated at $250,000. Following Samo’s presentation, the board of trustees approved the network infrastructure purchase from the company with the lowest responsible quote. Samo is hoping to get started on the upgrade during the college’s spring break in March.
Following a short discussion, the board agreed to utilize an online evaluation survey once again for the annual evaluation of SWCC President Dr. Barb Crittenden.
Crittenden reported to the board that spring 2018 enrollment is at 1,588 students, compared to 1,587 students during the fall 2017 semester. Spring 2018 credit hours are at slightly more than 15,000.
Crittenden noted that MJ Dolan, Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) executive director, and Rich Gaumer, IACCT board chair, will be guests at the March board of trustees meeting.
Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, and Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, presented an overview of the workforce preparation programming being provided by Iowa’s community colleges, as well as a variety of collaborative endeavors related to business, industry, and education. Examples of these efforts in the college’s region include SWCC’s Pathways for Academic and Career Employment (PACE) program, the Work-Based Learning Intermediary Network, and the GAP Tuition Assistance Program.
The board then moved to go into a closed Collective Bargaining Strategy Session. Following the session, the meeting was adjourned.
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