Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for their regular board meeting.
The consent agenda was approved as presented. The board then recessed to hold a Collective Bargaining Strategy Session.
When the board reconvened, Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president for economic development, reported a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the Southwestern Community College Education Association and Southwestern Community College. The board ratified the two-year agreement, which runs from Aug. 1, 2018-July 31, 2020, and includes a wage increase, 2.5 percent each year, to the base salary of employees covered by the agreement. Minimum salaries for 2018-19 (based on a 167-day contract), will be as follows: entry level, $35,600; BA/BS degree, $36,600; MA/MS degree, $37,600; specialist, $40,000; and doctorate, $41,000. During negotiations, both parties agreed to reopen the FY 2020 contract if there is a negative impact affecting the economic status of the college during this time period.
Contracts were approved and extended, with a 2.5 percent salary increase, through June 30, 2019, for Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president; Bill Taylor, vice president of instruction; and Lindsay Stoaks, assistant vice president of instruction.
In personnel, the board voted to approve the employment of Josh Abel, chemistry instructor, and Alex Anderson, automotive repair technology instructor, starting August 2018.
Abel comes to SWCC from Allendan Seed Company in Winterset where he has worked as a biologist/production analyst for the past year. Prior to this, he was a graduate teaching assistant at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, where he is studying for his doctorate.
Anderson joins SWCC’s automotive repair technology program after teaching at Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, KS, since 2012. In the years prior to teaching, Anderson worked as an automotive technician.
Uncollectible account write-offs were approved as presented. According to Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer, most of the accounts recommended for write-off were incurred during fiscal years 2014 and 2015 and had been at collections with little or no activity for 18 months or more. Samo explained although the account balances are written-off, students’ transcripts are held and students cannot register for additional classes until the balances are paid. A total of $109,964 was written off for uncollectable accounts.
Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, gave the board a brief overview of minor revisions made to the college’s Quality Faculty Plan. Following Taylor’s presentation, the board approved the Quality Faculty Plan as presented.
Taylor then spoke to the board regarding a contract allowing students in SWCC’s electrical technology program to gain hands-on experience during the summer 2018 term through a wiring project at a storefront being purchased by the Union County Development Association at 311 W. Montgomery Street in Creston. The board approved the electrical services contract with UCDA as presented by Taylor.
During the president’s report, Crittenden reminded the board summer commencement will be held Fri., June 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium.
Beth Kulow, SWCC dean of student services, gave the summer enrollment report. Kulow stated summer enrollment at the college is up 48 students, and 625 credits, from summer 2017. According to Kulow, that is an 8.3 percent increase in headcount and an 18.7 percent increase in credits.
The board was informed about the Iowa Association for Community College Trustees (IACCT) conference, scheduled for July 18-20, in Mason City.
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