The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., in the board room of the Administration Center.
A public hearing was held for the college’s fiscal year 2019 budget. No oral or written objections or petitions were heard or submitted. The board approved the budget as presented.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Dr. Grant Knotts, chemistry instructor, at the end of his current contract. Knotts came to the college in August 2017.
Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer, spoke to the board regarding proposed increases in student housing costs for the 2018-19 academic year. The board approved the proposed rates as follows: apartment-style housing rates will be $3,830 per semester in Spartan Court, Spartan Hall, and Spartan Suites; traditional-style housing rates will be $3,305 per semester in West Hall and Wilson Hall; and the three levels of Café Cash at the Spartan Café will remains the same: $925, $1,125, and $1,325. In addition, the student housing contract buy-out amount will remain at $750.
The board congratulated the men’s basketball team on being back-to-back NJCAA Region XI DII men’s basketball champions.
During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president, told the board spring 2018 commencement will be held on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center gymnasium.
Samo provided the board with an update on the network infrastructure project to upgrade the college’s wireless internet system. The board approved this project at their February 2018 meeting. Samo reported one quote was received for the network infrastructure project. The quote, from DataVizion, was for $218,632.69. She said this amount could be paid out over a four-year period and includes a three-year warranty and support contract. According to Samo, work on the project will begin next week during the college’s Spring Break.
Jerry Smith, board member from Osceola and the college’s Iowa Association for Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, introduced IACCT Board Chair Rich Gaumer and IACCT Executive Director MJ Dolan. Gaumer spoke briefly concerning the importance of community colleges in meeting the training and retraining needs of business and industry.
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