Feb. 10, 2021, CRESTON, IOWA—The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met electronically on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was held electronically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board set a public hearing for review and approval of the college’s fiscal year 2022 budget. The public hearing will be held on March 9, 2021, 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 college administration’s recommendation to keep student housing room and board at the current 2020-21 rates for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year. The board approved this recommendation, therefore the room and board rates will remain as follows:
- Spartan Suites, Spartan Hall, and Spartan Court - $3,830/semester
- West and Wilson Halls - $3,305/semester
- Housing Deposit - $150
Following a short discussion, the board agreed to complete their annual CEO evaluation through an online survey. They will meet with Dr. Barb Crittenden, college president, to review the results of her evaluation during the March board meeting.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Diogenes Ayala, criminal justice instructor, at a mutually agreed upon date, pending the college administration being able to secure a suitable replacement. Ayala, who was hired in June 2019, has been with the college since the inception of the criminal justice program during the fall 2019 semester.
Crittenden presented a copy of the fiscal year 2021-25 Strategic Plan to the board for consideration. The strategic planning process began at SWCC in July 2019 when the board reviewed the college’s purpose statement. Following their review, Crittenden said input for the plan was gathered from college employees, students, and advisory committee members from throughout the college’s region. Following Crittenden’s presentation, the board approved the FY2021-25 Strategic Plan as presented.
Kim Bishop, SWCC dean of student services, reported to the board that spring 2021 enrollment is at 1,457 students. This is a 5 percent decrease from spring 2020 enrollment. Bishop said the decrease is consistent with the enrollment decrease from fall, which was largely due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Bishop said colleges across the state are seeing similar trends in enrollment at this time.
Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC vice president of instruction, introduced Susannah Miller, SWCC agriculture instructor, and SWCC sophomore Wyatt Baker of Bedford, a livestock production major. Miller and Baker demonstrated the college’s new sprayer simulator, which provides individuals with opportunities to safely learn the basics of operating a self-propelled sprayer in a simulated environment; as well as the college’s newly purchased John Deere Gator utility terrain vehicle, which is equipped with a GPS receiver and Generation 4 precision agriculture technology. This equipment for the agricultural department was purchased with funds from the Iowa Workforce Development Coronavirus Relief Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program for Post-Secondary Institutions grant.
Jerry Smith, SWCC board member from Osceola and Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, gave a brief report on the IACCT national conference, which was held virtually February 8-10.
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