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2024

Cole Higgins

Higgins named SWCC athletic director

Published October 18, 2024 9:48 am

Southwestern Community College (SWCC) announced today Cole Higgins is returning to SWCC to be the college’s next athletic director. He will begin his duties on Nov. 4, 2024.

Higgins is no stranger to SWCC or the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). As a SWCC student from 2018 through 2020, Higgins served as a student assistant coach with the SWCC men’s basketball program. While completing his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University, he worked as sports information/social media coordinator for the ICCAC.

Higgins completed his Master of Science degree in sports management at Northwest Missouri State University in May 2024. As part of that degree program, Higgins worked at SWCC as an athletic administration graduate assistant from August 2022 through June 2023.

Since June 2023, Higgins has continued to gain valuable experience in athletic administration, serving as assistant athletic director at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington.

“I would like to thank President Lindsay Stoaks, Dean of Student Services Kim Bishop, the search committee, coaches, and everyone along the way who made this possible. I could not be more excited to return to campus and work alongside all of our great staff to build something really special at Southwestern,” Higgins said. “Additionally, I am excited to partner with those in our communities, bring more fans to our stands, and provide a great college experience for our student-athletes. I can’t wait to return to Creston and get started!”

His experience within both SWCC’s athletic department and the ICCAC, as well as his ties to the community will be instrumental in Higgins leading SWCC athletics into the future.

“I am extremely excited to welcome Cole back to Southwestern! His passion for SWCC, our student-athletes, and our coaches was evident during the interview process,” Bishop said. “With Cole’s background serving in various roles within the ICCAC, he will hit the ground running and provide strong leadership for the athletic department and our student-athletes!”

SWCC Week daily themes with SWCC Week logo

SWCC Week 2024 begins Oct. 21

Published October 16, 2024 11:06 am

Check out the SWCC Week 2024 schedule and get registered for the Thursday, Oct.  24 Tricky Treating event for the opportunity to win up to $200 in gift cards!

SWCC Allies Club flyer with meeting date and time, as well as illustrations of hands from a variety of individuals

SWCC Allies Club looking for new members

Published October 15, 2024 12:11 pm

SWCC students, you are invited to join the SWCC Allies Club! The club meets each Thursday during the academic year, at 12 p.m., in the Student Center.

SWCC campus

SWCC one of two Iowa community colleges eligible for federal success program

Published October 15, 2024 10:43 am

Southwestern Community College (SWCC) is one of 200 colleges and universities across the country, including only one other community college in Iowa, eligible for the U.S. Department of Education’s Postsecondary Success Recognition Program.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s Raise the Bar initiative supports colleges that excel at pursuing a variety of missions. As part of that work, the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program, launched in April 2024, utilized data and evidence to identify exemplars across the country.

Southwestern's board of trustees holds October 2024 meeting

Published October 10, 2024 1:19 pm

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for its regular board meeting.

The consent agenda was approved as presented.

Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, presented the board with a list of financial institutions the college can deposit its funds into. The board approved the depository resolution as presented.

Following discussion about the bid process for the college’s electronic access control system project, the board voted to reject all bids for the project. Shay said only one eligible bid was received, and after receiving feedback from several contractors, it was recommended the college adjust the scope of the project and seek bids again.

The board approved two board policies – the annual board planning cycle and monitoring executive performance. Dr. Tony Cass, SWCC board president, said due to the timing of insurance and asset protection, the board has changed its annual planning cycle, and has changed when the CEO evaluation takes place.

The board approved appointments to the SWCC Education Foundation Board as presented.

During the president’s report, Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC president, and Kim Bishop, SWCC dean of student services, presented the board with information on the college’s Master Facilities Plan top priority projects. Stoaks gave an update on the Transportation Training Center and then gave the board information on a proposed Skilled Trades Center which would house SWCC’s carpentry and building trades program, SWCC’s electrical technology program, and have a bay for the EMS program’s ambulance.

Stoaks then presented a four-phase plan to improve the college’s athletic facilities. Phases one and two would include upgrades at the baseball and softball fields to include turf fields, new fencing and dugouts, new sidewalks, a restroom and concession building, as well as a potential safe room. Phases three and four include the building of a wrestling and weight room. Bishop provided insight into the construction of a fieldhouse with a track, turf, and sport court, which would follow the wrestling and weight room. Stoaks said this would be a 7- to 10-year plan.

Stoaks provided the board with an update on the college’s work toward creating its strategic plan for the 2025-2029 academic years. Stoaks said the strategic planning committee identified five initiatives that simplify the college’s strategic plan and play into the college’s recently developed “We Are One” marketing campaign.

Bishop reminded the board of the college’s upcoming Athletic Fundraiser, being held Thursday, Nov. 7, in the SWCC Student Center gymnasium.

Stoaks recognized Holly Booth, SWCC business instructor, who attended the board meeting as faculty representative.

North parking lot closed for events Oct. 10-13

Published October 8, 2024 9:18 am

It's going to be a busy weekend on campus! Due to events being hosted at SWCC, the parking lot north of the Administration Center/east of the Student Center will be closed from Thursday evening, October 10, through Sunday, October 13. 

Southwestern's board of trustees holds September 2024 meeting

Published September 11, 2024 11:05 am

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for its regular board meeting.

Franklin Pastorino

Pastorino named 2024 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar

Published September 6, 2024 8:53 am

Franklin Pastorino from Southwestern Community College is one of 210 Phi Theta Kappa members named a 2024 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Osceola Foods employees sign with SWCC's applied engineering technology program

Osceola Foods employees sign for SWCC applied engineering technology program

Published August 20, 2024 8:32 am

Creston — Representatives from Southwestern Community College (SWCC) were on-hand Aug. 13, at Osceola Foods, a local manufacturing facility owned by Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL), to sign four Osceola Food employees for SWCC’s applied engineering technology program. In addition, five students will be returning for the second year of SWCC’s program.

Southwestern's board of trustees holds August 2024 meeting

Published August 14, 2024 3:07 pm

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for its regular board meeting.

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