The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in the board room of the college’s Administration Center.
Wayne Pantini, SWCC vice president of economic development, spoke to the board about the progress being made on the plans for the SWCC trades building project. This 15,040-square-foot facility, to be located east of the existing Technical Center I, is slated to house labs for carpentry and building trades, electrical technology, and emergency management services, as well as three flexible classroom spaces to accommodate 150 students.
Following Pantini’s presentation, the board approved a resolution tentatively approving the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of total cost for the project in a roll call vote.
Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, spoke to the board about renewing the early retirement policy for employees. Shay explained the college’s administration was recommending keeping the policy unchanged from last year’s plan. The current policy states the employee must be 57 years of age or more before June 30 of the year in which the application was received, have at least 10 years of continuous paid full-time service by the effective date of retirement, and be actively employed on a full-time basis during the year prior to the start of early retirement.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Dr. Barb Brown, business and information technology instructor, at the end of the fall semester.
Dr. John Franklin, SWCC vice president of instruction, presented program reports for three career and technical education programs: management information systems, professional music, and welding technology. The program reports are required by the state, and are completed for each of SWCC’s programs on a five-year cycle.
At the end of Franklin’s report, he spoke about recent data from the state showing SWCC ranking high among its peers in the Annual Condition of Iowa’s Community Colleges report. As one of Iowa’s 15 community colleges, SWCC ranks as follows:
- First in transfer rate
- Third in graduation rate
- Second in success rate
Kim Bishop, SWCC dean of students, presented the Fall 2025 Demographics Report. Bishop said fall 2025 enrollment is 1,605, an increase of 2.4 percent from fall 2024. Bishop said credit hours are up by 4.6 percent to 14,866. There are currently 190 students living on SWCC’s Creston campus.
Sue Stearns, SWCC board member and Community Colleges for Iowa representative, gave a brief update of the joint presidents and trustees board meeting held on Nov. 6 in Des Moines.