Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., in the Administration Center board room.
Brandi Shay, SWCC chief financial officer, presented a tuition and fee proposal for the 2026-27 academic year to the board. The proposal included an $8 per credit hour increase in tuition, as well as a $2 per credit increase for fees. Shay said the new tuition and fee rates, $242 per credit hour for Iowa residents and $249 for out-of-state residents, would be effective at the start of the fall semester. Shay said the Iowa Community College Online Consortium released tuition and fees for online courses as well. The ICCOC tuition and fees will be raised $7 per credit for the 2026-27 academic year, therefore, SWCC online courses will be $234 per credit starting this fall.
Wayne Pantini, SWCC vice president of economic development, spoke to the board regarding phase two, a five-year agreement, for the security and access control project with Solutions Management Group. Pantini said phase two will include replacing 35 video security cameras, installing 12 access control devices, and grounding the telecommunications rooms for the Administration Center, Performing Arts Center, Technical Center I, and Technical Center II. Following Pantini’s presentation, the board approved the phase two agreement as presented.
Pantini then moved on to the plan for installing video security cameras and access control for the skilled trades facility, which is currently under construction on the east side of the Creston campus. In this plan, SMG will install 15 video security cameras, eight access control doors, and low-voltage wiring, bonding, and grounding. The board approved the skilled trades agreement as presented.
Lindsay Stoaks, SWCC president, told the board during the planning stages for the upcoming college capital campaign the need for a facility naming policy emerged. Stoaks showed the board the college policy that had been developed and then explained, due to the Carver Model of Governance the college follows, a board policy was also necessary. After Stoaks’ explanation and discussion of the two policies, the board of directors approved the board policy, Executive Limitations: Facility Naming Policy, as presented.
In personnel, the board approved the resignation of Chris Piperno, head softball coach. The board approved the employment of Dana Kuehl as a business instructor, Kenadi Rising as an assistant women’s basketball coach, and Sophia Duckett as head softball coach.
During board members’ reports, Sue Stearns of Woodburn, board member and Community Colleges for Iowa representative, said the statewide group will be having a board retreat next Tuesday, and Stoaks told the board about the Presidents’ Retreat, on June 3-4, at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.
Dr. Tony Cass, board president, of Creston, said board member Amy Mobley of Maloy submitted her resignation. Cass said he and Fred Shearer, board vice president, of Corning, would serve on a subcommittee to begin looking for a new board member for District 7.
The meeting adjourned, and the board went into an exempt collective bargaining strategy session.
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