News Release

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the college’s Administration Center for its regular board meeting.

The consent agenda was approved as presented.

In personnel, the board voted to approve the employment of Diogenes Ayala, criminal justice instructor. The board also approved the resignation of Alex Anderson, automotive repair technology instructor, effective June 28, 2019.

Uncollectible account write-offs were approved as presented.  According to Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer, most of the accounts recommended for write-off were incurred during fiscal years 2015 and 2016 and had been at collections with little or no activity for 18 months or more.  Samo explained although the account balances are written-off, students’ transcripts are held and students cannot register for additional classes until the balances are paid.  A total of $120,966.30 was written off for uncollectable accounts.

Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, reported to the board this is the sixth year of a joint project with Union County Habitat for Humanity. The project is for the high school carpentry and building trades career academy program to construct a home on Habitat for Humanity owned property at 606 S. Elm St. in Creston. The project would allow the college to provide required lab experience for students without incurring the expense and risk associated with building a spec home. The board approved the Building Partnership Contract with Habitat for Humanity as presented.

During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president, reminded the board the summer commencement will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28, in the Student Center gymnasium.

Crittenden gave the summer enrollment report. Crittenden reported that summer enrollment is at 544 students and 3,193 credit hours.

Erica Frey, TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) director, provided an overview of the services ETS provides to students in grades 6-12 in eight local school districts. Funding for the program is approved through 2021.

Taylor provided a virtual tour of the carpentry and building trades house in Afton. The house is currently being constructed by the college and high school carpentry and building trades programs.

The board was informed about the Iowa Association for Community College Trustees (IACCT) conference, scheduled for July 24-26, in Council Bluffs.

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The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Drama Club is hosting the 2019 Joseph Larson Little Spartan Drama Camp from June 24-27 in the college's Performing Arts Center theater.

Age groups will be divided as follows:

• Ages 5-7 - Monday, June 24-27, 8-10 a.m.
• Ages 8-10 - Monday, June 24-27, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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  Published May 30, 2019 12:16 pm

Ten Southwestern Community College (SWCC) career and technical education students qualified for the National SkillsUSA Championships following state competition at Iowa SkillsUSA competition on Friday, April 26, 2019.

CRESTON – The Southwestern men’s and women’s basketball program will be hosting youth camps in June.

The Southwestern Boys Individual Skills camp will be June 5-7 in the SWCC Student Center gymnasium. Youth in kindergarten through second grade will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., with an emphasis on the basic fundamentals and making the game fun. Each camper will receive a T-shirt. The cost is $35.

Youth in grades 3-8 will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a focus on the fundamentals in the morning. The afternoon will include daily contests and games. Each camper will receive a T-shirt. The cost is $90.

The Southwestern men’s program is also holding a high school team camp on June 8-9. The cost is $150 for one day or $250 for both days. Teams can stay overnight in on-campus apartments for $500 (including camp entry fee for both days). Teams will play three games a day. Both JV and varsity teams are encouraged to participate.

More information on the boys basketball camps, as well as online registration, can be found here.

The Spartan Youth Basketball Individual Camps, hosted by the Southwestern women’s basketball program, will be held June 10-12 in the SWCC Student Center gymnasium.

The Elite Skills Camp for girls in grades 8-12 will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Youth Skills Camp for girls in grades 3-7 will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The cost of each camp is $80.

These camps are designed to develop and improve fundamental skills of all players. Specialized camp instruction will include station work in both offensive and defensive areas, position work, and competitive contests. Various competitions such as 1-on-1, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 will be implemented throughout camp. The camp will be divided by both age and ability groups, complemented by matching instruction and competition. Teamwork and communication skills will be built into station work and competitions. An emphasis will be placed on teaching the game through positive instruction from coaches and positive interaction with other campers.

For more information, or to register online, click here.

Elevate Advanced Manufacturing has awarded a $500 scholarship to Jacob Hoveland, a senior at Mt. Ayr High School, who will attend Southwestern Community College (SWCC) in Creston this fall.

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the SWCC Administration Center for its regular monthly board meeting.

The board recessed to hold a Strategy Session from 5:32 p.m. to 5:37 p.m.

When the board reconvened, Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, presented bids received for the Ag Addition and the Science Lab Renovation. Lesan reported that all bids came in higher than expected. In a meeting with the construction manager, architect and engineer, it was noted that the cost of materials and labor are up and contracts across the state are coming in higher than anticipated. The projects are scheduled for completion at the end of November 2019.

The board authorized the administration to negotiate a contract with the following low bidders for the Ag Addition and Science Lab Renovation projects:

•     General for the Ag Addition with Grand Construction for an amount not to exceed $1.27 million.
•     Electrical for the Ag Addition with Keul Electric for an amount not to exceed $268,000.
•     Mechanical for the Ag Addition with Camblin Mechanical for an amount not to exceed $296,500.
•     General for the Science Lab Renovation with Grand Construction for an amount not to exceed $760,000.
•     Electrical for the Science Lab Renovation with Keul Electric for an amount not to exceed $246,000.
•     Mechanical for the Science Lab Renovation with Camblin Mechanical for an amount not to exceed $482,300.

The board approved a tuition increase of $6 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state residents for the 2019-20 school year. With the increase, total tuition and fees will be $190 per credit hour for in-state students and $197 for out-of-state students.

Changes approved by the board for other fees for the 2019-20 school year include:

•     ADN Nursing Fee RN - $25 increase in the annual fee, charged during the student’s first semester, to cover the cost of supplemental teaching and learning resources that are instrumental in improving student success.
•     PNN Nursing Fee LPN - $25 increase in the annual fee, charged in the student’s first semester, to cover the cost of supplemental teaching and learning resources that are instrumental in improving student success.
•     International Student Processing Fee - $75 increase per application, to cover the increased costs to remain compliant and to provide quality assistance to such individuals.
•     Embedded Content Fees – The ICCOC or SWCC may assess additional fees mid-year based on instructor or course requirements.

In personnel, the board extended the contracts of Bill Taylor, vice president of instruction; Lindsay Stoaks, assistant vice president of instruction; and Dr. Barb Crittenden, president, through June 30, 2020, with a salary increase of 2.5 percent.

The board also appointed Tia Samo as board secretary effective June 1, 2019.

During the president’s report, Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president, reminded the board of the summer commencement ceremony, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28.

MJ Dolan, IACCT executive director, briefed the board on the recent legislative session and distributed informational materials concerning community colleges.

Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction, shared results with the board from the recent Iowa SkillsUSA competition. Southwestern students placed well with eight state champions, two second-place winners and two third-place winners. The college had 14 students participating in 10 events. The state champions next compete at the National SkillsUSA June 24-28 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Following the president’s report, Jerry Smith, SWCC board member from Osceola and also SWCC’s Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) representative, reported on the recent IACCT board meeting.  Smith reminded the board of the summer IACCT Conference, to be held July 24-26 in Council Bluffs.

Dr. Tony Cass, SWCC board president, presented Mary Jo Skarda, board secretary, with a plaque in appreciation of her years of service as board secretary. Skarda has served as board secretary since 1987.

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NACEP awards accreditation to 26 concurrent enrollment programs for demonstrating high quality and rigorous standards
Seven programs granted initial accreditation for high levels of academic oversight for college courses taught by high school instructors

May 1, 2019, Chapel Hill, North Carolina - The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Accreditation Commission granted accreditation to 26 concurrent enrollment programs at colleges and universities nationwide. This brings the total number of accredited programs across the country to 112, spanning 22 states.

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus.

The meeting began with a public hearing for the Science Lab Renovation Project. No oral or written objections or petitions were heard or submitted. The board approved the Science Lab Renovation Project as presented.

Creston, IA—Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Parents as Teachers, the Southern Prairie YMCA, and Prevent Child Abuse Iowa are joining communities across the state during April 2019 to celebrate the importance of social connections and strengthen social well-being during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the board room of the Administration Center.

Jo Skarda, board secretary, noted that board of trustees member Jane Ernst, of Greenfield, completed her oath of office affidavit as prescribed by law. Ernst replaces Dennis Davis, of Greenfield, on the SWCC board of trustees.

In Photo (L to R) Steve Warnstadt, WIRRC coordinator; Dr. Barb Crittenden, SWCC president; Deb Pantini, SWCC director of student development and WIRRC transfer specialist; Dr. Rachel Boon, chief academic officer, Board of Regents; and Bill Taylor, SWCC vice president of instruction

March 8, 2019, CRESTON, Iowa—Today in Creston, officials from the Iowa Board of Regents, the Western Iowa Regents Resource Center (WIRRC) and Southwestern Community College (SWCC) announced an expanded partnership to help students in southwestern Iowa pursue a degree at one of Iowa’s public universities.

Feb. 13, 2019, CRESTON, IOWA—The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of directors met electronically on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center on the Creston campus. The meeting was held electronically due to adverse weather conditions.

Feb. 7, 2019, ANKENY, IOWA-–Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), along with Iowa’s 14 other community colleges, today announced the scholars selected for the inaugural Iowa class of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Creston's Precast Concrete and Bedford's Zeb's Smokehouse were among the selections. The 37 scholars hail from 20 Iowa counties, ranging from Iowa’s largest city to towns with a population of less than 1,000. They represent a diverse range of business and industry including restaurants, architecture, professional services, and healthcare.

 UPDATE: Because of the dangerously cold temperatures Wednesday and Thursday, the day of the Outside In presentation has been changed to Friday, Feb. 1. The presentation will be held 11:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1.

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Southwestern Community College (SWCC) will be hosting Outside In: African-American History in Iowa, 1838-2019, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at 11:45 a.m., in the Instructional Center, room 220.

This presentation is being co-sponsored by the Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau and the SWCC student activities department. The public is invited to attend.

Creston, IA—Dale Barnett, electrician at Southwestern Community College (SWCC), was honored on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, at the college’s all-staff in-service, for 40 years of service to the institution.

CRESTON — The TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program at Southwestern Community College is hosting an ACT Boot Camp on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in the college’s Instructional Center, room 180, to assist high school students in preparation for the ACT Test.

Creston— The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees met on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., for their regular monthly board meeting. 

Dr. Tony Cass, board president, informed the board Dennis Davis, board member from Greenfield, submitted his resignation from the board effective Jan. 31, 2019. Davis has served on the SWCC board since 2001. Cass thanked Davis for his years of dedication and service to the college. The board accepted Davis’ resignation with regret.

CRESTON, Iowa--The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) board of trustees met on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Center board room.

Iowa community college legislative liaisons Dave Palmer, Jerry Fitzgerald, and Matt Fitzgerald briefed the board regarding the past and upcoming legislative sessions.

Tom Lesan, SWCC vice president of economic development, spoke to the board about a proposal related to replacement of the bleachers in the Student Center gymnasium. Lesan said the bleachers currently in the gym are original, making them 44 years old, and have been updated to keep them up to current standards so many times that further repair is becoming difficult. Lesan showed the board plans for new bleachers through Iowa Direct Equipment at an estimated cost of $173,253.11. These new bleachers will seat 1,189 individuals, which is less capacity than the current bleachers, but the new design will allow for additional space behind the team benches on the north side of the facility during athletic events. Lesan said because the bid falls under the state bid, the project would not have to go out for bids. Following Lesan’s report, the board passed the proposal and authorized purchase of the new bleachers. Lesan said the plan is to install the bleachers in mid- to late-March in between athletic seasons and prior to May graduation.

CRESTON, Iowa—Creston native Dr. Katie Davidson has been named the dean of student services at Southwestern Community College (SWCC).

Davidson, a 2001 graduate of Creston High School, will be coming to SWCC from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, where she has served as the director of The International Center since July 2016. The International Center provides support to the University of North Dakota’s international student population, facilitates study abroad opportunities for students, and promotes cultural awareness throughout the university. Davidson oversees a staff of 14 full- and part-time individuals who welcome more than 750 international students from approximately 88 nations to campus each year.

The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Chamber Singers will be touring in the Des Moines area the week of November 26-30, 2018, presenting “Holiday Carols in Concert” with carols and masterworks by Bach, Rachmaninoff, and Mattson; as well as pieces written by director Ryan Howe. The public is invited to attend.