The Business, Engineering & Industrial Technology Division of Southwest Virginia Community College provides quality programs and education for workforce and economic development, professional and technical training, transfer readiness, and personal skill building.
Department Updates & Program Notes
Program in Spotlight
Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation For more information see ATOR website.
According to a 2012 study by the Outdoor Industry Association, the nationwide outdoor recreation sector generates annual projections of “6.1 million American jobs, $646 billion in outdoor recreation spending, $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue, and $39.7 billion in state/local taxes”. In Virginia, the outdoor recreation sector generates “$13.6 billion in consumer spending, 138,000 Virginia jobs, $3.9 billion in wages and salaries, and $923 million in state and local tax revenue”.
Rarely do we see such a sleeping giant, such as the outdoor recreation industry, poised to emerge as the main player in an economically deprived area such as Southwest Virginia. We are seeing an explosion in recreational opportunities and trail systems being developed and improved. As the infrastructure and natural resources are developed, adventure tourism and outdoor recreation based businesses will need a trained workforce.
The Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program at Southwest Virginia Community College will provide training to develop a workforce for the outdoor recreation industry and to stimulate economic development. The training received through the courses will emphasis job preparation for local and regional employers, not just producing recreational activity participants.
The program completers will be instructors, guides, and/or entrepreneurs, holding nationally recognized certification credentials, with extensive knowledge of the outdoor recreation industry, activities, and risk management. They will work for retail businesses, outfitters, local/state/national parks, tourism/economic development, and non-profits. They will be entrepreneurs opening up businesses to support outdoor recreation initiatives, infrastructure and natural resources – developed and enhanced through various initiatives currently underway in Southwest Virginia.
Training for these new and exciting career opportunities is available at Southwest Virginia Community College. SWCC currently offers Career Study Certificates in Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation for those looking to add a skill set or a stackable credential. An Associate of Arts & Science degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Outdoor Leadership degree is available for those wishing to transfer and complete a bachelorette degree.
New Programs
- Cybersecurity Career Studies Certificate
- This program provides students with knowledge and training so that they can implement defense, recognize unauthorized access and take action to minimize threats to their network and computing environment. Our program is designed to provide students with technical and problem solving expertise needed to actively protect assets connected to a network.
- Guide Essentials Career Studies Certificate
- This program prepares students to lead outdoor excursions for a variety of Outdoor Recreation activities. Topics in the program include: preparation for wilderness adventure, wilderness first aid, outdoor leadership, and land use ethics. Students will have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized certifications in Leave No Trace and Wilderness and Remote First Aid.
- Outdoor Interpretation & Education Career Studies Certificate
- This program prepares students to organize, plan, and conduct outdoor educational activities and events. Topics in the program include: resource interpretation and education, risk management, recreational backpacking, and outdoor recreation in Appalachia. Students will have the opportunity to become Certified Interpretive Guides through the National Association of Interpretation.
- Business Administration – Specialization: Outdoor Leadership
- Career Studies Certificate – Mechatronics
o Topics in program include: electrical components, electronics, digital literacy, mechanical components, electrical drives, (Electro) Pneumatic and Hydraulic Control Circuits and digital fundamentals and PLCs. Students will have the opportunity to earn the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Assistant certification. The curriculum is based on the internationally accepted SIEMENS standards. - Career Studies Certificate – Precision Machining
o Topics in program include: machine blueprint reading, safety, bench work, hand tools, precision measuring instruments, drill presses, cut-off saw, lathes, mills, grinders, basic CNC programming, and CNC machine operations. Students will have the opportunity to earn multiple NIMS Level I certifications. The curriculum is based on the nationally accepted NIMS standards. - Associate of Applied Science – Advanced Manufacturing
o The focus of this program is to provide introductory skills for advanced manufacturing technology, industrial maintenance, and other high-demand jobs in industrial and manufacturing occupational fields. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for entry-level technical positions or improve and update skills for their current manufacturing careers. In addition, students will have the opportunity to earn nationally recognized credentials related to advance manufacturing (NIMS, AWS, SIEMENS, MT1, OSHA and/or First Aid CPR AED credentials).
Clubs & Other Initiatives
Career Fair & Opportunity Showcase
The career fair and opportunity showcase will provide an opportunity for past, current and potential students to network with academic and professionals serving the insurance and financial services industry. The goals are to connect: potential students with the appropriate Southwest program of study to meet their employment objectives; current students with continuing education opportunities with 4 year partners; students with potential employers; employers with potential employees. For more information or to participate, contact the BEIT Division Office at 276-964-7277.
Southwest Adventure Team – SwAT, on Channels hike.
Southwest Adventure Team, Michael Brown, James Dye, Advisers. Contact: (276)964-7277 or email beit@sw.edu
SWAT meets weekly in DA120
$5 membership dues paid each year. Open to students, faculty & staff. Like us on Facebook!
The Southwest Adventure Team is a school sponsored, student-led group dedicated to having fun in the great outdoors. If you want to hike, canoe, kayak, backpack, mountain bike, snowboard, or just spend time in the great outdoors – this is the club for you! We practice, “safety first” and “leave nothing but footprints” values and we also include a few tips on outdoor survival skills, map reading/GPS and first-aid. Consider joining the Southwest Adventure Team for fun and adventure. Potential trips can include: Hikes to the Channels – Hikes around Hidden Lake – Kayaking / Canoeing Hidden Lake – The rock wall and rock climbing – Mountain biking – Hikes along the Appalachian Trail – Spelunking
Recreation Area, This project is funded from a grant from Dominion Resources and is sponsored by the BEIT Division. The area is being created to be used by the faculty, staff, students and the community to utilize as an excellent location to bring student group, cub scouts, boy scouts, girl scouts, venturing crews, church groups, etc. The location will have the following features: Orienteering Course, Hiking and Nature Trail, Picnic Tables & Benches, Amphitheater, 12 Station Fitness Trail, Interpretative Signs, GeoCaches, Camping Area, Birding Trail, Disc Golf
Learn more about the Recreation Area
Governor’s School for Science & Technology
2017 Governor School dates: July 10 – July 30
The Governor’s School for Science & Technology is held for two weeks in July each year in Davis Hall on SWCC’s campus.
Directors are Margaret Dye, 276.964.7308 and Mandy Barrett, 276.964.7277
The SWCC Governor’s Summer School for Science & Technology has been devised to meet the needs of students in the Virginia counties of Buchanan, Dickenson (partial), Russell and Tazewell. The school operates on a non-resident basis and is three weeks in duration. Two lead faculty members provide for instructional experiences in the areas of Cybersecurity and Life Sciences. More than twenty enrollees, selected from area high schools, are divided into two circuits of twelve students each. The incorporation of capstone projects, field activities, counseling and career mentoring experiences, lend considerable dynamism to the effort. Students participating in the SWCC Governor’s School for Science and Technology are given the opportunity to receive six college credits and numerous credentials which may be applied to their program of study at SWCC or may transfer to other colleges and universities.
Have Questions? 
Employee Directory
Admissions: 276.964.7238; Fax: 276.964.7716