Campus Events

Visit the Transfer from SWCC page for information on guaranteed transfer agreements and more. For information about transfer visits, please contact Student Support Services at (276) 964-7624 or in B-152

ETSU Transfer Representatives are available in Buchanan Hall, B-143, Monday though Friday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Drop in and speak with them about your plans; no appointment is needed

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Exciting New Initiatives Coming Fall 2019

Dr. Tommy Wright (far left), president of Southwest Virginia Community College, is shown signing a letter of commitment to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with Dr. Christopher J. Parker (center), Chief Executive Director of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Seated far right is SWCC’s Athletic Director Jason Vencill. The college unveiled a new, robust athletic program at the college during a recent press conference. Photo Credit: Preston Ball

“These programs are designed to have an impact well beyond the college’s campus,” said Dr. Tommy Wright, president of Southwest Virginia Community College. “Programs in art, agriculture, athletics, an honors college, and a new approach to student services, were developed to benefit the community-at-large, as well as, our students.” He continued, “The goals of the initiatives are to engage students with our campus, and to support the excellent economic development efforts of the county Boards of Supervisors and a number of other agencies and organizations. We believe that these are the goals in which we should be investing”

“Southwest is focused on enriching the lives of the people who live within our service area, both students and non-students,” said Dr. Robert Brandon, vice president of Academic and Student Services. “These programs will provide the framework on which the college can build engagement with our students, the residents of our region, and the area’s businesses and industries.”

Honors College

The Honors College at Southwest Virginia Community College will be led by Dr. Kim Austin, director of the Honors College and professor of Early Childhood Education/Development, who will serve as the program coordinator. A cohort-based honors program is scheduled for implementation, which is designed to challenge academically-prepared students within the college’s service areas. The outcomes of the Honors College will include the development of academic excellence, communication skills, service to the community, and leadership. The goals of the Honors College at SWCC is to recruit some of the best and brightest people in the community, to support them with scholarship and grant money, to build the skills they need to be the future leaders of their communities, and to help them transfer to honors colleges at universities within Virginia.

Mary Ann Strong, CEO of Mulco Insurance based in Richlands, VA, is shown receiving a plaque by Dr. Tommy Wright, president of Southwest Virginia Community College. Strong was honored for her untiring effort on the part of athletics in the region and at SWCC. Photo Credit: Preston Ball

Community-Focused Art Program

A focus on excellence continues with the projected implementation of a Community-Focused Art Program. Southwest Virginia is a hub of the arts and the College plans to celebrate and support that reputation by establishing a new academic program in art.  This program will fall under the leadership of Dr. Brian Wright, interim dean of humanities and social sciences and professor of psychology.  The Community-Focused Art Program will help prepare students in the theory and practice surrounding the creation of art. In addition, students will also learn about the ways in which the artist helps communities to articulate their own histories and identities and the ways in which an entrepreneurial spirit plays into the life of the artist.  A key part of this program will be identifying ways in which the College can partner with existing community art programs and in which the college can create new opportunities to provide cultural enrichment within its region.

Expanded Agricultural Program

Southwest Virginia is known for its rich earth and successful farms. SWCC would like to assist these local farmers by offering an expanded agricultural program. According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry by far, with an overall economic impact of $70 billion dollars annually.  Furthermore, every job in agriculture supports 1.7 jobs elsewhere in Virginia.  Southwest has always provided outlets for students to pursue careers in agriculture; however, under the leadership of  Jereial Fletcher, interim dean of  Mathematics, Science and Health Technologies and associate professor of English, the college will begin expanding its agricultural program. Southwest will hire a faculty expert and develop both transfer, non-transfer, and workforce development classes so that the training offered can impact a greater number of people.

Student Success

Historically, Southwest Virginia Community College has been on the forefront of innovative student success programs.  The college is excited to announce a new initiative dedicated to ensuring that all students have the support they need to reach their academic and professional goals. Under the leadership of Dyan Lester, dean of Student Success and Title IX coordinator, the college will establish a program, which ensures that all students are assigned a success coach and a faculty mentor upon applying to the college.  This success team will work with students to remove barriers to success and to ensure that students are doing exactly what is needed to become credentialed in the least amount of time possible.  This program will ensure that no student is making the college transition alone.

Athletics

Freedom the Flying Eagle, Southwest Virginia Community College’s mascot is shown hugging a young fan and future SWCC student! Photo Credit: Preston Ball

The creation of an active athletic program will provide an avenue to students that has not been present for many years. Southwest Virginia Community College is excited to offer its region’s student athletes a chance to continue to compete in the sports that they love, while at the same time developing skills that will make them better employees and coworkers. Students, as part of a sports team, learn the important lessons of working together, dedication, and respect. The college supports the fact that the athletics program will also support academic goals, as national data suggest that student athletes are much more likely to be retained and graduate than the general student population.  The athletic program will have two primary components. First, under the leadership of Athletic Director Jason Vencill, the college is excited to join the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) and offer scholarship-supported programs in ten sports. Those sports include: wrestling, basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, golf, tennis, cross country, and soccer.  In addition, Southwest offerings of club sports will be expanded to feature more activities of interest to the region: fishing, rifles, archery, cheer, and dance.  These activities will augment investment in competitive academic teams in areas such as STEM, debate, and forensics. Follow on Twitter @AthleticsSwcc  or  Instagram swcc_athletics

These exciting new initiatives will support Southwest Virginia Community College’s goals to engage more students and become closer partners with their communities.