See Mission Statement

Compliance
It is the policy of Southwestern Community College that no qualified person shall be excluded from participation in, declined the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any college program or activity on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Southwestern Community College complies with Titles VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Governance
Southwestern Community College is one of 59 institutions operating in the North Carolina Community College System, a statewide organization of public, two-year, postsecondary educational institutions. The College is governed by a local Board of Trustees within the framework of the Community Colleges Act, Chapter 115D of the General Statutes of North Carolina. The Board consists of 14 Trustees - five appointed by the county commissioners, four appointed by the Board of Education, four appointed by the Governor of North Carolina.

The objective of the Board of Trustees is to assure that Southwestern Community College achieves its mission within the guidelines established by the State Board of Community Colleges and the State of North Carolina.

» See Institutional Goals

Institutional Profile
Southwestern Community College was established in Sylva on Dec. 1, 1964 as the Jackson County Industrial Education Center, a satellite unit of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute. Since achieving independent status in the fall of 1967, the College (then known as Southwestern Technical Institute) has greatly expanded its educational and training services to the residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.

Initially, the Jackson County Industrial Education Center was approved to offer four programs of study: automotive mechanics; carpentry and cabinetmaking; block and brick
masonry; and radio, television and small-appliance repair. When the center opened its doors in 1964, a total of 133 students were enrolled in short-term courses. An additional 60 were enrolled in full-day classes.

Currently, including all diploma, certificate and associate's degree curricula as well as concentrations, instruction is provided in more than 60 programs. In addition to the Jackson Campus, the College opened a new Macon Campus in 2007 and also operates four centers located in Bryson City, Cherokee, Franklin and Cashiers. More than 2,600 students enroll annually in credit courses, and more than 5,500 (unduplicated) participate in a wide variety of courses, workshops and seminars offered through Continuing Education.

Located on a 57-acre tract of land on North Carolina Highway 116 between Webster and Sylva, the Southwestern Community College Jackson Campus consists of seven
buildings, totaling 194,728 square feet, including a Library. Centrally located to serve southwestern North Carolina, the college is 50 miles southwest of Asheville, NC, and 90 miles southeast of Knoxville, TN.

Southwestern Community College’s three-county service area totals 1,534 square miles (30 percent larger than the state of Rhode Island) and has a population of approximately 78,000. The area is noted for the beautiful Smoky Mountains and the variety of recreational opportunities available.

Macon Campus
The Macon Campus is on a 20-acre site on Siler Road just south of Franklin. This high-tech, state of the art facility is the beginning of a resource-rich campus, offering technology enhanced learning with computer laboratories, virtual and interactive classrooms, borrower privileges at SCC Library on Jackson Campus and adjacent Macon County Public Library, and access to major research institutions.

Several curriculum programs are offered:
• Business Administration - AAS Degree
• College Transfer - AA Degree
• Civil Engineering Technology - first year, AAS Degree
• Computer Information Technology - AAS Degree
• Criminal Justice - AAS Degree (via interactive TV)
• Early Childhood - AAS Degree
• Health Information Technology - first year, AAS Degree
• Human Services Substance Abuse - Certificate
• Real Estate - Certificate
• Surveying Technology - first year, AAS Degree
• Networking Technology - first year, AAS Degree
• Web Technology - first year, AAS Degree
• Developmental Education Course work in Math, Reading and English.

In addition to the curriculum offerings there will be a variety of continuing education classes available in the following areas:
• Arts and Crafts
• Basic Skills and Literacy Training
• Business and Industry Training
• Occupational/Certification/Licensure Courses
• Nursing Assistant
• Small Business Center Courses

The Macon Campus is home to the Macon Early College High School. This high school is designed to be housed on the community college campus for students who seek a different public school experience that allows them to earn college and high school credit. Students have the potential to graduate in four or five years with both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree.

For additional information call 828.369.7331, or email connie@southwesterncc.edu.

Southwestern Community College Foundation, Inc.
The Southwestern Community College Foundation, Inc. was established in 1973 to provide additional financial support for the College through private donations. The Foundation supports student scholarships and other specific projects to improve the educational programs and development of Southwestern Community College.

Gifts to the foundation are deductible on federal and state income tax reports, both individual and corporate, up to the limitations of applicable laws. All gifts, large or small, are appreciated and may be designated for specific projects supported by the Foundation.

Accreditation and Approval
Southwestern Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097) to award Associate's Degrees. Questions concerning accreditation of Southwestern Community College may be made directly to the College or to SACS at 404.679.4501 or http://www.sacscoc.org.

SCC is one of 59 colleges operating in the North Carolina Community College System, a statewide organization of public two-year postsecondary educational institutions.