SWOT- Strengths
- Experienced leadership
- Committed, competent faculty and staff
- Strong support from the Board of Trustees
- Collaborative efforts with other local/regional organizations
- Solid financial management of college budget
- A generally high level of student satisfaction with programs and services at the college
- Strong efforts by the college to assess its programs and services
- A strong commitment by the college to develop strategies/initiatives to enhance student retention
- Ability to respond quickly to educational and training needs in the college service area
- Burrell Building will provide additional instructional space as well as conference facilities
- College has established a strong student-centered culture
- Southwestern has an excellent reputation, both within its service area and within the North Carolina Community College System
- Family atmosphere among faculty/staff and students
- The college is viewed as an affordable educational choice
- SCC graduates perform well either in a career or when continuing their education at a four-year university
SWOT- Weaknesses (Challenges)
- The tight state budget will continue to impact the college budget through reduced flexibility and control
- Need for the development and implementation of a marketing plan, including the allocation of adequate resources to support this plan
- Reduced presence in the public schools with the loss of the Gear-Up program
- Lack of food service on campus
- Lack of cultural diversity among SCC employees
- County budgets are not keeping pace with increasing facility repair needs
- The challenge of prioritizing a tight budget to meet institutional priorities
- Increase faculty and staff understanding of the comprehensive nature of the college
- Salary limitations, as well as the increasing health insurance costs due to the state budget situation, could impact the ability of the college to attract/retain employees
- Maintaining pace with the training, development and costs associated with distance learning growth
- Keeping pace with the technology resources needed for educational delivery and instructional support
- Need for more internal networking/socializing opportunities for faculty and staff
- Enhance Macon Campus students’ ability to access their faculty advisors
- Seek options for streamlining the student financial aid process and the timely notification of students regarding financial aid deadlines and awards
- Too much diversification of activity
SWOT- Opportunities
- Potential for continued enrollment increase due in part to the ongoing recession
- Attitude, opinion and understanding held by segments of the community about the comprehensive educational offerings available
- Pursue opportunities for grant funds
- Increased opportunities in Macon County with the Groves Center and the Early College initiative
- Completion of the Burrell Building on the Jackson Campus and the relocation of various classes/offices/functions to this facility will free up additional space across the campus for other uses
- Increased opportunities in Swain County through Heritage and Cultural Arts, conferences and extension services
- Continuation of the SACSCOC QEP process will provide opportunities for improving and strengthening student learning outcomes
- Opportunity to expand the collaborative partnership with WCU
- Opportunity to respond to licensure and certification needs by individuals in the region
- Opportunity to play a larger role in assisting business and economic development efforts in the region
- Opportunity to establish stronger support from county commissioners in the college service area
- The increasing cost of an education at a four-year institution could make Southwestern a more affordable choice (for the first two years) for those pursuing a bachelor’s degree
- Pursue additional opportunities to collaborate with other agencies/service providers in the college service area
- There will be changes in representation in a number of key elected positions after the 2012 election, primarily due to decisions by incumbents not to pursue reelection.. This includes federal officials (the congressional representative for the college’s congressional district), state officials (the governor and the state house representative for the college service area) and at least one local county commissioner.
SWOT- Threats
- Increasing tuition costs
- The ongoing recession will impact state and local budgets as well as private donations
- Limited public transportation is a concern for students and employees
- Costs associated with the training of faculty and staff on new technology and related software systems, also costs associated with personal data and identity theft protection
- Competition with other colleges/universities/educational providers
- High cost of housing in the area can limit the college’s ability to attract/retain employees
- State and regulatory issues limiting locally based operating functions- trend toward centralization
- Increasing gasoline prices will impact students (and faculty/staff)
- The increase in mandates from the U.S. Dept. of Education (such as the Cost of Attendance requirement) will require significant staff time/attention
- The increasing cost of books and supplies will continue to impact students
- The lack of available and affordable childcare is an obstacle to some in pursuing a college education
- The poor job market may be a disincentive for individuals who might otherwise be prospective college students
- The overall cost of living, combined with the poor job market and the rising cost of tuition may make a college education unaffordable for some individuals
- The continuous changes in regulations on access to college courses by high school students
- Changes in federal financial aid and the increasing levels of student debt
- Most recent population projections by the State Demographers Office significantly downgrades population growth for Macon County, which, if accurate, could impact enrollment growth at the Macon Campus
