Southwest Technical College cites enrollment growth, seeks capital funding as programs expand

President Wood, president of Southwest Technical College, told the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Feb. 6 that the college has experienced notable enrollment growth across Beaver, Garfield, Iron and Kane counties and is preparing requests for capital development.

"Let's be real, right? This this is this is the truth. Technical education is a first choice option," President Wood said, adding that Southwest Tech transfers credits to universities and participates in federal financial aid programs.

Southwest Tech is the second-smallest technical college by enrollment but covers the largest geographic region among the technical colleges in the state, the presentation said. Joseph, the Legislative Fiscal Analyst who introduced the college's budget overview, told the committee about funding and performance benchmarks and noted that roughly two-thirds of Southwest Tech's budget comes from state appropriations.

Why it matters: committee members and college officials said the college's expansion supports regional workforce needs — plumbers, drivers and medical technicians among them — and helps rural communities retain and develop local skilled workers.

Key points presented to the committee included completion and placement metrics above system benchmarks, steady year-over-year growth in tuition and appropriations, and a marked increase in secondary (high school) participation.

President Wood highlighted dual enrollment and donor-funded community programs that reduce barriers for adults and secondary students. He said dual-enrolled students have earned roughly 5,000 credits through the partnership and that dual enrollment pathways have resulted in SUU graduates who used those credits.

The president described a donor-funded two‑month community partnership program that enrolled participants the day it began; the donor covers tuition for participants who complete portions of the program (50% scholarship for half completion; 100% scholarship for nearly full completion), and the college reports the program does not count toward official headcount or membership hours.

Committee members asked how the college provides access across a wide geographic region. President Wood said the college partners with high schools to offer faculty, equipment and courses in local facilities, busses students into Cedar City for more intensive training, and is exploring a mobile lab that would cost about $500,000 to operate properly.

Senator Milner and others praised the college's work with Southern Utah University and noted that growth has strained capacity in certain high-demand programs, including nursing assistant training, which Wood said has grown about 70% in two years.

The presentation included performance details: roughly 400 FTE (about 5.53 students per FTE), 52% of headcount composed of high school students, about 300 federal financial aid recipients receiving over $1,000,000 in 2023, and updated IPEDS data showing retention and graduation rates rising from about 85% to 95% year to date, the president said.

President Wood said the college supports the system consensus budget request, with priorities on compensation increases and performance funding that the college believes will support additional student services and program growth.

Looking ahead, the college asked the committee to consider capital development funding within the next one to two years to support program expansion and additional facilities to reduce waiting lists.

Ending: committee members applauded the college's growth and partnerships and moved on to the next institutional presentation.