Southwest Tech cites high retention and builds first-responder STAC training hub for southern Utah

Southwest Tech representatives briefed the Iron County Commission on student outcomes and an expansion of on-site training facilities the college calls the Southwest Tech Training Advancement Center, or STAC.

The presenter highlighted a 93% full-time fall-to-fall retention rate and said all of the college’s programs meet a 70% placement benchmark required by its national accreditor. The presentation showed 580 student completions last year and noted expansion of dual-enrollment with Southern Utah University that has helped students earn college credits at lower cost.

The presentation also detailed STAC, a first-responder and industrial training hub Southwest Tech has been building since the spring. Completed pieces include a mass-casualty training module, crash-rescue props and a rubble pile. The college plans additional training assets, among them a high-angle rescue prop locally fabricated for about $120,000 — a fraction of national bids of $200,000–$400,000 — and a trench trainer already in place.

Southwest Tech representatives said the center has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Utah National Guard and has hosted Guard training; they said local contractors donated engineering and construction services for some site elements. The college described STAC as a regional resource for fire, emergency medical services and industrial HAZMAT training.

College leaders also described student navigation and financial-aid programs, including a county-supported institutional-aid pool used to cover small fees, books and third-party test charges for students in financial need. The presenter said about 40% of the school’s headcount are high-school students participating via dual enrollment, and that those students account for a funding dynamic that requires state and local support to sustain programs.

Why it matters: Southwest Tech leaders framed STAC and dual-enrollment as both workforce development for local employers and a tool to address intergenerational poverty by creating clear pathways to living-wage careers.

What’s next: College staff asked the commission to remain engaged on funding and partnership opportunities as STAC develops further and additional props and training bays are completed.