Governing Board Goals

Commitment

The Southwestern College Board of Governors is deeply committed to the development and success of all students. We value the diversity of the district’s students, faculty, staff, and campus community. We believe in the importance of honoring our history, our designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and the rich diversity of our community while working towards creating an equity-focused inclusive college.

The board affirms that the district shall provide an education and work environment that is welcoming and supportive of all members of the college community, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion. The environment shall be such that students and employees can learn and work together in an atmosphere that is productive and not only free from discrimination, harassment, exploitation, and hate crimes, but affirmatively empowers people of all backgrounds. We expand on this commitment in our SWC Student Access, Equity, Success and Completion Commitment Statement.

The Board will uphold the values expressed in our college mission statement ensuring that we embody and promote them as we carry out our responsibilities, hold ourselves and the Superintendent/President accountable and engage in ongoing learning opportunities to strengthen our policies and practices.

Guiding Principles

As a way to guide our policy development and decision-making process, the Board has identified the following principles as critical to upholding our institutional values:

• Student Access, Completion, and Equity
• Student Success
• Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging
• Leadership Development
• Systems Collaboration

2026-2028 Governing Board Goals

Goal 1: Legislative and Policy Leadership – Advancing Student Access, Completion, and Equity

The Governing Board will lead with integrity and foresight by both advocating for external legislation and enacting internal district policies that expand student access, retention, completion, and equity.

Objectives

• The Board will champion their approved legislative platform and establish annual priorities that reflect the district’s most urgent needs related to student access, completion, equity, and institutional sustainability, and ensure that annual priorities are aligned with local and state higher education priorities.
• The Board will receive regular briefings on key local, state, and federal policy developments, including legislation that impacts access, retention, and completion for underrepresented student groups, and use this information to guide decision-making and advocacy. 
• Board members will actively engage in coordinated advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, such as meeting with legislators, providing public comment, or submitting letters of support, to advance legislation that aligns with the district’s Educational Vision Plan 2030. 
• The Board will participate in regional and statewide trustee and policy networks (e.g., CCCT, ACCT, local education or workforce coalitions) to amplify the college’s priorities and collaborate on systemic reforms affecting student success.

Goal 2: Leverage Innovation, Resources, and Strategic Efforts for Student Success

The Governing Board will actively monitor the fiscal health of the district, adopt responsible long-range financial plans, and ensure that innovation and infrastructure decisions are grounded in total cost of ownership and institutional sustainability. They will support college leadership through initiatives prioritizing efforts that diversify the district’s revenue streams, serve as scalable models of mission-aligned innovation, and reduce dependency on unpredictable state and federal funding.

Objectives

• The Board will exercise its budget adoption and oversight authority to dismantle systems of white supremacy and institutional racism by adopting policies that remove structural barriers, advance racial equity, and address disparities affecting other protected classes, consistent with the California Community Colleges’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) framework.
• The Board will direct that all major innovation and infrastructure proposals presented to the Board include a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis and a statement of how the initiative supports student success and institutional resilience.
• The Board will establish a Board-level practice of reviewing and recognizing mission-aligned innovation annually, including a discussion of lessons learned and scalability of programs that advance student success and financial sustainability.
• The Board will receive and review regular reports on capital projects and facilities upgrades with attention to energy efficiency, environmental impact, and cost-reduction strategies, in line with long-term sustainability goals.
• The Board will ensure financial stability and continuity of services by reviewing annual risk assessments from the Superintendent/President that incorporate total cost of ownership and long-range financial planning, and by considering mitigation strategies to address potential impacts from fluctuations in state and federal funding.

Goal 3: Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging

The Governing Board will adopt policies that eliminate barriers, promote belonging, and address racial and structural inequities that prioritize support for binational, historically underrepresented, and economically disadvantaged students and creates an inclusive environment for all students, employees, and the broader community. 

Objectives

• The Board will actively promote a culture of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging through its leadership, policy decisions, and public engagement.
• The Board will participate in ongoing professional development and self-reflection to deepen its understanding of systemic inequities and to inform effective governance practices. 
• The Board will advocate for and support institutional budget decisions that reflect a commitment to equitable access, support services, and outcomes for all students.
• The Board will continue to receive regular reporting from the administration on progress toward achieving equitable student success and will use those findings to guide strategic oversight.
• The Board will commit to Board-level professional development on equity, leadership, and inclusive governance to model the values of continuous learning and accountability the Board seeks to promote throughout the institution.

Goal 4: Leadership Development – Investing in SWC Talent

The Governing Board will support inclusive, equitable leadership development policies and systems that cultivate and retain diverse talent across all employee roles. This includes oversight of district policies, budgetary investments, professional learning, and long-term institutional capacity.  

Objectives

• The Board will support the Superintendent/President in advancing equitable retention strategies in support of programs, tools, training, mentoring and other opportunities so all employees can thrive.
• The Board will assess progress on equity in leadership development by reviewing annual data on employee demographics, promotion trends, and retention by race/ethnicity, gender, and job classification. 
• The Board will encourage the development of an equity-minded succession planning framework that prepares talent for leadership roles across all departments and provide support through policy and budget decisions.

Goal 5: Systems Collaboration for Whole-Person Impact

The Governing Board will champion and advance the district’s mission and impact by advocating at local, state, and national levels, and promoting institutional practices that support students, employees, and the broader community with attention to cost-effective, high-impact solutions that support institutional sustainability and the needs of our diverse service area. In this context, whole-person refers to addressing the academic, basic needs, mental health, and social-emotional factors that influence success for students, employees, and the communities we serve.

Objectives

• The Board will support strategic community engagement by allocating resources for partnerships, sponsorships, and events that raise the visibility of the college, strengthen community relationships, and position the college as a hub for regional learning, culture, and innovation.
• The Board will actively participate in advocacy efforts that promote systemic change, including increased support for basic needs, mental health services, workforce alignment, and regional infrastructure benefiting students and underserved communities.
• The Board will support the development of strategic partnerships with K–12, four-year universities, local governments, nonprofits, and employers that align with the district’s mission and improve student transitions, workforce outcomes, and community well-being.
• The Board will commit to Board-level engagement with community partners by participating in local coalitions, hosting joint forums, and fostering open communication with city, county, and state leaders to better align services that affect students' lives.

Governing Board Approved, October 20, 2025