Webb sees SWCC growth during long career

Sandy Webb saw a transformation during her nearly 43 years as an employee at Southwestern Community College.

Joining the staff in 1974 as admissions secretary in the early years of the transition from Creston Junior College to being part of the state’s regional community college system, Webb rose the ranks to registrar of the college as the campus was taking on a new look.

The Allied Health and Science Center was constructed between the Administration Building and Instructional Center, and four new dormitories were built in the student housing area. The agriculture program developed through the career and technical division included a center built north of campus.

At its peak, when high school enrollment was at its highest in the region, SWCC had more than 1,600 students, including online registrations.

Webb soaked in the whole experience, enjoying her time with the students, fellow employees and even as a student herself, pursuing her passion for art in SWCC classes.

“I think the best part was the camaraderie we had as a staff,” said Webb, who retired in June 30, 2017. Two weeks later she began her current job as office administrator for the Creston Chamber of Commerce, where she works from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.

Besides enjoying meeting so many students every year, Webb recalled the many fun times the SWCC staff had on holidays such as Halloween, dressing up as a theme. One particular fun moment came to mind.

“Charlie Westman (former construction technology instructor) came in the building on roller skates one day, dressed up as an A&W carhop,” Webb recalled. “He had a skirt on, carrying a tray with A&W stuff on it, and skated through the building. Then as he left, we have that downhill incline toward the Instructional Center, and he started rolling down toward the building and couldn’t stop. He ran smack into the door. It would have been a great clip for Funniest Home Videos.”

Another time, a mannequin from SWCC Shoppe was in the Administration Center with some clothes as part of a promotion. One of the employees donned the clothing and stood in the same position as the mannequin, waiting for employees to walk by.

“Kysa Gordon was a hoot doing that,” Webb said. “Jana Scott walked by and Kysa suddenly moved and scared her. It was so funny.”

For a time, the only building on campus was the Instructional Center. Early in Webb’s career at SWCC, the Administration Center and Student Life Support Center were opened in September 1975.

Through her many years, Webb became secretary to the dean before being promoted to registrar. For many of those years, Paul Somers was the dean of students. Dr. John Smith was the first president she worked under, followed by Rich Byerly and Dr. Barb Crittenden, who took the post in 1997.

Tom Lesan, vice president of economic development, board secretary Mary Jo Skarda and Bill Taylor, vice president of instruction and former dean, are among others with longevity on staff. It was stable leadership through all of the changes, and to this day Webb looks back fondly on the professional example set by her longtime supervisor, Somers.

“Paul Somers was very professional, yet very friendly,” Webb said. “He knew his role, he knew what was going on and he knew how to run things, He was the guru of Southwestern.”

Webb also saw the college’s current president rise the ranks from joining the staff as a nursing instructor 37 years ago.

Crittenden began her full time duties at SWCC in 1982 as an instructor in the nursing education program. In 1985, she took on administrative responsibilities as the coordinator of the area planning council, as well as assistant to the associate superintendent of instruction. She was named vice president of instruction for the college in 1991.

During the spring of 1997, Crittenden was named SWCC’s president. At the time, she was the first female community college president in Iowa.

In her final role at the college, Webb kept busy doing the record keeping required of public colleges.

“A lot of reports have to be compiled for the state and feds,” Webb said. “I did graduation reports, grade reports for the Dean’s List and President’s List as well as for academic probation and suspensions. We did rosters for classes, who was enrolled in what. All the drops and adds and eligibility reports. It definitely kept you busy.”

Early in Webb’s career, she figured vocational technology students’ grades by hand and then typed the information on another mimeographed sheet. The arts and sciences registration was all completed through keypunch cards.

The college added computers during the early 1980s and implemented a new electronic computer registration system in 1985. Many of the retports required of Webb’s position at the end of her career were submitted electronically and faculty entered their grades into the system. Paper forms were no longer required.

Webb received the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC) STARS (Striving to Achieve Retention and Success) Award in 2013. She was nominated for the award based on recommendation of peers at Southwestern and the vote of committee of ICCOC staff members.

Now, in her new role at the Chamber of Commerce, Webb can stay connected to the community while she and husband Ron can enjoy the activities of grandchildren in area schools.

And, three days a week you’ll still find her in the SWCC art room in her independent study course. On a recent Friday afternoon she was busy finishing an oil painting.

“It’s an opportunity to be artsy with other people and do something I enjoy,” Webb said. “To have that opportunity right here in Creston is really a good deal. SWCC is a great thing for the community.”