Building on decades of service to southwestern Illinois, Southwestern Illinois College entered its eighth decade with a continued commitment to affordable, accessible education. Throughout the 2010s, SWIC expanded its academic, athletic, cultural and workforce missions while remaining focused on serving the needs of its communities.
2011: A New Mascot
One of the decade’s most visible changes came in 2011, when SWIC Athletics replaced its storm-cloud mascot with Kashmir, an endangered snow leopard, while retaining the Blue Storm name. Adopted in the summer of 2011, Kashmir reflected the college’s growing emphasis on environmental awareness and its participation in the Illinois Green Economy Network. The new mascot was intended not only to represent the strength and resilience of SWIC Athletics, but also to raise awareness of snow leopard conservation.
Athletics and Student Achievement
Throughout the decade, SWIC athletes earned regional recognition in sports including baseball and women’s soccer. Multiple players received All-Region honors, reflecting the continued strength of the college’s athletic programs and the achievements of its students both on and off the field.
SWIC’s career and technical education programs likewise built a strong record of achievement during the decade. Precision Machining Technology students earned national SkillsUSA medals for nine consecutive years, culminating in a gold medal in Automated Manufacturing in 2019. SWIC students earned 10 national medals during that nine-year span, demonstrating the strength of the college’s hands-on technical programs and their connection to regional workforce needs.
2019: Recognition and Growth
The decade culminated in several significant accomplishments. In 2019, SWIC’s Nursing Education program was ranked No. 5 among 63 Illinois nursing programs for best value by Nursing Explorer, recognizing the program’s combination of quality and affordability.
That same year, the Higher Learning Commission approved SWIC’s ability to pursue accreditation through the Open Pathway model, a 10-year process emphasizing continuous quality assurance and institutional improvement. The decision built on SWIC’s long history of accreditation, which had remained continuous since 1961.
SWIC also expanded its role as a cultural and community institution. Throughout the decade, the Schmidt Art Center hosted exhibitions featuring professional artists, students, high school artists and community members. In 2019, the college expanded its arts programming further with the first Southwestern Illinois Film Festival.
The year ended with a significant investment in access and workforce opportunity. In October 2019, SWIC received a $1.4 million Workforce Equity Initiative grant to develop short-term training programs in underserved communities. The initiative focused on high-demand fields including welding, HVAC/R, health sciences, food service and forklift training, with communities across the Metro East targeted for participation.
The decade demonstrated a college firmly rooted in its history while continually adapting to the educational, cultural and economic needs of southwestern Illinois. From the introduction of Kashmir in 2011 to national student achievements, the 2010s were a decade of continued growth, achievement and service.
