Southwestern College (California)

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Southwestern College
Swccampus.jpg
Southwestern College's main campus
Type Public community college
Established1961
President Mark Sanchez
Undergraduates 27,000 + (2015)
Location
Chula Vista
,
California
,
United States
Campus Suburban, 156 acres (63 ha)
Athletics15 teams
Colors    Gold & Maroon
Mascot Jaguars
Website www.swccd.edu
Southwestern College (California)

Southwestern College is a public community college in Chula Vista, California. It was founded in 1961. [1] It is part of the Southwestern Community College District, itself a part of the California Community Colleges system. It has an enrollment of 25,228 across all its campuses within San Diego County, as of 2023. [2] It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. [3]

Contents

History

The school opened as Southwestern Junior College in 1961 with William Kepley as its president. The dean of admissions was Saxon Wright. The Chula Vista Star-News reported that 15 students had registered within the first half hour the dean of admission's office was open, with Oliver Pittenger, a graduate of the nearby Chula Vista High School being the first person to enroll. [1] [4]

In 2022–2023, enrollment exceeded 25,000 students across all campuses.[ citation needed ]

Academics

The campus is a feeder school for students hoping to transfer to the two local public universities, the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, and also private institutions.

In 2021, Southwestern was chosen as one of the eight campuses in the state to offer a "competency-based" associate's degree program without the need for grades or mandatory attendance on the student's part. Southwestern chose auto tech to be the degree they offer under this program. [5]

Specialty Programs

In August 2025, Southwestern College partnered with the Sweetwater Union High School District to establish the Options Middle College High School (OMCHS), a WASC-accredited public high school located on the Southwestern College campus in Chula Vista. [6] With an inaugural class of 55 students in grades 11–12. [7] It is the first high school in the South Bay region to be located on a college campus. The program allows students to earn college credit from Southwestern College while completing their high school diploma. [8]

Athletics

Southwestern College is a founding member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) and competes in 11 intercollegiate sports, including: [9]

The college's athletic teams are known as the Jaguars. From 1961 until 2001, the teams were represented by the Apaches mascot.[ citation needed ]

Southwestern College's football stadium also serves as the home field for Bonita Vista High School football games.[ citation needed ]

Facilities

The campus features a variety of athletic facilities, including:

Many of these facilities are also utilized during the week and weekends as youth soccer fields for players aged 6–18.[ citation needed ]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Southwestern's First". Chula Vista Star-News. July 6, 1961. p. 5.
  2. ↑ "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart". datamart.cccco.edu. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Accreditation". www.swccd.edu. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Kepley Will Speak at Lions Club". Chula Vista Star-News. July 13, 1961. p. 24.
  5. ↑ Frias, Amber (September 18, 2023). "No grades? No attendance? No problem. Southwestern College tests new associate degrees". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Options Middle College High School: A Pathway to Academic Success in Sweetwater – Sweetwater Union High School District" . Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ Shaheen, Perla (August 13, 2025). "High school opens on Southwestern College campus, offers college courses". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ "South Bay students earning high school diploma and college credit without AP exams". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ Nahill, Jeff (April 29, 1982). "Southwestern sports are moving". Chula Vista Star-News . p. 21. Retrieved December 19, 2024– via Newspapers.com.

32°38′25.25″N116°59′48.50″W / 32.6403472°N 116.9968056°W / 32.6403472; -116.9968056

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