SOWELA Technical Community College (SOWELA) evaluates student achievement with respect to outcomes relevant to its mission, to "… empower learners in transfer, career, and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens.” Pursuing higher education takes courage, stamina, and a great deal of personal responsibility, and we can assure our students that we make every effort to make their journey as smooth as possible. The "SOWELA Family” is here when our current and prospective students need us.
SOWELA Technical Community College uses an array of assessment strategies to evaluate success with respect to measuring student achievement as it relates to the accomplishment of the College mission. Expected outcomes of each program area are identified and assessed to measure the extent to which a program is meeting its stated outcome goal. However, the acquisition and retention of knowledge by any student is contingent upon the student's desire and ability to learn, and their application of appropriate study techniques and knowledge thus acquired to any course or program.
As a comprehensive technical community college serving the citizens of the five-parish area of Southwest Louisiana, SOWELA provides educational and training opportunities for those seeking higher education by offering high quality credit technical programs that will prepare students for career employment in two years or less, programs and services designed to help students transfer to four-year colleges and universities, and non-credit programs designed for continuing education, life-long learning and personal enrichment.
To solidify SOWELA's efforts in improving its programs and services to our students and to the community, the College ensures that students are achieving success by accomplishing the educational and life goals they have set for themselves in coming to SOWELA. Therefore, the College has a stake in student success and has committed to raising the quality of our outputs and outcomes in specific performance areas.
Our dedicated faculty and staff are student-focused and pride themselves in providing the pedagogical expertise, personal assistance, and student support services needed to enable each student to achieve success in their chosen program of study. Whether a prospective student recently graduated from high school, completed high school many years ago, or is now returning to school to update their skills, to improve a current job situation, or for the purpose of life-long learning, we have the educational program that will help put these individuals on the path to both a rewarding career and the fulfilment of personal enrichment.
As a strong community partner that strives to help improve the economy of Southwest Louisiana, SOWELA provides programs and services focused on strengthening the area workforce. This has been accomplished by establishing partnerships with business and industry in the region in order to help enhance the skills of our students who form the bulk of the local workforce, and prepare them to compete more successfully in the 21st century global economy. Our students are the beneficiaries of these partnerships - partnerships that have contributed immensely to our enhancing of student achievement.
In light of the foregoing, the College has developed its mission statement in relation to its Open Door, Open Access policy. SOWELA's mission statement states that the College "… provides traditional, distance and life-long learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates that empower learners in transfer, career, and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens.”
As a complement of the mission statement, the College has developed vision, value, and philosophy statements that guide its commitment to student achievement and fulfills the purpose for which the institution was established and in which our potential and current students have come to expect.
Following the above commitment statements, the College developed strategic plan priorities that will assist in ensuring the continual monitoring of the accomplishment of the student achievement goals.
In light of the above mission, vision, values (MVV) statements, and strategic direction, the College has established the following Institutional Goals related to Student Achievement.
As stated previously, SOWELA uses an array of assessment strategies to evaluate student success and achievement as it relates to the accomplishment of the College mission. To assist in accomplishing this, expected learning outcomes are identified and established for each program. These student learning outcomes are periodically reviewed and assessed to ensure that they measure the extent to which a program is meeting its stated outcome goal and student success and achievement.
Sample Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for Accounting Technology (PDF) and Practical Nursing (PDF)
As a part of its commitment to students, and as evidence of the College's continuing renewal to ensure that students that come to SOWELA and/or graduate from the College are accorded due recognition of the quality of work they have undertaken and achieved, SOWELA has achieved the following accreditations:
SOWELA was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) effective January 1, 2014.
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033
Phone: 404-679-4500
Fax: 404-679-4558
www.sacscoc.org (opens new window)
Additionally, the following degree programs offered by SOWELA Technical Community College are accredited by the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE):
ATMAE sets standards for academic program accreditation to recognize the attainment of certain professional goals and standards for technology and to encourage "Continued Quality Improvement.”
1390 Eisenhower Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 677-0720
www.atmae.org (opens new window)
SOWELA provides programs of instruction in the various disciplines that gives students the opportunity to increase their knowledge. The College is strongly committed to its mission to provide state-of-the-art traditional and distance learning experiences and to award certificates, technical diplomas, and associate degrees that empower students in transfer, career, and technical education to excel as globally competitive citizens.
Among significant program units available at SOWELA is the Workforce Development (WFD) unit. The mission of WFD unit is to develop, design, support, and provide education and training programs and services that meet the specific needs of the employers, employees, and citizens in the communities we serve. SOWELA WFD unit is pleased to coordinate the STEP (Senior Technical Education Program). This program assists clients of the Office of Family Services with educational and training services that lead to employment and career with upward mobility. This enables these students to overcome dependence on public assistance and become independent through self-reliance.
SOWELA provides continuing education opportunities for professional and personal growth. These courses are conducted for groups of individuals on an as-needed basis. This can range from a course to teach health care workers how to perform a successful venipuncture to work as a phlebotomist to a course in regional cuisine preparation for couples wanting to learn new culinary skills for entertaining their families and friends.
SOWELA has the opportunity to eliminate the skills' crisis of the workforce, decrease worker shortages, decrease the college equity gap, increase college preparation, and increase college participation. As a College with the vision of being an exemplary Institution recognized for excellence in education, training, and service, SOWELA makes changes as required in course offerings, curricula, academic policies, and other rules and regulations affecting students, to be effective whenever determined by the institution.
To ensure this premise, SOWELA employs advisory boards and committees with members drawn from business and industry to assist the College in ensuring that what is taught to students meets the principles of: (a) best practices, (b) student expectations, and (c) the institutional mission and goals, thereby fulfilling the College's visionary dreams. Any changes are undertaken to ensure student achievement of their stated goals and governs SOWELA's application of sound principles in managing and administering the College for the benefit of current and formerly enrolled students. Hence, the course offerings and requirements of SOWELA are continually under examination and revision.
| Graduation Year | Traditional ASN | LPN to RN | Total ASN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 2022 | 89% | 100% | 92% |
| Graduation Year | Traditional ASN | LPN to RN | Total ASN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85% | 100% | 89% |
| 2022 | 96% | 100% | 97.29% |
| Term | Lake Charles | Morgan Smith | Oakdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | 95.45% | 100% | |
| December 2019 | 93.33% | 100% | |
| May 2020 | 83.33% | ||
| December 2020 | 100% | 100% | |
| May 2021 | 93.33% | ||
| December 2021 | 100% | 100% | |
| May 2022 | 92.31% | 100% | |
| December 2022 | 100% |
3820 Senator J. Bennett Johnston Avenue
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70615
(337) 421-6565
(800) 256-0483
info@sowela.edu
Mon-Thu: 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM
Friday: 7:45 AM to 12:00 PM
(337) 421-6550
SOWELA Technical Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person(s) have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies:
Title IX Officer
Candy Parker
(337) 421-6510 or (800) 256-0483
3820 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Ave. Lake Charles, LA 70615
ADA Officer
Maegan Lewis
(337) 421-6952 or (800) 256-0483
3850 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Ave. Lake Charles, LA 70615