Scenic West Athletic Conference


The Scenic West Athletic Conference is a sports association for junior colleges located in Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, and California. The conference is a member of the NJCAA and sponsors 10 sports, 5 for men and 5 for women. It is the sole conference in the NJCAA's Region 18.

History

The origins of the Scenic West started in 1986, as the nine schools in the region resumed round-robin competition after discontinuing it in 1985. Salt Lake Community College began play in 1987, and the conference adopted its current name in 1990.
Region 18 itself was formed in 1968, as Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington were split off from Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, which remained in the NJCAA's Region 1. When almost all of the Oregon and Washington schools left the NJCAA to form the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges in 1983, the next year Nevada, Utah, and far western Colorado were added to Region 18 to keep the region feasible. This year brought the initial round-robin schedule, but the next year the addition of Flathead Community College of Montana caused that schedule to be dropped. This was short-lived, as Flathead's team disbanded during the season, and the remaining regional schools joined to form the current Scenic West.

Member schools

Current members

The SWAC currently has eight full members, all but one are public schools:
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedPrevious
conference
Colorado Northwestern Community CollegeRangely, Colorado1962Public1,291Spartans1984Colorado (CCCAC)
Community Christian CollegeRedlands, California1994Christian457Saints2021NJCAA Region I
Salt [Lake Community College]Taylorsville, Utah1948Public30,112Bruins1987N/A
Snow CollegeEphraim, Utah1888Public5,577Badgers1984NJCAA Region I
Twin Falls, Idaho1965Public9,100Golden Eagles1968NJCAA Region I
Henderson, Nevada1971Public28,820Coyotes2002Independent
Truckee Meadows Community CollegeReno, Nevada1971Public11,849Mighty Lizards2019N/A
Utah State University EasternPrice, Utah1937Public2,173Eagles1984NJCAA Region I

;Notes:

Former members

Scenic West

The SWAC had six former full members, all but two are public schools:
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedPrevious
conference
LeftCurrent
conference
Dixie State University1911Public10,000Rebels1984NJCAA Region I2006Western (WAC)
Brigham Young University–IdahoRexburg, Idaho1888LDS Church16,773Vikings1968NJCAA Region I2002N/A
North Idaho CollegeCoeur d'Alene, Idaho1933Public7,800Cardinals1968NJCAA Region I2016Northwest (NWAC) Eastern
Treasure Valley Community CollegeOntario, Oregon1962Public2,559Chukars1968NJCAA Region I2002Northwest (NWAC) Eastern
Utah Valley UniversityOrem, Utah1941Public31,556Wolverines1984NJCAA Region I2003Western (WAC)
Western Nevada CollegeCarson City, Nevada1971Public4,168Wildcats2006N/A2016N/A

;Notes:

Schools leaving before Region XVIII became the NWAC

;Notes:

Region 18 Divisions

1968-69
1969-70
1970-71
1971-72 to 1973-74
1974-75 to 1975-76
1976-77 to 1977-78
1978-79
1979-80 to 1980-81
1981-82 to 1982-83
'''Post-NWAACC Alignments'''

Sponsored sports (men)

Sponsored sports (women)