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Chattanooga State Community College: 60 Years of Transformation and Excellence
A strong response to the region’s business, industrial, and professional needs; leadership in technology; and solid preparation for advanced study have long characterized the history of Chattanooga State Community College. From its opening in downtown Chattanooga in September 1965, the institution has remained focused on supplying the technical workforce of the region.
Founded as Chattanooga State Technical Institute, the state’s first two-year degree granting school, the college originally emphasized applied associate degrees. In 1973, the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee redefined the Institute as Chattanooga State Technical Community College, charged with providing “comprehensive one- and two-year occupational, college parallel, continuing education, and community service programs.” In 1981, the college’s mission broadened again when the State Area Vocational Technical School in Chattanooga was merged into Chattanooga State.
Health science education became a vital part of the college’s offerings when the Baroness School of Nursing at Erlanger Hospital was absorbed in the mid-1980s. Since then, the college has added nineteen nursing and allied health programs, becoming a crucial talent pipeline for the region’s largest industry-healthcare.
Starting in the late 1980s, Chattanooga State began establishing satellite operations in surrounding counties and across Hamilton County. During the same period, the college deepened its partnerships with local industry through extensive training programs and technology transfer initiatives. By the mid-1990s, Chattanooga State had become the Tennessee Valley’s largest and most comprehensive training provider.
2009 marked a major milestone when the college was selected to operate the Volkswagen Academy, the training center for Volkswagen’s North American assembly plant in Chattanooga. That same year, the institution was officially renamed Chattanooga State Community College.
In the years that followed, Chattanooga State expanded its impact through innovative facilities, partnerships, and academic offerings. In 2011, the college opened the Center for Engineering Technology, Art and Science, featuring a $3 million chemical training plant supported by Wacker
Polysilicon North America. That same year, the Wacker Institute was launched to prepare students for careers in chemical process technology, with many graduates now employed by Wacker.
Chattanooga State also played a leadership role in STEM education when it partnered with the Hamilton County Department of Education in 2012 to open the first STEM-focused high school in the county-located on the college’s campus. Additional investments in student support and academic innovation during this period included the introduction of the Volkswagen Mechatronics Akademie for high school students, the establishment of the Michael P. Hennen Hospitality and Culinary Center, and Chattanooga State’s formal entrance into the national Achieving the Dream reform network in 2015.
In 2021, Chattanooga State implemented 7-week courses to help students stay focused, stay motivated, and stay on track. This innovation, along with embedded tutoring, professional academic advising, and additional holistic student support have played a key role in boosting student outcomes. These strategic efforts have contributed significantly to the college’s national recognition.
Today, the college continues to earn accolades for its commitment to student success, having been named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction twice since 2020. In addition, Chattanooga State is proud to have received the prestigious Leah Meyer Austin Award, the highest honor bestowed by Achieving the Dream, recognizing the college’s dedication to excellence and measurable results in student success.
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