Gadsden State Community College

New Employee Orientation

www.gadsdenstate.edu

Welcome to Gadsden State!

“Welcome to the Gadsden State Community College Team!”- Martha G. Lavender, Ph.D., RN

President

Brief History of the CollegeOn July 8, 2003, the Alabama State Board of Education created

Gadsden State Community College (GSCC) by the consolidation of Harry M. Ayers State Technical College and Gadsden State Community College.

Harry M. Ayers State Technical College was created by an act of the Alabama Legislature on May 3, 1963, as Harry M. Ayers State Trade School. Later in 1973, the Alabama State Board of Education designated the institution as a technical college. Harry M. Ayers State Technical College is now identified as the Harry M. Ayers Campus of Gadsden State Community College.

The College initially became Gadsden State Community College on February 28, 1985, when the Alabama State Board of Education merged Alabama Technical College (on East Broad Street), Gadsden State Technical Institute (on Valley Street), and Gadsden State Junior College(on Wallace Drive).The oldest of these schools -- Alabama Technical College -- was founded as Alabama School of Trades in 1925. It was the first state-operated trade school in the Southern United States. In 1973, its name was changed to Alabama Technical College, and it is now identified as the East Broad Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College.

Brief History of the College (cont.)

Gadsden State Technical Institute began operations in 1960 as Gadsden Vocational Trade School, a private vocational training facility. The State of Alabama assumed ownership of the school in 1962 and renamed it Gadsden State Technical Institute in 1972. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Education designated this institution as a “Historically Black College or University” (HBCU). It is now identified as the Valley Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College.Gadsden State Junior College opened in 1965 as a state-supported two-year college whose chief mission was to offer instruction in college transfer programs. The junior college is now identified as the Wallace Drive Campus of Gadsden State Community College. In addition to these campuses, the college operates centers in Anniston at Fort McClellan and Cherokee County and has instructional sites at St. Clair Correctional Facility, Piedmont High School, and Cleburne County High School.The Alabama State Board of Education has designated as the College's service area the following counties: Calhoun, Cherokee (all but northern one-sixth), Cleburne, Etowah, and St. Clair (northeastern one-third).

What’s Unique about Gadsden State

• The Valley Street Campus is a designated Historically Black College & University (HBCU) campus.

• Gadsden State offers many academic, technical, and health sciences degrees and certificates to over 7,000 students.

• The impact of Gadsden State on the local economy is over $300 million.• Gadsden State employs over 700 community people.

Location of Gadsden State Campuses

Ayers Campus 1801 Coleman RoadAnniston, AL

Wallace Drive Campus 1001 George Wallace Dr.Gadsden, AL

Cherokee County Center 1975 East BypassCentre, AL

St. Clair Correctional FacilityInmate Educational ProgramSpringville, AL

McClellan Center100A Gamecock Cir.Anniston, AL

East Broad Campus1001 East Broad St.East Gadsden, AL

Valley Street Campus600 Valley StreetGadsden, AL

Mission Statement

“The mission of Gadsden State Community College is to serve its diverse communities by offering quality academic education, workforce development, and adult education opportunities that are accessible, affordable, and that empower students to become

lifelong learners.”

MissionGadsden State Community College is a two-year, multi-campus

institution which provides educational opportunities for students who plan to further their education at a four-year institution as well as providing technical educational opportunities for students seeking an Associate in Applied Technology, Certificate or Short-term Certificate. Each year the college offers degrees and certificates in 41 programs and serves over 10,000 students. The college also provides educational and training opportunities to the citizens of Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne and St. Clair counties through programs in adult basic education, workforce development, training for business and industry and skill training.

To meet the changing needs of the community, Gadsden State is committed to accountability and continuous quality improvement. Systematic planning and assessment procedures are in place to develop and evaluate programmatic offerings and effectiveness of instructional delivery. These include annual planning and evaluation at the unit level (Unit Strategic Planning) and assessment of student learning (Student Learning Outcomes).

The College demonstrates compliance with State Board of Education Policies and regional accreditation agency (SACS) standards by engaging in a five-year cycle of Program Review. Furthermore, the college effectively seeks and responds to the needs of our students, faculty and service area citizens by means of a comprehensive survey research program.

Institutional Goals• Provide educational opportunities that include basic knowledge of general education core requirements, such as

communications, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, and computer skills for certificate and degree programs

• Prepare students to perform successfully at transfer institutions• Provide career and technical education that prepares students for employment, retrains existing employees, and promotes

local and state workforce development initiatives while providing business and industry that meets employer needs• Maintain and expand a broad range of technologies in the delivery of innovative traditional and distance learning

programs, student services, research and communication• Provide adult education, continuing education and personal enrichment opportunities• Establish, maintain and promote partnerships to respond to the needs of the community while improving community

awareness of the college• Provide students of varied backgrounds and abilities with the educational support services that will assist them in

achieving educational and career goals• Integrate diversity initiatives in the delivery of programs, student services, recruitment of faculty and staff, and community

relations

Welcome Staff, Faculty, and Adjuncts

Go Cardinals!