Chattanooga State Community College
Augusta R. Kolwyck Library

 
Chattanooga State Timeline of Year Highlights

Highlights are taken from the articles accessed through the year page.

 

1963 Chattanooga State Technical Institute is official name of new technical school to be built in Chattanooga.  Moccasin Bend site approved.
   
1964 Charles O. Whitehead chosen as director for the Chattanooga State Technical Institute planned at Moccasin Bend.
   
1965 Chattanooga State Technical Institute begins its first formal instruction July 4 at 4th and Chestnut and has rented space at 600 Broad.  It is the state's first technical institute.  Moccasin Bend site abandoned.  James Harrison, Jr., donates 75 acres of land on Amnicola, where new school will be built.  Background and Philosophy from Chattanooga State Technical Institute Catalog 1965-66, pp. 2-3.
   
1966 Ground is broken for Chattanooga State Technical Institute on Amnicola April 4.
   
1967 Chattanooga State Technical Institute on Amnicola dedicated Monday, June 5.  CSTI already overcrowded before it opened its doors.  Edger H. Sessions become new CSTI director.  CSTI first accredited by SACS.
   
1968 $1 million granted for new addition at Chattanooga State Technical Institute.  Planning for coordination of new Chattanooga area vocational school and Chattanooga State Technical Institute was authorized by State Board of Education.
   
1969 Ground is broken for multimillion dollar expansion November 11.
   
1970 Singer gift starts CSTI Foundation.  $1.7 million expansion to CSTI completed.
   
1971 WTCI broadcasts courses in math.
   
1972 State law establishes community college system (TCA 49-8-101).  CSTI wants to become a community college. 
   
1973 State law approves Chattanooga State Technical Institute to become 2-year college.  State law authorizes Chattanooga State Technical Community College (TCA 49-8-401).  School is now administrated by Board of Regents instead of Board of Education.  Another expansion is planned.  Minimum standards for college president given, which include earned doctorate.  Charles W. Branch appointed president of CSTCC.
   
1974 Ground is broken for CSTCC expansion.  CSTCC holds first graduation.  College gets grant to aid deaf.  Bubble gym inflated.
   
1975 State building commission approves developing design for a student and community center at CSTCC.  New student lounge and second floor expansion completed.
   
1976 Ground is broken and then completed for new Amnicola access to campus.  TTY allows deaf to use telephone.
   
1977 IMC building dedicated.  FM educational radio station approved by board of associates of CSTCC.  Phase IV construction of $3.6 million expansion begun.
   
1978 CARTA's "school bus" run allows more people to attend college.  Child development program gets underway in fall.  Student and Community Services Center opens.
   
1979 A Physical Education-Athletic Center is under construction.  Student Government is reorganizing.  Dental program received accreditation.  Women's Opportunity Center and a Career Planning and Placement Center will be established this fall.  First full-time music teacher hired.
   
1980 New Student Center will keep name for former governor Blanton.  Bill to merge CSTCC and Chattanooga Technical Institute dies.
   
1981 State law enacted July 1 where Chattanooga State Technical Community College and the Chattanooga State Area Vocation-Technical School become one institution to be known as Chattanooga State Technical Community College (TCA 49-11-502).  Made permanent July 1, 1983.
   
1982 Chattanooga State has a new television production studio.  New logo created.  Phoenix literary magazine began.  Nursing program implemented.
   
1983 Senate Panel approves permanent merging of CSTCC and the Chattanooga Area Vocational-Technical School.  The new Humanities and Applied Arts Building has its opening celebration.
   
1984 10th Anniversary of CSTCC supplement appears in newspaper.  New Center for Productivity, Innovation and Technology opens with ceremonies.  Plato computer program helps functionally illiterate.  Pond created to ease flooding.  Auto Body certificate updated to two years.
   
1985 Charles Branch leaves Chattanooga State for new position.  Harry Wagner becomes interim president.  Buildings dedicated to Sen. Albright and Dr. Branch.
   
1986 Dr. Wagner is the new Chattanooga State president.  Downtown campus opens.
   
1987 A small business assistance center is set up.  Nursing moves across from Erlanger.  Humanities building named for Dr. Claude Bond.  Dr. Wagner gives his view of what a community college is (9-20-87 article).
   
1988 UTC-CSTCC joint program articulated.  Center for Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM Center) and the Automated Office Center opens.  East Campus opens.  Student Center named for Rep. Paul Starnes.
   
1989 CSTCC goes from quarter to semester system (article 1-11-89).  Black Students Association organized.  First Chattanooga State Communicator has articles about school happenings.
   
1990 Dr. Harry Wagner resigns as president to become Executive Vice-Chancellor on the Tennessee Board of Regents.  Dr. Charles Lea assumes interim presidency.  Panel chooses Dr. Catanzaro as new CSTCC president.
   
1991 New sculpture garden opens.  Grant received to establish Adaptive Computer Lab.
   
1992 Nuclear medicine program started.  Satellite campus begins pilot program at Tubman public housing.  Kimball offers class for first time in the fall.  East location moved from Shallowford Road to larger building nearby on Lee Hwy.
   
   
   
   
   
1995 The Children's Early Education Center has enlarged and renovated quarters.  Sculpture garden artists reveal ideas.
   
1996 Chattanooga State receives new adaptive computer lab.  Dr. Fannie Hewlett receives Belmont Award.  EarthFair and EarthCare celebrate environmental awareness.
   
1997 Industrial Tech building expanded for automotive technology and diesel programs.  Sculpture garden IV opens.  Dennis Weaver speaks at CSTCC.
   
1998 $2.2 million capitol improvements include Amphitheater.
   
   
   
2000 CSTCC Eastgate site opens
   
2001 TBR institutions able to offer online degrees.  Dr. Catanzaro speaks on four steps to becoming a happy person.  Middle College High School opens.
   
2002 Dr. Fannie Hewlett is appointed VP of Academic Affairs.  CSTCC awarded $700,000 captioning grant.
   
   
   
2004 CBIH building purchased from Olan Mills for $4.4 million.  Dr. Catanzaro publishes new book.
   
2005 Nursing programs move to main campus.
   
   
   
2007 Tennessee Tech University and Chattanooga State develop 2+2 Program.
   
2008 Ground is broken for $28.5 million science building.  Eastgate campus is opened.  Dr. Catanzaro's Convocation Address may be seen.
   
2009 Chattanooga State to run VW training site.  Dr. Fannie Hewlett receives the 2009 International Exemplary Leader Award.  WAWL radio station moves on.  Chattanooga State is renamed to "Chattanooga State Community College."  New Logo is created.  Health Science Center opens.  Julius Dodds recognized as Maxine Smith Fellow by TBR.

"Chattanooga State History" from the Chattanooga State Web page, accessed 2008:

"Chattanooga State Technical Community College’s history shows its commitment to the community and its ability to adapt. When it opened in September 1965 on Fourth and Chestnut Streets, the College was known as Chattanooga State Technical Institute, a two-year, co-educational, college level institution. It was the state’s first technical college, and Southeast Tennessee’s first public institution of higher education.

"In 1967, the College moved to its present location; since then, it has grown into a multi-million dollar complex. Chattanooga State Technical Institute’s goal was to prepare students with marketable technical skills that would bridge the gap between the engineer and the craftsman. The technical programs offered A.S. and A.E. degrees and certificate programs, while remaining flexible to students and industry needs.

"In 1973, Chattanooga State Technical Institute turned into Chattanooga State Technical Community College. Senate Bill 1010 assured the college would:

  • provide comprehensive one and two-year occupational, college parallel, continuing education, and community service programs;
  • provide quality technical and scientific occupational programs;
  • serve as a regional technical school to train engineering technicians or technical workers in the fields of production, distribution, or service.

"Chattanooga State’s mission expanded to include vocational education on July 1, 1981, when the State Area Vocational-Technical School merged with the College. That merger was made permanent by the Tennessee legislature effective July 1, 1983.

"Today, Chattanooga State Technical Community College continues to emphasize two-year technical programs and the expanded dimension of the comprehensive community college. Thus, the College is committed to meeting the needs of Chattanooga and Hamilton, Rhea, Sequatchie, Marion, Bledsoe, and Grundy counties."
 

"Chattanooga State" from Wikipedia, an encyclopedia anyone can edit, accessed 2008:

"Originally known as the Chattanooga State Technical Institute upon its founding in 1965, it opened as Tennessee's first technical college and Southeast Tennessee’s first public institution of higher education. In 1967, Chattanooga State moved to its present location on Amnicola Highway. Chattanooga State Technical Institute’s goal was to prepare students with marketable technical skills that would bridge the gap between the engineer and the craftsman. The technical programs offered A.S. and A.E. degrees and certificate programs, while remaining flexible to students and industry needs.

"In 1973, the college was renamed and reorganized as Chattanooga State Technical Community College through the passage of Senate Bill 1010. Senate Bill 1010 assured the college would: provide comprehensive one and two-year occupational, college parallel, continuing education, and community service programs; provide quality technical and scientific occupational programs; serve as a regional technical school to train engineering technicians or technical workers in the fields of production, distribution, or service.

"Chattanooga State’s mission expanded to include vocational education on July 1, 1981, when the State Area Vocational-Technical School (AVTS) merged with the College. That merger was made permanent by the Tennessee legislature effective July 1, 1983. In 1996 the Tennessee Board of Regents renamed the AVTS to the Tennessee Technology Center in keeping with their updated role as technical/adult education/vocational training centers in the state of Tennessee...."

 

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Additional information

          Augusta R. Kolwyck, for whom the library is named
          East Campus History
          Library History
          Vicky Leather, Dean of Library Services

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Last Updated December 03, 2009

 
 
Chattanooga State Community College - 4501 Amnicola Highway - Chattanooga, TN 37406 - 423.697.4448