Chattanooga State History

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.