Vision Statement
Gadsden State Community College will be the preferred choice for exceptional education and innovative workforce development which changes lives of our students, their families, and our world for good, forever.
Mission Statement
Gadsden State Community College empowers and prepares students from all backgrounds for success through exceptional education and innovative workforce development with a focus on community and global engagement resulting in a positive economic impact for all stakeholders.
Core Beliefs
INSTITUTIONAL PILLARS
We Believe In:
EXCELLENCE with a commitment to a culture that empowers all to achieve high standards.
ACCOUNTABILITY with a focus on continuous improvement through the use of data-informed decisions.
INCLUSION as we value and respect each other.
SERVICE as we keep the needs of others at the heart of our work.
INTEGRITY and the adherence to moral and ethical principles.
- Recruit, employ and retain highly qualified employees
- Provide professional development and training for employees to increase effectiveness
- Promote a fair and equitable salary schedule aligned with ACCS policies
- Provide health and wellness opportunities for all employees
- Provide Leadership Development for Aspiring Leaders (Succession Planning)
- Provide adequate funding to support our mission
- Practice fiscal responsibility
- Collaborate with key personnel on budget development
- Prepare a strategic budget annually
- Share budget with stakeholders
- Increase scholarship opportunities
- Increase fiscal resources
- Ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment
- Enhance building and campus aesthetics
- Create a state-of-the-art learning environment
- Optimize Space Utilization
- Support and align high-wage and high-demand programs to meet and exceed industry standards
- Explore and develop work-based learning opportunities for all instructional areas
- Develop and enhance relationships with business and industry partners
- Develop new programs to meet regional employment needs
- Continue collaboration between and among instructional areas
- Pursue continuous improvement in all instructional areas
- Provide relevant instructional technologies and learning resources
History
Present-day Gadsden State Community College began with the merger of Alabama Technical College, Gadsden State Technical Institute, Gadsden State Junior College and Harry M. Ayers State Technical College.
One of the initial founding institutions of Gadsden State is Alabama Technical College. Established in 1925 as the Alabama School of Trades, it was the first state-operated trade school in the south and is the oldest of Gadsden State’s campuses. Now, it is the home to a number of Gadsden State’s technical programs, the One Stop Center, the Joe Ford Center and the Alabama Technology Network. It is known as the East Broad Campus.
Gadsden State Technical Institute began in 1960 as the Gadsden Vocational Trade School, a private vocational training school for African Americans. It was founded by Eugene N. Prater, director of the Veterans Continuation Program for Negroes, in response to discontent expressed by black veterans of Etowah County for being denied admission to the all-white Alabama School of Trades. Currently, it is known as the Valley Street Campus and houses the Construction Technology Program, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program, Licensed Practical Nursing Program, Dental Assisting Program, Medication Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant Program, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program and several academic courses. The U.S. Department of Education designated this institution as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in 1997.
Gadsden State Junior College was established in 1965 by an act of the Alabama State Legislature during the administration of Gov. George C. Wallace. The course offerings included professional programs, such as architecture, dentistry, journalism, law, medicine and teacher education, as well as technical programs in management, nursing, secretarial science and data processing. It is currently identified as the Wallace Drive Campus of Gadsden State and is home to academic courses, the Inzer Student Center, Fowler Residence Hall, Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center and Beck Field House and Conference Center.
Harry M. Ayers State Technical College was founded as a trade school by an act of the Alabama State Legislature on May 3, 1963. In 1972, the institution was designated as a technical college offering associate degrees and certificate programs in such fields as accounting, automotive body repair, carpentry and cosmetology, among others. To eliminate duplication of courses, the consolidation of Gadsden State and Ayers State was completed on July 8, 2003. It is now known as the Ayers Campus of Gadsden State Community College.
In August 2002, Gadsden State Cherokee was opened as an instructional site in response to community and governmental efforts to meet the growing educational needs in the region. A new multi-level complex was opened in August 2008, where Gadsden State Cherokee now offers an expanded list of courses for students wishing to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year institution. Gadsden State Cherokee also houses an Economic Development Center, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and a multi-purpose 2,500-seat arena.