Submitted article
Editor's note: This is the final article in a series submitted by ATC in celebration of its 40th anniversary.
When Aiken Technical College first opened its doors in 1972, it served primarily as a vocational education center in the community, graduating its first class with just 25 students.
Forty years later, ATC has become a nationally recognized institution, offering more than 80 academic programs in a variety of high-demand fields and boasting more than 217,000 students enrolled over its four decade-long history.
Today, in addition to its academic programs, the college is engaged in numerous community initiatives to empower students through life-changing education.
What has remained the same through 40 years, however, is the college's commitment to equipping local citizens with the skills needed to become highly competitive in today's workforce, particularly in the health care, advanced manufacturing and energy sectors. ATC provides employers the highly-trained workforce necessary to meet industry needs and draw businesses to Aiken County.
"The impact of ATC's first 40 years is visible in the local community and in our area's workforce," said ATC President Dr. Susan Winsor. "Aiken Technical College is putting knowledge to work."
Through the college's associate degree and certificate programs in fields from nursing to manufacturing to the more recently developed nuclear programs, ATC prepares students to enter the workforce immediately or to transfer to four-year institutions.
ATC also offers other opportunities outside of its regular course offerings to reach out to the region's youth.
A Nuclear Workforce Initiative Academy geared toward economically disadvantaged high school graduates ages 17-21 is offered each summer. The Academy gives these students and other participants a chance to gain academic credit and certifications that lead to employment in the nuclear industry.
ATC is also host to the Pre-Engineering Academy, a certificate-granting pre-engineering program offered to Aiken County school district, private and homeschool students. The Academy is one of several dual enrollment offerings for high school students where students earn college credit while at the same time completing high school requirements.
Initiatives such as the Pre-Engineering Academy, outreach to high school students interested in manufacturing and supplying opportunities for local high school graduates to open doors to new careers in the nuclear industry are all part of the college's mission.
At ATC's core, however, are the academic programs it offers to build the local workforce and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges.
Turning the corner into its next 40 years, Aiken Technical College's ability to fulfill its mission faces an immediate challenge - meeting future community needs for high demand, high-skill jobs in an appropriate learning environment.
ATC's most pressing need is a facility for its growing nuclear and advanced manufacturing programs. Facilities that house these programs date back to the college's founding in the early 1970s, and while exceptional faculty are providing a first-class education, the facilities in which they train the area's future skilled workforce continue to deteriorate with age.
The college has received half of the funding it needs to construct an $8 million Center for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing and is actively seeking private support to fund the remaining cost. Support has come through an Economic Development Administration grant and the efforts of the Aiken County legislative delegation to include a one-time allocation of funds in this year's state budget.
The proposed building, which will house the college's radiation protection technology, nuclear quality systems, welding, and mechatronics programs, is necessary to keep up with the technological demands of local companies and to attract additional jobs to the area.
In its first 40 years, Aiken Technical College has constantly reinvented itself to meet the needs of Aiken County's citizens. The college has transformed from a small vocational school to a comprehensive institution of higher education that is a driving force for prosperity in the region.
"Over the next 40 years, ATC will continue to provide educational opportunities that support economic growth and develop our local communities," Winsor said. "To accomplish this mission, the college needs modern facilities, state-of-the-art technology and the continued support of the Aiken County community that has been vital to our success these last 40 years."![]()
Editor's note: This is the final article in a series submitted by ATC in celebration of its 40th anniversary.
When Aiken Technical College first opened its doors in 1972, it served primarily as a vocational education center in the community, graduating its first class with just 25 students.
Forty years later, ATC has become a nationally recognized institution, offering more than 80 academic programs in a variety of high-demand fields and boasting more than 217,000 students enrolled over its four decade-long history.
Today, in addition to its academic programs, the college is engaged in numerous community initiatives to empower students through life-changing education.
What has remained the same through 40 years, however, is the college's commitment to equipping local citizens with the skills needed to become highly competitive in today's workforce, particularly in the health care, advanced manufacturing and energy sectors. ATC provides employers the highly-trained workforce necessary to meet industry needs and draw businesses to Aiken County.
"The impact of ATC's first 40 years is visible in the local community and in our area's workforce," said ATC President Dr. Susan Winsor. "Aiken Technical College is putting knowledge to work."
Through the college's associate degree and certificate programs in fields from nursing to manufacturing to the more recently developed nuclear programs, ATC prepares students to enter the workforce immediately or to transfer to four-year institutions.
ATC also offers other opportunities outside of its regular course offerings to reach out to the region's youth.
A Nuclear Workforce Initiative Academy geared toward economically disadvantaged high school graduates ages 17-21 is offered each summer. The Academy gives these students and other participants a chance to gain academic credit and certifications that lead to employment in the nuclear industry.
ATC is also host to the Pre-Engineering Academy, a certificate-granting pre-engineering program offered to Aiken County school district, private and homeschool students. The Academy is one of several dual enrollment offerings for high school students where students earn college credit while at the same time completing high school requirements.
Initiatives such as the Pre-Engineering Academy, outreach to high school students interested in manufacturing and supplying opportunities for local high school graduates to open doors to new careers in the nuclear industry are all part of the college's mission.
At ATC's core, however, are the academic programs it offers to build the local workforce and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges.
Turning the corner into its next 40 years, Aiken Technical College's ability to fulfill its mission faces an immediate challenge - meeting future community needs for high demand, high-skill jobs in an appropriate learning environment.
ATC's most pressing need is a facility for its growing nuclear and advanced manufacturing programs. Facilities that house these programs date back to the college's founding in the early 1970s, and while exceptional faculty are providing a first-class education, the facilities in which they train the area's future skilled workforce continue to deteriorate with age.
The college has received half of the funding it needs to construct an $8 million Center for Energy and Advanced Manufacturing and is actively seeking private support to fund the remaining cost. Support has come through an Economic Development Administration grant and the efforts of the Aiken County legislative delegation to include a one-time allocation of funds in this year's state budget.
The proposed building, which will house the college's radiation protection technology, nuclear quality systems, welding, and mechatronics programs, is necessary to keep up with the technological demands of local companies and to attract additional jobs to the area.
In its first 40 years, Aiken Technical College has constantly reinvented itself to meet the needs of Aiken County's citizens. The college has transformed from a small vocational school to a comprehensive institution of higher education that is a driving force for prosperity in the region.
"Over the next 40 years, ATC will continue to provide educational opportunities that support economic growth and develop our local communities," Winsor said. "To accomplish this mission, the college needs modern facilities, state-of-the-art technology and the continued support of the Aiken County community that has been vital to our success these last 40 years."