This document provides an orientation for new employees of Gadsden State Community College. It summarizes the history and formation of the college through the consolidation and merging of several technical and vocational schools starting in 1925. It describes the college's unique aspects including its designation as a Historically Black College and University and its impact on the local economy. It lists the college's campuses and centers. It presents the college's mission statement to provide quality and accessible education, workforce development, and adult education. It outlines the college's goals to provide general education, career/technical programs, technologies, community partnerships and student support services. It welcomes new employees to the college.

1. Gadsden State Community
College
New Employee Orientation
www.gadsdenstate.edu

2. - Martha G. Lavender, Ph.D., RN
President

3. Brief History of the College
On 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.

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. Location of Gadsden State Campuses
Ayers Campus
1801 Coleman Road
Anniston, AL
Wallace Drive Campus
1001 George Wallace Dr.
Gadsden, AL
Cherokee County Center
1975 East Bypass
Centre, AL
St. Clair Correctional Facility
Inmate Educational Program
Springville, AL
McClellan Center
100A Gamecock Cir.
Anniston, AL
East Broad Campus
1001 East Broad St.
East Gadsden, AL
Valley Street Campus
600 Valley Street
Gadsden, AL

7. 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.”

8. Mission
Gadsden 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.

9. 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

10. Welcome Staff, Faculty, and Adjuncts
Go Cardinals!