History of the College
The 1963 North Carolina General Assembly passed the Community College Act creating a system of comprehensive community colleges, technical institutes, and industrial education centers in the state under the State Board of Education. The 1979 General Assembly rewrote the Community College Act and authorized a new board for community colleges, effective Jan. 1, 1981.
The establishment of Caldwell Technical Institute was tentatively approved by the State Board of Education in January 1964. The people of Caldwell County approved the college on March 28, 1964, through a bond vote of $600,000. The monies funded the purchase of a site and construction of facilities, and up to a five-cent tax was authorized for college operations. Final approval by the State Board of Education followed on April 2, 1964. The first president, Dr. H. Edwin Beam, was selected that fall and began work in November 1964.
Classes in health occupations began at a temporary site in 1965 with the first full year of classes held in 1966-67. A permanent site was selected for the institute in January 1965, and an architect was selected the following month. New facilities were occupied in September 1967.
On July 1, 1970, Caldwell Technical Institute was authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly through the State Board of Education to offer college transfer courses. Subsequently, Caldwell Technical Institute changed its name to Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute.
A local bond referendum for $800,000 was proposed and voted upon on Dec. 7, 1971 for Caldwell County to match a federal grant of $799,306 under the Appalachian Region Act. The voters of Caldwell County passed the bond referendum by more than a 2 to 1 majority.
In 1973, the institution received $500,000 in state construction funds from an appropriation by the North Carolina General Assembly. These funds enabled the college's Trustees to increase the size of the college by approximately 77,000 square feet and the new buildings were occupied during the 1974-75 school year.
In 1979, the Caldwell County Commissioners authorized an expenditure of $600,000 to match a proposed Appalachian Regional Act Grant of $400,000 to build additional facilities. These new facilities were occupied in August 1982. The additional 19,000 square feet made a total of 154,000 square feet of building space at the institution. In September 1973, the Watauga division of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute was established to provide limited credit and more extensive noncredit offerings in various locations throughout the county to the citizens of Watauga County. Through an agreement with Appalachian State University, the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute students in Watauga were permitted to use the university’s library facilities.
Dr. H. Edwin Beam retired June 30, 1984, after 20 years of service. Dr. Eric B. McKeithan was appointed July 1, 1984, to begin his term as Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute's second president. The General Assembly appropriated $250,000 to the college during the short session of 1984. These funds were combined with $129,000 in local appropriations, and a 6,200-square-foot addition was added to E Building to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the nursing, occupational therapy assistant, and physical therapist assistant training programs.
On June 6, 1986, the voters of Caldwell County approved a bond referendum of $3.4 million for Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute to build a job training center ($1.9 million) and a civic center ($1.5 million in bonds to be matched by $1.5 million in funds from other sources). In July 1986, the General Assembly appropriated $100,000 in capital funds to Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Another $1.49 million was appropriated by the General Assembly in August 1987.
In the spring of 1987, the Watauga County Commissioners renovated a 6,800-square-foot former child care center and turned the facility over to the Watauga Campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. With seven classrooms, a kitchen, and space for a Small Business Center, a Career Center, a computer lab, and offices, this facility, which was called the Watauga Business Center, provided the college with much-needed space for daytime programming, as well as additional space for evening classes.
In July 1988, the North Carolina General Assembly designated $100,000 for the design of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute's first permanent building on a campus in Watauga County. In November 1988, the Watauga County Commissioners purchased a 39-acre site located west of Boone on the 105/421 bypass for the Watauga Campus.
The Job Training Center on the Caldwell campus was completed in April 1989 and was named the E. M. Dudley Job Training Center by the Board of Trustees. In June 1989, the college purchased a former showroom of Fairfield Chair Company, containing 23,250 square feet, and 13.3 acres of land on which the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center was constructed. In August 1989, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $100,000 in capital construction funds to the college to use on the civic center project. In July 1991, the college purchased a lot adjoining the civic center. The civic center opened in October of 1993.
In July 1989, the college purchased 20.3 acres of property adjoining the main Caldwell Campus for future development. A 1,600-square-foot addition to the gymnasium was completed in October 1991, and construction of a 12,000-square-foot maintenance building for the Caldwell Campus was completed in August 1992. In November 1993, a $250 million statewide community college bond referendum was approved by North Carolina voters. Of $8,361,539 earmarked for Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, $2,261,539 was reserved by trustees to construct classrooms and laboratories for the Watauga Campus, and $6.1 million was set aside to construct classrooms, laboratories, and instructional support facilities on the Caldwell Campus.
After serving as the second president of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute for 10 years, Dr. Eric McKeithan resigned on July 9, 1994 to become president of another community college in North Carolina. Dr. H. Edwin Beam served as interim president until the selection of Dr. Kenneth A. Boham, who became the college's third president on July 1, 1995.
Design of the college’s first permanent site in Watauga County was underway in fall 1995. Construction began in 1996, and the new 23,000-square-foot facility was completed two years later. Overlooking mile-high Grandfather Mountain, the Watauga Campus opened its doors to the community in January 1998 with expanded course offerings and consolidated services. Continuing Education, Student Support, and Basic Skills centers remained located at other sites throughout Watauga County.
Caldwell County voters approved two important bond referendums in February 1997. A $1.59 million bond resulted in the establishment of a college-wide fiber optic network, additional classrooms, renovations to existing classrooms and buildings, updated instructional equipment, additional parking and a campus alarm system. The Caldwell Campus facility known as F Building opened in August 1998. The 45,000-square-foot building houses Student Services, Computer Services, and health science classrooms and laboratories.
In May 1999, the college acquired the gift of the Broyhill Family home. The 12-acre estate, originally deeded to the late Satie Broyhill, consists of 34 rooms encompassing approximately 8,000 square feet in addition to its extensive grounds and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
In fall 1999, a new Career Center was established on the Caldwell Campus. A joint venture among the public school system, CCC&TI, and local employers, the Career Center benefits the county with focused and cooperative resources for skilled trade and technical occupations. Participants include students from three area high schools during the day while CCC&TI students utilize the facility for evening classes. As the first in the state to offer this unique training concept, the Career Center was funded by a separate $2.6 million referendum for the Caldwell County public schools in 1997. The 25,000-square-foot facility was dedicated in March 2000.
The college was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Grant in the summer of 2000. Totaling $1,734,110, the funding allowed the college to link to the NC Information Highway, allowing for the installation of three interactive classrooms, an instructional production facility, support personnel, and comprehensive technological training for faculty.
Caldwell and Watauga County voters approved the largest state bond referendum in the history of the community college system in November 2000. CCC&TI’s portion, totaling $7,031,341, included provisions for construction and renovation on both campuses. Major projects included: Caldwell Campus – distance learning classrooms, site preparation for future instructional facility, auto body shop spray booth, institutional climate control system, civic center renovations, additional parking, and relocation of the truck driver training range and miscellaneous repairs; Watauga Campus – occupational training building, Continuing Education Center renovations, physical education area, additional classroom space, site preparation for future facility, and additions to the existing instructional facility. The projects were completed over the next six years as bond monies were allocated.
Renovations to conference facilities at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center were completed in June 2004. The expansion included more flexible meeting space and break-out rooms, a hospitality lab, a concession area, and updates to the lobby. Following a public grand reopening of the Civic Center, the college held another celebration in August 2004 as F Building was named in honor of John A. Forlines, Jr., the first chairman of the CCC&TI Board of Trustees. The first phase of expansion efforts on the Watauga Campus was completed in 2005, including the addition of four modular units to house Student Services, Adult Education, the bookstore and a maintenance/storage facility along with additional parking.
Ground was broken for the Faye A. Broyhill Building on its Caldwell Campus in February 2005. Launched with the help of the Broyhill Family Foundation along with federal monies and local support pledged by Caldwell County Commissioners, the Appalachian State University Center is located in the building named in honor Faye A. Broyhill along with CCC&TI’s Corporate and Continuing Education Department. The center has an emphasis on teacher education, making bachelor’s degrees more accessible for local residents. The venture positions CCC&TI as a state and national model, providing a seamless education path with two high schools, a community college, and university presence all on the same property. Dedication for the building was held July 20, 2006. ASU’s first group of students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education began classes in January 2007. The program represented ASU’s first off campus full-time, daytime program.
The 2006 Fall Semester was the beginning of an exciting five-year journey for 75 Caldwell County High School students accepted as the first class of the Caldwell Early College High School. Commissioners approved funding to build a facility to house the Early College on the Caldwell Campus.
In summer 2006, CCC&TI purchased 13.73 acres of property less than one mile south of the college’s campus in Hudson. The property, along with four existing buildings, makes up the college’s Transportation and Public Service Center, which would eventually house all such programs. Truck driver training was the first program to occupy the new campus in August 2006. Additional funding from a grant awarded by the Economic Development Administration helped an turn existing 15,786-square-foot facility into an Automotive Technology Building. The former area for the trucking program on the Caldwell campus allowed for approximately 350 additional parking spaces. An overflow parking area with 100 new paved spaces was also developed across Gunpowder Creek.
The Caldwell County JobLink Center moved to the Forlines Building on the Caldwell Campus in August 2006 to assist with outreach for the unemployed in the community.
An historic regional partnership was formed in 2006 among three local community colleges: CCC&TI, Catawba Valley Community College, and Western Piedmont Community College. The collaboration enhanced communication of needs, economic development, effectiveness, and efficiency for higher education in the area.
The college partnered with Google in 2007 to launch the first IT Institute. The series of courses, co-developed with Google and the IT industry, equipped students with skills recommended for entry-level positions in information technology.
Large electronic signs were purchased for the Caldwell Campus (2001), Broyhill Civic Center (2006) and Watauga Campus (2008). The signs improve communication of opportunities and success to the public.
Construction of a new 46,680-square-foot Early College/Multi-Purpose Building began in May 2007 on the northeast end of the Caldwell Campus. The facility, which opened fall 2008, houses the Caldwell Early College High School, as well as college multi-purpose classrooms.
The college earned its fourth superior rating by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges in 2007. Performance standards measure overall accountability, student success, and satisfaction.
A new 14,000-square-foot Occupational Training Center on the Watauga campus opened in spring semester 2009. Nursing, construction trades, physical education, and art/ceramics classes occupy the space.
In 2010, the college occupied its new autobody shop, a 13,125-square-foot building at its Transportation and Public Service Center. The shop includes three bays, a paint booth, classroom, and two offices. Local funding and an EDA Grant funded the $1.1 million project.
The college completed its TRANE Energy Efficient contract in 2010, providing all facilities with online temperature control and updating equipment for more cost-efficient savings.
In 2011, the college renovated its electrical and electronics classrooms and labs. Upgrades included a 3-D printer, portable robots, and additional equipment. The project also included the remodeling of Room G-111, formerly the auto body shop, to create six new labs: Advanced Automation, Industrial Controls, Home Technology Integration, Electrical Technology, Fabrication, and a student activity area. Launched in 2011 and completed in 2012, the Learning Resource Center on the Caldwell Campus received a dramatic makeover. The project included new carpeting, new furniture, a centrally-located circulation desk, a laptop area, and additional computers for student use.
In 2012, construction of a new 1,500-square-foot weight room facility was completed. Adjacent to the gymnasium in E Building, the project was an upgrade from the previous weight room located in D Building with additional space and new equipment. In late 2012, the Foothills Performing Arts Theatre, located in B Building on the Caldwell Campus received new seating, new carpet, and other renovations to enhance the space.
In 2013, CCC&TI joined the state’s other community colleges to celebrate the North Carolina Community College System’s 50th Anniversary. As part of the celebration, the college participated in a UNC-TV produced segment about each of the 58 community colleges in North Carolina. The documentary appeared on UNC-TV and on the UNC-TV website.
CCC&TI also celebrated the legacy of Dr. W. Dallas Herring on March 6, 2013. Dr. Herring, a Duplin County native, is considered the philosophical godfather of the state’s Community College System. A portrait of Dr. Herring was placed in the main lobby of Beam Hall (A Building) on the Caldwell Campus.
In late 2013 construction began on two new facilities for the college, one located on the Transportation and Public Service Center in Hudson and one on the Watauga Campus in Boone. Construction was completed on both facilities in Spring 2014. The TAPS campus building is the new home for CCC&TI’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Program. The new facility on the Watauga Campus houses Continuing Education programs and, for the first time, consolidates the college’s offerings in Watauga County to one location.
The Career Planning and Placement Center also relocated to the Commerce Center, adjacent to the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir. The new Caldwell County NCWorks Career Planning and Placement Center offers employment services for the public in partnership with local employers and partner agencies.
In addition, the space previously occupied by the Career Planning and Placement Center on the first floor of F Building on the Caldwell Campus was renovated to increase classroom and lab space for development education and to create a new space for the Writing Center.
The 2013-2014 Cobras Men’s Basketball team had the best season in the history of all athletics at CCC&TI. Following a regular season record of 22-6, the Cobras went on a tremendous run of victories that included winning the Region X and District VII tournaments, and finishing No. 2 in the nation at the NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. The team finished with a 29-7 record.
In 2014, the college marked half a century of service to local students and the community as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The college commemorated the anniversary with several events throughout the year, including a luncheon for employees and retirees, a special community event at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center and a birthday bash for students. In addition, Founding President, Dr. H. Edwin Beam gave an address at the 2014 Curriculum Graduation Ceremonies on May 9 to commemorate the college’s 50th anniversary. At the end of the year, a time capsule containing commemorative items and original essays by students was dedicated and sealed, to be opened in 2064.
In late 2014, the Caldwell Early College High School received recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School, one of only two high schools in the state to receive the designation.
Also in 2014, the Caldwell Campus D Building was renovated and became the new home of the college’s Art Department and the Seila Gallery. The space includes classrooms and studios for visual art, print making, painting and more. S Building, which previously housed the Art Department, was renovated to include classroom and lab space for the Electrical Lineman Program.
Founding President, Dr. H. Edwin Beam, passed away on March 6, 2015 at the age of 91.
In 2015, a new Culinary Arts kitchen/classroom was completed on the Watauga Campus, allowing the Culinary Arts program to be offered on both campuses. The state-of-the-art professional kitchen is located in the Watauga Occupational Training Facility.
In partnership with Watauga County Schools, the Watauga Innovation Academy was launched in Fall 2015. The academy is a cooperative innovative high school program established under the auspices of Career and College Promise that allows students to earn college credit while in high school.
In March 2016, North Carolina voters approved the Connect NC Bond Act, which provided $2 billion in funding for improvement projects at the state’s universities, community colleges, and parks. CCC&TI received $5.6 million from the Bond Act. Preliminary plans for the funding include construction of a new Student Services building on the Watauga Campus, as well as general improvements on the Caldwell Campus.
After leading for 21 years as the college's third president, Dr. Kenneth A. Boham retired on June 30, 2016. To recognize his years of service and visionary leadership, the Board of Trustees named K Building in Dr. Boham's honor. The Town of Hudson also declared May 25, 2016, the day of the building dedication, as Dr. Kenneth Boham Day.
Taking office July 1, 2016, Dr. Mark J. Poarch became the college's fourth president. Dr. Poarch had previously served as Executive Vice President, Vice President of Student Services, and Associate Vice President of Student Services since his arrival in 2006.
The Caldwell Campus Breezeway and patio were refurbished in 2016. New tiled walkways, capstones and a CCC&TI branded centerpiece were installed during the spring. The Caldwell Campus also upgraded its electronic sign to a new ThinkSign Smart LED sign with two panels facing US 321, and one facing campus. The new sign and software allow for more creative designs and more programming options.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute began a five-year quality enhancement plan (QEP) program designed to improve the quality of a CCC&TI education. The topic for the plan is comprehensive advising that puts greater emphasis on engagement and communication between the student and their academic advisors. The plan, dubbed MAP for “My Academic Plan,” will also provide opportunities for orientation, advising activities, and engagement throughout the college experience.
The Associate in Fine Arts Music Program renewed The Performing Artist series in Spring 2017, offering free concerts and music events for students, employees, and the community.
In May 2017, the college implemented a tobacco free/smoke free policy for all facilities. Other major campus changes included moving the Writing Center and Academic Support Center into newly-remodeled space in the Caldwell Campus Learning Resource Center, allowing students to take advantage of a range of support services in a central location. The move also allowed the Testing Center to relocate into a larger, more state-of-the-art space in F Building and an expansion of the Financial Aid office.
CCC&TI broke ground in September 2017 on a 15,000-square-foot Student Services Center on the college’s Watauga Campus.
In a late 2018 signing ceremony on the campus of Appalachian State University, the Aspire Appalachian Co-Admission Program was launched. The program provides students who complete select two-year associate degree transfer programs at CCC&TI with guaranteed admission to Appalachian State to finish their undergraduate degree. The agreement creates a seamless pathway to Appalachian State that includes academic and financial aid advising support for students to prepare them for a successful transition to the university.
The Board of Trustees approved the addition of baseball and softball in late 2018 with play beginning in Fall 2019. The hiring of head coaches and the recruitment of players soon followed in early 2019. The softball team will compete in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II and the baseball team will play in NJCAA Division III.
Through a partnership with West Caldwell Health Council, the Caldwell Campus added a health clinic for students, faculty and staff at the beginning of the Fall 2018 semester. With services provided by West Caldwell Health Council, the clinic is located in the first floor of E Building adjacent to the student lounge and provides a wide range of medical services. In November 2018, the college hosted a dedication ceremony that named the facility the “Hector Estepan CobraCare Clinic.” The clinic is the first of its kind in the N.C. Community College System.
To better serve the workforce development needs of both CCC&TI students and the local community, Career Connections was launched in the summer of 2018. Located in F Building, Career Connections provides a one-stop solution for students to achieve their career goals while also providing local employers a way to connect with college resources. Services provided include career advisement, employment search assistance, job fairs, internships/apprenticeships, resume/interview assistance, and Veterans services.
Several remodeling and improvement projects were completed on both campuses in 2018. On the Caldwell Campus, the athletic locker rooms and several restrooms were updated with new tile. A classroom in W-372 on the Watauga Campus was remodeled to create a new chemistry and biology lab. A makerspace was added to the Caldwell Campus library complete with 3-D printers, microcomputers, and gaming systems for student use. The student lounges on both campuses received makeovers with new smart vending machines, and the old cafeteria space on the Caldwell Campus was converted to a student dining and lounge area with new furniture.
In late 2018, the Board of Trustees approved President Emeritus status for former President Dr. Ken Boham, who served the college from 1995 to 2016 as its third president. Boham joins founding President, the late Dr. H. Edwin Beam, as one of two President Emeriti named during the college’s history.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, through partnerships with Lectra, Bernhardt, Fairfield Chair, and McCreary Modern, launched the Furniture Factory Lab in April 2019. The space is designed to simulate a factory environment and houses the college’s Furniture Technology Institute, which includes the Upholstery and Industrial Sewing programs.
The Small Business Center was relocated to HUB Station on Cedar Valley Road in Hudson in early 2019. The expanded Small Business Center is a state-of-the-art workspace that hosts shared and private work areas, computers, printers, a boardroom, a podcast studio space, and virtual reality technology.
Construction for the Watauga Campus Student Services Center was completed in December 2019. The new building features a large student gathering area and houses the following services: Academic Support, Admissions, Advising, Bookstore, Business Office, Counseling, Financial Aid, Library, Testing Center, and Writing Center.
In May 2019, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a former Rite Aid building and its accompanying two acres of property adjacent to the 16-acre Transportation and Public Services Center in Hudson. The space will be converted into an advanced manufacturing training center.
With the start of the 2019-2020 school year, the innovative high school formerly known as Caldwell Career Center Middle College was renamed Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy by the Caldwell County Board of Education to better reflect its mission of career and workforce development.
In early 2020, CCC&TI announced that the 13,600-square-foot former Rite-Aid Building at the Transportation and Public Service Center would be known as the Paul H. Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies. The CCC&TI Board of Trustees approved the building name in honor of Broyhill’s many years of support given to the institution and the community. The building houses the college’s Engineering and Industrial Systems Technology programs, which include training in Mechanical Engineering, Machining and Mechatronics. The building includes a simulated factory environment with classrooms and high-tech equipment.
In Spring of 2020, CCC&TI, along with the rest of the world, faced a new set of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic, which forced closures and a shift to an online-only class format for several weeks. In April, administrators developed a strategy for safely reopening facilities. Instructors moved forward with online learning where appropriate and implemented social distancing and safety protocols for classes that required in-person instruction. CCC&TI’s enrollment remained steady despite the setbacks and students continued to reach milestones and accomplish their educational goals. Due to the pandemic, CCC&TI hosted a unique graduation ceremony to honor a total of 562 college graduates and 79 high school equivalency graduates during an informal, outdoor event held in August, 2020. It was a unique celebration for a unique time in the college’s history that allowed the college to recognize the class of 2020 and their accomplishments.
In August of 2020, leadership from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) and Gardner-Webb University announced four new agreements creating seamless pathways for students who want to start at CCC&TI and continue their education at Gardner-Webb. The Bulldog Bound Co-Admission Program provides students who complete certain two-year associate degrees at CCC&TI with a 2.25 GPA or higher with guaranteed admission to Gardner-Webb to finish their undergraduate degree. Additional agreements were also signed that provide pathways for students to start at CCC&TI then transfer to Gardner-Webb in more specialized degree programs, including nursing, business and human services.
In December 2020, CCC&TI and Lees-McRae College announced a new Guaranteed Admissions Program that creates seamless pathways for students who want to start at CCC&TI and continue their education at Lees-McRae. The program is designed to provide students affordable access to higher education and additional support services during their time at CCC&TI for a successful transition to Lees-McRae. Providing a pathway for students who plan to earn a bachelor’s degree, the agreement will guarantee admission to Lees-McRae for CCC&TI students who complete certain two-year associate degrees. In addition, CCC&TI students who enroll full-time at Lees-McRae will automatically qualify for the Lees-McRae’s New Horizon Transfer Scholarship. Awards are based on academic performance and range from $2,000 up to $14,000 per academic year. The new agreements took effect for the Spring 2021 semester.
In Spring 2021, CCC&TI began site prep for a new state-of-the-art Electrical Lineworker facility on the Caldwell Campus in Hudson, adjacent to the existing pole yard. The new facility will include an indoor pole yard and will provide much-needed training space for the program.
Due to continued restrictions in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, CCC&TI celebrated the Class of 2021 with two informal gatherings for graduates and their families. Watauga Campus graduates gathered on May 13 in the new Student Services Center, making it the first public college event since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. The Caldwell Campus celebration was held outdoors on the evening of May 14.
In 2021, CCC&TI signed a “Pathway to Excellence” agreement with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, creating a seamless pathway for students who want to start at CCC&TI and continue their education at UNC-W. The program is designed to provide students affordable access to higher education and additional support services during their time at CCC&TI for a successful transition to UNC-W.
CCC&TI’s Board of Trustees approved the addition of Women’s Volleyball to the college’s intercollegiate athletic programs with play to begin in Fall 2022.The team will compete in Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Also in 2021, CCC&TI began work on a Biopharmaceutical simulated clean room and lab space modeled after the facilities used in the biopharmaceutical industry. The facility was completed and opened to students in late 2021.
CCC&TI also partnered with Caldwell County Schools and tech giant Google to install distance learning classrooms at local high schools as part of the CONNECT Project. The new classrooms debuted in 2021 and have the capability to connect to each other, as well as to classrooms at CCC&TI. The new technology will allow a teacher at one location to deliver instruction to students at any of the other connected locations providing better access to online learning and higher education for local students.
CCC&TI expanded its welding lab capacity on the Caldwell Campus in 2021, using labs in J Building previously dedicated to the college’s engineering programs. The transition of those programs to the Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies allowed the college to double its welding lab space for current and future students.
In December of 2021, CCC&TI hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house event for the Paul H. Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies facility located at the corner of Pine Mountain Road and Hickory Boulevard in Hudson. The 13,600-square-foot former retail building is now home to CCC&TI’s advanced manufacturing programs with an emphasis on technology and innovation.
In early 2022, CCC&TI partnered with the John M. Belk Endowment and myFutureNC, as well as local government, business and education leaders from Caldwell and Watauga counties to launch the local phase of the NC Reconnect Adult Learner Campaign. The focus of the campaign is connecting with and informing adult students aged 25 to 44 about the colleges’ variety of fast, flexible and affordable education and training programs.
In April of 2022, CCC&TI hosted the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Electrical Lineworker Training Center. The 7,500-square-foot building, located on Roy E. Coffey Drive in Hudson adjacent to CCC&TI’s outdoor Electrical Lineworker pole yard, opened in 2021 but the ribbon cutting was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility features a large main room with four 33-foot poles, modern classrooms and faculty office space. The facility provides an indoor space for training in evenings and during inclement weather, as well as additional capacity to produce more graduates.
In May of 2022, following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CCC&TI once again held its traditional graduation ceremonies at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir. More than 1,000 graduates were honored during the two ceremonies, which featured a keynote address from CCC&TI graduate Emily Thomas.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Cobra Baseball Team made an appearance in the National Junior College Association District Three World Series in Greeneville, SC following a championship 2022 season. The Cobras won both the Region 10 Championship and Mid-Atlantic District Championship to advance to the national competition as the top-ranked team. Ultimately, the Cobras fell to 5th-ranked Dallas College-Eastfield in the Semi-Final Elimination game on May 31 and ended the season 49-9 and third in the nation for the division.
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute announced in late 2022 that it will participate with seven other teacher preparation partnerships from across the state in the inaugural North Carolina Educator Pipeline Collaborative cohort. The initiative will identify innovative methods for recruiting and preparing educators for North Carolina’s public schools. The collaborative was launched by The Public School Forum of North Carolina in partnership with the NC Office of the Governor and The Belk Foundation and includes school districts, universities and community colleges working to strengthen the educator pipeline.
In January 2023, Caldwell County native Dr. Mark Poarch was announced as winner of the prestigious 2022-2023 North Carolina Community College System President of the Year award. The President of the Year Award, sponsored by Wells Fargo, was established by the State Board of Community Colleges in 2001. The award encourages, identifies and rewards outstanding leadership and commitment to the community college mission among the presidents of the 58 institutions of the North Carolina Community College System.
In February of 2023, CCC&TI and Lees-McRae College signed another formal articulation agreement that will provide more opportunities for CCC&TI students to continue their education through the pursuit of bachelor’s degrees at Lees-McRae. Three of the new agreements outline direct transfer for graduates of CCC&TI’s Emergency Management associate degree program into the Lees-McRae online bachelor’s in criminal justice program. The agreements apply to students graduating across three different branches of the Emergency Management program: those who earn Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) credits, Public Safety certificates and Criminal Justice certificates. The fourth agreement outlines direct transfer for graduates of the CCC&TI’s Human Services associate degree with a Mental Health Concentration to the Lees-McRae online bachelor’s degree in human services.