You can visit UTEC's history of the 1990's
by clicking here.
From the early 1970s through 1981, the other
Community Colleges offered regular college courses in Union County since
UTEC wasn't in existence yet.
The Union Technical Education Consortium began
service in 1981 when Central Piedmont voluntarily withdrew from Union County,
and the Department of Community Colleges authorized service in the county
by a consortium of area Community Colleges.
In 1986, Union County Commissioners appointed
a 12 member committee to study the need for technical education in Union
County.
UTEC underwent major expansion in 1987, moving
to a 13,500-square-foot facility in the Old Belk Building in downtown Monroe.
The consolidation from three sites provided space for nine classrooms and
labs, as well as offices for 13 staff members.
In May, 1988, the NC General Assembly was
petitioned to grant funds for the construction of a facility to be used
for Union County operations.
Also in 1988, four Union County citizens were
appointed to serve on the Boards of Trustees for the area Community Colleges.
Union County Commissioners purchased a tract
of 36.9 acres on Hwy. 200 South as a future campus site in June, 1989.
In July, 1989, the NC General Assembly appropriated
$1 million for the construction of a satellite campus in Union County.
A
Brief History...1990's
UTEC began offering full-time day and part-time
evening Associate in Applied Science degree programs in Business Administration
and Electronics Engineering Technology in September, 1991.
In the fall of 1992, the one-year Machinist
diploma program was added with the expansion to the basement of the Main
Street facility, increasing the square footage to 23,500 with a full-time
faculty and staff of 17.
Between March, 1993, and February, 1994, with
support from UTEC, Anson and Stanley Community Colleges successfully completed
the reaffirmation process for reaccreditation by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools.
In November 1993, North Carolina voters approved
a statewide bond referendum for the community college system. $2.5 million
was allocated for Union County, contingent on a local match.
The Union Technical Education occupied it's
new 13,600 square foot facility in February 1994. In addition to a reception
area, library and bookstore, the facility houses five laboratories and
three general classrooms.
In August 1994, Union County Commissioners
appointed a task force to explore and evaluate all technical education
options available to Union County.
UTEC began full-time and part-time Associate
in Applied Science degree programs in Accounting and Early Childhood Associate
in the fall of 1994.
As an outgrowth of a Leadership Union field
study project, the UTEC Foundation was established by local citizens in
January 1995.
During the 1995-96 academic year, four new
Associate Degree programs were started: Administrative Office Technology;
College Transfer; Criminal Justice and Human Services Technology.
During Winter 1996, at the request of Union
County Commissioners, the NC Community College System began a local study
of community college serviced in order to make recommendations for the
delivery of technical education in Union County.
Go
back to UTEC's History from the 1970's to the 1980's.
