About

1943: The State Board of Education approved a master plan for a system of area trade and vocational schools, the forerunners of today’s technical colleges.

1944: The first institution developed under the state’s master plan opened in Clarkesville.

1948: A second area trade and vocational school opened in Americus. The state board subsequently set aside the master plan, leaving Clarkesville and Americus as the only such schools in Georgia for the next ten years.

1958: The State Board of Education adopted new policies to open additional postsecondary vocational institutions. The Clarke County School District opened Athens Area Vocational-Technical School in former army barracks on Pope Street in downtown Athens. Enrollment growth later led to an additional location in Winterville.

1966: Following approval of a Clarke County school bond referendum in the mid-1960s, first director Robert G. Shelnutt consolidated the Pope Street and Winterville operations at a permanent campus on U.S. Highway 29, three miles north of downtown Athens. The facility opened with 13 programs of study.

1970-1971: A construction project funded by Clarke County, the State of Georgia, and the Economic Development Administration doubled the size of the campus facilities, which in turn provided space to introduce 10 additional programs.

1980: Another construction project expanded campus facilities to more than 155,000 square feet of classrooms, laboratories, shops, and administrative offices.

1983: Governor Joe Frank Harris established the Georgia Vocational Education Task Force to identify improvements in governance, funding, and quality for area vocational-technical schools.

1984: Governor Harris issued an executive order creating the Georgia Board of Postsecondary Vocational Education, beginning a long-term consolidation of governance under the new state entity.

1985: Robert G. Shelnutt retired after 27 years of leadership.

1986: Athens Area Vocational-Technical School became one of the first five institutions to transition to state governance. The transition also led to the creation of a local board of directors.

1987: The school was renamed Athens Area Technical Institute. Dr. Kenneth C. Easom, successor to Mr. Shelnutt, held the title of president following the transition to state governance.

1989: In July, the institution assumed responsibility for adult education programs throughout its service area, including basic reading and math, English as a Second Language, GED preparation, and workplace literacy.

1991: The first class entered the institution’s associate degree nursing program, developed after Athens Area Technical Institute became the first technical institute in Georgia to receive Georgia Board of Nursing approval for such a program. The institution also became the first in the emerging state system to offer an associate degree in paralegal studies.

1995: A 34,000-square-foot facility opened on the north end of the Athens Campus with a lecture hall, library, and administrative offices. In September, the Walton County Technical Education Center opened in a 7,500-square-foot facility in Walton Plaza in Monroe. In April, the institution also held groundbreaking ceremonies for the Elbert County Campus on land donated by Frank Coggins.

1997: Dedication ceremonies for the Elbert County Campus were held on September 11.

1998: In July, a technical education center in Greene County was dedicated. Funding came from the Greene County Board of Commissioners, local businesses and industries, and a community development block grant; the Greene County Development Authority provided the land.

2000: The Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1187, the A+ Education Reform Act. On July 6, the institution officially changed its name to Athens Technical College. Enrollment increased 27.9 percent during the first year under the new name. Around this time, the college also acquired 10 acres and an 8,000-square-foot building across U.S. Highway 29 from the Athens Campus.

2002: Dr. Kenneth C. Easom retired after working to obtain funding for a new Business and Technology building.

2003: Construction began in May on a 41,000-square-foot Business and Technology building. In August, Dr. Flora Tydings became the college’s third chief executive and soon launched the institution’s first capital campaign with its affiliate foundation.

2005: The Business and Technology building opened in January with 18 classrooms, a lecture hall, instructional technology and computer network centers, and faculty offices.

2008: The Greene County Board of Commissioners renovated part of the Greene County facility to support expanded programs and services. The college received a $2.9 million grant in December to construct a career academy with the Clarke County School District, the University of Georgia, and OneAthens. The Walton County Center was also moved into the former Monroe Area High School building on Bryant Road and redesignated the Walton County Campus; a $500,000 grant supported renovations for Biotechnology.

2008–2009: Construction began on a $15.4 million, 67,500-square-foot Life Sciences facility on the Athens Campus.

2009: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in September for a $4.5 million, 26,555-square-foot facility on the Elbert County Campus to support Diesel Electronics Technology, Welding and Joining Technology, and Industrial Systems Technology.

2010: The new Life Sciences facility on the Athens Campus opened in March.

2011: The new Elbert County facility opened for Spring Quarter. The career academy at the Clarke County School District’s H. T. Edwards facility opened in August. Athens Technical College joined the 2011 cohort of Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, becoming the first institution in Georgia to participate. The college also received funding with three other Georgia colleges through a $1 million Complete College America grant to redesign learning support coursework. Beginning in Fall Semester, Athens Technical College converted from a quarter-based to a semester-based academic calendar.

2016: Dr. Andrea Daniel became Athens Technical College’s fourth president on April 1 after previously serving as Executive Vice President.

2017: Athens Technical College was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College. The college also completed a comprehensive renovation of the Athens Technical College Library.

2018: Dr. Daniel gained approval for completion of an $8.2 million Agriculture Science Building on the Elbert Campus. Planned offerings included Agriculture Science, Horticulture, Poultry, and Animal Science, along with a new Conservation Law program in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources.

2019: In late 2019, the college constructed a new visitor center and college entrance to enhance the visitor and prospective student experience.

2020: In January, Dr. Daniel was elected to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees. In February, she received the Athena Award. During FY2020, Athens Technical College was approved to design a new $18 million, 39,000-square-foot Industrial Systems/Economic Development Building for HVAC/Air Conditioning Technology, Industrial Systems, Mechatronics, and Economic Development manufacturing training.

2022: In March, Dr. Andrea D. Daniel received the Shirley B. Gordan Award of Distinction from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In December, the Walton Campus Nursing Program held a ribbon cutting. Dr. Daniel was also re-elected to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees for a second three-year term.

2023: A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony officially opened the Tom McCall Agriculture Complex on the Elbert County Campus in March. The Industrial Systems/Economic Development Building opened during a ceremony in December.

2024: In October, Governor Kemp appointed Dr. Daniel to serve as a member of Georgia’s Driver’s Education Commission Board of Trustees.

2026: In April, Athens Technical College and Brenau University signed an articulation agreement allowing ATC Nursing and Health Information Management Technology graduates to transition to Brenau to continue toward a BSN or BBA in Healthcare Management. In May, Dr. Daniel led a groundbreaking for construction and renovation of the Walton Campus. The Phase I and Phase II project totaled $19 million and includes a new Welding Facility and renovation of the current campus.

Athens_Technical College History