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McDowell Technical Community College was established as the Marion-McDowell Industrial Education Center, located in downtown Marion, N.C. near the corner
of State Street and South Garden Street. M-MIEC operated as a satellite unit of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute until September, 1967.
M-MIEC became an independent unit of the Department of Community Colleges. The first Board of Trustees was sworn in, giving more local autonomy.
The school moved to permanent facilities on a 31-acre site at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 226 in Marion.
The N.C. General Assembly made it possible for the school to become an independent institution. The College was officially chartered as McDowell Technical Institute.
A new building expansion program was completed, adding 39,322 square feet to the existing campus. Expansion included a new Auto Mechanics shop, 500-seat Amphitheatre, Learning Resource Center, Teaching Auditorium (seating 220), permanent administrative offices, classrooms and an expanded Student Commons area.
McDowell Technical Institute Foundation, Inc. was created to enrich resource development and enhance the quality of college life by procurement of gifts from the
private sector.
The N.C. General Assembly enacted a bill to change the school’s name to McDowell Technical College.
Robert M. Boggs succeeded John A. Price as President, becoming the College’s second Chief Administrator. The College undertook a major bond campaign, which resulted in $2,400,000 for the addition of new facilities.
Construction was completed on the Industrial Skills Center, a 32,000 square foot class/lab facility, housing special industrial skills training facilities and class/lab areas for technical and vocational programs. The Day Care/Classroom building was completed, housing a day care area for children of MTCC students, Continuing Education classrooms/offices, an auditorium and faculty offices. The new facility added 11,200-square feet to existing campus facilities.
McDowell Technical College changed its name to McDowell Technical Community
College to more accurately reflect the comprehensive educational opportunities available to the citizens of McDowell County. The MTCC Small Business Center was funded and established to provide educational opportunities and financial assistance to small businesses in the county.
The MTCC Career Center was established, providing students with information and help in choosing careers. The MTCC Downtown Center, located in downtown Marion at the original site of the Marion-McDowell Industrial Education Center, was established to offer Continuing Education classes.
MTCC, in conjunction with Isothermal and Cleveland Community Colleges, established the Foothills Nursing Consortium to begin offering an Associate Degree in Nursing Program in 1991.
MTCC’s North Carolina Information Highway Room was certified and became operational, offering conferences and classes via live interactive video and sound.
The MTCC Downtown Center moved to its new location at 35 South Main Street in Marion, where the McDowell County Schools Accelerated Learning Center and the McDowell County JobLink Career Center were also located. Construction was completed on a new 19,950 square foot classroom building, the Library was renovated and a new handicapped lift was installed in the Administrative Building. 1,000 square foot was added to the college bookstore.
Dr. Robert Boggs retired after 15 years of service to the College. Dr. H. Edwin Beam became Interim President and the Board of Trustees began the search for a new President. Today, McDowell Technical Community College offers Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and/or Certificates in more than 30 curriculum programs. The College also offers classes in many areas of Continuing Education. MTCC currently serves more than 6,800 students per year with some type of education and training.
Dr. Virginia R. Mitchell became third president of the College. Instructor Jan Alms designed the first College Seal, which was incorporated into the College’s Presidential Medallion, vested upon Dr. Mitchell during inaugural ceremonies in May.
Dr. Bryan W. Wilson succeeded Dr. Virginia R. Mitchell as president of the College after she retired in December 2003.
Mr. Ford Miller, local businessman, made the largest private donation the college had ever received when he gave MTCC the former Marion Mills Office Building on Baldwin Avenue. Trustees named the building The Ford Miller Employment and Training Complex. Plans were begun to convert the building to a combination office and classroom building to house MTCC staff and students, the McDowell County JobLink Career Center and associated partners, and the McDowell County Employment Security Commission.
The W. Harold Smith Building was completed and named for Harold Smith, a local businessman who left his estate to further educational opportunities for young adults from McDowell County. A trust established in his name has donated over $825,000 to the college during the last decade, including well in excess of $100,000 for this building. Scholarships from this trust have also benefitted individual students attending curriculum classes at the college.
The Ford Miller Employment and Training Center was completed and began operations in late September of this year.
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) 11 opened on the upper level of the Library adjacent to the Student Enrichment Center to offer students tutoring, computer access,
instructional support, test proctoring and a variety of other academic resources. Printers and study tables are also available.
Dr. Bryan W. Wilson, President, and the Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the McDowell County Board of Commissioners, dedicated the Universal Advanced Manufacturing Center (UAMC), providing new and enlarged classrooms and shop areas for Machining, Electrical/Electronics, Welding, Industry Training and related programs.
Dr. John Gossett, who had been serving as the college’s Vice-President for Learning and Student Services, was appointed President in May and assumed his new duties on August 1.
Throughout the 2017-2018 academic year, the College celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its establishment as an independent institution of what is now known as the North Carolina Community College System. A special celebration was held in conjunction with the SGA’s Fall Festival in October and included the opening of a historical photo exhibit in the main administration building.
Dr. John Gossett resigned when he was named the new President of AB-Tech in Asheville, NC. Mr. Ryan Garrison, VicePresident for Finance and Administration at McDowell Tech was named MTCC’s Interim President.
In January, 2021, Dr. Brian S. Merritt
became the sixth president of McDowell
Technical Community College.
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
