The College

Welcome to Pellissippi State Community College! We’re excited that you’ve chosen to attend our school. Your decision to enroll here may be one of the most important you’ll ever make, and we are dedicated to working with you to achieve both your educational and your life goals. Whether you’re preparing to enter the workforce for the first time, planning to transfer to a four-year institution or simply taking a course for personal growth, we are committed to helping you succeed academically and to providing opportunities for you to broaden your horizons. Our caring faculty and staff look forward to connecting with you soon.

A Brief History

Pellissippi State is a vital institution accustomed to transformation and growth. Since its founding in 1974 as State Technical Institute at Knoxville, the College has expanded the teaching of technology, the use of technology in instruction, and the transfer of technology to local business and industry in support of regional economic development.

Having enrolled only 45 students in its first year of operation, the institution experienced steady growth in the ’70s, adding business technology programs to its original core of engineering technology programs. As community awareness grew, so did expectations. In 1988, the Tennessee Board of Regents approved the expansion of the technical institute’s mission to include college transfer programs.

This mission expansion was accompanied by a name change to Pellissippi State Technical Community College, and enrollment grew quickly. In 2009, the Legislature voted to shorten the name. The institution is now known as Pellissippi State Community College.

The College continues to support and develop career-path associate’s degrees, associate’s degrees for transfer, certificates, and continuing education opportunities for the citizens of Knox, Blount, and surrounding counties. Pellissippi State offers credit courses to high school students as well. In partnership with the community, the College sustains the effort toward an ever-improving quality of life for residents of East Tennessee.

In fall 2012, 11,259 credit students were enrolled at Pellissippi State, as well as thousands of non-credit students.

Mission

The mission of Pellissippi State Community College is to serve its community by providing college-level and non-credit courses and learning support instruction using a variety of delivery methods, including distance learning. The College provides support for teaching and learning, training and workforce development, and opportunities for life, civic, and cultural enrichment.

Features of the Mission

To fulfill its mission, Pellissippi State provides students and other citizens of its community specific offerings in the following areas:

• Associate’s degrees and certificate programs that lead to employment in computer, engineering, and media technologies; business; and health science.
• Associate’s degree programs and courses that prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-level colleges and universities.
• Learning support instruction and academic and student support services.
• General Educational Development (GED) preparation.
• Training to meet specific needs of businesses, industries and individuals.
• Continuing education programs, seminars and workshops.
• Resources for special grade K-12 programs and events.
• Support for, involvement in, and promotion of civic and cultural projects and events.

To sustain and enhance these offerings, Pellissippi State develops and maintains comprehensive fiscal and other administrative services and a physical environment conducive to learning. In line with its heritage as a technical institute, the College integrates state-of-the-art technology into teaching and learning, educational support, and administration.

Located in Tennessee’s third-largest metropolitan area, Pellissippi State comprehensively serves the greater Knox and Blount County area and extends its engineering and media technology offerings to Anderson, Loudon, Roane, Cumberland, Campbell, Fentress, Scott, and Morgan counties. A member of the Tennessee Board of Regents System, the College develops and maintains student transfer agreements with TBR universities, the University of Tennessee, and private colleges and universities in the region. In all programs and services, Pellissippi State continually emphasizes the value of diversity among students, personnel and other constituencies. Services are provided without regard to age, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, religion, race, national origin or disability.

Pellissippi State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate’s degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Pellissippi State Community College.

Campuses and Maps

Pellissippi State offers programs, courses and services at five primary locations. Below is a directional map to the Hardin Valley Campus, Division Street Campus, Magnolia Avenue Campus, Blount County Campus and Strawberry Plains Campus, as well as a parking map for the Hardin Valley Campus. For additional maps, visit www.pstcc.edu/maps/. The College also offers courses at other locations in Knox and Blount counties to meet the educational needs of its service area.

Important Contacts

The area code for all locations is 865.

Whom to Contact if You …