McMinn Higher Education Center to Open Doors on June 1

Holly Vincent
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 12:00 AM
Community

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – In just a few short weeks, the McMinn Higher Education Center located at 2345 Denso Drive in Athens, will be opening its doors. The center for collaborative higher education will include the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Cleveland State Community College (CSCC) and the McMinn County UT Extension Institute of Agriculture. This project will relocate current CSCC leased space, expand TCAT programs and relocate both UT Extension and Adult Education and create a space for local industry training to upgrade the existing workforce.

“Athens and McMinn County are located in the heart of our service area,” stated Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC President. “This new facility will enhance educational opportunities and promote jobs throughout the region.”

Seymour continued, “Three educational entities under one roof is totally unique. Given the nature of our workforce needs it no longer makes sense to work in silos. Collaborations such as this will serve the community best.”

With the creation of the new center, more students will be able to complete degrees in Athens without needing to drive to Cleveland. Cleveland State will now be able to offer more general transfer, biology and chemistry labs, as well as expand both business and agriculture programs.

In addition, TCAT will be moving its Machine Tool and Die and Electro-Mechanical Instrumentation programs to the new facility creating additional space for HVAC and Construction Technology.

The MHEC allows for a collaboration of public higher education and private industry to work in concert allowing a coordination of education, workforce development and training within a flexible facility that will develop a strong bond allowing all parties to be well integrated in education, industry recruitment, as well as business development. A partnership with McMinn County and the UT Extension will provide ongoing operations funding and expose a range of citizens to opportunities available through the College System of Tennessee. This facility was designed so that TBR can offer programs by both the TCAT and community college to meet market demand with the flexibility to develop the programs and training of new industries.

“We are so excited to welcome students, employees, and visitors into the McMinn Higher Education Center with classes beginning on June 1,” stated Alisha Fox, Vice President for Finance and Administration. “This building showcases a unique partnership between Cleveland State, TCAT Athens, UT Extension, and Adult Education. Many people have put a lot of hard work into making this happen, and we are so looking forward to providing this state-of-the art learning environment in McMinn County. This has been a collaboration among multiple entities who have worked tirelessly over many years to see this dream become a reality, and we can't wait to share it with the community!”

Stefanie West, MHEC CSCC Director, stated, “For several years, I’ve noted how blessed we are as a rural community to have four different levels of higher education in McMinn County making it convenient to the surrounding rural counties as well. Now, a number of these certificates, degrees, and continued educational opportunities will be offered in one single location. The McMinn Higher Education Center will serve our community and workforce in so many ways. We are excited to work with our occupant partners:  UT Ag Extension, TCAT-Athens, and Adult Ed. The possibilities are limitless.”

According to West, the new facility will allow CSCC to expand its program offerings from 21 to 31 concentrations that can be completed in full at the MHEC with 1-2 online classes. This is a direct result of the availability of the science labs in the new facility.

In addition, Cleveland State will also have an Honors College at the MHEC for students that thrive and enjoy extra challenge and rigor while developing leadership skills for tomorrow.  

West continued, “At CSCC and TCAT, students are able to reach their educational goals while saving money to apply to future college expenses at the next level of education by utilizing financial aid including, but not limited to TN Promise and TN Reconnect. Having a strategic financial plan for education allows students to pursue even higher levels of education without accumulating significant student loan debt.”

Cleveland State will also be offering a Summer Bridge Program for incoming college freshmen in Athens for the first time this summer. The Summer Bridge program is a free three-week program to help incoming freshmen start on a more college-ready level, both academically and socially. Each day, students receive reading, English and math instruction. The classes are taught by college instructors so students experience what a college class is like. Classes are also offered in Cleveland on the main campus Monday – Thursday, July 12-29 from 9 a.m – 12:25 p.m. To find out more information or to register for the Summer Bridge program, contact Andrea Byerly at continuinged@clevelandstatecc.edu or call (423) 473-2270.

For more information on Cleveland State Community College, visit the website at clevelandstatecc.edu or email clscc_info@clevelandstatecc.edu. If you are interested in applying, visit mycs.cc/applynow. Students are currently enrolled online and on-campus through the CSCC main campus in Cleveland, Tennessee, as well as CSCC’s Athens Center in Athens, Tennessee and Monroe County Center in Vonore, Tennessee.

CSCC earned the Tennessee Board of Regent’s 2019 College of The Year. CSCC directly serves Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk Counties in Tennessee. The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving more than 140,000 students.

Photo Cutline: The new McMinn County Higher Education Center will open its doors on June 1.