History, Mission & Values
History
Tracing its origin through six decades, the college has grown from fairly modest beginnings. Atlanta Technical College was established as Smith-Hughes Vocational School at 232 Pryor Street, and first enrolled adults in vocational education in 1945 following World War II. The school was moved in1964 to Smith High School at 535 Hill Street and renamed Hoke Smith Technical Institute. At that time, about 24 occupational programs were offered. Federal funding for vocational education in the late 1960s promoted the concept of area vocational technical schools.
In 1967, the school was reorganized as Atlanta Area Technical School and was moved to its current southwest campus, enrolling its first students in the new facilities in January 1968. In 1953, the Northside extension campus, Tuxedo Center, was opened at 4191 Northside Drive in northwest Atlanta. The Child Care Center and Ferguson Hall Annex were completed the same year. In 1997, the school's name was changed to Atlanta Technical Institute and the institution became part of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education. Dr. Brenda Watts Jones was tapped to become president, making her the first African-American woman in Georgia to lead a technical institution.
In June 1999, Atlanta Technical Institute completed a $1.3 million renovation of its south entrance facade. The renovation provided covered walks and outdoor seating plazas. On July 1, 2000, the name was changed to Atlanta Technical College. Ground was broken in December 2007 for the Brenda Watts Jones Allied Health and Technology Complex. The $14.2 million facility will open in December of 2010.
With an average quarterly enrollment of 5,000 students, Atlanta Tech offers associate degrees, diploma programs, technical certificates of credit, and continuing education short-term courses. In addition to day and evening class schedules, hybrid schedules, online courses and weekend classes are also offered. Additionally, Atlanta Technical College, through its Economic Development Division, develops customized training courses for business and industry.
Atlanta Technical College provides an exceptional education to a diverse group of students, younger and older people, high school and College graduates, persons with special needs, and persons with varied backgrounds, training requirements, and interests. There are more than 60 countries represented on campus and all students are encourage to be engaged in the social and academic life of the college.
Mission
Atlanta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, located in the city of Atlanta, is an accredited institution of higher education that provides affordable lifelong learning opportunities, associate degrees, diplomas, technical certificates of credit, customized business and industry training, continuing education and other learning services using state-of-the-art technology. The integration of academics and applied career preparation to enhance student learning is essential in meeting the workforce demands and economic development needs of the people, businesses, and communities of Fulton and Clayton Counties.
The mission of Atlanta Technical College is composed within the philosophical framework of the Technical College System of Georgia.
It is reviewed and approved annually by the faculty, staff, administration and the Board of Directors
Warranty Of Degree, Diploma, And Technical Certificate Of Credit Graduates
To demonstrate confidence in and commitment to quality technical programs which are relevant, current, and responsive to the stated expectations of Georgia's businesses and industries, that the Technical college System of Georgia will warrant every graduate from programs offering a technical certificate of credit, diploma, or associate degree in a state technical college according to the following stipulations.
- The warranty guarantees that the graduate has demonstrated the knowledge and skills and can perform each competency as identified in the industry-validated Standard or Program Guide, and any program graduate who is determined to lack such competence shall be retrained at no cost to the employer or graduate.
- A claim against the warranty may be filed by either an employer in conjunction with a graduate or a graduate if the graduate cannot perform one or more of the competencies contained in the industry-validated Standard or Program Guide, including failure to pass a State of Georgia required licensing examination.
- The warranty is applicable only to graduates of any technical certificate of credit, diploma, or degree program who entered the program subsequent to the mandated standards of implementation date.
- The warranty will remain in effect for two consecutive years immediately following the date of graduation and will be honored by any state governed technical college which offers the same program.
- The warranty shall be issued in writing to each graduate who entered a program on or after the mandated standards implementation date for the applicable program standard.
Warranty information is available on the Atlanta Technical College website. The contact person is the Special Needs Coordinator who may be reached at (404) 225-4463.
Core Values
These core values define our enduring character and are the primary reasons that Atlanta Technical College has been a strong community influence for so long. We are proud of our reputation in the community and our traditions of academic excellence and educational success. We honor tradition yet seek to expand it, moving forward into the future informed by traditional values that transcend time, college size, business and industry trends, management changes, or external factors.
By maintaining these core values, we preserve what has always been special about Atlanta Technical College.
Our core values are the guiding principles that direct our work as we fulfill our mission. Whether you interact with a staff member or an administrator, attend classes taught by one of our faculty members, or meet an Atlanta Tech student in the community, you will see these values at work.
- Service
- Academic Excellence
- Respect and Integrity
- Empowerment and Accountability
- Creativity
- Diversity
- Community
Atlanta Technical College’s core values complement the Technical College System of Georgia belief system.
