Georgia Northwestern Technical College will celebrate the college’s 60th anniversary with a “Diamond Jubilee” celebration October 3-14.

A unit of the Georgia Tech system, GNTC provides technical and academic education through traditional distance learning and non-credit continuing education, economic development, and adult education services leading to associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in credit programs. We provide guidance. .

GNTC serves nine counties: Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker and Whitfield, with six campuses in Calhoun, Dalton, Ringgold, Rockmart, Rock Spring and Rome. .

“As GNTC prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, our university is dedicated to providing quality technical education and workforce development opportunities throughout our communities in northwest Georgia.” GNTC President Dr. Heidi Popham said.

During the two-week celebration, each campus hosts events for students, offering meals, giveaways, photo booths and games. Dalton’s Whitfield Murray campus will also host Industrial Career Day on October 7th.

The GNTC Foundation will host a Diamond Jubilee Luncheon for donors, former faculty, staff, board members, and trustees. At the end of the two-week celebration, GNTC will host an Employee Appreciation Luncheon for current faculty and staff.

GNTC’s roots go back to two colleges founded in the 1960s.

Coosa Valley Technical College was founded in 1962 in Floyd County, Rome. In 1989, an adult education program was added.

A Gordon County campus was added to Calhoun in 1997, and a Polk County campus was added to Rockmart the following year.In 2008, an Aviation Training Center was added to Rome’s Richard B. Russell Regional Airport.

In December 2006, Coosa Valley Technical College was accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Originally called the Walker County Regional Vocational Technical School, Northwestern Technical College was founded in Rock Spring, Walker County, off Highway 27 in 1964 and added an adult education program in 1989.

SACSCOC first accredited Northwestern Technical College in 1997.

The university purchased additional land in 2006, expanding the campus from 34 acres to 70 acres.

In 2008, the Board of Governors of the Georgia Technical College System approved the merger of Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College, effective July 1, 2009.

GNTC continued to grow after the merger, opening the Woodley Culinary Arts Center in 2010.

In 2011, the Georgia Tech system announced that Murray and Whitfield counties would become part of the GNTC service area. Dalton’s Whitfield Murray campus began teaching in the fall of 2011. These county adult education programs were awarded to the GNTC in 2014.

In January 2011, GNTC broke ground for a new 46,000-square-foot administration and classroom building on its Gordon County campus.

In June 2013, the State Property Commission approved the purchase of land at Alabama Highway/Georgia 151 and Holcomb Road for the construction of the GNTC Catoosa County campus. Started teaching in the fall of 2016.

In September 2019, GNTC celebrated the completion of its major campus addition with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new 80,000 square foot administrative and classroom facility on the Whitfield Murray campus.

“Our history shows the impact of the university and how important training and educational opportunities have been and will continue to be for the citizens of Northwest Georgia,” Dr. Popham said. .