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Durham Technical Community College is a charter
member of the North Carolina Community College System. When the North
Carolina General Assembly authorized a small appropriation to establish
a limited number of area schools to be known as industrial education
centers in 1957, Durham already had a vigorous program in adult education
through the Vocational and Adult Education Department of the Durham
City Schools. A Practical Nursing program had been established in
1948; other programs included training in mechanical drafting, architectural
drafting, and electronics technology. In addition, literacy skills
training was offered for adults. Courses to upgrade the skills of
workers were also offered in a variety of trades.
As a result of the General Assembly's appropriation,
a challenge went out from the State Board of Education to the various
school administrative units in North Carolina to establish separate
education facilities which would provide for the educational needs
of the area's adult population. A comprehensive curriculum was devised
for people needing the education and technical skills required to
advance satisfactorily in their careers.
Through action by the Durham City Board of Education,
Durham was among the first of six counties in North Carolina to meet
the State Board of Education's challenge. In a successful referendum
in June 1958, Durham County residents made $500,000 available to purchase
a site and erect the initial building. The Durham Industrial Education
Center officially opened its doors on September 5, 1961. The institution
continued to operate as an Industrial Education Center until February
4, 1965, when the State Board of Education officially designated that
henceforth it be properly identified as a technical institute. On
March 30, 1965, the Board of Trustees authorized changing the name
of the institution to Durham Technical Institute. On July 15, 1986,
the North Carolina General Assembly approved Durham Tech's request
to add a university transfer program to its curriculum offerings.
During a meeting on July 22, 1986, the Board of Trustees authorized
the institution to change its name to Durham Technical Community College.
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