In 2020, Durham Tech became one of the first community colleges in North Carolina to establish an Office of Equity and Inclusion, which is committed to valuing the unique experiences of individuals, the diversity of the community, and equitable outcomes for all students and employees.
Though the Office was established in 2020, the groundwork began in 2016 when College leadership began investing in reviewing and addressing specific inequities associated with lack of success for men of color.
Former President Dr. Bill Ingram recognized that current strategies were not sufficient or effective, so he proposed hiring someone that reports to the president, with greater authority and scope of duties to address issues systematically. Then-Senior Vice President Tom Jaynes, and members of the board of trustees, Gracie Johnson-Lopez and Tara Fikes, supported this strategy and Dr. Angela Davis was appointed to the position.
College classes may invoke thoughts of desks and textbooks, but the customized training department at Durham Tech works largely within companies in the Research Triangle.
Through the years, Durham Tech has developed customized courses for some of the largest corporate names in North Carolina including AW North Carolina, Burt’s Bees, Dynamit Nobel Silicon, General Electric Semiconductor, GE Aviation, Medicago, IBM, Mitsubishi Semiconductor America Inc, and Orange County firms such as Morinaga America Foods, WestRock, and AKG of America, among others.
The wake-up call came in January 2011.
It was Durham Tech’s 50th anniversary and former president Dr. Bill Ingram called for a “Year of Service” to celebrate – encouraging students and employees to participate in volunteer opportunities and service learning.
To kick off the year, the Durham Tech Student Senate, now Student Government Association, distributed 50 bags of food to students during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Event.
All 50 bags were gone in 10 minutes.
U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh joined Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Durham Technical Community College on Wednesday and highlighted the work of the College and the plans of the Biden Administration to grow and diversify registered apprenticeships.
“Community colleges like Durham Tech are essential to this work. They are the engine of equity and higher education. And they are the key to growing our middle class like creating pathways from school to career for American students and American workers,” Walsh said.
Durham Tech graduate DeCarlos Hickson thought back to last December when he pieced together a short animation for the Television Academy Foundation in hopes of catapulting his dream of becoming an animator at a major network.
Policies and Procedures Manual: Durham Tech offers flexible work arrangements to full- and part-time employees in good standing.
Hundreds of families, friends, Durham Tech employees, and alumni walked into the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) Wednesday evening and filled the seats to attend Durham Tech’s 60th commencement to celebrate the graduating class of 2022.
More than 350 crossed the stage and received their degree or diploma during the ceremony Wednesday.
Ibrahim Cissé, 2021 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow and 2002 Durham Tech alumnus, gave an inspiring commencement speech that spoke to the education and preparation he received at Durham Tech prior to his award-winning career.
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Outlined differences in accessibility accommodations between high school/dually enrolled students and college students.
Policies and Procedures Manual: Policy detailing the foreign language requirement for AA and AS students.