Pellissippi State Community College
Pellissippi State is a vital institution accustomed to transformation and growth. Since its founding in 1974 as State Technical Institute at Knoxville, the College has expanded the teaching of technology, the use of technology in instruction, and the transfer of technology to local business and industry in support of regional economic development.
Having enrolled only 45 students in its first year of operation, the institution experienced steady growth in the ’70s, adding business technology programs to its original core of engineering technology programs. As community awareness grew, so did expectations. In 1988, the Tennessee Board of Regents approved the expansion of the technical institute’s mission to include college transfer programs. This mission expansion was accompanied by a name change to Pellissippi State Community College, and enrollment grew quickly. As of fall 2007, a record-breaking 8,608 credit students were enrolled and even more non-credit students attended Pellissippi State.
The College continues to support and develop career/technical associate’s degrees and institutional certificates, university parallel associate’s degree programs, and continuing education opportunities for the citizens of Knox, Blount, and surrounding counties. In partnership with the community, the College sustains the effort toward an ever-improving quality of life for residents of East Tennessee.
Located in Tennessee’s third-largest metropolitan area, Pellissippi State comprehensively serves the greater Knox and Blount County area and extends its engineering technology offerings to Anderson, Loudon, Roane, Cumberland, Campbell, Fentress, Scott and Morgan counties. A member of the Tennessee Board of Regents System, the College seeks to develop and maintain effective student transfer agreements with TBR universities, the University of Tennessee, and private colleges and universities of the region. In all programs and services, Pellissippi State continually emphasizes the value of diversity among students, personnel and other constituencies.
Pellissippi State offers a variety of educational opportunities to meet the needs of students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Each program of study is built on a set of broad educational goals. Academic and student support services are provided throughout the student’s educational career to encourage academic achievement and personal growth. The College is especially committed to providing new students with experiences that recognize their unique and diverse needs and maximize their opportunities to succeed. This commitment is articulated in Pellissippi State’s Statement of Philosophy for the First Year of College.
The faculty and staff at Pellissippi State Community College believe that the first-year experience is critically important, as it provides the foundation for college success and lifelong learning.
