History of Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Georgia Piedmont Technical College was established in 1961 as DeKalb Technical Institute. It was organized initially in cooperation with the Vocational Division of the State Department of Education as a division of the total educational program operated by the DeKalb County Board of Education. The College enrolled its first class of 18 students in Electronics Technology in 1961. At that time, it was housed in temporary quarters while the DeKalb Campus facility was under construction. The facility at 495 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, Georgia, consisting of four buildings totaling 170,000 square feet of floor space, was occupied on October 14, 1963.
DeKalb Technical Institute operated as a branch and campus of DeKalb College (subsequently changed to Georgia Perimeter College; currently Georgia State University) from 1972 to 1986, and as the postsecondary unit of DeKalb County School System until June 30, 1996. On July 1, 1996, DeKalb Tech began operating as a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Construction of the Newton Campus was completed August of 1997. This campus location consists of approximately 68,000 square feet of instructional space on 67 acres in the Covington/Newton County Industrial Park.
In 2000, DeKalb Technical Institute’s name was officially changed to DeKalb Technical College. To more accurately and appropriately reflect the College’s multi-county service region, the name again officially changed October 2011, to Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Established to serve a multi-county area east of Atlanta, Georgia Piedmont is one of a statewide network of area postsecondary technical colleges and now offers programs and services in numerous other locations throughout DeKalb, Newton, and Rockdale counties.
Georgia Piedmont provides technical education for citizens in DeKalb, Newton, and Rockdale counties. These educational opportunities are offered through associate degree programs, diplomas, and certificates designed to prepare individuals for productive and satisfying careers; in addition to technical instruction for employed persons who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills; technical instruction enabling persons to train in new occupations when their previous technical skills become obsolete; and adult education designed to assist persons in improving basic academic skills and in obtaining a high school equivalency certificate. The college’s courses and academic programs are provided conveniently in many locations.
Preparation for more than 46 different occupations is provided by Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s academic programs. They include career programs in Business and Computer Information Systems; Health, Education and Professional Services; Industrial Technologies; and Public Safety and Legal Services. Annual enrollment, including credit programs, dual enrollment, business and industry training, and adult education, exceeds 10,000 students.
The faculty members of Georgia Piedmont Technical College are well-qualified, both in experience and professional training in their specialty fields. Full-time faculty and staff, adjunct faculty, and part-time staff keep Georgia Piedmont Technical College operating year-round, offering diverse courses and program opportunities throughout the three semesters of the academic year.