Augusta Tech began in 1961 as Augusta Area Vocational-Technical School. Two separate campuses were led by two directors, George Hardy and Raymond McKinley. In 1966 the school merged with Richmond Area Vocational School, and the name changed to Augusta Area Technical School. Jack Patrick became president in 1977, and the school moved to its current location in 1981. By this time Augusta Tech was offering more than thirty diploma programs. The school converted from local to state governance in 1987 and came under the direction of the newly formed Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) in 1988, at which time its name changed to Augusta Technical Institute.In the 1990s, under the direction of Patrick and his successor, Terry D. Elam, Augusta Tech expanded its programs by building a new health sciences building on its main campus; constructing two new campuses in neighboring Thomson, in McDuffie County, and Waynesboro, in Burke County; and assuming responsibility for Augusta’s office of adult literacy. The Thomson campus opened in 1997 with 184 students in 10 credit programs. Terry Elam, the current president of Augusta Tech, assumed the position in 1997. The Waynesboro campus opened in 2000. That same year, due to legislation (Georgia House Bill 1187) that allowed technical institutes offering associate degrees to be called colleges, Augusta Technical Institute became Augusta Technical College.
Augusta Tech’s commitment to the technology industry is demonstrated by the college’s operation of the Augusta–Richmond County Small Business Incubator. Opened near the Augusta campus in 1999, this particular small business incubator was created to foster entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing managerial and technical assistance, low office rental rates, and shared access to office services and equipment. The program was originally envisioned as a high-tech incubator and continues to target high-tech organizations.
Expansion continued with the addition of a new student services and classroom building on the Augusta campus in 2003. In September 2007 the college broke ground for a new campus in Columbia County, near Grovetown and opened in 2011. In 2018 in partnership with Augusta University, the institution began offering information technology classes in the Georgia Cyber Center.
Koon, Mary. "Augusta Technical College." New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 13, 2022. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/education/augusta-technical-college/
1961
Augusta Area Vocational-Technical School is founded
1963
Richmond Area Vocational School is formed
1966
The two schools combine to form Augusta Area Technical School
1981
The current site near Deans Bridge Road becomes the Augusta campus
1984
The first students graduate with an Associate Degree of Applied Technology
1985
The Automotive Mechanics Program receives the Secretary of Education’s Award of Excellence
1987
Augusta Area Technical School becomes a state school operated by the Georgia Board of Technical and Adult Education, and the name is change to Augusta Technical Institute. The Augusta Technical Institute Foundation is formed
1988
Credit enrollment exceeds 2,000
1990
Augusta Technical Institute accepts the responsibility for the Office of Adult Literacy on Broad Street
1991
Allied Health programs move to the Augusta campus
1995
The Jack B. Patrick Information Technology Center opens. The Augusta Technical Institute Foundation launches a major gift campaign entitled The Power To Be, encompassing the Augusta campus and the projected Thomson/McDuffie and Waynesboro/Burke Campuses
1996
Construction is completed on the Center for Advanced Technology. The Jack B. Patrick Information Technology Center is dedicated. Construction begins on the Thomson/McDuffie Campus
1997
Credit enrollment exceeds 4,000. The Office of Adult Literacy moves to the Augusta campus. The Thomson/McDuffie Campus opens
2000
Classes begin at the Waynesboro/Burke campus. Augusta Technical Institute’s name changes to Augusta Technical College.
2001
Groundbreaking for new Student Services Building on December 4, 2001
2002
The 900 building was dedicated to Thelma “T” Ray Allgood
2003
The Student Services/Classroom Building opened.
2004
The dedication of the Student Services/Classroom Building held (April 29).
2005
Funds were appropriated for the Columbia County Center.
2006
First planned gift established with the Augusta Technical College Foundation.
2007
Groundbreaking for Columbia County Center
2008
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Emergency Medical Services
Building.
2009
Columbia County Center building construction begins.
2010
Augusta Tech launches Nuclear Engineering Technology Program in partnership with Southern Company and Georgia Power.
2011
The Columbia County Center in Grovetown officially opens its doors to students.
2012
Augusta Technical College is named an "Achieving the Dream College".
Augusta Technical College establishes Campus Police Department.
2018
Augusta Technical College is named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y), designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
2022
Institution completed first comprehensive rebrand.
Foundation received it's first ever $1 million gift from Augusta National Golf Course.
$2.3 congressional dollars were awarded to college to establish an incubator/microenterprise center with the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta.
2023
School of Health Sciences Campus at Piedmont Summerville Established.