Tennessee lawmakers vote to change name of Pellissippi State
Pellissippi State has undergone a name change. The Tennessee Legislature voted May 21 to drop the word “Technical” from the College’s name. Gov. Phil Bredesen signed the bill into law, and the new name—Pellissippi State Community College—went into effect July 1.
The same legislation eliminates the word “Technical” from Chattanooga State, Nashville State, Northeast State and Southwest Tennessee community colleges.
“Pellissippi State Community College better reflects who we are today than what we were 20 years ago,” said President Allen Edwards. About 60 percent of Pellissippi State students enroll in College Transfer programs, which prepare them to continue their education at a four-year university.
Edwards, the College’s president since 1993, says that enrollment in Career/Technical programs—those that prepare students to enter the workforce directly after graduation—hasn’t changed dramatically, though interest in various programs has shifted over the years.
“What has changed dramatically is the growth in the number students taking liberal arts and college transfer course offerings. That’s where all of our growth has occurred,” said Edwards. “That’s why we moved from having a couple of thousand students to 8,700 students.”
The name change does not reflect a change in the College’s mission or indicate a reduction in technical programs, Edwards assures.
In fact, he says, Pellissippi State is exploring a number of additional Career/Technical programs. A proposal also is under consideration to add a program that allows students to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing, then take the licensing exam to become a registered nurse. The goal is to begin offering nursing courses in fall 2010.
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