Gadsden State Community College

The origin of Gadsden State Community College can be traced back to 1925, when the Alabama School of Trades was opened in Gadsden. The school initially offered training in the brick masonry, carpentry, electrical, and printing trades, and by 1941, 200 students were enrolled. The school's first permanent two-story buildings were built by students and government workmen. Renamed Alabama Technical College in 1973, it was the first state-operated trade school in the southern United States. It is the oldest component of GSCC and is currently known as East Broad Street Campus. Founded by Eugene N. Prater, Gadsden Vocational Trade School was opened in 1960 as a private institution for black students, who were prevented from attending the Alabama School of Trades. The school initially offered training in auto mechanics and repair, plastering and cement finishing, brick masonry, woodworking, dry cleaning and laundry, general business, and tailoring. By 1961, 70 students were enrolled. The school was renamed Gadsden State Technical Institute in 1972 and designated a historically black college in 1997. Located in Gadsden, it is currently known as GSCC's Valley Street Campus. Presidents • Allan D. Naylor, 1965–? • William Blow, interim: August 2013–2014 • Martha Lavender, interim: 2014–September 2015; acting: October 2015–August 2020 • Gregg Bennett interim: September 2020–December 2020 • Kathy Murphy, 2021–present == Administration and organization ==

Gadsden State operates under four divisions: Academic, Career Technical, Health Sciences and Skills Training. A typical academic year contains two 16-week terms during the fall (August–December) and spring (January–May). Within the terms are two eight-week accelerated sessions, or mini terms. The full summer term is nine weeks long (June–August). The four-week accelerated sessions during the summer (May–August) are known as Summer 1, Summer 2, and Summer 3. An academic year begins on the first day of the fall term and ends on the last day of the summer term. Gadsden's endowment had a market value of approximately $3.41 million in the fiscal year that ended in 2019. ==ROTC==

Gadsden State has a crosstown agreement with Jacksonville State University (JSU) for its Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. The program is re-evaluated annually, JSU's program began in 1967 and is home to the Tiger Battalion. == Academics and programs ==

Gadsden State has an open admissions policy and accepts life experience as credit. In addition to its associate and certificate degree programs, Gadsden offers adult education courses as well as personal enrichment, professional enhancement and community service programs for youth and adults. Gadsden has transfer agreements with every public four-year institution in Alabama. The agreements allow students to automatically transfer after completing an associate degree at Gadsden State. == Student life ==

Student body As of fall 2020, CCP's student body consists of 3,993 students. There are 52 percent full time and 48 percent part-time students. Cultural groups on campus include: Baptist Campus Ministries, Cardinal Arts Journal, FCA Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Gadsden State Democrats/Republicans, Gadsden State Singers, Global Engagement Club, Gospel Singing, Show Band and Students Without Borders. GSCC's volleyball team was the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District A/B Champion in 2019. The team advanced to the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship that year. == Film ==

Due to its physical resemblance to Kent State University, Gadsden State was used for the filming of the television movie Kent State (1981), a docudrama about the Kent State shootings. == Notable alumni ==

• Jeff Cook, musician, songwriter, founding member of Alabama • Greg Jelks, former professional baseball player • Andrew Pope, country music singer and songwriter • John Solomon Sandridge, artist, author, educator • Drake White, country music singer ==Notes==