J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a combination community college and technical trade college in Huntsville, Alabama. The campus is located at 3421 Meridian Street North. As of the Fall 2013 semester, Drake State has an enrollment of 1,384 students.
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History
The college was founded in 1961 as the Huntsville State Vocational Technical College. The campus opened September 1962 with one building built on 32 acres deeded by Alabama A&M University. Enrollment at opening consisted of 27 students in three programs: brick masonry, cosmetology, and auto mechanics. In 1966, the school was renamed J. F. Drake State Technical Trade School in honor of Joseph Fanning Drake, a long-serving president of Alabama A&M University. The school desegregated in 1967, becoming the first desegregated postsecondary technical school in the country. The school was awarded technical college status in 1973 and took the name J.F. Drake State Technical College. In 2013, the college was again renamed after long-awaited state approval. The college is now officially known as J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College. This change was petitioned for when the institution attained community college status after earning membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in July 2012. J.F. Drake State is currently the only higher education institution in the state of Alabama to receive this naming convention. This allows the college to operate as both a traditional two-year community college, while retaining its renowned technical trade programs. The school colors are royal blue and white and the mascot is the Blue Eagle. The college has had five presidents, with Mr. Christopher A. Lewis the current interim president.
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Programs
Drake currently offers programs of study in four divisions:
- Business and Engineering Technologies
- Business Administration/Accounting
- Electrical
- Engineering Graphics
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Information Systems
- General and Developmental Education
- Associate in Arts
- Associate in Science
- Adult Education
- Health Sciences Technology
- Medical Assistant
- Practical Nursing
- Registered Nursing
- Applied Services Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Automotive Service
- Automotive Mechanics
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Cosmetology Instructor Training
- Culinary Arts/Hospitality Service Management
- Heating and Air Conditioning
- Machine Tool
- Salon and Spa Management
- Welding
Campus
The main campus of J.F. Drake State consists of the following:
- Building 100 (Constructed 1980): Nursing Program
- Building 200 (Constructed 1980): Electrical Engineering, Industrial Systems, and Machine Tool Technology Programs
- Building 300 (Constructed 1966): Culinary Arts Program and the Cafetorium Multipurpose Facility
- Building 400 (Constructed 1966): Welding and Automotive Service Technology Programs as well as the Facilities Operations Office
- Building 500 (Constructed 1966): Accounting, Computer Information Systems, and Medical Assisting Technology Programs as well as the Business Office, I.T. Services Department, and the Human Resources Office
- Building 600 / Powers Center (Constructed 1961, Heavily Renovated 2011): The "Original Drake Campus" houses the Cosmetology Program, the Student Center, and the Campus Security Office. The cosmetology portion of the building (known as Powers Center) is named in honor of Norma L. Powers. Powers was a pioneer in the development of the current Salon Management and Barbering Technology programs at J.F. Drake State. Powers Center is a cutting edge cosmetology, barbering, and salon management training facility which encompasses approximately 80% of the building.
- Building 700 (Constructed 1969): General Studies as well as the Admissions Office, Career Services Office, Testing Center, TRIO Program Office, and the Counseling Services Office
- Building 800 (Constructed 1969): Adult Education, Engineering Graphics, and Heating and Air Conditioning Technology Programs
- S.C. O'Neal Library and Technology Center (Known as "The LTC", Constructed 2006): General Studies, two story library center, third floor houses the Dean's Office and the President's Office
- Renewable Energy Laboratory (Constructed 2012): training lab for the installation of geothermal heating and cooling units. It is completely off-grid and houses a 60-gallon solar thermal water heater and 12 solar panels. It also has a charging station for electric vehicles, with electricity provided completely via solar power.
All of the original core buildings of the campus remain to this day and consist mostly of mid-century modern single level architecture. Many buildings have been heavily renovated to meet current technology needs, but some still contain their completely original fittings and layouts. This creates a unique blend of modern cutting-edge technology, while offering a rare glimpse back to Huntsville's engineering/space race boom of the 1960s. The campus is beautifully landscaped and has been awarded Huntsville's Beautification Award on several occasions.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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