History

The History of Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College
Dr. Pamela S. Anderson
(November 2009)

In more than a half-century evolutionary journey, the Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College has developed from its seminal beginning in 1953 as the tentative associate degree offerings of West Virginia State College to a vibrant, independent community and technical college serving the state’s largest metropolitan area. Today, KVCTC provides a broad spectrum of associate degrees, certificates, industry certifications, skill sets, continuing education, community services, employee training, developmental and transfer education. The following narrative provides a brief history of how this unique institution was created.

Creating a New Community and Technical College
In the beginning of this century, the West Virginia Legislature passed legislation that would begin the process of creating a system of independent Community and Technical Colleges. This process would conclude with the passage of House Bill 3215 in 2008 which created Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College as a new institution with a distinct Board of Governors. The new institution is currently located in Institute where it rents the Cole Complex building on the campus of West Virginia State University. However, efforts are underway to establish a new, separate campus at the former DOW research facility in South Charleston. The new campus will facilitate KVCTC’s mission and remedy the current crowded conditions. 

Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College’s
Accreditation History
The college received initial accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges in 2004. Two of the College’s academic programs have attained additional accreditation by professional bodies:

• the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology; and,
• the Nursing Program by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. and the West Virginia Board of Professional Nursing.

Distinctive Programs
Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College offers twenty-two associate degree programs, eleven certificate programs, twelve collaborative degree programs, and a variety of skill-set certificates. The College offers customized credit and non-credit training for business and industry through its Workforce and Economic Development Division. KVCTC has an extensive off-campus network of workplace based training sites throughout its service region of Kanawha, Putnam, and Clay counties.

Looking to the Future
The creation of a new institution has been at times exhilarating and energizing to students, staff and faculty, and at times challenging. They have met these challenges with great success, as is evidenced by the accreditation history and the growth in student enrollment. The fall of 2009 semester revealed an increase in student enrollment by 28% (490 students). As the KVCTC community looks to the future, it does so with the excitement of having a new campus and the expectation of continued growth and contribution to the Kanawha Valley.