Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology

{{Infobox university

| name = Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology

| image = Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology Logo.png

| seal_image =

| former_name = State Area Vocational-Technical School (1967–1994)
Tennessee Technology Centers (1994–2013)

| type = Public technical college system

| established = {{Start date|1967}}

| students = 34,486

| state = Tennessee

| country = United States

| campus_type = 26 campuses

| website =

}}

The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) is a public technical college system operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It has 24 campuses located throughout the US state of Tennessee.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-15 |title=Colleges of Applied Technology |url=https://www.tbr.edu/institutions/colleges-applied-technology |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Tennessee Board of Regents |language=en}} It was previously named the Tennessee Technology Centers.

{{As of|2025|March}}, the TCAT campuses have a combined enrollment of 34,486 students, with the most popular programs being truck driving, welding, automotive technology, practical nursing, and cosmetology.{{Cite web |date=March 2025 |title=College Data Profile: All TCATs |url=https://www.tbr.edu/sites/default/files/college-profiles/tcatprofiles/TBR_TCATProfile.pdf |access-date=May 1, 2025 |website=TBR |publisher=Tennessee Board of Regents}}

History

TCAT was founded as the State Area Vocational-Technical Schools. Construction began on the first three urban locations, Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville, in July 1966.{{Cite news |date=June 30, 1966 |title=Knoxville School Bids Due July 31 |url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/june-30-1966-page-36-44/docview/2660673489/se-2 |access-date=May 19, 2025 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |pages=37 |via=Proquest}} The Knoxville campus opened in January 1968.{{Cite news |date=October 25, 1967 |title=About ready to open |url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-25-1967-page-12-56/docview/2660675491/se-2 |access-date=May 19, 2025 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |pages=A12 |via=Proquest}} In 1994, State Area Vocational-Technical Schools were rebranded as Tennessee Technology Centers.{{Cite news |date=June 19, 1994 |title=Vocational school changes its name |url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/june-19-1994-page-18-194/docview/2662051306/se-2 |access-date=May 19, 2025 |work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel |pages=B6 |via=Proquest}} Tennessee Technology Centers received praise from Complete College America in a 2011 report for their high degree completion rate of 75 percent.{{Cite news |last=Lewin |first=Tamar |date=2011-09-27 |title=College Graduation Rates Are Stagnant Even as Enrollment Rises, a Study Finds |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/education/27remediation.html |access-date=2025-05-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In July 2013, Tennessee Technology Centers was rebranded as Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to clearly communicate the post-secondary training offered.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=June 30, 2013 |title=Tennessee Technology Centers becoming Colleges of Applied Technology; Recognized for Workforce Education |url=https://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2013/06/29/tennessee-technology-centers-becoming-colleges-of-applied-technology-recognized-for-workforce-education/ |access-date=May 20, 2025 |website=Clarksville Online |language=en-US}}

Campuses

File:TCAT Morristown.jpg

TCAT has 26 campuses and several branches from other campuses:

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| label = Hartsville

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| label = Morristown

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| label = Shelbyville

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|float=right|caption=Tennessee Colloges of Applied Technology locations, 2025.}}{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

{{div col end}}

Academics

TCAT offers numerous programs and has partnerships with businesses. The Memphis campus offers a welding apprenticeship program with Morgan Steel company.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-30 |title=Morgan Steel & TCAT offer apprenticeship for high-paying steel industry |url=https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/morgan-steel-tcat-offer-apprenticeship-for-high-paying-steel-industry/article_a347ca69-34d4-45ee-a6d9-907aa860142a.html |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=FOX13 Memphis |language=en}}

See also

References