Durham Technical Community College is a charter member of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). With locations throughout Durham and Orange counties, Durham Tech is the community college of choice for more than 18,000 students annually. The College opened as the Durham Industrial Education Center in 1961 and officially became Durham Technical Community College 25 years later.
Mission
Durham Tech ensures that all students develop the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to be successful in college, work, and life.
Vision Statement
To be the leader in our community’s educational, training, and economic development.
Core Values
| The Standard for Excellence | The College commits to the highest professional standards of quality, integrity, and performance in our programs, services, and operations. |
| Student‐Centered | The College provides high‐quality, learner-centered, and affordable educational and training opportunities, within a welcoming and supportive environment, that supports students through goal achievement. |
| Data‐Inspired | The College monitors and utilizes appropriate data, considers various sources of community input and developing trends, and implements changes to support continuous improvement. |
| A Champion for Equity | The College embraces the diversity, equality, equity, and uniqueness of students, employees, and the communities that we serve by committing to be an antiracist institution. |
| Communicative | The College commits to effective, open, and proactive communication. We take responsibility to listen and employ effective communication strategies to inform and foster collaboration. |
| A Good Steward of Resources | The College networks with community partners, targeting grant and resource development to address strategic priorities, and by allocating resources based on focused priorities that are sustainable. |
| A Collaborator | The College fosters economic development by leading, promoting, and creating educational opportunities through mutually respectful and beneficial partnerships with community organizations. |
Accreditation
Durham Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Durham Technical Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Durham Technical Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Certain College programs are also accredited by regional accreditation agencies.
Approbation
Durham Tech is approved by and a member of the North Carolina Community College System NCCCS. The following programs are approved by state agencies: the Emergency Medical Sciences program is approved by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services; the Opticianry program is approved by the North Carolina State Board of Opticians; the Nurse Aide I program is approved by the North Carolina Division for Facilities Services; the Paralegal Technology program is approved by the North Carolina State Bar; and the Basic Law Enforcement Training program is approved by the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Governance
The statutes of the State of North Carolina provide for the organization and administration of a community college system under the direction of the State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC). The 21-member board has full authority to adopt all policies, regulations, and standards it deems necessary for the operation of the system. Members of the State Board are appointed by the Governor and the General Assembly. The State Board has three major functions: equitable distribution of funds and fiscal accountability; establishing and maintaining state priorities; and educational program approval and accountability.
Durham Tech is governed by a Board of Trustees. Four members of the Board are appointed by the Governor; four are appointed by the Durham County Board of Commissioners; four are appointed by the Durham Public Schools Board of Education; and two are appointed by the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Trustees serve four-year terms and set local policy for the College. One trustee serves as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Board, by virtue of their election as the College’s Student Government Association (SGA) President, pursuant to General Statutes 115D-12(a). The Board is governed by a set of bylaws.
View the members of the Board of Trustees.
Performance Outcomes
Durham Tech uses State Performance metrics to assess college performance and goal completion. These metrics help the College analyze data on key student outcomes in ways that provide both a big-picture goal for improvement and a starting point for rigorous, internal program-level assessment. The metrics provide an outline for collecting comparative student outcome information relevant to completion, transfer, and bachelor’s degree attainment; equitable access and success; and learning.