Appalachian State University Center at Caldwell County
On March 3, 2009 four educational institutions in the region signed a memorandum of understanding establishing an educational partnership known as the Appalachian State University Greater Hickory Partnership.
This agreement between Appalachian State University, Catawba Valley Community College, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and Western Piedmont Community College facilitated an expansion of Appalachian's degree offerings in Hickory and in Caldwell and Burke counties.
The partnership will ensure that higher education opportunities are provided to citizens in the geographic areas served by the partner institutions.
As part of the agreement, the Hickory Metro Higher Education Center was disbanded and became the Appalachian State University Center at Hickory. The facilities designed to provide post-community college educational opportunities at the member community colleges are now known as the Appalachian State University Center at Hickory, the Appalachian State University Center at Burke, and the Appalachian State University Center at Caldwell.
The North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies located in Hickory will also be part of the Appalachian State University Greater Hickory Partnership. Their name remains the same.
To facilitate operations of the partnership, Appalachian appointed Dr. Jane Everson as director of the partnership. Dr. Everson organizes program assessment efforts, recruitment, promotion and student support services, and is the liaison with each community college in the partnership. Appalachian also provides staffing in keeping with programming and service needs at each location. Centralized administration of the Appalachian programming at the four facilities in the partnership is located at the Appalachian State University Center at Hickory.
An advisory council composed of regional leaders with a commitment to higher education and workforce development advise the partnership director on matters relating to the educational needs of the region.
Information regarding the programs at each of the Appalachian Centers can be found by clicking on one of the links in the navigation bars.
