J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College

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J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Type Public, historically black community and technical college
Established1961
Affiliation Alabama Community College System
President Dr. Patricia Sims [1]
Total staff
61
Undergraduates 976
Location, ,
USA

34°46′19″N86°34′26″W / 34.77194°N 86.57389°W / 34.77194; -86.57389
Campus Urban, 32 acres (.13 km²)
Colors Blue and White
Nickname Drake State
MascotBlue Eagle
Website drakestate.edu
J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College

J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College (Drake State) is a public, historically black community and technical college in Huntsville, Alabama. The college was founded as Huntsville State Vocational Technical College in 1961. Drake State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers associate degrees, certificates and non-credit courses through its 16 programs. [2] [3]

Contents

In 2021, Drake State was announced as one of six institutions to receive NASA’s Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science Award. In partnership with NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project, the college received approximately $1.2 million to expand its Frontiers Research Program for STEM workforce development and offer free STEM programs to local middle and high school students. [4] [5]

History

Drake State was founded in 1961 as the Huntsville State Vocational Technical College by the Alabama State Board of Education, and initially offered courses to African-American students. Classes commenced in September 1962 with 27 students enrolled in three programs: brick masonry, cosmetology and auto mechanics. The school comprised one building that sat on 32 acres (0.13 km2) of land deeded by Alabama A&M University. [6] [3] [7]

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. [3] [7]

In 1967, the school became the first desegregated postsecondary technical school in the United States. [8]

In 1973, it was designated a technical college by the state board of education, and adopted the name J.F. Drake State Technical College. [7]

In 2012, Drake State attained full accreditation, which was required to establish transfer agreements with four-year institutions in Alabama. The agreements would allow students to transfer their Drake State credits to a four-year institution after earning an associate degree at Drake State. [7]

In 2013, the school was renamed J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College with state approval. Drake State is the first and only higher education institution in Alabama to receive this naming convention, which allows the college to operate as both a traditional two-year community college, while retaining its technical trade programs. [7]

Presidents

Campus

The main campus of J.F. Drake State consists of the following:

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. The campus is landscaped and has been awarded Huntsville's Beautification Award on several occasions. [15]

Administration and organization

Drake State operates under five divisions: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies; Applied Services Technologies; Business, Computer Science and Engineering Technologies; General and Developmental Education; and Health Sciences Technologies. [16]

A typical academic year is broken up into two 16-week terms during the fall (August–December) and spring (January–May). Within each full term are two accelerated sessions that last approximately seven weeks each. The full summer term is 10 weeks long (May–August). Within the term are two accelerated sessions that each last approximately five weeks. An academic year begins on the first day of the fall term and ends on the last day of the summer term. [17]

Academics

Drake State has an open admissions policy and accepts life experience as credits. [2] The college offers early entry and dual enrollment programs to local high school students. [18] [19] In addition to its associate and certificate degree programs, Drake State offers adult education/GED courses. The college also offers a continuing education and adult skills training program as well as a training for existing business and industry program through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Workforce Development division. [18] [20]

Drake State has transfer agreements with every public four-year institution in Alabama. The agreements allow students to automatically transfer after completing an associate degree at Drake State. [21]

Student Life

Student Body

As of fall 2020, Drake State's student body consists of 825 students. There are 31 percent full-time and 69 percent part-time students. [2]

Demographics of student body in fall 2020 [2]
Full and Part Time StudentsU.S. Census [b] [22]
International2%N/A
Multiracial American 5%2.8%
Black/African American 62%13.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1%1.3%
Asian 1%5.9%
Non-Hispanic White American 23%60.1%
Hispanic/Latino American 5%18.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0%0.2%
Other/Unknown2%N/A

Organizations

Several student clubs and organizations operate at Drake State, including honors societies and student government, special interest and service organizations. [3]

Campus groups include: Cyber Security Club; Entrepreneurship Club; International Association of Administrative Professionals; Medical Assisting Technology Club; Phi Beta Lambda; Phi Theta Kappa; S.C. O’Neal, Sr. Library and Technology Center Book Club; SkillsUSA and Student Ambassador's Program. [23]

Drake State holds an annual "Mr. and Ms. Drake State" pageant to honor a select group of students who represent the school and embody the school's spirit. Drake State also holds an annual car show, sponsored by its automotive program. [3]

Notes

  1. McAlpine resigned after being placed on administrative leave in November 2015 pending an investigation into the allocation of grant funding under her administration. [10] [11]
  2. People who identify as Hispanic/Latino are included in applicable race categories.

References

  1. 1 2 "New president announced for Drake State". WAFF 48. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "College Navigator - J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "J. F. Drake State Technical College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  4. Smith, Dylan (5 August 2021). "NASA awards Drake State nearly $1.2M for STEM workforce development and outreach". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. Norman, Nixon (20 October 2021). "Drake State will provide more STEM opportunities for students". WZDX Fox54. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  6. Jackson, Cynthia L.; Nunn, Eleanor F. (2003). Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 20. ISBN   978-1-85109-422-6 . Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Report on the J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Huntsville, Alabama October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018". Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. "HBCU: J.F. Drake State Technical College". NewsOne. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  9. "Helen T. McAlpine". White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. 1 2 Lawson, Brian (7 May 2016). "A look at troubles that led to forced retirement of Drake State president". WHNT News 19. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. "Drake State President Placed on Administrative Leave". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. "Kemba Chambers Is the New Leader of Drake State Community and Technical College". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  13. "The Alabama Community College System announces a new interim president for Drake State". WHNT News 19. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  14. "DRAKE STATE Community and Technical College | Campus Tours | J. F. Drake State Technical Trade School". drakestate.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-06-20.
  15. "J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  16. "Academic Programs". Drake State Community and Technical College. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  17. "Instructional Calendar". Drake State Community and Technical College. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  18. 1 2 "J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College Catalog 2020-2021" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  19. "Dual Enrollment". Drake State Community and Technical College. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  20. "ADECA Workforce Development Division | Drake State Community and Technical College". Drake State Community and Technical College. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  21. "Graduation & Transfer". Drake State Community and Technical College.
  22. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  23. "Student Organizations". Drake State Community and Technical College. Retrieved 8 February 2022.