Roane State Community College

Roane State Community College was authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1969 and began operation in 1970. The college's purpose is to develop the cultural, intellectual, physical and vocational resources of the surrounding area through qualified teaching, professional counseling and guidance, and supplementary services offered to students and the community. The purpose is fourfold:

- to serve those who wish to transfer and complete a four-year college education; - to serve those who wish to complete their formal education and enter the work force upon graduation; - to serve the entire community through a program based on community needs and demands; and - to offer remedial programs for those students in need of intensive preparation for college-level work.

Specifically, Roane State Community College attempts to fulfill its role in the educational process by:

- promoting a liberal admissions policy, - developing and maintaining a broad curriculum of superior quality, - supporting a position of low fees for its students, - maintaining a fundamental awareness of the area it serves, - establishing adequate articulation with 4 year institutions, - developing reasonable vocational and occupational objectives, and - encouraging more effective use of leisure time.

Now into its third decade, Roane State serves a 15-county area in East Tennessee from campuses located in Harriman and Oak Ridge. Selected courses are also offered at other sites throughout the school's service area. The college offers day, night, and weekend classes. As a comprehensive community college, Roane State is one of Tennessee's fastest growing institutions. The school is currently the second largest community college in the state system. The institution enrolls approximately 4,200 students in its college credit program and annually provides education/training services for more than 3,000 people through its Office of Continuing Education. During the past 4 years, the college has earned the highest cumulative rating of any community college in the state.

Educational Programs

There are three major segments of Roane State's educational program: transfer education, career education, and community service. Designed for students who plan to transfer to a senior institution, Roane State's academic transfer curriculum includes 2 years of instruction in the humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social studies to build a strong liberal arts and technical background during the freshman and sophomore years. Roane State graduates transfer to the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Technological University, Middle Tennessee State University, East Tennessee State University, and other Tennessee colleges and universities, as well as many schools in other states.

Roane State Community College's career education division trains students in business management, waste management technology, engineering technology, allied health, computer technology, office administration, police and fire science, and other fields where jobs are open to students with 2 year degrees. The ever-increasing demand for people to work under the supervision of the scientist, engineer, doctor, or business professional has led to the development of a wide range of career education options. Offerings are sufficiently flexible to meet the changing educational needs of the community.

The Center for Business and Professional Programs

As part of its continuing education function, Roane State has developed the Center for Business and Professional Programs. This center offers professional continuing education seminars and workshops, job training programs, and college courses in the areas of technology, business, and health. The center also works with groups or organizations to plan and stage conferences, offer technical assistance, and conduct training needs analyses. Services are designed specifically to assist businesses and individuals in developing new skills, updating current skills, and acquiring state-of-the-art information applicable to the work place. The center works with the client to help maximize the client's training dollars and provide professional services at affordable prices. Because the client's business is the Center's business, clients do not have to wait months for arrangements. Service is designed specifically to meet the pressing demands of time schedules.

Education Advantages in Oak Ridge.
Center instructors are professionals who are carefully screened and selected to ensure that the client receives the most advanced, accurate, and thoughtfully presented training. Most are actively working in their fields and are skilled at sharing their knowledge with students of all abilities.

The center offers training on college-credit and not-for-credit bases. Many of the non-credit classes carry Continuing Education Units, a nationally accepted measure of successful completion of a professional continuing education program.

Service.
Education/training services of the Center for Business and Professional Programs are outlined below. If a needed service is not listed, that does not necessarily mean the center does not offer it. It only means the CBPP hasn't been called on as yet to provide that particular service.

- Professional Continuing Education Services. These continuing education seminars and workshops are designed to assist participants in developing new skills and attitudes, gaining state-of-the-art information, increasing productivity and learning new processes, methods and techniques.

- In-Plant Training Services. The center offers high-quality, customized training programs for businesses that can be conducted at the place of business.

- Conference Services. The Center for Business and Professional Programs offers conference support for business, professional and community groups. The center will find the presenters, work with the client to design the program, arrange rooms, textbooks, meals and publicity, arrange for handouts, and manage the conference including day-to-day activities. Conferences can be held on the campus or in a local motel. By using the center staff and services, groups can reduce their overall costs and the cost to participants.

- High Technology Training Services. The center offers seminars, workshops, and in-plant training programs in high-technology areas.

- Referrals. When it cannot offer assistance directly, the center will refer businesses to an appropriate problem-solving resource.