Wake Technical Community College (WTCC) History and Academics

History

On April 3, 1958, Wake Technical Community College was founded as the Wake County Industrial Education Center. The school enrolled students in vocational training and curriculum studies programs, and the institution became known as Wake Technical Community College on December 1, 1987.

The community college received its first accreditation in 1969 from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

During the 2008-2009 school year, the college added sports teams that include golf, men’s soccer, softball, baseball, and basketball. The young teams are dedicated to excelling in all sporting areas.

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Information Summary

Ranks 51st in North Carolina and 1636th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	70.6
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$4,268
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	13 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	66% / 49%
Enrollment Total (all students)	21,872

Academics

Wake Community College is a two-year technical training school and institution of higher education. The main campus is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and is part of the North Carolina Community College System. The Raleigh campus consists of 13 buildings, including a Child Care Facility and an Independent Learning Center.

Wake Technical Community College offers over 157 programs of study that earn diploma, certificates, and associate degree in a vast number of areas. The continuing Education Department also offers hundreds of non-credit courses to students. Wake Tech consists of 6 academic divisions: Applied Technologies Division; Computer and Engineering Technology Division; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Division, Health Sciences Division; Business Technologies Division; and Mathematics and Sciences Division.

Applied Technologies Division

This division prepares students for careers in the trades. The division contains such careers as construction management, cosmetology, plumbing, and welding technology. A few of the academic department are AC, Heating and Refrigeration Department; Esthetics Department; Heavy Equipment and Transportation Department; and Machinery Technology Department.

Computer and Engineering Technologies

This division trains students in computer related and engineering skills such as programming languages, web design training, and applied engineering training. This division has the largest number of graduates from a technical program of all technical programs in North Carolina.

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

This division exposes students to a wide range of knowledge and skills to assist students with selecting a specialization area. A few of the academic departments include English Department, Foreign Language Department, Fine Arts Department, and Social Sciences Department.

Health Sciences

Students receive training that offers opportunities for rewarding careers in nursing homes, healthcare agencies, hospitals, and physician’s offices. A few of the academic departments include Dental Assisting Department, Radiology Department, Pharmacy Technology Department, and Emergency Medical Science Department.

Business Technologies

This division prepares students to work in hotel and restaurant management, real estate, culinary technology, and criminal justice technology. A few of the academic departments include Early Childhood Education Department, Lateral Entry Department, Baking and Pastry Department, and Accounting Department.

Math and Sciences

This division trains student for careers in the math and science areas. The departments include Mathematics and Physics Department and Natural Sciences, Health, and Physical Education Department.

Wake Tech also offers Continuing Education programs. This division allows students to update and train in various professional and vocational areas. Students can also take basic skills courses and earn a GED. Evening and weekend courses are available to interested students. The academic programs include Basic Skills, Community Projects and Educational Programs, Business and Industry, Public Safety and Services Occupations, Bionetwork Capstone Center at the BTEC, and Education Services and Technology.

Wake Technical Community College currently offers over 300 courses online and over 15 certificate programs, 1 diploma program, and 13 associate degree programs online. Some courses and programs are offered exclusively online and others are offered as hybrid courses and programs (online and on campus). Students can earn online, diplomas, certificates, and degrees in Global Logistics Technology, Office Administration, Computer Programming, Accounting, Business Administration, Database Management, and Industrial Engineering Technology.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Admissions

New students and transfer students who wish to attend Wake Tech must complete an admissions application, submit official copies of high school or GED transcripts to the admissions office, submit official transcript of all college level courses, complete the COMPASS placement test, and meet with an academic advisor.

High school students may enroll in Wake Tech to earn dual credit in the Concurrent Enrollment Program. High school juniors and seniors are allowed to participate in this program as long as students meet certain criteria. Students must meet the same requirements for admission as new students. Additional requirements include a 520 or higher on the SAT in the area of critical reading and a 600 or higher in the math section of the SAT, or a score of 21 or higher on the math, writing, and reading section of the ACT, or a “C” or higher on college-level math and English courses in high school.

Registration dates vary according to program degree, division, and earned credits so students must check for specific registration dates on the Wake Technical Community College’s website for more information.

Financial Aid

Students must complete the FAFSA application to determine financial aid eligibility. The deadlines to submit FAFSA forms is early April for the summer session, early May for the fall session, and early October for the spring semester. Students must submit the FAFSA form to qualify for loans, grants, scholarships, veteran’s benefits, and Federal Work-Study Programs.

Loans options come in various types. This type of financial assistance must be repaid. Dependent undergraduate students may qualify for up to $5,500 per year in student loans and independent undergraduate students may qualify for up to $9,500 a year in student loans.

Grants are available on a need basis. This form of financial assistance does not require repayment. Students may qualify for Federal Pell Grants ($400-$4,050), Academic Competitiveness Grant ($350 per semester), Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant ($800 per year maximum), North Carolina Community College Grant ($700 per year), North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (varies), and Child Care Grant ($100-$1250).

Work-Study Programs allow student to work 10-15 hours per week to earn money for college. Students cannot earn more than $3000 per year in Work-Study money. The requirements to qualify for the form of financial aid include admittance into a diploma or degree program, a minimum GPA of 2.0, enrollment in a minimum of six credit hours per semester, and meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines for Federal Student Aid.

Scholarships are a form of financial assistance that does not require repayment. Students may qualify for two types of financial awards: need-based scholarships and merit-based scholarships. Possible scholarships that student may apply for include Apex Rotary Scholarship, Ben Walters Memorial Scholarship, Anita White Memorial Scholarship, Hendrick Cary Auto Mall Scholarship, J. Edward Silvey Memorial Scholarship, Greater Triangle Chapter of International Facility Management Association Scholarship, Hugh and Gladys Kiger Endowed Nursing Scholarship, and Mary Becker Endowed Scholarship. Outside scholarships and other forms of outside financial funding is available on the Wake Technical Community College website.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5590th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in North Carolina.

Students

Students have many opportunities to participate in campus activities. The Office of Student Activities schedules numerous activities in which students can participate in throughout the year. These events provide a unique opportunity for students to meet new people and interact in a warm environment. A few of the campus events that students may enjoy include Welcome Day, Fall Festival, Movie Days, Alcohol Awareness, Spring Fling, American Red Cross Blood Drive, and Rex Mammography.

Campus clubs and organizations are available to interested students. These student groups enhance the college experience and promote leadership and campus and community interaction. A few of the clubs and organizations include Early Childhood Association, Chess Club, Geometrics Club, Wake Tech Club Blogs, Future Designers Association of Wake Tech, TACTICS, International Friends Club, Muslim Student Union, and Social Studies Club.

The university also offers Career Coaching to students. Career coaches assist students with planning educational and career goals. Several assessments tools are available to help students make career and educational decisions. Students may make an appointment with a career coach to begin the planning process. Services are available online for interested students. Students should contact someone in the Career Center at Wake Technical Community College to begin planning for the future.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

The Wake Technical Community College teams participate in the NJCAA Region X Division I. The team’s colors are gold and navy blue and the school’s mascot is the Eagle. The Eagles have 12 varsity sports teams. The teams include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, volleyball, and cheerleading. Sports teams were added at Wake Technical Community College in 2008. Volleyball, men’s golf, and soccer were the first teams introduced in 2008.

The facilities that the teams use include USA Baseball Complex, baseball; Southeastern Baptist, basketball; Devil’s Ridge Golf Club, golf; WakeMed Soccer Park and Middle Creek Soccer Park, soccer; Middle Creek Park and Knights of Columbus, softball; North Raleigh Christian Academy, volleyball.

Notable athletic accomplishments for the young teams include 2nd place in the Region X Division I, men’s soccer and 1st place in the Region X Division I Championship in 2009, men’s golf.

A contest was held at Wake Technical Community College in 2008. The contest was to name a new school mascot. The contest results show that students are proud of the eagle because the decision was made to keep the eagle as the school’s mascot.

Bibliography

Levin, John. S. and Virginia Montero-Hernandez. Community Colleges and Their Students: Co-Construction and Organizational Identity. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. Print.
Surhone, Lambert. Wake Technical Community College. Beau Bassin: Betascript Publishing, 2009. Print.
Wake Technical Community College. 4 May 2011. Web. 4 May 2011.

Wake Technical Community College