Historical Perspective on the Environmental and Life Science division:

Currently, the Environmental and Life Science Division has between 100-125 students annually in the two programs now entitled: Turfgrass management and Horticulture.

The Environmental and Life Science Division started in 1960 when CVCC was The Catawba County Industrial Educational Center, then going through several name changes, such as: CVTI, CVTC and finally CVCC. The division first had the Agricultural Business Program with great instructors like Dr. Ervin Lineberger, who later became Dean of Instruction, then in 1966 the Ornamental Horticulture Program was started with its name changing in 1973 to Landscape Technology and, finally, to Horticulture Technology.

In 1970, the Recreational Grounds Management Program was started with the arrival of Mr. Harry M. DuBose. Back in those days, the division's name reflected the fact that the Life Sciences part was what was then known as just the Nursing Program and the Environmental part of the name reflected upon the Agriculture Business, Ornamental Horticulture, Recreational Grounds Management, and even a one year transfer Forestry Program to either Haywood Community College or Wayne Community College. Later, the division became too large to be handled by one Division Chair, so a separate Health and Human Resources Program was formed for all nursing and medical related programs. However, it was decided by the administration to keep the name Environmental and Life Sciences, since all of the Agricultural, Horticultural, Turfgrass and Forestry Programs dealt with plant life, and we visually imporved the environment, plus all the plants our graduates planted help take pollutants out of the air.