Vision, Mission, and History
Catawba Valley Community College
College Vision
We will empower students to transform the communities of our region, and our state by providing exceptional learning experiences, premier workforce development, and engaging personal enrichment.
College Mission
Catawba Valley Community College is committed to excellence, quality engagement, valuing every interaction, and relentless execution in the transformation of our students and communities.
Core Values
CVCC’s principles are expressed in The Four E’s where students are our focus:
Commitment to Excellence
We value continuous improvement in teaching and learning excellence.
Value Every Interaction
We value every interaction within our communities to provide safe, professional, and inclusive campuses.
Quality Engagement
We value quality engagement to develop the potential of every student and employee.
Relentless Execution
We value relentless execution to exceed the expectations of our students and our communities.
History
Through the concerted efforts of concerned and united Catawba County citizens and North Carolina educational leaders, on April 3, 1958, Catawba Valley Community College was established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the ninth school of its kind in the state. Construction of the original facilities began in 1959. The 40,000 square foot building costing approximately $500,000 was completed in August 1960. An initial enrollment of seventy-seven (77) students began classes in September of the same year. From 1960 to 1963, the College operated under the jurisdiction of the Catawba County Board of Education. During this time the College was known as the Catawba County Industrial Education Center.
In July 1963, the General Assembly of North Carolina enacted into law G.S. 115A which provided for the establishment of the present North Carolina System of Community Colleges. On January 9, 1964, Catawba Valley Technical Institute was among the original seven institutes chartered by the Department. At that time, CVTI established its own Board of Trustees and began operation as a member of the Department of Community Colleges. Thus, it was in August 1964, that the College awarded its first Associate Degree in Applied Science.
It was during the transition from an Industrial Education Center to Technical Institute that great strides began in expanding educational programs, increasing student enrollment, developing quality instruction, adding facilities, and increasing community acceptance and service. On September 1, 1979, the name of the institution was changed to Catawba Valley Technical College by the Trustees and commissioners of Catawba County. On December 1, 1987, the State Board of Community Colleges officially approved CVTC to become Catawba Valley Community College and the College Transfer program was approved.
The addition of the CVCC Alexander Center for Education was approved by the State Board in November 2000, and again we expanded programs and services to better serve our community. We have moved the Alexander Center twice to meet community needs. The most recent move was into a facility purchased by the Alexander County Commissioners. In addition to the 15,000 sq. foot facility on 4.72 acres located at 345 Industrial Boulevard in Taylorsville, the Alexander Commissioners have purchased a second facility adjacent to the original purchase, and in October 2016, we expanded the Alexander Center for Education to include an Alexander Technologies Center, which offers skills programs in furniture and welding.
Today (January 2017), the campus now covers approximately 162 acres and includes 16 buildings for an approximate 650,000 sq. feet of floor space. In addition, there is a CVCC Newton Cosmetology Center located in Newton, the CVCC Corporate Development Center located on U.S. Highway 70, and the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy also located on U. S. Highway 70. The college is excited to have a new 80,000 sq. ft. facility at the back of main campus. The CVCC Workforce Solutions Complex is expected to be complete in June of 2018 allowing expanded technology programming.
Catawba Valley Community college celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018. The faculty and staff have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands and still today, we are about empowering people to achieve their dreams. During this time span, we have had only three presidents; founding president Robert Paap who retired in 1987, Dr. Cuyler A. Dunbar served from 1987 through 2006. The current president is Dr. Garrett D. Hinshaw who came on board August 1, 2006. Catawba Valley Community College continues as a publicly supported coeducational institution.