Academics
The Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) in Cumberland opened its doors in 1960. At that time, the campus functioned as an extension service of the University of Kentucky. Beginning in the 1980s, steady growth and high demand for the college’s services led to the founding of additional campuses. The Whitesburg campus began operations in 1990. Over the following 12 years, additional SKCTC campuses opened in Middlesboro, Pineville and Harlan. Since its founding, one of the core missions of SKCTC has been to bring educational and vocational training opportunities to an under-served region of Kentucky.
Students at Southeast Kentucky CTC choose from one of several programs of study. Associate’s of arts degrees prepare the graduate for transfer to a four-year institution. These transfer programs ensure that students have completed most general education requirements and are ready to enter the articulating institution at junior classification. For students not planning to work towards the baccalaureate, applied associate’s degrees provide in-depth training for a technical or health sciences career. SKCTC also offers certificate and diploma programs, some of which can be completed in less than a year.
The Certified Laboratory Technician program qualifies graduates to work in clinics, hospitals, blood and plasma clinics, and health departments. Before receiving the certificate, students must pass the Board of Registry exam sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Students have the option of continuing their studies at a later date, transferring certificate credits into a bachelor’s degree program in a number of fields, including pre-med, biology, chemistry and environmental science.
Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) makes modern industry and manufacturing possible. The CAD program at SKCTC trains students in the art and science of turning hand sketches and designs into workable blueprints. Graduates find employment in architecture, civil engineering and heavy industry. The CAD curriculum includes a great deal of lab work, as well as team projects. The ability to work well together is stressed throughout the program, as the drafter’s workplace will certainly require collaboration and communication.
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College prides itself on offering a wide variety of vocational development programs. The curriculum is designed with the region in mind, such that courses represent occupations available in southeastern Kentucky. Students can earn certificates and diplomas in fields such as air conditioner technology, mining technology, diesel technology and heavy equipment operations.
Distance learning at Southeast Kentucky CTC includes both online courses and interactive television (ITV) courses. Online courses feature a community user interface, with all materials available digitally. Communication is via e-mail, although some online courses have required face-to-face meetings as well. More than 1,000 students enroll in online courses each semester. Interactive television courses require classroom attendance. An instructor at another campus broadcasts his or her lecture to one or more observing campuses. Students at any of the campuses may ask questions of the instructor, just as in a traditional classroom.
