Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, also referred to as A-B Tech, is a public two-year community college located in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 1959, it is one of the oldest members of the North Carolina Community College System. The school primarily serves the Buncombe and Madison counties.
| Overall Score (about) | 57.7 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $4,632 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 13 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 60% / 46% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 6,892 |
Available programs include associate’s degrees, diplomas, and certificates in diverse areas of study. The academic programs include Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Basic Law Enforcement Training, Computer Information Technology (Database Management), Digital Media Technology (Digital Video), Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Medical Sonography. The College is composed of the following academic divisions: Allied Health & Public Service; Arts & Sciences; Business & Hospitality Education; and Engineering & Applied Technology.
For working adults, the school offers Economic and Workforce Development/ Continuing Education programs in several career related areas. With the help of these programs, individuals can complete their studies or further their education while maintaining a full time job. Some of the popular programs are related to basic skills, community enrichment, computer training, decorative painting and restoration, occupational and public service training, registration and payment, and workforce development.
The online programs provide students the flexibility to pursue their education goals anytime, anywhere. The college offers several online programs and hybrid courses which combine online learning and traditional courses. It currently offers a totally online Associate in Arts Diploma and Associate in Arts Degree. Partner firms like Ed2Go and Gatlin Education also offer skill enhancing online classes for student’s convenience.
Students seeking admission must send their official transcripts to the College and take any one of the following tests: Accuplacer Test, ACT or SAT. Transfer students are encouraged to apply for admission by sending all the official transcripts of previously attended institutes. Applicants whose native language is not English must send their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
A-B Tech strives to provide equal opportunity for education to all students. Thus, it offers a variety of financial aid programs in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. These financial aids help needy and deserving students meet their educational expenses. All applicants must complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some of the federal and state grants offered at the College are Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant, North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship, North Carolina Community College Grant, and North Carolina Community College Grant.
The types of scholarships offered are Foundation Scholarships, Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program (NESLP), and General Scholarships. The General Scholarships include American Welding Society Fund, McDowell Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship, North Carolina AmeriCorps, NC Space Grant, and National Honor Society.
Loans are the type of financial assistance that needs to be repaid with interest. Direct loans, subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, and Stafford loans are all available. The college also provides financial assistance to the students with the help of work study programs.
Campus life is vibrant and aimed at the overall growth and development of the students. The office of Student Activities and the Student Government Association (SGA) attempts to enhance the academic as well as social growth of the students through a range of student activities and events such as Fall Festival, Veterans’ Day Refreshments and Gifts, Children’s Holiday Party, Earth Day Celebration, and Student Government Association Services. Students are encouraged to get involved in the various campus activities and events to foster their growth and development.
There are several clubs and organizations on the campus. Students can either join an existing club or form a new one. Some of the student clubs include Medical Assisting Student Association (MASA), Cyber Defense Club, Student Paramedic Association (SPA), Baking and Pastry Club, Practical Nursing Club, and Surgical Technology club. Students can also be a part of the various on-campus honor societies such as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Alpha Upsilon Eta Chapter and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) Omega Alpha Epsilon Chapter.
INbox Student News is the online news portal.
Tech Talk Newsletter is a publication for the friends and employees of the college.
The Holly Library provides a rich collection of books, magazines, DVDs, audio books, ebooks and databases to help students in their research. The facilities and services offered at Holly Library include laptops for in-library use, a student computer lab, research and email computers, wireless access, calm study areas, and group study rooms. The Career Center at the campus offers career related advise and counseling to the students. It helps students in choosing a major, developing their educational plans, making career decisions, and prepare for job in their field of interest. It offers service such as career assessments, resume writing, interview skills, and faculty resources.
The Office of Disability Support Services works to ensure that programs and facilities are accessible to all college students. It provides special services for the students with documented disabilities. It strives to provide equal opportunity, involvement in the campus environment, physical accessibility and the provision of accommodations, supporting aids and services to the students.
Intramural sports are offered each fall and spring term to faculty, staff, and students. The only pre-requisites to take part are proper athletic wear and shoes. The volleyball participants need to have some previous experience in the sport, such as varsity, club, league, or previous intramural experience.
The Small Business Center provides free one-to-one counseling for the business owners or potential owners to help them in getting started or with a certain area of concern. The counseling sessions can cover an array of topics ranging from marketing and licensing to patents and trademarks. They also offer a wide range of resources and services to help businesses start and grow. The Center also organizes various workshops, training, seminars, expos and camps.
The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It also has several discipline based accreditations from agencies such as the North Carolina Board of Nursing, the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, the Joint Review Committee on Education Radiologic Technology, the American Dental Association, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology.
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