Over Thirty Years of Learning

West Central Technical College, a unit of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, began operation in September 1968 after a resolution to build and operate a technical-vocational school was approved by the Carroll County Board of Education in February 1966.

The school opened with approximately 125 students in 11 occupational programs, including Accounting, Automobile Mechanics, Clerk-Typist, Cosmetology, Drafting, Electrical Construction & Maintenance, Machine Shop, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Practical Nursing, Secretarial Science and Welding. The first classes graduated in September 1969.

In 1976, plans were implemented to enlarge the institution; the new addition was completed in the fall of 1977. West Central then consisted of three adjacent buildings with 78,000 square feet of floor space. In FY85, the General Assembly approved funds to complete construction of the basement of the most recent addition.

On July 1, 1987, West Central became a state-governed institution under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Post-secondary Vocational Education. A local Board of Directors was appointed to give community input into the operation of the institution. Also in 1987, construction for West Central’s Industrial Training Center was completed. This facility added 12,654 square feet of much needed classroom and training space.

Program curricula have changed continuously to reflect the needs of an ever-changing community. Programs have been closed and new ones added, resulting in certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs in more than 70 occupational areas.

A campus in Douglas County was approved by the State Legislature, and construction began in December 1993. Completed in September 1995, the Douglas campus is located on a 45-acre site, with three separate buildings totaling 82,670 square feet. Facilities include an instructional building, a conference center with office space, and a child development center and lab.

Central Educational Center (CEC), West Central’s Coweta campus, is a partnership among West Central, Coweta County schools, and local businesses. West Central offers a full range of services at CEC including adult education, continuing education, credit courses for high school and adult students, and business and industry training.

In June of 2000, West Central opened the Career Resource Center in Haralson county. The center provides job seekers with various employment, training and educational resources.   State agencies partner with the college to provide services in workforce development. West Central also offers continuing education and adult education classes at the "One-Stop" Career Center.

On July 8, 2002, classes began at the Murphy campus located in Waco, Georgia.  West Central’s newest facility, the campus is 180,000 square feet, sits on 90 acres of land, and includes classroom and lab space, administrative offices, a bookstore, a library, student center, and a 12,000 square foot state-of-the-art conference center.  The campus was officially recognized as the Thomas B. Murphy campus on April 12, 2002 at the Haralson County Chamber of Commerce’s thirteenth annual meeting.  It was dedicated to Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Tom Murphy in honor of his loyal service to Georgia citizens and for his unwavering support of technical and adult education in the state. 

Change is an ever-present factor in the formula for growth at West Central Technical College. The faculty and staff are committed to providing technical education that is responsive to the changing needs of business and industry, students, and the community at large.

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