A New Focus for the Gateway Technology Center

In 2008-09, as the focus of the Gateway Technology Center (GTC) in Rocky Mount shifted, so did DELTA’s role with the GTC. The result has been positive changes to develop better ways to serve the four-county region surrounding Rocky Mount.

In 2007-08, UNC General Administration collected information about the GTC (academic offerings, students interests, regional needs assessment, etc.) to assess the impact that the center had on the four-county region. The results showed that the demand for professional and continuing education offerings was growing significantly faster than interest in credit DE education. A proposal was given for the GTC to focus on continuing education and professional development opportunities.

In Spring 2008, NC State executive leadership discussed the strategy of the GTC and the need to focus on continuing education. As a result of that discussion, NC State leadership decided to move the GTC out of DELTA’s Marketing and Partnership Development unit to a unit that would better match its changing vision: meeting the community needs for continuing education and professional development. The GTC joined the NC State Office of Extension, Engagement and Economic Development (EEED); specifically, the GTC now reports to Alice Warren, Assistant Vice Chancellor – McKimmon Center.

DELTA has been a partner with East Carolina University Outreach for over six years with the GTC project. We will continue to partner with the GTC to offer specific credit DE programs through the facility, focusing on NC Teach, EOL and other appropriate DE offerings. And the GTC is now working with the McKimmon Center’s Rocky Mount initiative – Upper Coastal Plains Learning Council that expands non-credit teacher education, especially in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) disciplines. So GTC is still prospering and is still a partnership between NCSU and ECU, but as the focus has changed, so has its reporting status within NC State.

Learn more about the Gateway Technology Center at www.mckimmon.ncsu.edu/collaborativeGTC/.