{{Short description|Public college in Cleveland, Tennessee, US}} {{about|the community college in Tennessee|the community college in North Carolina|Cleveland Community College|the community college and public university in Cleveland, Ohio|Cuyahoga Community College|and|Cleveland State University}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2017}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox university | name = Cleveland State Community College | image = Cleveland State School logo.JPG | motto = ''Obstinatus sed Aequus'' (Latin) | established = 1967 | type = [[Public college|Public]] [[community college]] | parent = [[Tennessee Board of Regents]] | president = Ray Brooks (interim) | undergrad = 3,200 | city = [[Cleveland, Tennessee|Cleveland]] | state = [[Tennessee]] | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|35.2002|-84.8789|type:edu|display=inline,title}} | campus = [[urban area|Urban]], {{convert|105|acre|km2}} | sports_nickname = [[Cougars]] | colors = Navy Blue and Columbia Blue | website = {{URL|www.clevelandstatecc.edu}} }}
'''Cleveland State Community College''' is a [[Public college|public]] [[community college]] in [[Cleveland, Tennessee]]. It is operated by the [[Tennessee Board of Regents]]. Like most community colleges, it emphasizes [[associate degree]]-level classes but it also offers some third- and fourth-year college-level courses as well through arrangements with other institutions.
== History == [[File:Cleveland State Community College's welcome sign.jpg|thumb|The entrance to Cleveland State Community College]] The Tennessee Board of Education authorized the establishment of one of the first three community colleges in Tennessee on June 22, 1965.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=History timeline ...|url=http://clevelandbanner.com/stories/history-timeline,44144|work=[[Cleveland Daily Banner]]|location=Cleveland, Tennessee|date=October 8, 2016|access-date=2019-04-04}}</ref> The name Cleveland State Community College was chosen by the board of education on February 11, 1966.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web|url=https://50years.clevelandstatecc.edu/history/|title=The History of Cleveland State Community College |author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2016|website=50years.clevelandstatecc.edu|publisher=Cleveland State Community College|access-date=2019-04-04|quote=}}</ref> Bids for the first five campus buildings were announced on July 20, 1966, and the school's campus broke ground on September 11, 1966.<ref name=banner916>{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Christy|date=September 30, 2016|title=CSCC celebration includes tour of first college campus sites|url=http://clevelandbanner.com/stories/cscc-celebration-includes-tour-of-first-college-campus-sites,43574|work=Cleveland Daily Banner|location=Cleveland, Tennessee|access-date=2019-04-04}}</ref> David F. Adkisson was named the first president on January 1, 1967.<ref name=timeline/> Approximately 700 students enrolled for the school's first classes which began on October 2, 1967, and took place at North Cleveland Baptist Church, due to a delay in the completion of the campus.<ref name=banner916/> At this time offices were held at 685 Broad Street N.W. in [[Cleveland Commercial Historic District|Downtown Cleveland]].<ref name=banner916/> The move to the current campus and permanent facilities took place on January 3, 1968.<ref name=banner916/> At this time, the campus consisted of the Administration Building, Library, Science Building, Student Center, and Gymnasium. The official dedication ceremonies for the college took place on April 29, 1968.<ref name=timeline/> The first graduation ceremonies were conducted on June 1, 1969.<ref name=timeline/>
In 2021, the college opened its first new buildings in 46 years. The 53,000-square foot, $25 million two-story Health and Science Center opened on its Cleveland campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland State Celebrates Grand Opening of New Health and Science Center {{!}} Cleveland State Community College |url=https://www.clevelandstatecc.edu/news/news-article34.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.clevelandstatecc.edu}}</ref> The 52,000-square foot McMinn Higher Education Center opened in neighboring [[Athens, Tennessee|Athens]] three months later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Opening for CSCC's Athens Location - The McMinn Higher Education Center {{!}} Cleveland State Community College |url=https://www.clevelandstatecc.edu/news/news-article48.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.clevelandstatecc.edu}}</ref>
== Campus == [[File:Cleveland_State_Community_College's_Health_&_Science_Center_in_Bradley_County,_Tennessee_04.jpg|thumb|The college's Health & Science Center]] The {{convert|105|acre|ha|adj=on}} sits on the eastern foot of [[Candies Creek Ridge]] in northern Cleveland near [[Interstate 75 in Tennessee|Interstate 75]]. The campus has 10 major buildings housing modern classrooms, laboratories, and student activity centers. Additional features include a library, a multi-media center of emphasis, computer laboratories, a 400-seat theatre, a 3,000-seat gymnasium, athletic fields and tennis courts, a large [[reflector telescope]], and a satellite downlink receiver which enables the college to serve as a site for many teleconferences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clevelandstatecc.edu/content/uploads/pdf/CampusMap.pdf|title=Cleveland State Community College Campus Map|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2016|website=clevelandstatecc.edu|publisher=Cleveland State Community College|access-date=2019-04-04|quote=}}</ref> Cleveland State offers classes throughout the service area in southeast Tennessee, which includes Bradley, [[Meigs County, Tennessee|Meigs]], [[McMinn County, Tennessee|McMinn]], [[Monroe County, Tennessee|Monroe]], and [[Polk County, Tennessee|Polk]] counties. The college also has offices and classrooms in [[Athens, Tennessee|Athens]] and [[Madisonville, Tennessee|Madisonville]].
== Organization and administration == Cleveland State Community college operates within the governance of the [[Tennessee Board of Regents]].
David F. Adkisson served as founding president of Cleveland State Community College from 1967 to 1978. L. Quentin Lane was appointed to the presidency in 1978 and served until 1985. A. Ray Coleman served briefly as interim president in 1985. James W. Ford was then appointed as president of Cleveland State from 1985 to 1992. Renate G. Basham served as interim president from 1992 to 1996. Carl M. Hite served as president from 1996 until 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://50years.clevelandstatecc.edu/our-stories/50th-anniversary-magazine/|title=CSCC 50th Anniversary Magazine|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2017|website=50years.clevelandstatecc.edu|publisher=Cleveland State Community College|access-date=2019-04-04|quote=}}</ref> Dr. Bill Seymour, served as the college's president from 2013 to 2022. Dr. Ty Stone, served as Cleveland State's first African American president from 2022 until 2023. Dr. Ray Brooks was appointed interim president until the appointment of Dr. Andy White. Dr. Andy White, who was appointed president of Cleveland State in April 2024, retired in 2025. Ray Brooks was appointed as interim president in November 2025, while a presidential search committee was established.
== Academics == Approximately 3,200 credit students and 1,300 non-credit students enroll in Cleveland State Community College in a typical fall semester. The credit student population is split about evenly in the choice of transfer or career-technical programs. The average age of all students is 28 years and the student population is non-racially identifiable. There are over 200 employees at the college including more than 70 full-time faculty members. Eighty-six percent of the faculty hold master's or doctoral degrees.
== Athletics == The college athletic teams are nicknamed the Cougars.
== Noted people == {{More citations needed section|date=April 2013}} {{main list|:Category:Cleveland State Community College alumni}} * [[Ryan Casteel]] - baseball player<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-86714258|title=Texas League notebook: Colorado Rockies' Ryan Casteel comes back strong with Tulsa Drillers - Texas League News|work=Texas League|access-date=October 24, 2014}}</ref> * [[Jason Davis (baseball)|Jason Davis]] - baseball player * [[Bubba Trammell]] - baseball player
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.clevelandstatecc.edu Official website]
{{Region VII (NJCAA)}} {{Tennessee Board of Regents}} {{Tennessee community/technical colleges}} {{Education in McMinn County, Tennessee}} {{Athens, Tennessee}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Cleveland State Community College| ]] [[Category:Cleveland, Tennessee]] [[Category:Education in Bradley County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Education in McMinn County, Tennessee]] [[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1967]] [[Category:1967 establishments in Tennessee]] [[Category:Community colleges in Tennessee]] [[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] [[Category:NJCAA schools]] [[Category:Two-year colleges in the United States]]