Nashville State Community College and TCAT Dickson open Dickson Center of Higher Education

Nashville State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Dickson have officially opened their Dickson Center of Higher Education, which will serve as a shared educational hub for the two institutions. The Dickson Center of Higher Education will house programs for both schools and various student support services.

According to an article on Nashville State Community College’s website, Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, the college’s president, was quoted as saying of the new facility, “We are very excited to deepen Nashville State’s roots in Dickson County. The Center wouldn’t be a reality without the direct support of Gov. Lee, Tennessee General Assembly, THEC, TBR, TriStar Horizon Medical Center, the Jackson Foundation, and TCAT Dickson. We are thankful for them as we work to increase access, completion, and post-completion success for area residents.”

The new facility is located near TriStar Horizon Medical Center's Natchez campus. The nine acres of land for the Dickson Center of Higher Education was donated to the schools for the Dickson Center of Higher Education. To build on the land, the project received state funding, and also received a significant gift from the Jackson Foundation, which will maintain offices within the building.

Wyatt Chocklett, the chief executive officer of TriStar Horizon Medical Center, said, “The opening of the Dickson Center for Higher Education represents a significant investment in the future of our community. By expanding access to higher education and workforce development opportunities close to home, this Center will strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals who will care for our community for years to come. We are honored to be part of this partnership and celebrate the opportunities it creates for this region.”

The facility is named after Dr. James T. Jackson, whose legacy of dedication to education continues to support educational initiatives in Dickson County through the Jackson Foundation.

Jackson Foundation President and Executive Director Doug Jackson said, “The Dickson Center of Higher Education has been the dream of the Jackson Foundation for many years. I believe it will change the trajectory of this community and the lives of its citizens. My father, Dr. Jimmy Jackson, said on many occasions that the only difference between his life and that of his father was the opportunity to receive an education. The Jackson Foundation is grateful to have played a part in this event that brings us here today. We appreciate the State of Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee, Nashville State Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology for making this dream come true.”

The Dickson Center of Higher Education will house nursing, emergency medical technician, and general education programs for Nashville State Community College students. It will house TCAT Dickson’s allied health and nursing programs. Additionally, the facility will provide Nashville State students with admissions and financial aid assistance, student account services, academic advising, food and personal item support, and student lounges, as well as a testing center for math and English placement.

TCAT Dickson President Laura Travis said, “Today is a celebration of both where we’ve been and where we’re going. TCAT has a long history of serving Dickson and the surrounding community, helping generations of students gain the skills they need to build successful careers. The Dickson Center of Higher Education is an exciting step forward, and we are proud to partner with Nashville State to expand educational opportunities for students across our region. The center is an investment in our students, our workforce, and the future of Dickson County, and I am excited to see the impact that it will have for years to come.”

For more information about Nashville State Community College, visit the school’s website.

More information about Tennessee College of Applied Technology Dickson can be found at its website.