THE HISTORY OF DAVIDSON-DAVIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Davidson-Davie Community College opened in 1963 as the Davidson County Industrial Education Center. Like other industrial education centers chartered in the 1950s and consolidated under the Community College Act of 1963, this center was designed to equip adults with the skills needed to move from an agricultural to a manufacturing-based economy. When the William E. Sinclair Building opened on a 22-acre site in 1963, 125 students were enrolled in vocational and technical programs and 51 students in adult education and service programs. In 1965, the institution was chartered as Davidson County Community College (DCCC). The Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees were added to the existing Associate in Applied Science degree, diploma, and certificate offerings.

The physical footprint of the college has seen tremendous growth over the years. The Uptown Lexington Education Center opened in 2004, the Thomasville Education Center in 2005, and the Davie Education Center in Bermuda Run in 2008. On the Davidson Campus, the Conference Center opened in 2009, the Transportation Technology Building in 2010, and the East Carolina University dental clinic in 2014; the new Sarah and Edward Smith Health Sciences Center opened in 2018. On the Davie Campus, major expansion and renovation took place in 2008, and in 2012, an addition to the Gantt Building completed the Davie County Early College building project.

On January 1, 2021, DCCC became Davidson-Davie Community College by action of the college’s Board of Trustees, who determined that the name should reflect what has always been true — the college proudly serves both Davidson and Davie counties. Today, Davidson-Davie offers 125 pathways in over 40 career fields that have evolved to ensure that students enter the workforce with 21st-century knowledge. In addition to a robust transfer program, the college has programs in such fields as advanced manufacturing and allied health. Davidson-Davie also is one of the few community colleges nationally to have a Zoo and Aquarium Science program. Both the Davidson and Davie campuses are home to a successful Early College high school program; the college also partners with the Yadkin Valley Career Academy. Students clubs and an athletic program contribute to a vibrant campus life, while a successful international education program gives students the opportunity to both travel abroad and meet international visitors.

At Davidson-Davie, we are committed to our mission of providing innovative and equitable learning experiences to empower individuals, transform lives, and prepare students for enhanced career and educational opportunities within a changing global community. The future is here!