Columbia State Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology — Crump recently announced a new educational partnership for the Wayne County area.
In a meeting with Clifton Mayor Mark Staggs, County Executive Jim Mangubat, President and CEO of People’s Bank Autrey Gobbell, Columbia State Foundation Board members Byron Davis and Rena Purdy, Executive Director of the Columbia State Foundation and Vice President for Advancement Bethany Lay, Columbia State President Janet F. Smith and TCAT Crump President Stephen Milligan outlined the new collaboration.
Beginning in October 2025, TCAT Crump will be expanding their offerings at the Clifton Campus to include Earthmoving Equipment Technology, Building Construction Technology and Electrical & Plumbing Construction Technology. These programs are in addition to the Health Information Management Technology program that is currently taught.
“I am excited about the educational opportunities that this partnership will provide for the citizens of Wayne County,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “Columbia State is not going away, but teaming up with a partner to enhance workforce training programs offered at the Clifton Campus. We will continue to offer college courses scheduled to support students in obtaining their first year of college, plus.”
Columbia State will continue offering classes, but with a two-day course scheduling that is designed to serve dual enrollment and college students. There is no change in the Fall 2025 semester offerings.
Additionally, a college advisor will be available to provide enrollment and other assistance.
To better accommodate this educational partnership, as it pertains to the curricula offered, Columbia State will transition the operation of the campus to TCAT Crump.
That transfer will occur during the fall.
“The expansion of technical education programs at our Clifton Campus reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our students, local employers, and the community,” said Stephen Milligan, TCAT Crump president. “By increasing access to high-quality, hands-on training, we are investing in the future workforce and strengthening the economic foundation of our region.”
This transition marks a new chapter for the Clifton Campus. After 27 years as an extended campus of Columbia State, it will now serve as a shared space designed to meet the educational and career-training needs of the Wayne County community. The addition of TCAT programs will give students greater access to career-ready training without having to leave the community.
The Clifton Campus was created for—and will continue to be—a place of learning dedicated to serving both Wayne County and the Middle Tennessee region.
The beginning of the Clifton Campus dates back to 1996, when the Hassell Charitable Foundation encouraged the start of a higher education institution to further the educational goals and recreational services provided for the citizens of Wayne County. From that encouragement, a committee of community leaders and elected officials banded together to identify the need for higher education in the community. The consensus was that Wayne County needed a facility for higher education.
Then, on Jan. 8, 1998, the Clifton Campus opened its doors for the first time. From that day in 1998 through 2025 and beyond, the space will continue to best serve the local student population.
Columbia State is looking forward to the new opportunities that the partnership with TCAT Crump brings to our students and the community.
More details about the transition, including information for current and prospective students, will be shared in the coming weeks. An official community open house will be announced at a later date.
