Gwinnett Tech History
From the first day we opened our doors at Gwinnett Area Technical School in 1984, our goal has been to provide students with an education that leads directly to a rewarding career. Along the way, we’ve expanded program offerings, made two name changes, added many facilities, and experienced record-setting enrollment growth; all results from our goal to be the recognized expert in career education, providing outstanding experiences for our students and a skilled workforce for employers.
In the 1980s, business and industry experienced a profound change in technology. To meet the demand for technological training, Gwinnett Tech expanded our offerings to include a wider variety of high-tech programs. In 1988, we changed our name to Gwinnett Technical Institute, aligning Gwinnett Tech with the network of state technical institutes under the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
The following year, TCSG approved Gwinnett Tech to grant the associate degree of applied technology (AAT) in six programming areas, paving the way for our accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Gwinnett Tech reached another benchmark on July 6, 2000, when we changed our name to Gwinnett Technical College. Georgia’s A+ Education Reform Act of 2000 made the name change possible, designating technical institutes with proper accreditation as colleges.
For over 40 years, Gwinnett Tech has expanded to include a variety of new facilities. Key additions include the George Busbee International Center for Workforce Development, which opened in 2003, and a state-of-the-art Life Sciences Center, which opened in 2011, enabling us to expand health science offerings. In addition, we expanded our campus in January 2016 to North Fulton, where the first building on the 25-acre site has three stories and approximately 95,000 square feet, housing both classrooms and administrative offices. In 2023, Gwinnett Tech once again expanded and opened the 82,000+ square feet Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies building with dedicated space for cybersecurity, gaming technologies, eSports, and flex space for additional programs.
Today, Gwinnett Tech offers more than 140 associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as hundreds of seminars, workshops, and courses providing specialized training. Gwinnett Tech is Gwinnett County’s largest corporate training provider and serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. We’re one of Georgia’s largest technical colleges committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community.