DeKalb Technical College is getting a new name: Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

The State Board of Directors of the Technical College System of Georgia approved the change on Thursday.

"We have been working diligently the past nine months to get input from various stakeholders on what would be the best name to reflect who we are," according to a statement in a release from Cory Thompson, DeKalb Tech's public relations and information director.

The unanimous vote by the board of directors paves the way for a massive rebranding initiative by the college.

"Today we have been given the green-light to make our name more reflective of the varied communities that we serve," says Dr. Robin Hoffman, DeKalb Tech's president.
"If you look at a map of the different regions within the state, you'll see that our service delivery area is directly in the middle of the Georgia Piedmont," said Hoffman.

DeKalb Technical College was first established in 1961 as DeKalb Area Vocational School. Since then the school has had several names, including DeKalb Community College (1972-1986), DeKalb Technical Institute (1986-2000), and for the past 11 years it has been DeKalb Technical College.

"This will be the first time in the college's history we are exploring the use of a name that will reflect our expanded service-delivery area," says Thompson. DeKalb Technical College provides education and economic development for DeKalb, Rockdale, Newton and Morgan counties.

A new logo and school colors will be selected by the end of June, and the new brand will begin in late August, when DeKalb Tech and the other 25 Technical Colleges within the state of Georgia will convert from a quarter academic calendar to a semester system.

"This is a pivotal year for our college," says Dr. Hoffman. "We not only have the quarter-to-semester conversion (commonly called Q2S), but we are marking our 50th anniversary as well as our rebranding initiative."
DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 5,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic and Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 120 different occupations. Learn more at www.dekalbtech.edu.