Central Texas College

History

Central Texas College was established by a vote of the citizens of Central Texas in 1965 to serve the western section of Bell and Coryell Counties. The campus was constructed on more than 500 acres of land donated by Fort Hood between Killeen and Copperas Cove. In September 1967, the school opened its doors to 2,068 students. CTC has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1969.

As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of CTC comprises:

• All of Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills, and San Saba Counties
• Killeen Independent School District, located in Bell County
• Copperas Cove Independent School District, located in Bell and Coryell Counties
• Fort Hood and North Fort Hood in Bell County
• Brady, Lohn, and Rochelle ISDs located within McCulloch County
• Burnet Consolidated Independent School District located within Burnet County
• Florence and Marble Falls school districts
• The portion of the Lampasas Independent School District located within Burnet and Bell Counties
• Fredericksburg ISD and Gillespie County, added effective September 1, 2015, after legislative approval

Due to its proximity to the US Army installation at FortHood, Central Texas College has a large number of military-affiliated students. CTC instituted classes and programs on the fort in 1970 and in Europe in 1974. Success with the military led to branch campuses at military installations such as Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, South Korea, and on-ship with the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets of the US Navy in 1976. By the early 1980s, CTC offered classes to military personnel in the Pacific Command, Alaska, and Panama. CTC offered classes for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in the prisons at Gatesville, Texas, in 1976.

In addition to its Texas locations, CTC still has a presence on more than 20 US military installations, in Europe, and deployed locations offer more than 100 programs fully online.

Central Texas College had a nationally ranked tennis team in the early 1970s, playing as the Golden Eagles. In 2013, a campus-wide vote led to the selection of CTC's new official mascot, the Eagle.

Academics

Students enrolled at CTC may select a degree plan from associate of arts, associate of science, or associate in applied science degree programs, or an associate of arts in general studies, with more than 40 certificate programs.

Main campus

At the main campus, which is partly in Copperas Cove and partly in Killeen, the central courtyard has a memorial statue to Lyndon Baines Johnson and a fountain by which metal markers indicate the boundary between Bell and Coryell Counties. CTC's main library is named in honor of Oveta Culp Hobby. CTC's older buildings are built in Spanish Colonial Revival Style.

CTC is also home to the beautiful music station KNCT-FM.

References

References

1. Oden, Madeline. "Rising to the top: Carter takes helm as chancellor after 32 years at CTC".
2. "2021 Texas Public Higher Education Almanac".
3. "CTC History".
4. {{Handbook of Texas
5. Texas Education Code, Section 130.171, "Central Texas College District Service Area".
6. 84R Senate Bill 485 to amend Section 130.166, Education Code
7. "CTC History".
8. McGuinness, Chris. (2013-09-05). "Central Texas College unveils new mascot". [[Killeen Daily Herald]].
9. "CTC History".
10. Geography Division. (April 13, 2021). "2020 Census - Census Block Map: Copperas Cove city, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
11. Geography Division. (April 13, 2021). "2020 Census - Census Block Map: Killeen city, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
12. "KNCT-FM".