An increasing demand from residents in the Centre area has led Gadsden State Community College to move toward beginning operation of a new off-campus center this fall.

Gadsden State President, Dr. Renee Culverhouse, said the Cherokee County Center of Gadsden State Community College will be located in the building formerly occupied by Cherokee Computer on the U.S. Highway 411 Bypass.

“This is just another way that Gadsden State is serving the community,” Dr. Culverhouse said. “For many students who may be working during the day, there is just not enough time to get to Gadsden to attend classes, so this will eliminate that 50-mile round trip for them.”

Dr. Jim Jolly, Dean of Instruction at GSCC, informed classes will be held at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. In addition, the Center will offer a driver’s education course, for high school students who have been affected by an end to this program in local high schools. There will also be a dual enrollment program for students in the Cherokee County School System.

Initially, the Cherokee County Center will offer courses in mathematics, English, history, psychology, and business law. Computer classes will be added later. “We certainly look for an expansion of the course offerings in the future and it will probably be necessary to offer some classes during the day but that will depend on student demand,” Jolly added. Students are expected to come from Cherokee, Dekalb and Calhoun Counties in Alabama and perhaps Floyd County in Georgia.

Workers have been renovating the building in recent weeks and Jolly said it will have five classrooms as well as an office area. The registration schedule has not been established yet, however there will be one day of on-site registration. Students may also register on the Gadsden Campus until Aug. 7, or via the internet at www.gadsdenstate.edu. Fall semester classes will begin August 15.

GSCC’s total enrollment last year was 6,161, of which 275 were from Cherokee County. That’s an increase of 14 percent from Cherokee County over a four-year period. The 1998-99 school year found 237 of 6,156 GSCC students from Cherokee County. It was 261 of 6,351 in 1999-2000 and 261 of 5,573 in 2000-01