From the President

Welcome to the Lion Life at Wallace State Community College! Fall semester is the opportunity to open new doors to your future as you begin or continue your education at Wallace State Community College.

Whether you are entering college for the first time, retraining for a new career, a dual enrollment student, or completing a GED and embarking on a career pathway, you’ll enter one door at Wallace State. Wallace State conveniently serves students with a full complement of classes and services on campus in Hanceville and Oneonta as well as online. Day and evening classes are offered on campus, as well as hybrid and online options for those needing to work classes into busy schedules.

This fall you’ll see Mini Term options for courses that can be completed in eight weeks and Flex Start courses that allow you to enroll with a flexible start date and complete your courses on your schedule throughout the semester.

At Wallace State, there are several new opportunities to enhance your experience and prepare you for the future. The College launched several new options related to electric vehicles, including options in Advanced Automotive Services, Diesel Technology and Electrical Technology. There are also new options in Digital Fabrication, Culinary Arts for Hotel and Restaurant Management and Nutrition Management. The Health Information Technology program has added Revenue Cycle Management and Database Management to their offerings. Radiation Therapy, Artificial Intelligence Programming, Cloud Computing and Systems Engineering Technology are other new options. Wallace State’s Nursing program announced evening classes and a new joint enrollment partnership with Athens State University. This spring, a new program for Speech and Language Pathology Assistant will begin accepting students.

More earn-and-learn opportunities are available, including apprenticeships in our Child Development and Nursing programs along with opportunities through the FAME program for industrial maintenance students, a Mercedes Co-op program with our automotive service program, and numerous internships and apprenticeships with area businesses and industries allow Wallace State students to earn money and experience while completing credentials. Inquire with our Center for Career and Workforce Development to learn more about these and other opportunities.

Construction is beginning on the new STEM Gateway building on the north end of campus, as well as new facilities for Machine Tool Technology and Advanced Automotive. The STEM Gateway building will house all of the first-year courses for freshmen, a digital resource center and the Culinary Arts program.

Wallace State has been named Rising Star by the Aspen Institute—placing it among the top three community colleges in the nation. It has also been named a Caring Campus and has numerous support services to help students succeed, including a free food pantry, success advising, mental health counseling, tutoring, technology loans, emergency financial assistance, and more. The College is also an Achieving the Dream Leader College, the preferred community college by Alabama high school seniors taking the ACT, and among the top colleges for health care and workforce development.

Wallace State has once again been recognized as a Military Friendly institution, with resources dedicated to honoring and serving our veterans and their spouses on campus and is receiving widespread acclaim as rates of student success, retention and graduation climb to among the highest in the nation.

Start planning now for your future. Please take time to review the fall semester offerings and contact a success advisor to develop a Pathways map and Alabama Transfer (formerly STARS) guide for the program that’s right for you.

Many offices also provide virtual services for students. To learn more about all Wallace State has to offer, visit the Wallace State website, download our app, or visit Lion Central. We look forward to seeing you on campus this fall

Vicki P. Karolewics
President