About The ECTC Foundation
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is proof that change can happen when generous leaders come together with a common purpose. Our college was established through support of local donors, which laid the groundwork for the growth of our region. The ECTC Foundation will continue to build on their legacy as we change more lives in the years to come.
Our Mission and Vision
The ECTC Foundation’s mission is to engage and educate the community about the critical role Elizabethtown Community and Technical College plays in creating better lives. With the support of our foundation, ECTC will be the first choice for education and workforce training, and be a driver of regional economic development.
We will accomplish this vision by prioritizing:
We will accomplish this vision by prioritizing:
- Students- meeting students where they are by removing barriers to college access and success.
- Workforce- connecting employers with graduates who are workforce-ready.
- Innovation- developing resources and partnerships that allow ECTC to implement innovative solutions.
We partner with the KCTCS Foundation, the independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized as the charitable partner of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, to facilitate charitable support of local college needs. The ECTC Foundation is led by a local board of directors and is unified with the KCTCS Foundation to provide fiduciary oversight and management, allowing 100% of donated funds to go directly to ECTC programs and students.
Our History
In 1955, James M. Collier shared his vision for public higher education in our region and gave over 200 speeches across the community to build support for establishing a college in Elizabethtown. Collier’s dedication galvanized local community leaders to form the North Central Education Foundation in 1960 and make this vision a reality. North Central Education Foundation, now Central Kentucky Community Foundation, led fundraising efforts to purchase the property where ECTC resides today.
In 1962, the first building was erected on the Elizabethtown Community College (ECC) campus, and the doors were opened in 1964 to 355 students. ECC operated under the University of Kentucky Community College System until 1998 when it became part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), which includes 16 districts across the state of Kentucky. The college now serves students from 10 counties, including Breckinridge, Green, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Taylor and Washington.
In 1962, the first building was erected on the Elizabethtown Community College (ECC) campus, and the doors were opened in 1964 to 355 students. ECC operated under the University of Kentucky Community College System until 1998 when it became part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), which includes 16 districts across the state of Kentucky. The college now serves students from 10 counties, including Breckinridge, Green, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Taylor and Washington.
Elizabethtown Technical College (ETC) was founded in 1965 through a bond issued by the Elizabethtown Independent School Board. The Commonwealth of Kentucky provided equipment for the facility and assumed responsibility for its operation. In 1972, the state purchased the land and building from the Elizabethtown Independent School Board. ETC became a technical college under the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in 1998.
ECTC was formed by the consolidation of Elizabethtown Community College and Elizabethtown Technical College in 2004. The college is built on 80 acres of land in Elizabethtown, off College Street Road, and includes the Central Regional Postsecondary Education Center, which also houses an extended campus of Western Kentucky University. Offices for University Center partner institutions will begin operating in 2022 to expand access to baccalaureate programs.
The college provides accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning.
ECTC has launched a number of new academic programs and initiatives, ensuring higher education is accessible, affordable and relevant to the needs of our region. The college’s newest academic programs include sonography, robotics, agriculture technology and health science technology, as well as a hospitality track within the business administration systems program. New programs include a paramedic program and EMT certification in partnership with Owensboro Community and Technical College, mobile training units, Advanced Manufacturing Career Skills Program, Greater Knox Coding Academy, and Metallica Scholars program.
In addition, ECTC partnered with Meade County Schools to open its Meade County Center in the fall of 2018, offering both technical and general education classes. Meanwhile, the college’s main campuses in Elizabethtown, Springfield Campus, Leitchfield Campus and Fort Knox Center continue to prosper.
ECTC is positioned to play a leading role in driving future economic growth for the region, including the historic $5.8 billion investment by Ford in BlueOvalSk Battery Park in Glendale. The ECTC Foundation will help ensure the college has resources to support student success and proactively meet changing workforce needs.
“The difference between a good college and a great one is the support of alumni, donors, employers and community members,” shared ECTC President/CEO Dr. Juston Pate. “As the college has grown, so have the opportunities for community engagement in our mission. The ECTC Foundation will help the college develop relationships and resources that will allow us to make an even greater impact on the region for many years to come.”
Megan Stith
Chief Institutional Advancement Officer &
ECTC Foundation Executive Director
ECTC Foundation Executive Director
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
200E Regional Postsecondary Center
600 College Street Road | Elizabethtown, KY
Office: 270-706-8721 | Mobile: 630-341-0555
megan.stith@kctcs.edu
600 College Street Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
The ECTC Foundation is led by a local board of directors and is a D/B/A of the KCTCS Foundation, the independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized as the charitable partner of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The KCTCS Foundation provides fiduciary oversight and management through this partnership, allowing 100% of donated funds to go directly to ECTC programs.
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