Message from the President

Welcome to Dakota County Technical College. For more than four decades, the prime purpose of our college has focused on preparing our graduates for life as dynamic contributors to the nation's workforce and as fully engaged members of their communities. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to the well-being and prosperity of our student population. We recognize that our students—with their individual abilities, interests and talents—are the keystones of our college.

Our main campus is located in Rosemount, Minn., just 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. We have two other convenient locations—our Partners in Higher Education site in Apple Valley and our IT Training Center in Eagan.

DCTC serves more than 11,500 students annually. Nearly 3,000 are enrolled in credit-based programs & majors with some 8,500 enrolled in Customized Training noncredit courses. We also offer collegiate-level athletics, including Blue Knights baseball, women's soccer, men's soccer, women's volleyball, men's basketball and fastpitch softball. Two state-of-the-art sports facilities, Ames Field and the Ames Soccer Complex, are located on the college's main campus.

Our list of higher education, business and industry partners is extensive and growing, which ensures that our students receive top-notch training that is both relevant and ahead of the curve. We work with the best and the brightest people in Minnesota and beyond to create clear and productive pathways to the future. With sustainability as a mainstay of the college mission, "Education for Employment," DCTC is moving forward with a Transportation and Emerging Technologies Renovation Project made possible by $7.23 million in state funding. The renovation project eliminates $3.5 million in deferred maintenance and reduces the college’s Facilities Condition Index from .29 to .22 while cutting energy consumption by as much as 30 percent. Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to begin on the college’s Rosemount campus in spring 2013. Phase 2, which requires $6.9 million in additional funding, is slated for 2014.

Our college motto is "Real Education. Real Results." Students who enroll at DCTC for degrees, diplomas, certificates or specific courses for career development swiftly discover that our faculty and staff are committed to helping them realize their personal and professional dreams. At Dakota County Technical College, the real story of our success is found in the real-life success stories of our students.

Ronald E. Thomas, Ph.D.
President
Dakota County Technical College