Tennessee College of Applied Technology

TCAT, Memphis was created as a statewide institution due to an act of the 1963 Tennessee Legislature. It was now a member institution of the Tennessee Board of Regents. Tech High School opened its first vocational program in 1963, and the goal of the administration was to make it possible for all secondary school students to pursue post-secondary vocational training after school. Additional programs followed, and Tech High School and Humes High School became places in June 1964 where students could pursue post-secondary education after normal school hours. In June 1964, the first graduating class was noticed at the Washington campus of 591 Washington. This new program expanded into the Law Street Building, Washington and Law streets, and the classrooms in the former Board of Education Building at 317 Poplar Avenue, also known as the “Tech Annex”. Manpower Development Training Act classes were offered on campus also. The main campus of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis is located near the medical center of Memphis at Interstate 40. The Aviation Extension Campus of Memphis International Airport was funded by a $5.1 million building. This made technologists in the air difficult to obtain before. The campuses are fairly easily accessible by all students in the area.