Athens State University
Athens State University is one of the oldest universities in Alabama, and it exclusively serves junior-level, senior-level and graduate students. The university offers more than 50 majors and degree options and more than 40 minors through the colleges of arts and sciences, business and education. Its program offerings continue to grow.
In January, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) approved a Bachelor of Science in applied management program that will start this fall. The new major meets an education and workforce development need by bridging the gap between technical expertise and advanced managerial skills and provides a seamless pathway for those coming from technologies-based trade programs in community colleges.
Last fall, the university launched a BA in music industry studies that offers experiential training opportunities, including essential skills in music performance and production, recording and audio engineering and music business and management. Courses are offered at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur.
Athens State has welcomed some new additions to its campus in the past year as well.
Last fall, the university celebrated the opening of a new Crime Analyzation, Simulation, and Experimentation Laboratory (CASElab) that will provide training for students in the criminal justice, child advocacy studies training (CAST) and homeland and corporate security programs. The lab will offer opportunities to conduct crime scene reenactments, academic research and mock case simulations.
A new cybersecurity facility also opened last fall. The CyberLab will serve as a hub for research and collaboration among students, faculty and industry professionals and build on learning partnerships the university has established with cybersecurity companies like Torch Technologies and Colsa.
Athens State regularly collaborates with community colleges to create seamless transfer pathways for students. Recent developments include a partnership with Calhoun Community College that assures graduates of Calhoun’s associate in science general studies with a concentration in child development program will be accepted into Athens State’s technical education, early instructor (non-certification) program and an arrangement with Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) to establish a fast-track BSN program allows students to simultaneously earn an associate degree in nursing from NACC and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Athens State.
In December, Athens State joined forces with Wallace State Community College to offer students in Wallace State’s Powerful Partnerships program, an initiative that extends college resources and a tuition discount to employees of area businesses and their immediate families, access to Athens State’s Learning Partnership program when they transfer to the university. Benefits include a 10% tuition discount on all classes at Athens State, waived application fee and a complimentary evaluation of previous education and training for possible credit transfer.
“Athens Aspire,” a new program that offers education-to-career guidance, is under development thanks to a $300,000 Innovation in Career Service grant awarded by the Strada Education Foundation. Athens State was one of eight universities nationwide to receive the grant.
Calhoun Community College
Calhoun Community College is the largest two-year institution in the Alabama Community College System. The college serves approximately 10,000 students at its 110-acre Decatur campus, its Huntsville/Cummings Research Park location and the Alabama Center for the Arts (ACA), a collaboration between Calhoun and Athens State University. The school offers more than 100 associate degree options and career/certificate programs.
Calhoun celebrates the opening of its Advanced Technology Center expansion project this summer. The 57,200-square-foot building will support training programs that will drive the growth of North Alabama’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. The expansion was identified as a critical need by the Alabama Community College System, which is funding the project as part of its ASPIRE 2030 initiative.
In May, Calhoun opened the STEAM Imagination Center, an instructional site in downtown Decatur that is part of the Alabama Center for the Arts and will serve as a hub for creativity, digital innovation and cross discipline learning for students in the college’s fine arts, design drafting and computer information systems programs. The newly renovated two-story facility is a reimagined version of the former Eyster-Key building and includes classrooms, high tech labs, a new elevator, upgraded HVAC systems and energy efficient lighting and windows. The college anticipates the new site will initially serve around 75 students annually and expects that number to grow as new degree and certificate programs are added, among them a planned video game development track.
Last August, Calhoun Community College and Athens State University celebrated the first official move-in day at the ACA’s new residence hall in downtown Decatur. The 43,474-square-foot facility is for students pursuing art degrees at either of the two academic institutions and consists of 49 ADA-compliant apartments, 11 studios, 19 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom units that accommodate a total of 68 beds.
In September, leaders from Calhoun and Decatur City Schools joined local legislators to break ground on the ACA’s new Academy for Music and Movement, a $15 million, 14,000-square-foot facility that will provide expanded space for music and dance programs. The building will feature a mezzanine and an open area roof terrace for small gatherings; the first floor will include a large dance area with temporary seating for performances, a music chamber room, restrooms, changing rooms and a lobby; and the second floor will house music practice rooms, listening rooms, an additional large dance area and a multi-purpose room. The academy is expected to open in January 2026.
This article appears in the August 2025 issue of Business Alabama.
