Zane State College History

Officially chartered on Sept. 19, 1969, the creation of the Zane State College actually began several years earlier. The first recorded discussions regarding a technical college were in 1962 during a meeting sponsored by the Zanesville chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Soon thereafter, a group of strong-willed visionaries set out to create an academic institution which would serve the community and create a vehicle for life-long learning. With confidence and the support of the community, the proverbial wheels of industry were set in motion.

Funding for the endeavor was derived through the Appalachian Act, the Vocational Education Act of 1963, and various other sources including local commitments. Construction of the Richards Road complex started in the summer of 1968 and the first classes at the Muskingum Area Technical Institute began in September of 1969.

In his dedication speech, then-President Walker Huffman firmly stated the mission of the College. "Our charge today is to keep our efforts coordinated in order to provide this great generation of Americans in our community a solid background that will stand them well in their lifetime. If we can do this, our community, state, and nation will be able to progress and lead the world into a greater tomorrow."

Since that date in 1969, the campus has relocated to the current location on Newark Road, which is shared with Ohio University-Zanesville. Likewise, the name also has been altered. Originally chartered as Muskingum Area Technical Institute, in 1972 the name was officially changed to Muskingum Area Technical College, finally in 2004 the name was officially changed to Zane State College.

Primarily serving the counties of Muskingum, Guernsey, and Noble, the College enrolls more than 2,000 students and offers 25 technology programs. The College is governed by a nine-member District Board of Trustees and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools' The Higher Learning Commission. Several individual technologies have also attained specialized accreditation in their fields of study.