Dakota County Technical College history

The new two-level main campus building opened in 1973 with 669 students and approximately 30 programs.

To accommodate growing enrollment in Truck Driver Training, a new 6,000-square-foot building was constructed for the program in 1985.

In 1989, following a legislative mandate, the College's name was changed to Dakota County Technical College and Director Schroeder became President Schroeder.

In 1991, the College began construction on the Minnesota Vehicle Safety Training and Research Center (which includes the Decision Driving Course) located on 100 acres of land originally leased from the University of Minnesota and adjacent to the main campus.

In 1992, DCTC began offering classes at a leased site in Burnsville.

The College facilities are shared with administration and programs affiliated with ISD 917, which leases space under the Joint Powers Agreement established in 1995 when the College became part of the Minnesota State system.

In 1999, DCTC held the grand opening for the College's IT Training Center in Eagan.

Remodeled in 2005, the site housed the Public Safety and Law Enforcement Customized Training Programs and was expanded to include the Chrysler Training Center.

Since spring 2009, DCTC has offered online hybrid general education courses at the Diamondhead Education Center in partnership with Concordia University of St Paul, ISD 191 and the city of Burnsville.

An additional 64.299 acres adjacent to the permanent site was purchased in 2010 from the University of Minnesota, bringing the total to 171.429 acres.

In December of 2013, DCTC decided to end its course offerings at this location.

In 2014, the College, in partnership with Inver Hills Community College, Metropolitan State University and the Dakota County Burnsville Workforce Center began offering classes at the South of the River Education Center.

Tim Wynes, J.D. becomes DCTC's third president on July 1st, 2015.

On July 1, 2018, Michael Berndt becomes DCTC's interim president following Tim Wynes, J.D.

On March 18, 2020 at the Minnesota State Board of Trustees meeting, Michael Berndt was confirmed as the next president of Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College.