In 1957 the Pierce-Albright Report was presented to the Tennessee legislature, detailing situations of higher education in the state. It showed many citizens of Tennessee to be without sufficient access to colleges and universities and led to the allocation of $200,000 in 1963 to implement the recommendations of the report. The State Board of Education developed a plan to locate community colleges in the underserved regions within a reasonable distance of travel to the majority of residents, and in 1965 the Tennessee General Assembly certified the establishment of the first wave of these institutions. In 1970 Walters State Community College became the sixth college created in this process. Walters State was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges in 1972 and received reaffirmation of accreditation in 1976, 1987 and 1997.
Presidents
Dr. James W. Clark, was appointed as the first president of Walters State Community College in 1969 and served in that capacity until 1974. While classes were held in temporary quarters in Morristown during the first year of the college's operation, Dr. Clark oversaw the completion of The College Center, the first building built on the campus and opened in 1971.
Dr. Jack E. Campbell, who was hired in 1974 to succeed Clark, was considered one of the youngest college presidents at the time. Under his leadership, the campus expanded from the one campus location in Morristown with a population of 1,736 students to having four campuses with a total student population of 6,000 credit degree-seeking students and 5,000 students in non-degree, job training and continuing education courses at the time of his retirement in 2005. The College Center would be renamed in Dr. Campbell's honor.
Dr. Wade B. McCamey, who had previously been the president of Roane State Community College and previously served as vice-president of academic affairs at Walters State Community College, was selected in 2005 and has served in that capacity until June 2016. During his tenure, the college experienced more growth and expansion through the building of additional facilities on the Sevierville Campus, the Morristown campus and the Greeneville campus.
Dr. Anthony Miksa, was named the fourth president of Walters State in May 2016 and his tenure began on June 1.
As its reach extends across a geographically large area, there are four campuses of Walters State Community College. The primary campus is located in Morristown, while satellite branches are found in Sevierville, Greeneville, and New Tazewell. In mid-2010, the Claiborne extension moved into the old Claiborne County High School. ;List of Campuses
