Mar 19, 2024  
2015-2016 Gaston College Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Gaston College Catalog [THIS CATALOG IS OUT-OF-DATE. USE THE CURRENT CATALOG TO FIND CURRENT PROGRAMS.]

Student Information


 

 

About the College, Locations & Phone Numbers

The Gaston College Catalog is an annual publication which lists the academic policies and procedures. In addition, the catalog includes information on fees, curriculum requirements, and courses for over 100 programs of study, course descriptions, and a listing of administration, faculty, and staff at Gaston College. Publication notice: This edition of the Catalog was published May 2013. General College information and/or specific program information may have changed since this catalog was printed.

Go to www.gaston.edu, click on “Quick Links”, and scroll down to the “catalog” link to view the most recent edition of the catalog.

About the College

Celebrating nearly 50 years of service, Gaston College is one of 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System. In January 1963, the college was granted a charter by the State of North Carolina, and began its first classes in temporary headquarters in September 1964. The college moved to its permanent campus on Highway 321 between Dallas and Gastonia two months later. Serving both Gaston and Lincoln counties, Gaston College enrolls over 6,000 students each term in curriculum programs and averages over 16,000 students annually in its Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education programs.

Gaston College Campuses and Phone/Fax Numbers

Gaston College (Main)
Dallas Campus 

201 Highway 321South
Dallas, NC 28034-1499
704.922.6200 • FAX 704.922.2323

Lincoln Campus

P.O. Box 600
511S. Aspen St.
Lincolnton, NC 28093
704.748.200 • FAX 704.748.1074

Kimbrell Campus & Textile Technology Center

7220 Wilkinson Blvd.
Belmont, NC 28012
704.825.3737• FAX 704.825.7303

Gaston College Website Address www.gaston.edu

Also, follow Gaston College on Facebook

Telephone Numbers

Dallas Campus

704.922.6200

 
  Admissions 704.922.6232  
  Bookstore 704.922.6428  
  Business Office 704.922.6414  
  Campus Cafe 704.922.6430  
  Class Auditor 704.922.6347  
  Counseling 704.922.6220  
  Financial Aid 704.922.6227  
  Gaston Early College High School 704.922.2408  
  Office of the Registrar/Student Records/Transcripts 704.922.6232  
  Sponsorship Office 704.922.6410  
  Writing Center 704.922.2369  

Academic Affairs Division Offices

704.922.6240

 
  Business & Information Tech 704.922.6263  
  Cooperative Education 704.922.6212  
  Educational Partnerships 704.922.6297  
  Engineering & Industrial Education Technology 704.922.6295  
  G-NET/TRiO 704.922.2363  
  Health Education 704.922.6379  
  Learning Center 704.922.6349  
  Liberal Arts & Sciences 704.922.6311  
  Libraries  
    Dallas 704.922.6356  
    Lincoln 704.748.1050  
    Kimbrell 704.825.6278  
  WSGE Radio 704.922.6552  

Lincoln Campus 

704.748.5200

 
  Office of the Dean 704.748.5213  
  Bookstore 704.748.5233  
  Business Office 704.748.5211  
  Counseling 704.748.5209  

Kimbrell Campus

704.825.3737

 
  Office of the Dean 704.825.6272  
  Bookstore 704.825.6280  
  Business Office 704.825.6255  

Economic and Workforce Development/ Continuing Education

704.922.6521

 
  Office of VP for Economic and Workforce Development 704.922.6476  
  Community Education 704.922.6251  
  Traffic School 704.922.6353  
  Corporate Education 704.922.6447  
  Criminal Justice Academy 704.922.6531  
  Department for EMS Education 704.922.6241  
  Fire and Rescue Training 704.922.6257  
  Small Business Center 704.922.6449  

Life Skills

   
  Adult Basic Education 704.922.6320
or 704.748.5206
 
  Adult High School Diploma 704.922.6319
or 704.748.5205
 
  Basic Skills Classes 704.922.6320
or 704.748.5206
 
  English as a Second Language 704.922.6318  
  Human Resources Dev 704.922.6547  

Mission Statement

Gaston College is an open-door public community college, located in Gaston and Lincoln counties, that promotes student success and lifelong learning through high caliber, affordable, and comprehensive educational programs and services responding to economic and workforce development needs.

Activities in Support of the Mission

To accomplish its mission, the College:

  • Provides comprehensive Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs designed primarily to prepare students to enter the workforce.
  • Provides diploma and certificate programs consisting of a sequence of courses that frequently can be completed in one year or less by full-time students. These programs are intended for individuals seeking employment in a specific occupation.
  • Provides Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.) and Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degree programs primarily designed to prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university.
  • Provides developmental education to prepare students for entry into a degree, diploma, or certificate program.
  • Provides compensatory education, adult literacy, English as a Second Language, and high school diploma or equivalency for individuals seeking to improve basic skills, complete high school requirements, prepare for the workforce, or enter post-secondary education.
  • Provides continuing education programs for individual, personal, and professional development and for employee education and training to satisfy the skill development needs of business, industry, and public agencies.
  • Assures quality in all educational programs by measuring performance on a set of well-established criteria and by identifying and analyzing program needs.
  • Assures quality instruction by establishing effective, innovative, and professional teaching practices; by frequent evaluation of instructor effectiveness, and by updating methods, materials, equipment and facilities.
  • Provides support services for all students, including specialized services for the disadvantaged, the handicapped and other special needs groups to enable student success.
  • Promotes positive relationships with public and private schools, colleges, and universities, and with business and industry.
  • Provides services that support community economic, educational, and cultural efforts, which promote cooperative relationships with the community.
  • Promotes accessibility to educational programs through off-campus course offerings and through distance-learning opportunities.

Performance Measures

In response to a mandate from the N.C. General Assembly (S.L. 1989; C. 752; S. 80), the State Board of Community Colleges adopted twelve (12) performance measures to ensure the effectiveness of community college programs and to provide public accountability. The General Assembly (G.S. 115D-31.3) approved modifications to the North Carolina Performance Measures and Standards in 2007 and 2012, reducing the number to eight (8) measures.  The results are published annually by the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) on the NCCCS Web page at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/analytics.

Measure

Baseline
Percentage is set at two standard deviations below the system mean based on three years of historical data

2015
Performance Measures

Met
Baseline

Developmental Student Success Rate in College‐Level English Courses

45.2% of previous developmental English students will successfully complete a credit English course with a “C” or better upon their first attempt.

The success rate for Gaston College was 66.4%.

Yes

Developmental Student Success Rate in College‐Level Math Courses

47.5% of previous developmental Math students will successfully complete a credit Math course with a “C” or better upon their first attempt.

The success rate for Gaston College was 62.3%.

Yes

First Year Progression

 

53.2% of first‐time fall credential‐seeking students attempting at least twelve hours within their first academic year will successfully complete (“C” or better) at least twelve of those hours.

74.9% successfully completed at least twelve hours.

Yes

Curriculum Completion

28.6% of first‐time fall credential‐seeking students will graduate, transfer, or will be still enrolled with 36 hours after six years.

42.9% of GC students meet these criteria.

Yes

Licensure and Certification Pass Rates

The aggregate passing rate of first time test‐takers on licensure and certification exams will be 71.0%.

The aggregate score for Gaston College was 92.6%.

Yes

College Transfer Performance

 

Among associate degree completers and those who have completed 30 or more credit hours who transfer to a four‐ year college, 71.2% will earn a GPA of 2.00 or better after two consecutive semesters at the transfer institution.

84.0% earned a GPA of 2.00 or better.

Yes

Basic Skills Student Progress

20.6% of basic skills students will show progress as defined by an educational functioning level.

40.4% of basic skills students at Gaston College showed progress.

Yes

GED Diploma Passing Rate

 

49.3% of students taking at least one GED test during the year will receive a GED diploma during the program year.

 

83.9% of GED test-takers at Gaston College received a GED diploma.

Yes

 

Notification of Nondiscrimination

Gaston College is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity in employment and educational programs and activities and does not discriminate against current or potential employees or students on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. Gaston College supports protections under all applicable state and federal laws including but not limited to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008.

Inquiries or complaints concerning the College’s affirmative action/equal opportunity policy should be directed to the following individuals: Human Resources Director (Employees) or Vice President for Studen tAffairs and Enrollment Management (Students), 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC 28034 or call 704.922.6200.

Right to Change

The Gaston College Board of Trustees and/or Administration of Gaston College reserves the right to change at any time, and without notice, graduation requirements, fees and other charges, curriculums, course structure and content, and other such matters as may be within its control, notwithstanding any information set forth in this catalog. Gaston College reserves the right to cancel classes due to insufficient enrollment. Course offerings approved after publication of this catalog are described in class schedules, which are issued each semester. 2014-2015 tuition rates subject to change pending legislative action and approval.

2015-2016 Academic Calendar

Fall Semester 2015

August 20 Last Day Registration-Fall (6:00am online/8:00 am - 6:00 pm in person)/Payment Due
August 21 Convocation/Student Break
August 24 First Day of Fall Classes
September 2 College Closed: Holiday
September 7 Last Day to Drop Classes with a 75% Refund or Audit Fall Semester
September 22 Financial Aid Checks Mailed
October 12-13 Faculty/Student Break (college closes at 4 pm)
October 29-January 7 Spring Advising/Registration-Returning Students
November 11 Last Day to Petition for Spring 2016 Graduation
November 12-January 7 Spring Advising/Registration-New Students Begins
November 19 Last Day to Withdraw-Fall Semester
November 25 Faculty/Student Break (college closes at 1 pm)
November 26-27 College Closed: Holiday
December 14-18 Final Exam Week/December 18 Last Day of Class
December 16 Pay Tuition & Fees for Spring Semester by 5pm
December 21 Grades Due
December 21-22 Faculty/Student Break (college closes at 3 pm on 12/22/15)
December 23-31 College Closed: Holiday

Spring Semester 2016

January 1 College Closed: Holiday
January 4-6 Faculty Break
January 4-8 Student Break
January 7 Last Registration Day Spring (6:00 am online/8:00 am - 6:00pm in person)/Payment Due
January 11 First Day of Spring Classes
January 18 College Closed: Holiday
January 21 Last Day to Drop Classes with a 75% Refund or Audit for Spring Semester
February 9 Financial Aid Checks Mailed
February 10 Last Day to Petition for Spring Commencement Ceremony for Summer Graduates  
February 11 Student Break/Professional Development Day
February 22-23 Faculty/Student Break (college closes at 4pm)
March 25-28 College Closed: Holiday
March 29-April 1
Faculty/Student Break (college closes at 4 pm)
April 13 Last Day to Withdraw Spring Semester & Last Day to Petition for Summer Graduation
April 26-May 18 Advising & Registration for Summer & Fall: Returning Students Begins
May 3-May 18 Summer Advising/Registration-New Students Begins
May 6-12 Final Exam Week/May 12 Last Day of Class
May 12
Pay Tuition & Fees for Summer Semester by 5 pm
May 13 Graduation, Bojangles Arena 4pm/Grades Due
May 16-19 Faculty/Student Break
May 16 Start Summer Flex Schedule - Monday-Thursday, 8 am - 6 pm  
May 17 University Visting Student Day

Summer Semester 2016

May 18 Last Registration Day Summer (online 6:00am/8:00 am - 6:00 pm in person)/Payment Due
May 23 First Day of Full/First Summer Session Classes  
May 26 Last Day to Drop Classes with a 75% Refund or Audit - (First and Full Sessions)  
May 30 College Closed: Holiday
June 9 Last Day to Withdraw-First Session
June 22 Financial Aid Checks Mailed
June 23 Last Day of First Summer Session Classes
June 27 First Day of Second Summer Session
June 30
Last Day to Drop Classes with a 75% Refund or Audit - (Second Session)
July 4 College Closed: Holiday
July 5-7 Faculty/Student Break
July 12 Fall Advising/Registration-New Students Begins
July 14 Last Day to Petition for Fall Graduation
July 22 Last Day to Withdraw  - Full Summer Session/Second Summer Semester Classes
August 4 Last Day of Term/Fall Payment Due
August 8 Grades Due
August 8-17 Faculty/Student Break
August 15 End Summer Flex Schedule (Return to Regular Schedule 8/17)
August 18-19 Student Break

Student Right to Know

The average rate of persistence toward degree completion by students at Gaston College is available in the Student Records Office.

Accreditations and Memberships

Gaston College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Gaston College.

The Commission on Colleges should be contacted only on matters related to the accreditation status of Gaston College and not for general College information.

The College’s diploma, certificate, Associate, and Applied Science Degree Programs are accredited by national accreditation boards, commissions, or service agencies. Additionally, the College is in good standing with over 20 institutional memberships.