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 2016. 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 over 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

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Telephone Numbers

Mission Statement

Gaston College is an open-door public community college, located in Gaston and Lincoln counties, that promotes student success and access to lifelong learning through high-quality, flexible, 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. Modifications to the North Carolina Performance Measures and Standards were made in 2007 and 2012, reducing the number to eight (8) measures.  In 2016, the measures were modified, reduced to seven (7) and were adopted by the General Assembly through section 10.1 of S.L.2016-94.  The results are published annually by the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) on the NCCCS Web page at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/analytics.

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.

2016-2017 Academic Calendar

Fall Semester 2016

Spring Semester 2017

Summer Semester 2017

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. Students with institution or program accreditation questions should contact the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.