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www.gaston.edu
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Thank you for choosing Gaston College. This is a great place
to continue your education whether you're new to college,
planning to transfer to a four-year college or university,
returning to achieve career certification to prepare for the job
market, or improving your skills. We hope to remain your
"College of Choice".
As one of the state's largest community colleges, Gaston
College promotes lifelong learning and economic development
by providing high quality educational programs and services.
Over 100 programs of study are offered to help you obtain a
diploma, certificate, or two- year Associate Degree. We offer
an exceptional and affordable education that can be tailored to
fit your schedule, and you don't have to travel a long distance
to reach one of our three convenient campuses as well as
locations throughout Gaston and Lincoln Counties.
Our goal is to provide the best possible educational experience
for each of our students. A dedicated faculty and staff provide
personalized instruction and a supportive learning environment
that encourages student success.
I invite you to take advantage of all the opportunities available
at Gaston College that can enrich your life and the lives of
others in our community. Explore our catalog, visit our web-site
(www.gaston.edu), and tour our campuses. Come join
us for an exciting learning experience that will change and
compliment your future.
Sincerely,
Patricia Skinner, Ph.D.
President, Gaston College
Dr. Patricia Skinner
STUDENT INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
About the College, Campus Locations &
Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Mission Statement/Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Performance Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Nondiscrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Right to Change/Right to Know . . . . . . . . . 5
Accreditation and Memberships . . . . . . . . . 5
Telephone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2014-2015 Academic Calendar . . . . . . . . . 6
ADMISSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
General Admission Requirements . . . . . . . . 7
TUITION, FEES AND GENERAL COSTS . . . . . 10
Summary of Tuition and Fees . . . . . . . . 11
Curriculum Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Economic and Workforce Development
/Continuing Education Courses . . . . . . . 10
FINANCIAL AID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Federally-Supported Programs . . . . . . . . . 14
State-Supported Programs/Scholarships . . 15
Veterans Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Vocational Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Economic & Workforce Development
/Continuing Education Programs . . . . . . . . 17
Business & Industry Training . . . . . . . . 17
Continuing Education Programs . . . . . . 18
Criminal Justice Academy . . . . . . . . . . . 18
EMS Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Fire and Rescue Training . . . . . . . . . . . 19
RESTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Life Skills (ABE/HSE, AHS, CED, ESL) . . . 19
Human Resources Development . . . . . . 20
Small Business Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Teacher Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
General Education Competencies . . . . . 20
Learn 4 Life Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
COLLEGE TRANSFER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . 20
Associate in Applied Science Degrees . . . . 21
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement . . . 21
PROGRAMS OF STUDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . 23
STUDENT RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Learning, Persistence, and
Completion (LPCC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Peer Tutoring Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Gaston College Writing Center . . . . . . . . . 24
WORK-BASED LEARNING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Student Employment Services . . . . . . . . . 25
Distance Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Student Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Records & Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Student Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Change of Major/Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Registration for Curriculum Classes . . . . . . 29
Awarding of Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Awarding of Transfer Credits from another
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Transferring to another School from
Gaston College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Charlotte Area Educational Consortium . . . 32
Grading System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Academic Standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Academic Forgiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Grounds for Student Academic Dismissal . . 37
Honor's Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Catalog of Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Graduation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
STUDENT AFFAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Counseling and Career Development Cntr . 42
Student Persistence and Retention . . . . . . . . 39
Student Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Student ID Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
College Bookstores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
WSGE 91.7 fm Radio Station . . . . . . . . . . 41
Food Service/Vending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
COLLEGE TRANSFER PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . 42
Comprehensive Articulation
Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Graduation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Associate in Arts (A10100) . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Associate in Science (A10400) . . . . . . . . . 46
Associate in Fine Arts (A10200) . . . . . . . . 58
Association in Engineering (A10500) . . . . . 49
Associate in General Education (A10300) . . 49
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (A.A.S)
DEGREE PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51-107
DIPLOMA PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107-125
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . 125-155
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . 156-264
ADMINISTRATION/FACULTY/STAFF . . . 265-279
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265
Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265
Gaston College Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . .265
Faculty/Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265-279
Faculty Emeritus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280
MAP/DIRECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286-288
Dallas Campus Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286
Lincoln Campus Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .287
Kimbrell Campus Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 3
About the College
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 50 years of service, Gaston College is
one of 58 community colleges in the North Caro-lina
Community College System. In January 1963,
the college was granted a charter by the State of
North Carolina, and began its first classes in tem-porary
headquarters in September 1964. The col-lege
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 321 South
Dallas, NC 28034-1499
704.922.6200 • FAX 704.922.2323
Lincoln Campus
P.O. Box 600
511 S. Aspen Street
Lincolnton, NC 28093
704.748.5200 • 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
Mission Statement
Gaston College is an open-door public community
college, located in Gaston and Lincoln counties,
that promotes student success and lifelong learn-ing
through high caliber, affordable, and com-prehensive
educational programs and services
responding to economic and workforce develop-ment
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 liter-acy,
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 work-force,
or enter post-secondary education.
• Provides continuing education programs for
individual, personal, and professional develop-ment
and for employee education and training
to satisfy the skill development needs of busi-ness,
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 teach-ing
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 disad-vantaged,
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,
STUDENT INFORMATION
4 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
which promote cooperative relationships with
the community.
• Promotes accessibility to educational pro-grams
through off-campus course offerings
and through distance-learning opportunities.
Performance Measures
In response to a mandate from the N.C. Gen-eral
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 modifica-tions
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 Commu-nity
College System (NCCCS) on the NCCCS Web
page at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/
performance-measures.
Performance
Measure Description Standard
Gaston
College
Basic Skills
Student Progress
Percentage of students who progress as defined by an educational
functioning level.
Goal: 51.2%
Baseline: 20.6%
35.9 %
GED Diploma
Passing Rate
Percentage of students taking at least one GED® test during a pro-gram
year who receive a GED® diploma during the program year.
Goal: 82.0%
Baseline: 49.3%
75.5%
Developmental Stu-dent
Success rate
in College-Level
English Courses
Percentage of previous developmental English and/or
reading students who successfully complete a credit English course
with a grade of "C" or better upon the first attempt.
Goal: 75.4%
Baseline: 47.5%
74.6%
Developmental Stu-dent
Success rate
in College-Level
Math Courses
Percentage of previous developmental math students who success-fully
complete a credit Math course with a grade of "C" or better upon
the first attempt.
Goal: 74.9%
Baseline: 45.2%
71.7%
First Year
Progression
Percentage of first-time fall credential-seeking students attempting at
least twelve hours within their first academic year who successfully
complete ("P", "C" or better) at least 12 of those hours.
Goal: 74.6%
Baseline: 53.2%
72.7%
Curriculum Comple-tion
Percentage of first-time fall credential-seeking students who graduate,
transfer, or are still enrolled with 36 hours after six years.
Goal: 45.6%
Baseline: 28.6%
38.4%
Licensure and
Certification Passing
Rate
Aggregate institutional passing rate of first time test-takers on
licensure and certification exams. Exams included in the measure are
state mandated exams which candidates must pass before becoming
active practitioners.
Goal: 91.7%
Baseline: 71.0%
91.2%
College Transfer
Performance
Among community college associate degree completers and those
who have completed 30 or more credit hours who transfer to a four-year
university or college, the percentage who earn a GPA of 2.00 or
better after two consecutive semesters within the academic year at
the transfer institution.
Goal: 93.8%
Baseline: 71.2%
85.4%
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 ap-plicable
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 Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
(Students), 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC
28034 or call 704.922.6200.
About the College
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 5
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 can-cel
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.
Student Right to Know
The average rate of persistence toward degree
completion by students at Gaston College is avail-able
in the Student Records Office.
Accreditations and Memberships
Gaston College is accredited by the Southern As-sociation
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 Gas-ton
College.
The Commission on Colleges should be contacted
only on matters related to the accreditation sta-tus
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 member-ships.
________________________________________
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
Arts & Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . 704.922.6311
Business & Information Tech . .704.922.6263
Educational Partnerships . . . . .704.922.6297
Engineering & Industrial
Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . .704.922.6295
G-NET/TRiO . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704.922.2363
Health & Human Services. . . . .704.922.6379
Learning, Persistence, and
Completion Center (LPCC). . .704.922.6349
Libraries
Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704.922.6356
Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704.748.1050
Kimbrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .704.825.6278
Work-based Learning . . . . . . . .704.922.6212
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/
Community 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
Telephone Numbers
STUDENT INFORMATION
6 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
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 Term
May 12 Pay Tuition & Fees for Summer
Semester by 5pm
May 13 Graduation, Bojangles’
Coliseum 4 p.m./Grades Due
May 16-19 Faculty/Student Break
May 16 Start Summer Flex Schedule
- Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. -
6 p.m.
May 17 University Visiting Student Day
Summer Semester 2016
May 18 Last Registration Day-Summer
(online 6 a.m./8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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 21 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
8/15)
August 18-19 Student Break
All dates on the Gaston College Calendar are
subject to change.
Fall Semester 2015
August 20 Last Registration Day-Fall
(6 a.m. online/8 a.m. - 6p.m.
in person) / Payment Due
August 24 First Day of Fall Classes
September 2 Last Day to Drop Classes with
a 75% Refund or Audit Fall
Semester
September 7 College Closed: Holiday
September 22 Financial Aid Checks Mailed
October 12-13 Faculty/Student Break (College
Closes at 4p.m.)
October 29 Spring Advising / Registration -
Returning Students Begins
November 11 Last Day to Petition for Spring
2016 Graduation
November 12 Spring Advising / Registration -
New Students Begins
November 19 Last Day to Withdraw-Fall
Semester
November 25 Faculty/Student Break (College
Closes at 1 p.m.)
November 26-27 College Closed: Holiday
December 14-18 Final Exam Week /
December 18 Last Day of Term
December 16 Pay Tuition & Fees for Spring
Semester by 5 p.m.
December 21 Grades Due
December 21-22 Faculty/Student Break (College
Closes at 3 p.m. 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 a.m. online/8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
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 p.m.)
April 13 Last Day to Withdraw Spring
Semester & Last Day to Peti-tion
for Summer Graduation
2015-2016 Academic Calendar
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 7
Admissions
________________________________________
ADMISSIONS
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
(for Curriculum Programs)
Gaston College subscribes to the open-door
admission policy. Applicants must be at least 18
years of age and possess a high school diploma or
equivalent to enroll.
Associate Degree, Diploma, and
Certificate Programs:
For most programs of study, the following steps
should be completed prior to registration.
1. Complete an online application at
www.gaston.edu/apply-online. Paper appli-cations
are available at any campus location.
2. Schedule and take the College Placement
Test, unless eligible for a placement test
waiver. (Please note: official test score re-sults
must be no more than five (5) years
old and they must be received and evaluated
by the Admissions Office). A valid photo ID,
such as a driver's license is required for all
testing. Students may be waived from taking
the ACCUPLACER or the NC DAP placement
test if they meet one of the following criteria
• Students who score 500 or higher on the
Verbal or Critical Reading portion of the
SAT are not required to take the Reading
portion of the placement test.
• Students who score 500 or higher on
the Writing portion of the SAT are not
required to take the Writing portion of
the placement test.
• Students who score 500 or higher on the
Mathematics portion of the SAT are not
required to take the Mathematics portion
of the placement test.
• Students who score an 18 or higher on
the English portion of the ACT are not
required to take the Writing portion of
the college's placement test.
• Students who score 22 or higher on the
Reading portion of the ACT are not re-quired
to take the Reading portion of the
college's placement test.
• Students who score 22 or higher on the
Mathematics portion of the ACT are not
required to take the Math portion of the
college's placement test.
• Students who earned a grade of "C" or
better in college-level English and Math
courses are waived from taking the
placement test.
• Students with an unweighted high school
GPA of 2.6 or higher and meet certain
requirements outlined in the Multiple
Measures for Placement Policy below are
waived from taking the placement test.
*Financial Aid Applicants
In accordance with the new Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-
74), Gaston College has eliminated the Col-lege
Placement Test Ability-to-Benefit (ATB)
alternative for students planning to first en-roll
in a program of study on or after July 1,
2012 and who have NOT earned a valid high
school diploma from a regionally accredited
institution or a recognized equivalent (e.g.,
GED®). As noted in the law, neither ATB
testing nor earning six credits applicable to a
degree or certificate will satisfy the academ-ic
qualifications for receiving financial aid.
Students who fall in this category and who
wish to receive financial aid may establish
eligibility by completing an approved GED®
or Adult High School program. Additionally,
some employers, licensing boards, and
credentialing agencies may not recognize
credentials from non-regionally accredited
high schools, even after a student has re-ceived
course credit or completed a program
of study at Gaston College. In order to qualify
for federal financial student aid, students will
need to submit both an official high school
transcript and official transcripts from all
colleges previously attended
Multiple Measures for Placement Policy*
Unweighted
GPA =
or > 2.6
and Four
High School
Math
Courses*
Student is college ready for any
gateway math course and any
course that has a DMA prereq-uisite.
Colleges may require
students to take a supplemental
math lab as a co-requisite,
based on college policies.
Unweighted
GPA =
or > 2.6
and Four
High School
Math
Courses*
Student is college ready for any
English course up to and includ-ing
English 111 and any course
that has a DRE prerequisite.
Colleges may require students
to take a supplemental English
composition lab as a co-requi-site,
based on college policies.
Unweighted
GPA < 2.6
College will evaluate subject-area
ACT or SAT scores to
determine if student is college
ready in math and English using
the following scores (based on
national and state validation
studies):
English: ACT Reading 22 or
ACT English 18
SAT Writing 500 or
SAT Critical Reading 500
Math: ACT Math 22
SAT Math 500
STUDENT INFORMATION
8 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
Admissions
Gaston College. Students who have not registered
for a two-year period are required to re-apply and
meet current admissions requirements.
Programs of Study with Additional
Admission Requirements
General Admission to the college does not guar-antee
admission into certain programs of study.
For example, many programs of study within the
Health and Human Services division have an ad-ditional
admission process. These programs of
study include Associate Degree Nursing, Practical
Nursing, Cosmetology, Dietetic Technician, Dietary
Manager, Esthetics, Therapeutic Massage, Medical
Assisting, Phlebotomy, Nursing Assistant, Health
and Fitness Science and Veterinary Technology.
Applicants should contact the department chair
within their program of study to ensure awareness
of any additional or new program-specific admis-sion
requirements.
Opportunities for Students without a High
School Diploma or GED® (18 years or older)
Applicants not having attained a high school
diploma but who are 18 years of age may apply
for and enroll in certain certificate and diploma
programs. These programs of study include Air
Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technol-ogy;
Welding Technology; and Certified Nursing
Assistant. In addition to completing the general
Gaston College admissions application, these
applicants must take the College Placement Test
and complete the online New Student Orientation
prior to registration. Non-high school graduates
may also register for courses as a Special Credit
student (see statement below regarding Special
Credit students). However, students must meet
any course prerequisites prior to registration.
Admission for Special Credit or Visiting
Students (Non-degree Applicants)
Students wishing to register for credit courses
but have no intention of completing a program of
study will be classified as Special Credit or Visiting
students and may be admitted to credit classes
with advisor's approval. Students registered
as Special Credit or Visiting Students may earn
a maximum of 15 credit hours before having to
declare a curriculum major or program of study.
Tuition and fees are the same as for regular cur-riculum
students. Credits earned may be applied
to a degree, diploma, or certificate program by
completing a Petition for Major Change form in
the Counseling Center.
Residency
Students who are not North Carolina residents
pay out-of-state tuition for credit (degree) class-es.
A student's official residency status is deter-mined
at the time they complete the admissions
Unweighted
GPA <
2.6 and
subject-area
score(s)
below col-lege
ready
Student will take the State
Board approved North Carolina
Diagnostic Assessment for
Placement (NCDAP) to
determine placement.
Students
without a
recent tran-script
GPA
or without
ACT or SAT
scores
Student will take the State
Board approved North Carolina
Diagnostic Assessment for
Placement (NCDAP) to
determine placement.
* This policy applies to an individual who has an
official transcript grade point average (GPA)
from a high school that is legally authorized to
operate in North Carolina and who graduated
from that high school within five years of college
enrollment.
3. Submit an official high school transcript to
the Office of Registration and Records at
Gaston College, 201 Highway 321 South,
Dallas, NC 28034-1499. In lieu of an official
high school transcript, the following official
documents wll be accepted:
a. Adult high school transcript
b. GED scores
c. Official transcript from an approved
correspondence high school* (see state-ment
below regarding non-regionally
accredited high schools)
d. Official transcript from Home School
along with Home School Record(s)
(must be accompanied by a letter or card
issued from the N.C. Division of Non-public
Education)
e. Transcript from a regionally-accredited
college or university reflecting attain-ment
of an Associate degree or higher.
4. Submit official college and/or university tran-scripts,
if applicable. College transcripts are
not required for admissions; however, official
documents are required for consideration of
transfer credit.
5. Complete the online New Student
Orientation.
Please Note: Applicants are strongly encour-aged
to submit a Gaston College Application for
Admission at least four weeks prior to start of the
semester. This ensures the applicant ample time
to complete the entire admission and enrollment
process. Applicants transferring to Gaston College
from another college or university must submit an
application and meet the admission requirements
for the program of study they intend to pursue at
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 9
Admissions
application according to the residency policy of
the state of North Carolina, the North Carolina
Community College System, and the Gaston
College Board of Trustees. In order for a student
to be considered a legal resident for tuition pur-poses,
the applicant's residency must be estab-lished
and maintained in North Carolina for at
least 12 months preceding the date of enrollment.
Immigrants lawfully admitted to the United States
for permanent residence may establish North
Carolina residence in the same manner as any
other non-resident.
The legal residence of a person under 18 years
of age is that of his or her parents, surviving par-ent,
or legal guardian. In cases where parents are
divorced or legally separated, the minor's domicile
is deemed to be North Carolina for the time period
that either parent, as a North Carolina legal resi-dent,
claims the minor as a taxable dependent.
A change of address does not automatically en-title
a student to pay the same tuition as a North
Carolina resident. A request to change one's
residency status should be submitted to the
Admissions Office prior to registration. More
information on residency requirements may be
obtained from the Office of Admissions.
International Students
International students seeking admission to
Gaston College must submit, along with an admis-sions
application, an official or certified copy of
their high school transcript and an official/certified
copy of any college work completed. If the origi-nal
copies of these transcripts are in a language
other than English, an official English translation
is required. Students whose foreign transcripts
cannot be evaluated by college personnel are
responsible for providing a transcript evaluation
from a recognized American transcript evaluation
agency. Proof of English proficiency is required.
Before entering a full-time academic (college)
program, a student is required to have a mini-mum
Testing of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL IBT) score of Reading: 17, Speaking: 16,
and Writing 16 or Academic International English
Language Testing System (Academic IELTS) score
of Reading: 6.5, Listening: 6.5, Speaking: 6.5, and
Writing: 6.5.
Once an international student is admitted to the
U.S. with F-1 status, certain obligations must be
met in order to maintain that status. The interna-tional
student must continue to carry a full course
of study. This is defined as undergraduate study
at a college or university which consists of at least
12 credit hours per semester. In addition to not
accepting employment off campus, the interna-tional
student must keep his or her passport valid
for at least six months. An extension of status
must be applied if the student wishes to remain in
the U.S. beyond the period of time for which he
or she was admitted. F-1 students are required
to disclose fully and truthfully all information
requested by INS regardless of whether the infor-mation
requested is material.
Gaston College is a commuter institution and does
not have residence halls or student housing for
rent. Students are responsible for finding their
own housing. Transportation to the college must
be arranged by the student.
ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED THESE
REQUIREMENTS AT LEAST SIX WEEKS PRIOR TO
THE SEMESTER FOR WHICH THEY PLAN TO ENROLL.
Policies and procedures for International students
are subject to change in accordance to federal
requirements and guidelines.
Career and College Promise (CCP) Program
Session Law 2011-145, the Appropriations Act of
2011, authorizes the State Board of Education
and the State Board of Community Colleges to
establish the Career and College Program. This
program replaces all previous high school
programs (Huskins, Dual Enrollment, and Learn &
Earn Online). Career and College Promise provides
seamless dual enrollment educational opportuni-ties
tuition free for eligible North Carolina private,
public, charter, and home schooled high school
students, allowing them to accelerate completion
of college certificates, diplomas, and associate
degrees that lead to college transfer or provide
entry-level job skills. Career and College Prom-ise
includes College Transfer Pathways, Career &
Technical Education Pathways, and Cooperative
Innovate High School Programs (Early College).
Students are responsible for paying for registra-tion
fees and textbooks unless the School System
incurs the cost. Information on current pathways
being offered may be found through the College's
website (www.gaston.edu).
Application requirements for the College Transfer
Pathways and the Career Technical Pathways in-clude:
(1) High School Transcript, (2) Assessment
Scores, (3) Completed Career and College Prom-ise
Enrollment Form with required signatures,
and (4) Completed College Application. Entrance
Requirements for the College Transfer Pathways
include: (1) Must be a junior or senior, (2) Must
have a weighted GPA of 3.0 on high school course
work, (3) Demonstrate college readiness through
approved assessment tests (Plan, PSAT, SAT, ACT,
COMPASS, Accuplacer, Asset), and (4) Maintain
2.0 college GPA after two (2) courses. Entrance
requirements for the Career & Technical Educa-
STUDENT INFORMATION
10 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
________________________________________
TUITION/FEES AND GENERAL COSTS
Cost of Attending Gaston College
Gaston College, supported by the taxpayers of
North Carolina and Gaston and Lincoln counties,
maintains modest instructional and general fees
that are subject to change by action of the state
of North Carolina and the Board of Trustees of
Gaston College.
Tuition rates subject to change pending legislative
action and approval.
Curriculum Courses
Instructional Fee (Per Semester Hour of Credit)
North Carolina Residents $ 72
Out-of-State Residents $264
The maximum instructional fee for residents of
North Carolina is $1,152 per semester for 16 or
more credit hours. The maximum instructional fee
for out-of-state residents is $4,224 per semester
for 16 or more credit hours.
Economic and Workforce Development
/Continuing Education Courses
Tuition and fees:
Continuing Education Occupational courses (state
supported) vary, based upon the actual total
hours of the course.
Tuition Fees (EWD/CE classes)
Hours Tuition fee
1-24 $ 70
25-50 $ 125
51+ $ 180
Receipt supported (self-supporting) courses are
individually priced.
Usage Fee
In addition to tuition, on-campus Economic and
Workforce Development/Continuing Education
classes are assessed a Usage Fee. Please consult
the Gaston College website or current Economic
and Workforce Development/Continuing Educa-tion
course schedule for applicable tuition and
fees.
Exceptions
The Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver was eliminated
by the North Carolina State Legislature effective
July 1, 2013. North Carolina residents 65 or older
are required to pay tuition and fees for any classes
for which they register.
Tuition/Fees and General Costs
tion Pathways include (1) Must be a junior or
senior, (2) Must have a weighted GPA of 3.0 on
high school courses, (3) Must meet prerequisites
of career pathway, and (4) Maintain 2.0 college
GPA after two (2) courses.
Gaston Early College High School (GECHS)
Gaston Early College High School (GECHS) is
an innovative high school located on the Dallas
Campus of Gaston College. The Early College High
School is operated by Gaston College and Gaston
County Schools through a joint partnership.
This exclusive, non-traditional high school offers
Gaston County students a unique opportunity to
receive a high school diploma while earning an
Associate of Arts degree from Gaston College.
GECHS offers state-of-the-art technology and
rigorous academics. Students take college courses
at no additional cost, and after graduation, they
may transfer to a four-year college or university.
The University Center at Gaston College
The University Center at Gaston College was
established in 1990 through the efforts of Ap-palachian
State University, The University of
North Carolina at Charlotte, and Gaston College.
Located on the Gaston College's Dallas Campus,
the University Center coordinates a cooperative
program with various area colleges and universi-ties
to bring four-year and graduate-level classes
to Gaston College in order to make classes more
accessible to the citizens of Gaston and Lincoln
counties. Identifying the needs within the com-munity
and cooperation with various senior insti-tutions
are the dominating factors that determine
the classes offered through the University Center.
Most courses are offered during evenings for the
convenience of working adults.
Requirements for Economic and
Workforce Development/Continuing
Education Programs
Requirements for admission to courses in Economic
and Workforce Development/Continuing Education
vary by program. Please consult the college website
at http://www.gaston.edu/economic-workforce-development/
getting-started-with-continuing-education/
or the most current copy of the
Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing
Education course schedule for details.
Persons under the age of 16 are permitted to regis-ter
only for specific summer enrichment programs.
Some classes are restricted to persons age 18 and
older.
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 11
Curriculum Graduation Fee: $45
Lab Fee: $6 per lab hour
Malpractice Insurance (required for nurs-ing
and health services programs students):
$13 per year
Transcript Fee: $5 for each transcript.
Technology Fee: $1 per credit hour up to
16 credits.
Returned Checks
A fee of $25 (or the maximum permitted by law)
will be assessed to any student whose check is
returned.
Other General Fees for Credit and Degree
Programs
Student Activity Fee: $1.50 per semes-ter
hour of credit. The maximum semester
student activity fee is $12 for eight (8) or more
credit hours for in-state and out-of-state resi-dents.
A Student Activity Fee is not charged
for the summer term.
Supply Fee: Some courses may require an
additional supply fee. Courses requiring
additional fees will be identified in the class
schedule.
Usage Fee: $12 per semester ($10 summer
term)
Tuition/Fees and General Costs
SUMMARY OF TUITION & FEES
Curriculum Courses
Instructional Fee (Per Semester Hour of Credit)
North Carolina Residents $ 72
Out-of-State Residents $264
• The maximum instructional fee for residents of North Carolina is $1,152 per semester for 16 or more credit hours.
• The maximum instructional fee for out-of-state residents is $4,224 per semester for 16 or more credit hours.
Economic and Workforce Development /Continuing Education Courses
Continuing Education Occupational courses (State Supported) vary, based upon the actual total hours of the course.
Tuition Fee
Hours Tuition Fee
1-24 $ 70
25-50 $125
51+ $180
Receipt supported (self-supporting) courses are individually priced.
Other Fees
Student Activity Fee $1.50 per semester hour of credit
• The maximum semester student activity fee is $12 for eight (8) or more credit hours for in-state and out-of-state
residents. A Student Activity Fee is not charged for the summer term.
• Some courses may require an additional supply fee. Courses requiring additional fees will be identified in the class
schedule.
Usage Fee $12 per semester ($10 summer term)
Curriculum Graduation Fee $45
Lab Fee $6 per lab hour
Malpractice Insurance
(required for nursing and health
services programs students):
$13 per year
Transcript Fee $5 for each transcript
Technology Fee $1 per credit hour up to 16 credits
Returned Checks $25
Student Activity Fee $1.50 per semester credit hour
Replacement ID Card $10
STUDENT INFORMATION
12 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
For those who find they do not have accident
insurance coverage, information on a student
insurance program is available from the Busi-ness
Office in the Myers Center Building. GC Print
Management
GC Print Management
Print Management is a service instituted by
Gaston College to significantly lower the cost and
environmental impact of printing. The implemen-tation
of this system will improve student printing
experience in our curriculum labs and libraries.
Students will have the capability of performing
duplex, color, and wireless printing.
Curriculum students will be credited $10.00 each
semester for printing. Remaining balances at the
end of each semester will not roll over. The price
for printing is as follows:
Black and White
Single sided - $0.10/per page
Duplex - $0.15/per page
Color
Single sided - $0.25/per page
Duplex - $0.38/per page
For more detailed information visit GC Print
Management.
________________________________________
FINANCIAL AID
GENERAL INFORMATION
Financial assistance is available for curriculum
students in the form of scholarships, grants, and
work programs. Every effort is made by the insti-tution
to help students who need assistance with
educational expenses. Financial aid is intended to
supplement, not replace, financial contributions
from the student and his or her family. Financial
aid is distributed at Gaston College without regard
to race, sex, religion, national origin, age, or dis-ability.
Gaston College does not participate in any
of the Federal Direct Loan Programs.
There are two types of financial aid: gift assis-tance
and work. Gift assistance includes grants
and scholarships that do not have to be repaid
provided that the student attends classes through
the 60% point of the semester and maintains
Satisfactory Academic Progress (see the Financial
Aid Office for this information). Work study is a
self-help program that enables students to pay
part of their expenses through their own earn-ings.
The work study program gives students the
opportunity to work and earn money at or above
the current minimum wage.
How Eligibility is Determined
Gaston College uses the Free Application for Fed-eral
Student Aid (FAFSA) to assess the financial
condition of financial aid applicants. Information
Right to Change Fees
All College fees are subject to change without
notice.
Refunds: Curriculum Programs
A 100% refund shall be made if the student
officially drops prior to the first day of the aca-demic
semester or term. Also, a student is eligible
for a 100% refund if the class in which the student
is officially registered is cancelled due to insuffi-cient
enrollment. A 75% refund of tuition shall be
made if the student officially drops from the class
prior to or on the official 10% point of the semes-ter.
Students who drop classes in the add/drop
period will be assessed all fees for those classes.
For classes beginning at times other than the first
week (seven calendar days) of the semester, a
100% refund shall be made if the student officially
drops from the class prior to the first class meet-ing.
A 75% refund shall be made if the student
officially drops from the class prior to or on the
10% point of the class. tudents who drop classes
in the add/drop period will be assessed all fees for
those classes.
All paperwork for the drop must be processed
before the drop date. The drop date is published
each semester on the Gaston College website at
www.gaston.edu. It is the student's responsibility
to ensure they are officially dropped from classes.
If a course fails to materialize, refunds are auto-matically
processed. The refund policy is subject
to change. Refunds are not granted after the 10%
point. Refunds of tuition will be issued in accor-dance
with the current state and college policy.
Refund checks will be mailed within 30 days after
the last drop-add day.
Refunds: Economic and Workforce
Development/Continuing Education Courses
If a student officially withdraws from a class prior
to the first class meeting, a full refund will be
given. A 75% refund will be given if a student
officially withdraws before the 10% point of the
class. A full refund is given for classes canceled
by the college because of insufficient enrollments.
Refunds of self-supported courses may be made
if adequate course fees remain to cover all course
expenses.
Accident Insurance
Gaston College does not have insurance to cover
students if they are injured on the Gaston College
campus or in a college-related activity. It is advis-able,
therefore, that students, especially those in
areas that could be considered to be potentially
hazardous, make certain they have appropriate
coverage under a personal accident policy or that
of a parent.
Financial Aid
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 13
entered onto the FAFSA is analyzed according to
the requirements of the U.S. Congress and fed-eral
guidelines. This ensures that all applicants are
treated fairly and equitably. Items such as income,
assets, family size, marital status, and number of
family members in the household and in college
are used to determine eligibility.
Results of the FAFSA indicate the amount the
student and his or her family can contribute
toward the student's education. Most financial
aid is based on need rather than on scholastic re-cord.
Financial need is the difference between the
total education expenses and what the family is
expected to contribute.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Students who are entering Gaston College and are
in need of financial aid are requested to follow this
application procedure:
1. After the application for admission has been
submitted, the student should complete a
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
2. The student who wishes to apply for finan-cial
assistance must file a Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student
should complete the form on the Internet at
www.fafsa.gov using Gaston College school
code #002973. It may take up to four
weeks to process a complete file. Therefore,
students should submit all financial aid forms
several weeks before registering for classes.
3. In addition, the student should submit other
documentation if requested by the financial
aid office or by College Foundation, Inc
School Servicing Center (CFI).CFI provides
verification services for the Gaston College
Financial Aid Office.
4. Students interested in scholarships should
log on to https://gaston.academicworks.
com/users/sign_in from January to March
for Fall scholarships. Students interested in
work-study should submit a separate Work-
Study Application in the Financial Aid Office.
Applicants may apply for scholarships, grants,
and/or workstudy positions. The combined sum
of these financial aid awards cannot exceed an
applicant's total financial need. The awarding of
aid is based on funds available. Students will be
notified of their financial aid eligibility by award
notification letter. The letter will state the type
and amount of award. Students should retain their
copy of their award notification letter for their
records. If the student does not plan to enroll or
use their financial aid award, the student should
notify the Financial Aid Office.
In the event that a student receiving aid withdraws
from the institution or stops attending all of their
classes prior to the 60% point of the semester,
the student will be responsible for repayment of a
prorated amount of any portion of payments that
were extended to the student for living expenses
and that would no longer be attributed to meet-ing
expenses related to attendance. If the stu-dent
never attends a class(es), the student is not
eligible to receive financial aid for the class(es)
and will be responsible for repayment and billed
for the aid for which he or she became ineligi-ble.
Students will be ineligible for future aid until
repayment has been made.
Failure to maintain financial aid satisfactory
academic progress (SAP) will result in the loss of
eligibility for financial aid. Eligibility may be re-gained
as long as the student has not exceeded
their lifetime Pell eligibility. Student coursework
must be restricted to the major that is on file in
the Records and Registration Office. Courses taken
outside of the approved major may require adjust-ment
to the financial aid award. Financial Aid will
pay for repeated courses as long as it is within the
college's repeat policy guidelines. However, Finan-cial
Aid will not pay for excessive repeats beyond
this policy nor will it pay for repeated courses that
are not necessary to complete the student's major
(i.e., Elective Courses). In addition, Financial Aid
will pay for developmental courses up to a maxi-mum
of 30 attempted credit hours.
It is the student’s responsibility to:
(related to Financial Aid)
• Review and consider all information about
the school's programs before enrolling.
• Complete all application forms accurately
and submit them on time to the right depart-ment.
• Pay special attention to and accurately com-plete
the application for Financial Aid. Errors
can result in long delays in receiving aid.
Intentional mis-reporting of information on
application forms for federal financial aid is a
violation of the law and is considered a crimi-nal
offense, subject to penalties under the
U.S. Criminal Code.
• Return all additional documentation,
verification, corrections, and new informa-tion
to the Financial Aid Office.
• Read and understand all forms before
signing them and keep copies of all forms.
• Notify the lender of loans of changes in
name, address, and school status if the
student has previously received a student
loan from any previous institution.
• Perform the work that is agreed upon in
accepting a college work-study award.
Financial Aid
STUDENT INFORMATION
14 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
Federally Supported Programs
help provide funding to students of the College.
Gaston College does not endorse the use of any
particular alternative loan program, but rather
encourages its students to thoroughly review the
programs available and to select the program that
best meets their personal needs.
Eligibility for Federally Supported Programs
Students must meet the following requirements
before they can receive federal financial aid funds:
1. Have financial need.
2. Have a recognized/regionally accredited high
school or homeschool diploma, or a General
Education Development (GED) certificate.
3. Be enrolled as a regular student work-ing
toward a degree or diploma program.
(Students may not receive aid for correspon-dence
or telecommunications courses unless
they are part of an associate, bachelor, or
graduate degree program.)
4. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
5. Have a valid Social Security Number.
6. Make Satisfactory Academic Progress.
7. Sign a statement of educational purpose/
certification statement on refunds and
default (found on the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid).
8. Register with the Selective Services, if
required.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant program is designed to
provide financial assistance to those in need. The
amount of the Federal Pell Grant is determined
on the basis of the student's and his or her fam-ily's
financial resources and the expected family
contribution.
The Federal Pell Grant Award is a grant and does
not have to be repaid as long as the student
maintains eligibility requirements for federally sup-ported
programs and attends their classes through
the 60% point of the term. The student must
maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic
Progress Standards.
Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
This program of direct grants of financial aid is
for undergraduate students of exceptional fi-nancial
need who, without the grants, would be
unable to continue their education. FSEOG is a
grant and does not have to be repaid as long as the
student maintains eligibility requirements for
federally supported programs and attends their
classes through the 60% point of the term. The
student must maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory
Academic Progress Standards.
• Know and comply with the deadlines (both
U.S. Department of Education and Gaston
College) for application or reapplication for
aid.
• Contact the Financial Aid Office before with-drawing
from school or changing course
schedule.
• Notify the Financial Aid Office in writing
about additional income not reported on
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
• Express written appreciation to any scholar-ship
donor.
• Understand and maintain Financial Aid Satis-factory
Academic Progress (SAP) Standards
in order to continue to receive financial aid.
Students are not considered to be making
satisfactory academic progress if they do
not maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and 67%
completion rate each semester.
• Officially drop or withdraw from a class(es)
that the student registered for but is not
attending even if that student applied for
and/or received financial aid. The student
cannot assume that automatic drops or
withdrawals will be performed for them in
the event that they do not pay for his or her
registration fees.
• Make sure that the student's legal name, as
it appears on the student's social security
card, is on file with the Records and Registra-tion
Office and is the name used on a FAFSA
application.
• Make sure that a correct address is on file
with the Records and Registration Office in
order to properly receive correspondence
and/or refund checks (if applicable) that are
mailed.
FEDERALLY SUPPORTED PROGRAMS
Federally supported programs are funded by the
government through the U. S. Department of
Education. These programs consist of the Federal
Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the Federal
College Work Study. Every student who is applying for
financial aid at Gaston College must apply for the
Federal Pell Grant by completing the FAFSA. The
student should complete the form on the Internet
at www.fafsa.gov. Please include Gaston College's
Title IV school code #002973 on the application
which will enable the U.S. Department of Edu-cation
to provide a Student Aid Report (SAR) to
Gaston College.
Gaston College does not participate in the Staf-ford
or Federal Direct Loan programs and Gaston
College does not certify student loans. There are
many sources of alternative or private loans to
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 15
Federal College Work-Study Program
(Federal/Institutional)
Gaston College participates in the college work-study
program, which provides on campus work
opportunities for students needing financial as-sistance
to attend school. Work is available in
the library, faculty offices, administrative offices,
laboratories, shops, and building and ground
maintenance. Students working under this
program are paid monthly for the work performed.
To be considered for the work-study program, and
to determine the number of hours per week a
student may work under the program, the Fi-nancial
Aid Office will consider a student's (1)
need for financial assistance, (2) class schedule
(enrolled in at least 6 credit hours), (3) health,
and (4) academic progress.
SPARC3 Scholars
In response to a growing need for a well-trained
science, technology, engineering, and mathemat-ics
(STEM) talent pool, Gaston College has devel-oped
an initiative, known as SPARC3, to promote
persistence and graduation of these students at
the college. The SPARC3 Scholars scholarships are
one element of the larger SPARC3 initiative. The
success of SPARC3 Scholars will be fostered by
financial support, academic learning communities,
mentoring, undergraduate research experiences,
and supplemental group activities in order to aid
in student learning and prepare students for fu-ture
achievement. Successful SPARC3 Scholars
will complete the Associate of Science degree and
be provided assistance in applying for acceptance
to four-year colleges and universities for further
study in STEM fields. SPARC3 is supported by
the National Science Foundation under Grant No.
DUE-1355569.
How to Apply (SPARC3)
Gaston College subscribes to the open-door ad-mission
policy. Applicants must be at least 18
years of age and possess a high school diploma
or equivalent to enroll. Students should apply us-ing
Gaston College's existing scholarship manage-ment
system. Please see the Office of Financial
Aid for more information about the application
process. For more information about the SPARC3
program, please email SPARC3@gaston.edu.
SPARC3 Scholars will be expected to meet addi-tional
eligibility requirements including:
• U.S. citizenship, nationality, or lawful U.S.
permanent residence
• Full-time enrollment in the Associate of
Science program at Gaston College
• Demonstrated financial need based upon
federal guidelines
• Overall unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Submission of a letter of intent to complete
the Associate of Science degree at Gaston
College
• Brief interview with SPARC3 Program Staff
Scholars will be notified upon acceptance into the
program.
STATE-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS
North Carolina Community College Grant
The North Carolina Community College Grant
is a need-based grant offered by the North
Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
through College Foundation, Inc. Applicants must
complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) each year they attend school. Legal
residents of North Carolina who are enrolled at
least half-time (six credit hours) in an eligible pro-gram
and maintain satisfactory academic progress
may apply. Students must demonstrate financial
need. Students with a bachelor's degree are
ineligible. NC Community College grants are not
available for summer.
North Carolina Education Lottery
Scholarship
The North Carolina Education Lottery Scholar-ship
program is offered by the North Carolina
State Education Assistance Authority through
College Foundation, Inc. Applicants must com-plete
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) each year they attend school, Eligibility
and awards are determined annually. Legal resi-dents
of North Carolina who are enrolled at least
half-time (6 credit hours) in an eligible program
and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
requirements of the institution they attend may
apply. Students with a bachelor's degree are
ineligible. North Carolina Education Lottery Schol-arships
are not available for summer sessions.
State Employees Credit Union “People
Helping People” Scholarship
The SECU Foundation established this two-year
scholarship program to assist North Carolina
Community College System (NCCCS) students in
achieving academic success. Each North Carolina
Community College receives two (2) scholarships.
These scholarships are distributed semi-annually
in two payments for fall semester and spring
semester for a maximum of four (4) consecutive
semesters. Scholarships are not transferable to
another student or another school.
Preference is given to students whose parents
or guardians and family members are public sec-tor
employees who live and work in North Caro-lina.
The committee considers students who best
exemplify the membership philosophy of credit
unions, "People Helping People", and have dem-onstrated
leadership, excellence of character,
State-Supported Programs
STUDENT INFORMATION
16 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
applications must be received by March 31 for the
following academic year.
Management Honors (Academic)
Scholarship
These scholarships are designed for high school
seniors who have demonstrated academic excel-lence
and plan to attend Gaston College. These
scholarships are not based on need. To be
eligible applicants must have maintained a "B"
average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better during
high school, must present evidence of expecta-tion
of high school graduation, and plan to attend
Gaston College full-time. Applicants must satisfy all
requirements for their proposed programs of
study. Applicants must be from Gaston or Lincoln
counties. Scholarships are renewable for a second
year provided the recipient maintains a 3.0 grade
point average while enrolled at Gaston College.
Career Scholarships
These scholarships are designed for high school
seniors who have demonstrated academic excel-lence
and intend to pursue careers in specified
engineering technologies or industrial technolo-gies
majors and who satisfy all entrance require-ments
for their proposed programs of study at
Gaston College. These scholarships are not based
on need. To be eligible for these scholarships,
applicants must have maintained a "B" average
(3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better during high school,
must present evidence of expectation of high
school graduation and plan to attend Gaston
College full-time. Applicants must intend to
pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate in
engineering technologies or industrial technolo-gies.
Applicants must be from Gaston or Lincoln
counties. Scholarships are renewable for a sec-ond
year provided the recipient maintains a 3.0
grade point average while enrolled at Gaston
College. Career Scholarships awards are not to be
extended beyond three semesters for a diploma
program or five semesters for a degree program.
Off-campus Work-based Learning semesters are
not included in the scholarship.
VETERANS INFORMATION
Gaston College is approved by the Department of
Veterans Affairs and NC State Approving Agen-cy
to offer VA educational benefits. Eligibility is
established by the Department of Veterans Affairs
(DVA). Eligibility remains in effect until consumed
or ten years from active duty release date for
Chapter 30 recipients and 15 years for Chapter
33 recipients. Students serving in the Reserves
may also be eligible for benefits. Please contact
the Veterans Affairs office located in the Myers
Center on Dallas Campus to complete the neces-sary
forms and any other details.
integrity, and community involvement. The recipi-ent
is selected without regard to race, sex, color,
creed, religious preference, age, national origin
or disability. The committee recognizes the indi-vidual
most deserving of an opportunity to attend
college. Recipients are selected by the Gaston
College Scholarship Committee. To be considered
for this scholarship, students must complete a
Gaston College Scholarship application.
Wachovia Technical Scholarship
This fund was established through a gift from
the Wachovia Bank and Trust Company to the
N.C. Community College System. To qualify as a
candidate for this scholarship, a person must be
a full-time student enrolled in the second year of
a two-year technical program; must demonstrate
financial need and scholastic promise; and must
use the scholarship to pay for books, tuition,
and transportation. The recipient is selected by
the Gaston College Scholarship Committee. To
be considered for this scholarship, students must
complete a Gaston College Scholarship applica-tion.
Gaston College Foundation Scholarships
The Gaston College Foundation, Inc. offers a va-riety
of scholarships for Gaston College students.
Foundation scholarships are often established
through donations from clubs, individuals, busi-nesses,
and other foundations. Donors will often
assist in establishing the criteria for awarding
foundation scholarships. Applicants are consid-ered
for all scholarships for which they qualify.
To be eligible for a Gaston College Foundation
scholarship, applicants must satisfy all Gaston
College admissions requirements including any
required placement tests for their program of
study and complete a Gaston College Foundation
Scholarship Application at https://academicworks.
com/ from January to March for Fall scholarships
and the FAFSA. Completed applications must be
received by March 31 each year for the following
academic year. A list of the Gaston College Foun-dation
Scholarships is also available on the Gaston
College website at www.gaston.edu/admissions/
scholarships_grants.php.
Other Gaston College Foundation
Gaston College has established academic schol-arships
for high school seniors residing in
Gaston and Lincoln counties who plan to enroll
at Gaston College as freshman during the year of
their high school graduation. High school seniors
interested in academic scholarships should submit
the appropriate application for the Management
Honors (Academic) Scholarship or Careers Schol-arship.
These applications must be signed by the
student's high school counselor. Completed
Veterans Information
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 17
Applicants for educational benefits must fulfill all
requirements for general admission. In addition,
transfer applicants must submit for evaluation
transcripts from ALL other post-secondary institu-tions
attended.
By law, no certification can be sent to the DVA
Regional Office for any course or program
until all of the admission requirements have been
completed.
Eligibility may apply to widows or widowers of
deceased veterans, spouses of living veterans,
and children of either who are between 18 and
26 years of age when the death or permanent
disability, resulting from service in the Armed
Forces, occurs.
Educational benefits are provided under the provi-sions
of Chapter 30, 31, 33, or 35 of Title 38 of
the U.S. Code and Chapter 1606 and 1607 of Title
10 of the U.S. Code.
'AU' (Audit), 'NS' (No Show), and 'CE' (Credit by
Examination) are not accepted by the Department
of Veterans Affairs for payment purposes. Marks
of 'WA' (Withdrawal), 'WI' (Withdrawal by In-structor),
and any course that a student does not
complete or stops attending can result in repay-ment
of funds to DVA.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
The state of North Carolina may provide finan-cial
assistance for students who have physical or
mental disabilities, learning disability, or emotion-al
impairment. Interested students should con-tact
their local Vocational Rehabilitation Office for
further information. The Gastonia office is located
at 109 W. Eighth Avenue, Gastonia, NC 28054,
704.853.5358. The Lincolnton office is located at
529 North Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
704.735.8035.
________________________________________
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT/COMMUNITY
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
As a non-credit arm of the college, Economic
and Workforce Development has the flexibility to
offer short-term courses, broad-based programs,
and various services to the citizens of Gaston and
Lincoln counties.
For information and current schedules related to
Economic and Workforce Development/Commu-nity
Education, visit the Gaston College website at
www.gaston.edu.
Business and Industry Training Services
Business and Industry Training Services pro-vides
customized training for businesses in
Gaston and Lincoln counties. This training is de-signed
to help businesses meet their goals and
remain competitive in the global marketplace.
Examples of customized training include Pro-cess
Improvement programs. These include
Lean Manufacturing, ISO and AS9100 certifi-cations,
5S, and Six Sigma. A variety of safety
and safety certification programs are also avail-able
including forklift safety, confined space,
and Hazwoper. Many leadership and supervisory
development classes are also offered. Courses
are taught by certified instructors. For a complete
listing of courses visit http://www.gaston.edu/
economic-workforce-development/occupational-training/.
Customized Training Program
North Carolina's Customized Training Program
supports economic development efforts through
education and training opportunities for eligible
businesses and industries. The program recog-nizes
the fact that one of the most important
factors for a business or industry considering
locating, expanding, or remaining in North Caro-lina
is the presence of a well-trained workforce.
The Customized Training Program is designed to
meet business needs and respect the confidential
nature of proprietary processes and information
within those businesses.
The Customized Training Program provides assis-tance
for full-time production and direct customer
service positions created in the State to enhance
the growth potential of these companies and
simultaneously prepare the State's workforce with
the skills essential to successful employment in
emerging industries.
Business and industries eligible for support
through the Customized Training Program
include manufacturing, technology intensive (i.e.,
information technology, life sciences), regional or
national warehousing and distribution centers,
customer support centers, air courier services,
national headquarters with operations outside
North Carolina, and Civil Service employees
providing technical support to U.S. military in-stallations
located in North Carolina. To receive
assistance, eligible businesses and industries must
demonstrate two or more of the following criteria:
• Making an appreciable capital investment;
• Deploying new technology;
• Creating jobs, expanding an existing
workforce, or enhancing the productivity
and profitability of the operations within the
State; and
• Enhancing workers' skills.
Full-time probationary employees (temp-to-hire)
of qualified Customized Training companies are
Educational Programs
STUDENT INFORMATION
18 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
eligible for training delivered by Gaston College.
The use of Customized Training funds requires
that trainees are paid by the company for all time
during training hours.
Continuing Education
Continuing Education offers a wide range of
courses from occupational to personal inter-est.
Customized classes for industry and other
groups are also available and may be designed to
meet industry and agency requirements. Gaston
College Community Education is the approved
provider for the Safety and Health Council's
defensive driving classes that are sanctioned in the
Gaston and Licoln County court system. Addition-ally,
computer classes from beginning to advanced
are offered during the day and evening. Classes
are available at Gaston College's three campuses
located in Dallas, Belmont, and Lincolnton, as
well as online. Community Education is also an
approved provider for a wide variety of CEU class-es
that are required for many occupations, includ-ing
healthcare related courses such as Certified
Nurse Aide and cosmetology. Also available are
over 400 Internet-based courses, many of which
are approved for teacher renewal. All the classes
are convenient, affordable, and high-quality.
Criminal Justice Academy
The Criminal Justice Academy provides profes-sional
training for the regional criminal justice
community. Courses include law enforcement,
detention, and telecommunications. In-service
training courses are designed to facilitate the
mandated training requirements for criminal
justice personnel, state certification and recer-tification
programs, and advanced specialized
training.The Criminal Justice Academy surveys
regional criminal justice agencies and works close-ly
with the Southern Piedmont Law Enforcement
Trainers Association (SPLETA) to determine their
training needs and to develop innovative courses.
Following are some of the courses available.
State Mandated In-Service Training
Courses:
LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Firearms Training and Qualification,
Legal Update, JMST: What does it
have to do with me?, Domestic
Violence: Teen Dating Violence
TELECOMMUNICATOR:
Crisis Negotiation, Interpersonal
Communications: Team Building,
Emotional Survival, Tactical Dispatch
In-Service Training Course - Topics of
Choice:
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Officer Safety: Use of Force Overview,
Law Enforcement Intelligence Update,
Public Safety: Storm Spotting, Missing
and Abducted Children, Emotional
Survival, Active Shooter Overview
TELECOMMUNICATOR:
Law Enforcement Intelligence Update,
Missing and Abducted Children,
Domestic Violence: Teen Dating
Violence
Certification/Recertification Courses:
Radar Operator, Time-Distance Operator,
Radar/Time-Distance Operator, Chemical
Analyst-Intoximeter EC/IR II, Detention
Officer Certification, General Instructor
Training, Drug Recognition Expert
Specialized Training Courses:
Standardized Field Sobriety Testing,
Executive Protection, First Line Supervision,
Comprehensive Roadside Interdiction,
Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Aerosol Spray,
Rapid Deployment: Immediate Response
to an Active Shooter, Hazardous Materials,
Bloodborne Pathogens, Law Enforcement
Driving, SWAT Training, Patrol Rifle, High-
Risk Warrant Service, Firearm Skills for
Female Officers, Advanced Patrol Rifle,
TASER Training, PRISim (Simulator) Use
of Force Training, School Resource Officer
Training
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Education
Continuing Education
The Department for EMS Education provides
initial certification courses and specific continuing
education courses and programs for public safety
agencies, business and industry, and the public.
The classes offered include the following:
Initial State Certification Classes:
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT),
EMS Instructor Methodology - Level
EMS Instructor, EMS Administration -
Level II EMS Instructor
Renewal State Mandated Classes:
EMT Refresher, Paramedic Refresher, and
Monthly EMS Continuing Education for
Emergency Medical Technicians
Specialty Classes and Training Courses:
Prehospital Trauma Life Support Provider,
Instructor, and Renewal; Pediatric
Education for Prehospital Professionals Provider,
Instructor, and Renewal; Advanced Medical
Life Support Provider, Instructor, and Renewal;
FEMA/DHS
American Heart Association Training
Center (AHA)
Educational Programs
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 19
Gaston College is a full service American
Heartt Association Training Center serv-ing
Gaston and Lincoln Counties offering
Healthcare Provider CPR, Heartsaver CPR,
Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED,
Bloodborne Pathogens, Advanced Cardiac Life
Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Life Support
(PALS)
Fire and Rescue Training
Gaston College leads the state in the delivery of
Fire and Rescue Training. The program assists
local municipal and volunteer fire departments and
rescue squads in the overall training of firefighter
and rescue personnel. Certification training is
delivered in cooperation with the NC Fire and
Rescue Commission and the National Fire Acad-emy,
utilizing standards of the National Fire
Protection Association. Programs offered for North
Carolina certification are Firefighter-Levels I &
II, Technical Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Fire
Officer, Fire Instructor, Rapid Intervention Team,
and Emergency Driver/Operator & Pumps, and
Aerial Operations. Courses are offered on the
Dallas Campus, at the Regional Emergency Ser-vices
Training Center, and at various off-campus
locations throughout Gaston and Lincoln counties.
Regional Emergency Services Training
Center (RESTC)
The Regional Emergency Services Training Center
(RESTC) provides basic, continuing, and advanced
training in all areas of emergency services includ-ing
fire, rescue, law enforcement, and emergency
medical services. The primary intent of the RESTC
is to improve the training and level of expertise
within emergency services across the state of
North Carolina.
The facility began operation in January 1991 and
is located on 25 acres on Gaston College's Dallas
campus. The RESTC includes a five-story, 21,000
square foot commercial burn structure, which is
used for real-life fire and emergency training.
The burn structure is the largest of its type in the
United States. The burn structure houses a flat
roof ventilation training area, industrial simulation
areas, interior combustible liquid area, five-story
vertical confined space shaft, and 1,800 square
foot simulated smoke maze. A second 1,500
square foot burn building, simulating a three bed-room
ranch style house was added in 2004. It has
two pitched-roof ventilation areas. In addition to
the burn structures, there are also 12 flammable
liquid/liquid petroleum gas pits, confined space
areas, hazardous materials areas, and a training
pavilion with restroom and shower facilities at the
RESTC. The center also operates a mobile Swede
Flashover Survival training unit which is used for
firefighter survival training on campus and across
the southeast. Also located at the RESTC is the
Bernard Dalton Driving Track which is used for
small vehicle (police and ambulance) emergency
driving training. Offices and classroom facilities
for the RESTC are housed in the Albright Public
Safety Building, along with additional locker room
facilities, refreshment area, and a fitness center.
For more information, visit the RESTC website
at http://www.gaston.edu/economic-workforce-development/
public-safety-non-credit/restc/.
Industrial Emergency Response Team and
Fire Brigade Training: Gaston College's RESTC
specializes in Nuclear Fire Brigade and High-Risk
Response Training and leads the state in the
delivery of Industrial Fire Brigade Training. This
program provides training for local, regional, and
national industry through the delivery of custom-ized
programs of training addressing the specific
needs of each customer. These programs include
on-site visits, consultations, and specialized
courses in the areas of confined space, hazardous
materials, basic and advanced fire suppression
techniques, and rescue operations.
Life Skills Program
The Life Skills Department Program is designed
to raise the literacy level in Gaston and Lincoln
counties. To be admitted to the Life Skills Pro-gram,
students must attend a Basic Skills Student
Success Class. Depending on the program you plan
on entering you will first need to attend a Student
Success Class. For Adult High School please call
704.748.5205 (Lincolnton) or 704.922.6319. For
Adult Basic Education/High School Equivalency
please call 704.922.6545, 704.748.5206 (Lincoln-ton)
or 704.922.6320.
Students ages sixteen and seventeen must
complete a Minor Student Application which can
be obtained in the Pearson Life Skills Building, or
Life Skills office on the Lincoln Campus.
Life Skills programs include the following:
Adult Basic Education Program/High
School Equivalency (ABE/HSE): The ABE
component provides basic skills education for
adults with less than an eighth grade educa-tion.
The ABE curriculum focuses on the devel-opment
of skills required for employability such
as reading, writing, speaking, computation, and
critical thinking. The Life Skills department main-tains
ABE/HSE classes at the Dallas and Lincoln
Campuses, as well as at other sites throughout
Gaston and Lincoln counties. For additional infor-mation
call 704.922.6320 or 704.748.5206.
Adult High School (AHS): AHS offers high
school courses for adults 18 years or older.
Educational Programs
STUDENT INFORMATION
20 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
Program participants are awarded a high school
diploma based on successful completion of the
necessary coursework. Adult High School class-es
are offered during the day and evening at
Dallas and during the day at Lincoln Campuses.
For additional information call 704.922.6319 or
704.748.5205.
English as a Second Language (ESL): ESL
provides instruction for individuals with limited
English proficiency. ESL stresses development of
basic language skills and preparation for daily
life, employment, and citizenship. Gaston College
offers ESL classes that teach speaking, reading,
and writing English to non-native English speak-ers
preparing them for citizenship and life in the
community. Instruction is provided in a structured
class and/or lab environment that is enhanced
with computer-based tutorials at several locations
throughout Gaston and Lincoln counties. For
additional information call 704.922.6318.
GED® Testing: GED® Testing is designed to
measure academic skills in Reasoning through
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and
Social Studies. Persons who pass the GED® test
receive a high school equivalency diploma. GED®
testing services are provided at the Dallas and
Lincoln Campuses. For additional information call
704.922.6321.
Human Resources Development (HRD)
Program
The Human Resources Development Program is a
job seeking/job keeping program that prepares the
participants for the workplace. It is designed to
help participants develop a positive attitude and
self-concept as well as upgrade the level of educa-tion
needed to prepare for, obtain, and maintain
employment. Many of the classes are tuition-waived
for qualifying adults and are available at convenient
locations throughout Gaston and Lincoln counties.
For additional information call 704.922.6546.
Small Business Center
The Small Business Center is a specially funded
program that provides no-fee consulting and semi-nars
for entrepreneurs. The Gaston College Center
is one of 58 Small Business Centers comprising
the NC Community College Small Business Cen-ter
Network. The Small Business Center provides
assistance in business planning, marketing,
accounting, financing, and management concerns
relating to small business. To register for Small
Business Center seminars, or to schedule a coun-seling
appointment, please visit http://www.ncsbc.
net/center.aspx?center=75220.
Teacher Renewal Program
The Gaston College Teacher Renewal Program
responds to the needs of educators offering a great
variety of innovative and effective courses designed
to maximize student learning. Courses are offered
at various times online. Each course offers Continu-ing
Education Units for renewal of a North Carolina
Teaching Licensure.
General Education Competencies
Upon successful completion of any associate
degree program at Gaston College, students will
demonstrate the following general education
competencies:
Competency 1: Use computers and other
educational technologies to achieve
academic and work-related goals.
Competency 2: Communicate effectively
through writing, reading, and speaking.
Competency 3: Analyze problems and make
logical decisions.
Competency 4: Examine the arts/humani-ties
and social behavioral sciences from
cultural and historic perspectives.
Competency 5: Analyze, manipulate, and
interpret quantitative data.
Learn 4 Life Program
The Learn 4 Life program is an educational enrich-ment
program at Gaston College. The program
provides a high degree of individual choice and
challenge for motivated students. The Learn 4 Life
program is designed to promote personal discov-ery
and reflection, a sense of community, and an
awareness of diversity. Students are required to
complete four (4) learning experiences from areas
such as Service Learning, completion of an honors
course, educational club participation, and other
approved options. Students are required to main-tain
a GPA of 2.5 or higher and must graduate
with either a diploma or degree. Students should
check with the Dean's Office in their division to
learn if their program is participating in the Learn
4 Life Program.
________________________________________
COLLEGE TRANSFER PROGRAMS
(Associate in Arts, Associate in Science,
and Associate in Fine Arts)
Gaston College offers a college transfer program
for students intending to transfer to a four-year
college or university by offering courses that
parallel those offered during the first two years at
four-year institutions. Students who transfer from
Gaston College pursue majors such as Agriculture,
Anthropology, Architecture, Art, Business Admin-istration,
Commercial Art, Design, Education,
Engineering, English, Fine Arts, Foreign
Language, History, Mathematics, Music, Pre-Law,
Pre-Medicine, Pre-Ministry, Pharmacy, Psychology,
Science, Sociology, Textiles, and others. Students
may complete a 60-61 hour Associate in Arts
College Transfer Programs
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 21
Degree (AA), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), or
Associate in Science Degree (AS). Students not
interested in pursuing a degree may enroll in
courses for personal growth and fulfillment.
A Work-based Learning (WBL) or ACA course of
one semester hour of credit may be included in a
61 semester hour credit degree program such as
Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, and Asso-ciate
in Sciences. This course will receive transfer
evaluation (not necessarily credit) by the receiving
institution.
Each student should confer with a counselor or
advisor about course selection prior to regis-tration.
Only with approval of the appropriate
academic dean may students substitute courses
for those specifically required for graduation
and courses outside the area of specialization.
Students are responsible for the proper comple-tion
of their academic programs based upon the
requirements stated in the Gaston College Catalog
in conjunction with the current schedule.
Counselors or advisors will provide assistance to
students regarding transfer to other institutions.
Transfer of credits from one institution to another
is subject to change. It is the responsibility of the
transferring students to research their prospec-tive
senior institution. Students may contact the
counseling department of Gaston College or the
admissions office at the college to which they plan
to transfer for information and guidance on trans-fer
of credits. Although faculty, staff, counselors,
advisors, and administrators are available to help
students with planning, the responsibility rests
upon the individual student.
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA)
Under the provisions of House Bill 739 and Senate
Bill 1161, the North Carolina Community College
System and the University of North Carolina
system have developed a Comprehensive
Articulation Agreement (CAA) to facilitate the trans-fer
of credits for community college students.
Gaston College graduates of Associate in Arts and
Associate in Science degree programs who have
made a C or better in each course will be consid-ered
to have fulfilled the institution-wide, general
education requirements of UNC schools to which
they are admitted and will be admitted as Juniors.
Foreign language and physical education require-ments
of receiving institutions must still be met.
The North Carolina Independent Colleges and
Universities have adopted a parallel version of the
CAA (ICAA). The following private colleges and
universities in North Carolina honor the ICAA:
Barton, Belmont Abbey, Bennett, Brevard,
Campbell, Catawba, Chowan, Gardner-Webb,
Johnston C. Smith, Lees McRae, Livingstone,
Louisburg, Mars Hill, Montreat, Mount Olive, North
Carolina Wesleyan, Peace, Pfeiffer, Queens, St.
Andrews, Saint Augustine's, Shaw, Warren Wilson,
and Wingate.
ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREES
The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees
are two-year programs that prepare the student
for the workforce. Additionally, there are some
senior institutions where all or part of these
degrees are accepted as the first two years of a
four-year program. A few of the senior institu-tions
that accept some of Gaston College A.A.S.
degrees are the following: Appalachian State
University, Belmont Abbey College, Gardner-Webb
University, Lenoir Rhyne College, Pfeiffer College,
Mars Hill College, University of N.C. at Charlotte,
Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem
State University.
Some senior institutions will evaluate the Asso-ciate
in Applied Science Degree on a course-by-course
basis.
The minimum requirements for the Associate
in Applied Science Degree vary with the degree
program. The completion of no fewer than twen-ty
(20) semester hours while in attendance at
Gaston College is required.
A student is eligible to graduate with an Associ-ate
in Applied Science Degree upon completion
of the curriculum requirements for the particular
program listed in this catalog. A student must
have a 2.00 grade point average on courses
presented for graduation.
________________________________________
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
College Transfer Programs
• Associate in Arts
• Associate in Fine Arts†
• Associate in General Education
• Associate in Science
• Associate in Engineering
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Programs
• Accounting
• Architectural Technology
• Automotive Systems Technology
• Biotechnology
• Broadcasting & Production Technology
• Business Administration
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Computer Engineering Technology
• Computer Information Technology
• Computer-Integrated Machining Technology
• Computer Programming
• Cosmetology*
Programs of Study
STUDENT INFORMATION
22 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
• Criminal Justice Technology
• Criminal Justice Technology-Latent Evidence
• Developmental Disabilities
• Dietetic Technician*
• Early Childhood Education
• Electrical Systems Technology
• Electronics Engineering Technology
• Emergency Management
• Emergency Medical Science
• Fire Protection Technology
• General Occupation Technology
• Global Logistics and Distribution
Management Technology
• Health and Fitness Science*
• Healthcare Business Informatics
• Human Services Technology
• Human Services Tech-Developmental Dis-abilities
• Industrial Systems Technology
• Information Systems Security Technology
• Manufacturing TEchnology **
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Mechatronics Engineering Technology
• Medical Assisting*
• Medical Office Administration
• Networking Technology
• Nuclear Technology
• Nursing (Registered Nursing)*
• Office Administration
• Office Administration-Legal
• Paralegal Technology
• Therapeutic Massage*
• Veterinary Medical Technology*
• Web Technologies
* AAS Programs: Allied Health Technology
programs require an additional
application process within each program.
Diploma Programs
• Accounting
• AC/Heating & Refrigeration Technology
• Architectural Technology
• Automotive Systems Technology
• Biotechnology
• Broadcasting & Production Technology
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Computer-Integrated Machining Technology
• Cosmetology
• Early Childhood Education
• Electrical Systems Technology
• Electronics Engineering Technology
• Emergency Medical Science Paramedic
• Fire Protection Technology
• Industrial Systems Technology
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Medical Billing and Coding
• Medical Transcription
• Office Administration
• Practical Nursing*
• Therapeutic & Diagnostic Services-
Nursing Aide*
• Therapeutic Massage*
• Welding Technology
Certificate Programs*
• AC/Heating & Refrigeration–Cooling
• AC/Heating & Refrigeration–Heat Pump
• AC/Heating & Refrigeration–Heating
• Accounting-Computerized Accounting
• Accounting-Federal Income Tax
• Accounting–Financial Accounting
• Accounting–Managerial Accounting
• Architectural Technology
• Automotive Systems Technology
- Automotive Engines & Power Trains
• Automotive Systems Technology
- Automotive Fuel and Electrical Systems
• Basic Biotechnology
• Basic Law Enforcement Training
• Broadcasting & Production Technology–
Audio
• Broadcasting & Production Technology–
Audio/Video
• Broadcasting & Production Technology–
Video
• Business Administration-Human Resources
Mgmt
• Business Administration-Retail Mgmt
• Business Administration-Small Business
Mgmt
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Computer-Integrated Machining Technology
-CNC and CAM
• Computer-Integrated Machining Technology
-Manual and CNC Milling
• Computer-Integrated Machining Technology
- Manual and CNC Turning
• Criminal Justice-Corrections
• Criminal Justice-Homeland Security
• Criminal Justice-Organization & Management
• Dietary Manager
• Early Childhood Education-Administration
• Early Childhood Education-Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Education-Infants/Toddler
• Early Childhood Education-School Age Care
• Early Childhood Education-Special Needs
• Early Literacy
• Electronics Engineering Technology
• Esthetics
• Fire Protection Technology
• Global Logistics & Distribution Management-
Logistics Management
• Global Logistics & Distribution Management-
Export Operations
• Healthcare Business Informatics
• Homeland Security
Programs of Study
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 23
• Human Services Administration
• Human Services Technology
• Human Services Technology-At-Risk Youth
• Industrial Fire Protection Technology
• Industrial Systems Technology
• Industrial Systems Technology-Industrial
Safety
• Industrial Wiring
• Information Systems Security
• Information Technology-Computer Program-ming
• Information Technology-Core
• Information Technology-Networking
• Information Technology-Web Technology
• Lateral Entry
• Mechatronics Engineering Technology
• Medical Billing and Coding
• Medical Office Administration-Basic
• Medical Office Administration-Intermediate
• Nursing Assistant
• Office Administration-Basic
• Office Administration-Intermediate
• Office Administration–Legal-Basic
• Office Administration–Legal-Intermediate
• Phlebotomy
• Photovoltaic
• Residential Wiring
• Welding Technology-Level l
• Welding Technology-Level ll
* Please note that Certificate Programs are not
eligible for federal financial aid.
** Pending Approval
Non-Degree
• Special Credit (Personal interest class)
• Visiting Student (Visiting from another col-lege)
• Health Transfer
• Non-Destructive Examination Technology
• Undecided
† Students will automatically be re-classified
upon meeting divisional eligibility criteria.
Collaborative Programs
• Biomedical Equipment Technology
(Collaborative with Caldwell CC & TI)
_______________________________________
DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION
The Developmental Education Program provides
students with the opportunity to build academic
skills and acquire the background that should
facilitate success in their desired curriculum
program. Applicants to degree, diploma, and
certificate programs are required to complete a
placement test which provides placement infor-mation
for reading, english, and math. Once the
placement scores are determined, students are
counseled about the courses needed in order to
reach their academic and career goals. Students
in developmental courses may concurrently regis-ter
for certain courses within their desired curricu-lum
if those courses do not require completion of
one of the developmental courses as prerequisite.
Developmental courses include basic college
preparatory courses in reading, writing, and math-ematics.
In addition, the program offers a study
skills class that teaches strategies for successful
learning. Students placing into two or more devel-opmental
classes should also take College Study
Skills (ACA) course work.
Developmental Education Courses
Developmental Reading and English
• DRE 096 Integrated Reading and Writing
(3 Credit Hours)
• DRE 097 Integrated Reading Writing II
(3 Credit Hours)
• DRE 098 Integrated Reading Writing III
(3 Credit Hours)
Developmental Math
• DMA 010 Operations With Integers
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 020 Fractions and Decimal
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 030 Propor/Ratio/Rate/Percent
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 040 Express/Lin Equat/Inequal
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 050 Graphs/Equations of Lines
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 060 Polynomial/Quadratic
Applications (1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 065 Rational Express/Equation
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 070 Rational Express/Equation
(1 Credit Hour)
• DMA 080 Radical Express/Equations
(1 Credit Hour)
________________________________________
STUDENT RESOURCES
Learning, Persistence, and Completion
Center (LPCC)
The Gaston College Learning, Persistence, and
Completion Center (LPCC), established in 1996, is
designed to provide students with opportunities
for academic and personal growth. The center is
committed to the philosophy that given adequate
services, support, time, and appropriate teach-ing
strategies, all students can successfully ac-complish
their academic goals, whether that goal
includes transfer to a four-year institution or the
successful completion of a single course.
LPCC services are available to a diverse constitu-ency.
The program places primary emphasis on
serving the needs of students "at risk" in the
Developmental Education/Student Resources
STUDENT INFORMATION
24 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
college environment. The LPCC actively pro-vides
support to all students in achieving their
potential. Additionally, faculty members may use
the academic support services to supplement
their classroom instruction by referring students
to the LPCC.
This service to the faculty also includes consul-tation
on students' needs, supplementary educa-tional
materials, and additional academic support
services.
The LPCC's primary function is to provide academ-ic
support services to the general student popula-tion
which includes the following:
1. Peer-Tutoring Services: This program pro-vides
tutorial services in selected gen-eral
education courses for all students by
appointment or walk-in basis. All tutors
undergo initial training and meet regularly
for planning, evaluation, and skills devel-opment.
Tutoring services are available for
students having difficulty in passing a course
and for students wanting to improve.
2. Help for under-prepared students: Under-prepared
students who arrive at Gaston
College need special assistance during
their first few semesters on campus and
beyond. Through the Learning Center, these
under-prepared students are provided with
support, special attention, and academic
tutoring.
Peer Tutoring Program
The Gaston College Peer Tutoring Program is a part
of the larger academic support service called the
Gaston College Learning Center. The program is
staffed by paid and volunteer tutors who have A's in
the courses they tutor, and who are recommended
by their instructor or the chair of the department
in which the course is taught. Tutors are carefully
interviewed by the Learning Center Coordinator
and undergo an initial training period. They also
meet regularly with other tutors and staff members
for planning, evaluation, and skills development.
Careful records are maintained on all tutoring ses-sions.
In addition to being knowledgeable and well-trained,
tutors are also chosen for their sensitivity
toward students and for their interest in teaching.
Students who are not satisfied with their under-standing
or performance in a course may use this
free service. Help is available in the area of under-standing
concepts, problem-solving, and study
skills. Tutoring services are available not only for the
student who is having difficulty in passing a course,
but also for those students who want to improve.
Peer tutoring services offer several options for
students to increase understanding of course
content and to improve performance. If a tutor is
not available for a particular course, the tutor coor-dinator
will make every effort to obtain one if the
demand is sufficient. General tutoring is available
on an appointment or walk-in basis in the Dalpiaz
Student Success Center from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00
p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. on Friday.
The Lincoln Campus also houses a Learning Center
in Room 206, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to
12:00 noon on Friday.
Gaston College Writing Center
The Gaston College Writing Center exists to help
students pursue their educational goals and devel-op
into intellectually mature persons, competent
writers, and lifelong learners. With a staff of pro-fessional
writing coaches, all of whom have at
least a Bachelors of Arts in English, the Writing
Center provides students in all degree and diploma
programs with writing help and support.
The Dallas Campus location is in room 236 of the
Robinson Classroom Building (RCB). The Writing
Center's hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. on Friday.
The Lincoln Campus location is in room 202 of the
Main Lincoln Campus Building. The hours of opera-tion
at the Lincoln Campus are Monday through
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Kimbrell Campus location is in room 213 of the
Kimbrell Classroom Building. The Writing Center's
hours vary each semester.
The following services are provided at all locations:
One-on-One: Students can schedule appoint-ments
for coaching during regular Writing Center
hours and receive assistance on one particular
assignment. There is no commitment to work
with a coach on a weekly basis and students can
drop-in several times a semester.
Regularly Scheduled Tutoring: Students can
request regular writing coaching on a weekly
basis. Faculty may refer students for regular
tutoring. In this setting, the student will work
directly with a coach on writing assignments and
building basic writing skills. Most likely, students
working with a coach one-on-one will commit to
at least one to three hours per week for tutoring.
Small Group Tutoring: Students with similar
assignments may be assigned to one coach to
work in a small group setting. In this type of
tutoring, students will collaborate with each
other and with the coach, who serves as a guide
through the writing process.
Student Resources
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 25
Ask a Question - Facebook: Via Facebook,
students can ask a grammar, citation or general
writing question and then check back for answers
as the page is updated daily.
Synchronous Online Tutoring: ents can schedule
an appointment to meet virtually and collaborate
with one of our coaches in real time. To make
an appointment, students can call or e-mail the
Center and schedule a time to meet online. The
student will provide his or her preferred e-mail
address and will e-mail an electronic copy of his
or her essay or writing assignment to writing-center@
gaston.edu. A writing coach will send a
chat invitation to the student's e-mail address,
asking the student to join him or her in Blackboard
Collaborate, a free online tool for collaboration
in real time.
Oral Communications Lab: The Writing
Center also offers an Oral Communications Lab
to provide students personalized consultation
and instruction on oral class assignments at any
stage of development. A tutor can help with oral
presentations, such as public speaking, group
presentations, debates, and panel discussions.
We also offer one-on-one tutoring in interview-ing
skills, oral exams, and readings. We provide
guidance on topic selection, organization, audi-ence
analysis, research, oral citation of sources,
visual element design, speech apprehension,
and speech and interview rehearsal with video
feedback.
For more information about the Gaston College
Writing Center, call 704.922.2369 or send an
e-mail writingcenter@gaston.edu.
________________________________________
WORK-BASED LEARNING (WBL)
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an academic
program that integrates classroom study with
practical work experience in industry, busi-ness,
and public agencies. The work experience
constitutes a regular and essential element in the
educational process by allowing students to apply
their studies in a real work environment.
The WBL work experience is concurrent or
alternates with academic studies. It is a paid or
non-paid work experience and students receive
academic credit toward degree, diploma, or
certificate requirements. Students work either
part-time or full-time jobs with employers select-ed
and/or approved by the college. Students are
contacted and evaluated periodically by a faculty
coordinator and receive on-the-job supervision by
the employers.
WBL Eligibility
Students must meet the following criteria to be
accepted into the program:
• Be enrolled in an approved WBL curriculum.
• Have a minimum 2.00 GPA depending on
program.
• Be recommended by a faculty member.
• Be approved by the Work-Based Learning
office.
(Note: Enrollment in the WBL program does not
guarantee placement for every student.)
Application Procedure
Interested students must complete a Work-Based
Learning application, submit a copy of their
college transcript, and speak with a member of
the Work-Based Learning staff. Note: Work-Based
Learning staff will advise students to determine
the correct WBL course(s) based on program area
and state requirements.
Presently Employed Students
Students may qualify to receive academic credit
if they are already employed in an area directly
related to their academic major. The following
general criteria will be used to determine eligibil-ity:
1. The student must be acquiring new skills or
knowledge related to their academic major;
and/or
2. The student must be developing a recently
learned skill or applying recently-learned
knowledge related to their academic major;
and/or
3. The student must be receiving increased
levels of responsibility related to their
academic major;
and
4. The employer agrees to assist with an evalu-ation
of the student's progress and to permit
on-the-job visits by WBL staff member.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Student Employment Services assists students
and graduates who are seeking employment
by making them aware of the range of career
opportunities available, helping them present
themselves effectively as candidates, and aiding
them in finding part-time, full-time, temporary, or
summer employment.
Some of the specific services and activities offered
are Career Day; employer campus visits; resume
writing information/workshops; interview tech-niques
information/workshops; and posting of
part-time, full-time, and temporary job openings
on the bulletin board outside the Myers Center
Cafeteria and in the Student Employment Office.
DISTANCE EDUCATION
Distance Education at Gaston College expands
learning opportunities by using nontraditional
delivery methods to meet the growing schedul-
Work-Based Learning
STUDENT INFORMATION
26 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
ing needs of students throughout Gaston and Lin-coln
counties. The current technologies available
include two-way interactive video and Internet-based
courses.
North Carolina Information Highway
Through the North Carolina Information Highway,
Gaston College can receive courses or telecon-ferences
from other institutions using two-way
interactive televisions in classrooms. Participants
at the receiving sites interact with the present-ers
and participants at the originating sites. The
Dallas Campus also delivers two-way interactive
classes and presentations to the Lincoln Campus
and Kimbrell Campus of Gaston College and to
other institutions.
Internet-Based Courses
A wide range of Internet-based courses is avail-able
through the curriculum (credit) or continu-ing
education (non-credit) programs. These
courses are designed for students with some
Internet background. Students must have access
to a computer linked to the Internet. Students
may also use the Internet-accessible comput-ers
in the Morris Library to take the courses. For
curriculum course information contact the Distance
Education office at 704.922.6515 or for continu-ing
education (non-credit) course information visit
www.ed2go.com/gaston or call Community
Education at 704.922.6251.
________________________________________
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
Gaston College has established a set of regula-tions,
policies, and standards in order to provide
an academic environment that will promote qual-ity
education and assure compliance with state,
federal, accreditation, and certification directives
and statutes.
Students are responsible for the proper comple-tion
of their academic programs based upon
the requirements stated in the Gaston College
Catalog in conjunction with the current schedule.
Faculty members, staff members, counselors, and
administrators are available to help students with
planning, but the responsibility of fulfilling all
requirements rests upon the student.
Class Attendance and Participation
The instructional work of the college is designed
for class participation and attendance. The
responsibility for class participation and atten-dance
is placed specifically on the individual
student. Official college requirements are based
on a 90% participation rate. Therefore, if a
student has failed to participate in 10% or more
of the scheduled class hours or learning activities,
a student may be withdrawn by the instructor or
assigned a grade of "F" up until the published
withdrawal date. For students violating participa-tion
requirements after the published withdraw-al
date, a grade of "F" may be assigned by the
instructor. Once an instructor has posted a grade,
the student no longer has an option to withdraw
from that class.
This policy does not remove the right of faculty
to reward or penalize students for participation
and attendance issues at any point during the
semester. Please review course-specific instruc-tions
related to attendance to ensure compliance
with stated requirements for this class. Faculty
may enforce an alternate policy where required by
divisional or departmental practices, accreditation
requirements, and other similar issues.
The student is responsible for all material covered
in each course for which he or she is registered.
In no instance does absence from class relieve the
student of the responsibility for the performance
of any part of the course work. The student is
further responsible for initiating any request to
make up work because of class absence. The
decision to assist the student with make-up
work, including tests, in every case rests with the
instructor. The instructor may require verification
of medical and personal circumstances presented
by the student to influence this decision. Course
work not made up may affect a student's grade
in the final evaluation since the instructor is not
required to offer the student an opportunity to
make up course work.
A student may seek reinstatement into class by
submitting a written request to the instructor. If
the request is denied, the student can petition for
reinstatement directly to the Vice President for
Academic Affairs, who will make a final ruling
upon the petition. If the request is approved,
a reinstatement form must be completed and
submitted to the Records and Registration Office.
Student Code of Conduct
All students have the right to a safe, peaceful,
quality, and honest educational environment.
Therefore, students are expected to conduct
themselves in accordance with generally accepted
standards of scholarship and conduct. Actions
identified in the Student Code of Conduct are
strictly prohibited at Gaston College. The Student
Handbook outlines the Student Code of Conduct.
Copies may be obtained from the Information
Center in Student Affairs, or on the College's
website at www.gaston.edu.
Policies and Procedures/Student Responsibility
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 27
Standard of Honesty
Dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism, and know-ingly
furnishing false information to the College
are regarded as serious offenses. It is expected
that cases of academic dishonesty will first be
considered at the department faculty level; then
the matter will follow procedures in accordance
with the Student Code of Conduct.
RECORDS AND REGISTRATION OFFICE
The Records and Registration Office directs regis-tration
each semester for curriculum classes. This
office provides transcripts (official and student
copies), verification and certification of enroll-ment
status, processes drops/adds, withdrawals,
and final grades. This office directs the graduation
ceremony each year, orders and issues diplomas,
evaluates previous college transfer work, pro-cesses
name and address changes, and academic
advisor assignments. Specific registration infor-mation
is contained in the college's schedule of
classes.
Confidentiality of Student Records
Gaston College has a long-standing commitment
to the protection of students' rights and privacy
of information. Gaston College complies with the
provisions of the Federal Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act of 1974, State of North Carolina
Law, and the State Department of Education Divi-sion
of Community College rules. These federal
and state requirements relate to accessibility and
confidentiality of student records.
Annual Notice to Students of their Rights
under the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974
Gaston College Policy and Procedures Manual
section 4-31, Confidentiality and Access of Student
Records, provides pertinent and detailed informa-tion
concerning classification, access and release of
student records. Detailed information is also provid-ed
in the Gaston College Student Handbook, which
is made available on the College's website at www.
gaston.edu. Hard copies are available upon request.
Students’ Rights to Question their Official
Student Record
Students have the right to inspect their educa-tional
records and correct such records, if war-ranted.
All student records are open for inspec-tion
and review by students and eligible parents
unless they waive this right. An eligible parent is
the parent or legal guardian of students who are
under 18 years of age or who claim students as
dependents as defined in Title 26 U.S.C.S.S. 152
Internal Revenue Code. Eligible parents must pro-vide
evidence that the student is underage and/
or a dependent to the Records and Registration
Office prior to reviewing the records.
Definition and Release of Educational
Records
There are three categories of records: 1) Direc-tory
Information Records, 2) Limited Access
Records, and 3) Sole Possession Records.
1. Directory Information Records includes
the student's name, address, telephone
number, major field of study or program,
dates of attendance, enrollment status, and
degrees and awards received. Gaston Col-lege
may disclose directory information
about a student without the consent of the
student unless the student has properly
objected to the release. Any student not
wishing the release of directory information
must file a written request with the Records
and Registration Office no later than the last
day of Late Registration. This information
will only be released by the Office of the
Vice President for Student Affairs or a des-ignee
after the requestor has demonstrated
a legitimate need to have such information.
Otherwise, the College may disclose direc-tory
information for legitimate purposes.
2. Limited Access Records pertain to the
permanent academic records of the student,
disciplinary records, financial information,
and testing data. The college will not release
information in Limited Access Records with-out
the written permission of the student.
3. Sole Possession Records pertain to records
of instructional, supervisory, and adminis-trative
personnel that remain in the sole
possession of the maker and are not
accessible or revealed to any other person.
In addition, Gaston College may, without the
consent of the student or eligible parents,
disclose information kept in the student's
permanent record to the following:
• Gaston College officials with a legitimate
educational interest. College officials
include faculty, administrators, staff,
student employees, third parties or
agents authorized to act on behalf of the
College. A legitimate educational interest
is presumed to exist if the information
is necessary for the official to perform
tasks that are specified in the position
description or contract agreement; to
perform a task related to the student's
education, discipline, service or benefit
such as, counseling, job placement,
financial aid, health insurance, commu-nity
resources, etc.
• Authorized representatives of the Comp-troller
General's Office, the Secretary of
the Department of Education, and state
educational authorities.
Policies and Procedures/Records and Registration Office
STUDENT INFORMATION
28 Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog
• Veterans Administration officials.
• Persons or organizations providing
financial aid.
• Accrediting organizations carrying out
their accrediting functions.
• Persons in compliance with a judicial
order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
• Persons who seek information in con-nection
with an emergency, if in the
view of a reasonable person, the knowl-edge
of such information by appropriate
persons is necessary to protect the
health or safety of the student or other
persons.
• Organizations or individuals conducting
studies on behalf of the college or for
other educational agencies or institutions
for the purposes of developing, validat-ing,
or administering predictive test,
improving and understanding stu-dent
services, student aid programs,
improving instruction, etc. These
studies must be conducted in a way that
will not permit the personal identification
of students and their families by persons
other that the authorized representative
of such organizations and the informa-tion
must be destroyed when the studies
have concluded.
• Military recruiters requesting recruit-ment
information in accordance with the
United States Code Title 10 and other
pertinent laws.
• To institutions, authorities, and/or agen-cies
in accordance with federal, state,
and local laws, policies, and procedures.
Individuals or agencies not outlined
above may obtain student record infor-mation
only with written authorization
from the student. The authorization for
release of information must include:
1. date of request
2. student's social security number
3. student's signature
4. specific contact name or agency
5. summary of information which may
be released
Release of Transcripts
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, transcripts will
only be released or sent upon the written request
of the student. Official and student copies of Gaston
College transcripts should be requested in writing to
the Records and Registration Office. Transcripts will
not be released unless all tuition, fees, and other
obligations due the college have been satisfied.
It is against Gaston College policy to fax or email
transcripts. There is a $5 charge for official
transcripts, although this is subject to change at
the discretion of the college. Official transcripts
may be ordered and student transcripts may be
obtained in person or online at www.gaston.edu
under Quick Links.
Gaston College does not issue transcripts of other
colleges and universities or high school transcripts.
Any student needing a transcript from a college or
high school in which they previously attended, must
contact that institution directly.
Change of Address
Students are required to keep an updated
address on file with the Records and Registration
Office while they are enrolled at Gaston College.
A request for a change of address should be sub-mitted
in writing to the Records and Registration
Office or submitted via WebAdvisor. Change of
Address forms are available in the Records and
Registration Office and on the Gaston College web
site www.gaston.edu under Student Resources.
STUDENT CLASSIFICATION
Day: A student who is enrolled for a majority of
course work scheduled before 4:30 p.m.
Evening: A student who is enrolled for a majority
of course work scheduled after 4:30 p.m.
Full Time: A student who is enrolled for twelve
(12) or more semester hours.
Part Time: A student who is enrolled for twelve or
more semester hours.
Full-time and Part-time Status: A student must
be registered for at least 12 semester hours to
be considered a full-time student. Although the
normal course load for a full-time student is 16
semester hours, a counselor or advisor may
recommend a heavier or lighter course load
depending on the student's ability and/or the
student's previous academic performance.
CHANGE OF MAJOR/PROGRAM
Students wanting to change their designated major
or program of study may do so by meeting with an
Academic Advisor or Counselor in the Counseling
Center to discuss career and educational goals. If
deemed necessary, a Change of Major form will be
completed indicating the desired changes to the
student record. The official change of major will
become effective for the same semester if submit-ted
within the first nine days of classes for the
fall and spring semesters and within the first four
days of classes for the summer semester. Change
of major forms submitted thereafter will be effec-tive
the first day of classes for the next semester.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with
their new advisor to review previous coursework
and obtain information about program require-ments
for their new major. Please note that stu-
Policies and Procedures/Student Classification/Change of Major/Program
STUDENT INFORMATION
Gaston College 2015-2016 Academic Catalog 29
dents receiving financial aid or veterans benefits
will need to consult with the Office of Financial Aid
before changing their major.
REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR
CURRICULUM COURSES
How to Register
Students are responsible for registering each
semester during the designated registration peri-ods.
Before a new student can register for cours-es,
he/she must have an application on file in the
Office of Admissions, taken the NCDPA or been
waived, and have completed new student orienta-tion.
Prior to the start of the semester, registra-tion
is held for all students - current, new, and
returning. Students are encouraged to register
when eligible in order to secure classes needed for
their program The actual dates for all registration
periods are published on the Gaston College
website at www.gaston.edu. Students can add
or drop classes during the published registra-tion
periods by obtaining the proper form from
the Records and Registration Office, or through
WebAdvisor.
WebAdvisor
WebAdvisor is a web interface that allows
you access to your student record