Gaston College is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

community college A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior s ...

in Dallas, North Carolina. Serving

Gaston County Gaston County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 227,943. The county seat is Gastonia. Dallas served as the original county seat from 1846 until 1911. Gaston County is included in the ...

and Lincoln County, Gaston College enrolls over 5,000 students each term in curriculum programs and about 16,000 students in continuing education programs. It is part of the

North Carolina Community College System The North Carolina Community College System (System Office) is a statewide network of 58 public community colleges. The system enrolls over 500,000 students annually. It also provides the North Carolina Learning Object Repository as a central lo ...

and accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...

to award

associate degree An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. Th ...

History

Gaston College was granted a charter by the State of

North Carolina North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...

in 1963 and began its first classes in temporary headquarters in September 1964. The college moved to its permanent campus on Highway 321 between

Dallas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...

and Gastonia two months later. The college opened with a single campus and has since expanded to three campuses serving approximately 20,000 students each year through over 100 programs leading to degrees, diplomas and certificates.

Campus locations

Gaston College has three campuses and one regional training center: * Dallas Campus - (Main Campus) Dallas, Gaston County The Dallas Campus comprises twelve buildings which contain approximately . There is an efficient road system and parking for more than 2,000 cars. College facilities are available for public use. Gaston College is a commuter institution and does not have dormitories or housing for rent. As of Fall 2019, the Dallas Campus does not have any permanent restaurant options. * Lincoln Campus - Lincolnton, Lincoln County The Lincoln Center of Gaston College was opened in August 1969. In 1987, it was relocated to the Lincoln County School of Technology in Lincolnton. The former Lincolnton High School was renovated by Gaston College to become the current Lincoln County Location. Classes were first held at Lincoln Campus in Spring 1999. The second Lincoln Campus building, Cochrane Science and Technology Building, was completed in January 2009. The lower level expansion was completed fall of 2011. The school of cosmetology became operational January 2012. * Kimbrell Campus and Textile Technology Center - Belmont, Gaston County The North Carolina Vocational Textile School was approved in 1941 and began operation in 1943 in Belmont. It was later renamed the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology. In 2005, the center was transferred to Gaston College and became the East Campus and Textile Technology Center. The Textile Technology Center offers new and sample product development, product testing, training, and consulting for the textile industry. Currently numerous continuing education and a few curriculum classes are offered on the campus. * Regional Emergency Services Training Center - (Main Campus) Dallas, Gaston County The Regional Emergency Services Training Center is a five-story training facility used by fire, police, and emergency medical organizations. On surrounding grounds, there are nine propane and flammable liquids pits. The center gives Gaston College the opportunity to offer specialized training previously unavailable in the region.

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Two-year colleges in the United States North Carolina Community College System colleges Education in Gaston County, North Carolina Education in Lincoln County, North Carolina Buildings and structures in Gaston County, North Carolina Buildings and structures in Lincoln County, North Carolina Educational institutions established in 1963 1963 establishments in North Carolina