January 2008

January 22 , 2008

ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT GASTON COLLEGE

The Gaston College Board of Trustees will meet Monday, January 28, 2008, at 4 p.m. in      the Myers Center Board Room. 

• Second Chance Classes are still available now through March. The majority of these classes are online and can be taken from the comfort of your home via the Internet and are flexible and easy to fit into a day or evening schedule. Visit our website at www.gaston.edu or call 704.922.6232.

• The Gaston College Student Chapter of the International Association of Administration Professionals (IAAP) will open a "Clothes Closet" for Gaston College students on Tuesday, January 29 at 12:30 PM in the Comer Engineering and Technologies Building, Room 157, Dallas Campus.  The Clothes Closet assists Gaston College students with business and interview attire.  Students in need of professional clothing to wear on an interview can come to the clothes closet and purchase an outfit for $5.00.  Individual pieces such as slacks, jackets (men and women), women's blouses, shoes, and purses can be purchased for $2.50.  The Clothes Closet will be open twice a month during the spring 2008 semester.  For more information, contact Michelle Byrd at 704-922-6268.

• The ground breaking ceremony for the David Belk Cannon Health Education Institute will be held on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. on the Dallas Campus.  The 83,000 square foot facility will house the College’s current health programs and provide space for expansion, especially needed for the Associate Degree Nursing Program. 

Construction is being funded by a combination of private donations, bond funds approved by Gaston County voters, 2000 Higher Education NC Bonds and state and federal grants. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

• The Creative Writing Program at Gaston College will present Thomas Rain Crowe, internationally published and recognized poet, recording artist and author of twenty books of original and translated works on Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m., Lena Sue Beam Auditorium, Dallas Campus. Crowe will select readings from his newest book Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods with a book signing to follow. He will also hold a question and answer session with the audience. For more information, call Scott Temple at 704.922.6311 or email Temple.scott@gaston.edu. 

• “James Biggers and Friends” an art exhibit celebrating Black History Month and in memorial to artist John Biggers is now on display through February 22nd  in the Jeanne Rauch Gallery, Rauch Science and Fine Arts Building, on the Dallas Campus. This collection of art by North and South Carolina artists features over 50 works of painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture, curated by artist James Biggers and coordinated by the Minority Affairs Committee of Gaston College.

Due to weather conditions the January reception was cancelled and has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 7th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the gallery.

• A jazz concert and lecture/demonstration by the talented flautist Galen will be held on Wednesday, February 13th at Gaston College.  He will give a brief talk, demonstration and a CD giveaway at the “Notes at Noon” session at 12 noon and an evening musical performance with his band at 7 p.m. Both performances will be in the Myers Center Cafeteria. The evening concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call 704.922.6200.

• Gaston College and the Gaston County JobLink Career Center are hosting a free financial aid workshop to show parents and students how to pay for college with state and federal funding. The “Gaston College FAFSA Completion Day,” will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Gaston County JobLink Center, 1391 Bessemer City Road, Gastonia.

Gaston College staff will assist families in completing the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required for any federal or state financial assistance. Also, information will be shared about scholarships and grants available for the 2008-2009 academic year to attend Gaston College. For more information, contact Peggy Oates, Director of Financial Aid and Veterans’ Affairs at Gaston College at 704.922.6227 or email oates.peggy@gaston.edu. .

• Gaston College is seeking nominations for the 2008 Altrusa Award of Excellence. The award recognizes Gaston College employees who have made a significant contribution to the educational success of students, and demonstrated a love for lifelong learning both on and off campus. Nomination forms and award criteria are available on the Gaston College website at www.gaston.edu.  Forms are also available in the Morris Library on the Dallas Campus, at the Lincoln Campus and East Campus information desks, or by calling 704.922.6511.  Completed nomination packets must be received in the Gaston College Foundation office by March 1. For more information, call the Gaston College Foundation at 704.922.6511.

• GED/Adult high school graduation on Friday, April 4th at 7 p.m. Myers Center.

• Gaston College Career Day will be held on Wednesday, March 12, from 9:30 until   12:00 noon in the Myers Center Auditorium. This annual event is for employers and   students. For more information, call 704.922.6525.

• Gaston College is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2008-2009 academic year.  More than $150,000 in scholarship assistance is available to students through the Gaston College Foundation. The deadline is March 31.  For applications, visit www.gaston.edu or call the Gaston College Financial Aid Office at 704.922.6227.

• “Women’s' Art Exhibition” will feature the work of ARPA-Inside Out, a collection of work by artists from the Southeast April 11 - May 11, 2008. This exhibition is comprised of ceramics, sculpture, painting, and mixed media and will be on display as a salute to Women’s History Month.  The artwork of Ms. Paula Smith, a ceramic and sculpture instructor at Gaston College will be included in this collection.  Ms. Smith’s art has been shown at various galleries in North and South Carolina.  This event is coordinated by the Gaston College Minority Affairs Committee.

• Gaston College will be participating in the Community Foundation’s “Run for the Money” fundraising event on April 19.  Gifts received through the Community Foundation will provide mini-grants for Gaston College faculty, staff and students.  All gifts up to $10,000 will be matched if they are received by the April 25 deadline.  For information contact bajorek.sylvia@gaston.edu 704.922.6511 or call the Community Foundation at 704.864.0927.

• Congratulations to:

  Gaston College faculty and staff for reaching its United Way Campaign goal totaling $20,405 in donations. Also for their generous donation of 100 bears delivered to the Gaston County Women's Shelter, Amy's House in Lincolnton, the Department of Social Services Foster Care Department in Gaston and Lincoln Counties, and Gaston County Emergency Medical Services.

January 15 , 2008

Gaston College Textile Technology Center
Sponsors Seminars Series for Textile Firms

The Gaston College Textile Technology Center, in conjunction with BL Consulting is sponsoring a series of seminars to assist textile firms improve productivity, quality, and to increase the knowledge and skill base for their associates. “The Manufacturing Workshop Series” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the East Campus, 7220 Wilkinson Boulevard in Belmont.

The workshops will be scheduled on:

   For more information, contact John Anderson, Director, Textile Technology Center, 704.825.3737, ext 254 or email: Anderson.john@gaston.edu.

January 8 , 2008

COMPUTER-BASED JOB SKILLS ASSESSMENTS AVAILABLE
THROUGH GASTON COLLEGE

Gaston College is offering employers an effective and proven system for improving employee selection, reducing turnover, and increasing productivity. WorkKeys is a system that uses computerized job skills assessments to determine whether employees or job applicants have the skills they need to do their jobs productively and have success in the workplace.

“WorkKeys is an easy-to-use tool to pinpoint job skills,” says Joy Morrow, Recruiter/Intake Specialist for Gaston College. ”The tests help employers identify qualified employees and target training needs. Ultimately, this helps companies save money because the specific training is identified to boost employees or applicant’s skills. Also, individuals who are seeking a promotion in their company or want to change professions can find out if they have the skills needed for specific jobs that they desire.”

Five Workkeys tests are now available in computer-based form. They are:

Applied Mathematics – skills in applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems
Applied Technology – understanding of technical principles as they apply to the workplace
Locating Information – using information from such materials as diagrams, floor plans, tables, forms, graphs and charts
Reading for Information – comprehending work-related reading materials, from memos and bulletins to policy manuals and governmental regulations
Business Writing – measuring the ability to write a clear, well-developed argument using correct grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure.

Gaston College is part of a state initiative where an individual can test in Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information. Upon completion of these tests, employees or individuals may qualify to receive a bronze, silver or gold certificate which authenticates their skill level and job readiness. This certification initiative is recognized nationally.

You can inquire about the WorkKeys Assessments of the North Carolina Career Readiness Certification Initiative in the computer lab at Gaston College Dallas Campus, Tuesday or Thursday from 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. at the Pearson Life Skills Center, Room 103 and the General Classroom Building on the East Campus in Belmont on Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Room 119. (Lincoln Campus on Tuesdays from 1:00-8:00pm in Room 208).

“To get the best results, companies must make an initial investment to have specific jobs profiled, and have input from their current employees who work those specific jobs. These current employees, otherwise known as subject matter experts, set the bar for the skills needed to perform successfully on the job. Then testing can begin.” says Morrow.

Testing electronically gives employers and individuals a more efficient way to find out where they stand, skills-wise. They are also available in a paper-and-pencil format. There are many advantages of using an electronic form of testing including:

Immediate feedback – Test-takers get immediate feedback because their scores are tallied as soon as the test is completed. There is no wait for an administrator to score tests.
Flexibility – Administrators can allow as many or as few people to take the test as they want, depending on the number of available computers.
Ease of use – Following simple instructions, user’s select multiple-choice answers with their computer mouse, then move on to the next question.
Portability – Tests are administered through CD-ROMs or uploaded into computer servers.

WorkKeys is currently being used by businesses nationwide. The assessment tool was created by the same people who made the ACT college-entrance exam.

For more information about WorkKeys or to register for WorkKeys tests, call Joy Morrow at 704.853.5328 Ext. 251 or email morrow.joy@gaston.edu.

January 8 , 2008

Nursing Students Receive Scholarship

Left to right: Melody Pope and Jessica Ray are second year students in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Gaston College. Ms. Ray was recently awarded the Judith Mann Nursing Scholarship. This is the first time a Gaston College student has received this scholarship. Ms. Pope is a recipient of the 100 Great Inc. Scholarship which honors registered nursing students that exemplify excellence in practice and commitment to the nursing profession.

Congratulations!

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2007