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Career and College Promise

Overview 
College Now, a Career and College Promise Program is an exciting program that offers North Carolina high school students “a clear path to success in college or in a career.” 

The program is designed to prepare students for life after high school by giving them access to an affordable college education and instilling the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a competitive workforce. 

Eligible high school students may participate in the College Now program to earn: 

  • Course credit from Gaston College that transfers to all institutions in the University of North Carolina system and to many of the state’s independent colleges and universities; 
  • A credential, certificate, or diploma from Gaston College in a technical career field; or 
  • A high school diploma and two years of college credit through the Gaston Early College High School, which is housed on the Gaston College campus. 
  • College Now is available at no cost to all eligible students who maintain a B grade average. 

College Now Pathways 
College Transfer - Transfer credits toward transfer degrees at 2 or 4-year colleges or universities may be earned. 
Career and Technical Education - Credits toward a certificate, diploma, or degree may be earned.  
For more information about College Now opportunities at Gaston College visit their website:  https://www.gaston.edu/college-now/

Highlights

  • Students must demonstrate college readiness in English, reading, and mathematics to enroll in college transfer courses offered by Gaston College.
  • College Now courses are taught in a variety of modalities.  They may be taught face-to-face at the student’s home school, face-to-face at a Gaston College site, completely online, or a combination of face-to-face and online (hybrid).  Gaston College determines the most appropriate instructional model for all College Now courses.
  • Students must progress through their selected pathway in a satisfactory manner and maintain a minimum 2.0-grade point average after completing two college courses.

Course Weights/GPA Scale

  • Courses without a (T) designation are not transferable to a four-year college/university.  These courses are on a 4.0 GPA  scale.
  • Courses with a (T) are transferable.  Courses with a (T*) are transferable and designated as a Universal General Education Transfer Component.  These courses are weighted on a 5.0 Advanced Placement equivalent GPA scale. 
  • The NC Dept. of Public Instruction makes all final decisions about course weights.
  • A course must be at least 3 college credit hours to receive high school credit and to count in the GPA calculation.

Course DeliveryGaston College College Now courses are taught in a variety of ways including face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online.  Students can enroll in any course that is within their chosen pathway regardless of the location.
Course descriptions can be found in the Gaston College course catalog, http://catalog.gaston.edu.