John Hauser, President, Gaston College

Invest: spoke with John Hauser, president of Gaston College, about record enrollment, the college’s expanding workforce role, and how immersive technology is reshaping technical education. “The care that goes into a student at a community college is eternal; it’s lifelong,” said Hauser.

What impact has Gaston College delivered for students and employers over the past 12 to 18 months?

The recent numbers point to a clear message: students and employers see Gaston College as a high-value, high-performance institution. This fall, we reached the highest enrollment in our history, with nearly 7,000 degree-seeking students and another 12,000 in continuing education and workforce programs. That 19,000-student footprint reflects both interest and confidence from the community.

We were ranked among the Top 250 technical colleges in the country by USA Today, earned the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Outstanding Innovative Workforce Partnerships for our collaboration with Atrium, and received national recognition through the Bellwether Award for healthcare program partnerships. We are also one of the top colleges in the state for customized industry training, providing more than $1.5 million in training annually for over 1,000 trainees.

Where the value shows most clearly is in program outcomes. Our practical nursing pass rate has been 98% for four consecutive years. Registered nursing, veterinary technology, EMT/paramedic and basic law enforcement programs have all reached 100% pass rates. These are large cohorts, not small testing groups, which speaks to the depth of faculty expertise and the strength of the support systems we have built for students.

What has been a key driving force behind these outcomes?

A major driver is our apprenticeship and work-based learning portfolio. Through Apprenticeship 321 and related partnerships, many students are employed before graduation. They are making a wage, gaining experience and earning a credential simultaneously, which is exactly what employers are asking for and what students increasingly want.

We also offer clear transfer pathways. Students can complete two years with us, save roughly $25,000 per year, and then move seamlessly to UNC System institutions or private partners like Belmont Abbey, Lenoir-Rhyne, Gardner-Webb or Johnson C. Smith. By the time they enter as juniors, they are prepared academically and financially.

We are investing in programs that reflect where education and industry are headed. Gaston College is an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, and demand in that program has surged. Our next major step is immersive technology. We are building a department that will support healthcare, welding, automotive, art, history and even foundational courses like math. Students will be able to interact with complex clinical, technical and historical simulations in ways that mirror how they already learn outside the classroom.

What makes Gaston County an ideal place for the college to thrive?

Gaston County is unique because of the alignment among its leaders. Our economic development team, healthcare systems, K-12 schools, colleges and universities all work from a shared vision. We meet regularly, but we don’t need to meet often because we are already moving in the same direction. When a problem arises—such as a shortage of practical nurses—the discussion quickly becomes, “How do we solve this together?” rather than, “Why can’t this work?” That mindset accelerates progress.

Geography is another advantage. Within 30 minutes, residents can access Uptown Charlotte, Kings Mountain, Hickory and multiple cultural, educational and entertainment areas. It gives families and employers the benefits of a major metropolitan region while maintaining the community feel that people value. For our students, it means they can build careers close to home, with access to employers across sectors.

The educational ecosystem is also a strength. Gaston County Schools earned more than 8,000 CTE credentials last year. Belmont Abbey continues to receive national recognition for undergraduate teaching. Gaston College serves as the open-access hub connecting students to both local employment and four-year opportunities. When all three systems perform at a high level and view themselves as partners rather than competitors, it creates a powerful talent pipeline.

Industry engagement is equally important. The Kimbrell Fiber Innovation Center exists because the state invested $10.5 million and industry partners invested more than $13 million. That level of private-sector commitment is unusual, and it reflects both need and confidence. We expect similar support for our new $60 million Health and Wellness Center, which will provide high-demand health science training and community access to wellness resources. Employers understand that healthy, well-trained people contribute to productivity and retention.

This collaborative approach extends across sectors. Companies locate here because of the strength of our education and healthcare systems. They know their employees can access training, reskilling opportunities and support services quickly. They also know the community invests in shared success. For me, having worked in community colleges across the state, the culture in Gaston County — solution-oriented, community-focused and deeply collaborative — is unlike anything I have experienced at this scale.

What federal or state-level changes are you watching most closely, and how are they shaping your strategy?

The policy environment at the federal level is fluid, and in many cases, uncertain. Regulations and grant programs are shifting, and it can be difficult to get definitive answers from agencies as priorities evolve. Despite that uncertainty, one thing is clear: community colleges will remain central to the nation’s economic future.

My own story reflects why. I would not be here without a community college. When I arrived at Surry Community College more than 40 years ago, I had no intention of pursuing higher education. An instructor saw potential, challenged me, and helped me transfer to UNC Charlotte for engineering. That changed the trajectory of my life, and community colleges continue to do that for thousands of people every year.

The care that goes into a student at a community college is eternal; it’s lifelong. Many of our faculty maintain relationships with former students decades after they graduate. One of our foundation board members started here, transferred, built a successful IT company in Charlotte and ultimately sold it for $40 million. When he talks about his success, he credits the moment an instructor invested in him on this campus. Those stories are common, and they illustrate why community colleges are indispensable to economic mobility.

We serve a wide range of learners — working adults, single parents, people caring for aging family members, and traditional students who want a rigorous academic experience. Many of these students balance jobs, caregiving responsibilities and coursework, which means federal and state support structures such as financial aid, apprenticeships, and workforce grants are vital. We watch those programs closely and build partnerships that maximize their impact.

Strategically, we stay engaged with national and state institutions that influence policy and funding. We have strong relationships with NC State and are pursuing major opportunities with the Department of Defense. Federal agencies recognize the value of applied research, short-term training and industry partnerships, and we are positioning ourselves to align with those priorities.