Gateway Community College (GCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Gateway Community College is a two-year school located in New Haven, Conn. It was founded in 1992 from the merger of two other schools: South Central Community College and Greater New Haven State Technical College.

More than 14,000 students are enrolled each year, making this one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country, and is the tenth largest institution of higher education in the state. The New York Times ranked Gateway as the top community college in Connecticut for incoming freshmen.

Gateway’s mission is to “respond to the changing academic, occupational, technological, and cultural needs of a diverse population.” To meet that mission, the community college offers 100 accredited degree and certificate programs.

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Information Summary

Ranks 35th in Connecticut and 3200th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	48.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$5,624
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	20 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	57% / 45%
Enrollment Total (all students)	7,016

Academics

The school offers certificates and three types of degrees: the Associate in Arts (AA), the Associate in Science (AS), and the Associate in Applied Science (AAS). Students who earn the AA and AS degrees typically are planning on transferring over to a four-year college or university to work towards a bachelor’s degree, while those with the AAS or certificate are looking to join the workforce right after graduation and have the necessary skills to work in their industry of choice.

There are two divisions, Engineering Technologies and Nursing. The Engineering Technologies division is further divided into Transportation Technologies, Engineering Technologies, and Technical Studies, and each of these have numerous programs. The Nursing program is four semesters long and trains students to become registered nurses and to prepare them for licensing exams.

There are more comprehensive areas of study in the following departments:

Allied Health
Business
College Advancement Studies
Humanities/Fine Arts and ESL
Science and Mathematics
Social Sciences

If the above departments don’t fit your educational needs, they offer General Studies and Liberal Arts and Sciences as well. The General Studies degree is ideal for those students who still need time to figure out what they want to do in life and haven’t made a decision in a career path. The program lets the students take various courses to explore their interests an see what they are capable of doing.

The school also has online and hybrid classes for those who need more flexibility in their school schedules. Blackboard is used as the online tool to communicate with professors and post completed classwork.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Admissions

The school offers an open admission policy, with specific requirements depending on the type of student: new students, transfers, re-admit students, visiting or non- degree students, international students, distance-learning students, and non-credit/ continuing education students.

The college also has special agreements with various groups that fall outside these categories, including High School Partnerships, Home School, TAA/WIA, and Senior Citizens.

Financial Aid

There are four types of financial aid available to enrolled students: grants, state scholarships, federal work-study, and loans. Awards may be made in any or all of the four categories, depending on eligibility.

The Gateway Community College Foundation, Inc., awards or administers various scholarships each spring for use in the following academic year. The scholarship brochure lists the various scholarships available and includes an application form, so be sure to contact the school and obtain the list before applying for loans.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6467th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Connecticut.

Students

The Office of College Life offers several programs to enrich the experience of students; these are funded by student-activity fees approved by the Student Government Association.

Special events such as concerts, lectures and exhibits occur throughout the year, as well as philanthropic activities such as Red Cross blood drives, food drives, wellness expositions and more. There are also leadership development programs, including a formal leadership series and a national leadership conference, that will enable students to develop their skills.

The Student Government Association has recognized several student clubs and organizations, including the Academic Honors Club, Art Club, Athletic Club, Automotive Club, Auto Racing Team, Black Student Association, Gay/Straight Alliance, Guitar Club, International Club, Muslim Student Association, Radiology Club, Science Club, Theater Goers Club, VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) and many more.

Gateway sponsors student chapters of several professional societies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, National Association of Accountants, Society of Biomedical Equipment Technicians, and Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Students may be selected into honor societies such as Phi Theta Kappa, the national community college honor society; Tau Alpha Pi the national engineering technology honor society; Psi Beta, the national two-year college psychology honor society; and Alpha Sigma Lambda, the honor society for part-time students.

The Gallery at Gateway features the work of local and regional professional artists, community art groups, and Gateway art student exhibitions. Each year, the gallery offers approximately eight exhibitions including two end-of semester exhibitions of work by students from the college’s Studio Art and Graphic Design Associates Degree program.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

The school is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (Region XXI), with intercollegiate programs in women’s and men’s basketball. Intramural programs in soccer and volleyball are available for students who like to play but may not have the time to devote to a league.

Local Community

Gateway Community College is located in New Haven, Conn., a city of nearly 130,000 residents. First settled in 1638 by a group of Puritans, the city was incorporated in 1784.

New Haven is home to several other colleges, including Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, Albertus Magnus College and the University of New Haven.

The city has several museums, including the Peabody Museum of Natural History, the New Haven Museum and Historical Society and the Children’s Museum. Yale University’s Art Gallery and Center for British Art are other notable attractions, and several small galleries throughout the city exhibit a variety of painting, sculpture, photography and other media.

Founded in 1894, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra aspires to “exceed expectations, unite communities, challenge, delight and inspire” through its concerts and education programs, according to its mission statement.

New Haven devotes 17 percent of the city (more than 21 square miles) for parks. The city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees oversees several parks, including East Rock and West Rock Parks, Lighthouse Point and Barnard Nature Center, making this a quiet and natural setting for students.

Additional School Information

The Center for Educational Services (CES) provides academic support services for students, including tutorial assistance and related services to help students become better skilled in selected areas. Among the services offered are: Placement Testing; Academic Support for Disabled Learning Students; Placement Re-testing; Tutoring and Mini Workshops.

The Writing Center offers support to all students beyond developmental courses. The Mathematics/Science Center provides tutorial and technological assistance to students.

The Counseling Center provides a variety of services in both education and personal areas. Gateway counselors assist students in academic planning, career development, and personal growth activities. Students can learn how to succeed in college, plan their academic program and explore transfer options to four-year colleges as well as develop their skills in crisis management, decision making, and time management.

Gateway Community College