Atrium Health Thanks Central Piedmont

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Eugene Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health, recently thanked Central Piedmont – in a special email communication to Dr. D – for donating 18,000 gloves, 470 N95 masks, 150 level 3 mask shields, 200 surgical gowns, and 200 bouffant caps for its staff’s use.

Said Woods, “On behalf of our more than 70,000 teammates at Atrium Health, I’d like to say ‘thank you’ for your incredible donation. Please know your generosity is making a world of difference, and we certainly would not be where we are today without your overwhelming support. We are so grateful for our neighboring institutions like Central Piedmont Community College.  Not only are you deeply rooted in educating generations of our future leaders and innovators, you have also played a transformative role in pushing our community forward and stepping up to help serve our most vulnerable in their greatest time of need. Please know your generosity is making a world of a difference, and we certainly would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for your overwhelming support.”

Read full story here.

Barnes & Noble Bookstore Available Online, Submit Summer Textbook Orders Now

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Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Barnes & Noble bookstore is closed for in-store purchases until further notice; however, all purchases and inquiries can be submitted on the Barnes & Noble website during regular business hours.

Textbooks, Central Piedmont gifts and clothing can still be purchased online at https://cpcc.bncollege.com/shop/cpcc/home

If you are planning to attend the summer term, now is the time to submit your textbook order to Barnes & Noble.

Financial Aid students may submit their orders on the Barnes & Noble website.  Once financial aid eligibility is confirmed for the summer term, your order will be shipped.

Need to sell your college books?

Barnes & Nobles has partnered with MBS Textbook Exchange, the nation’s largest textbook wholesaler, to offer you the best prices for your used books. You can pack and send your books free of charge, and receive payment within 3 weeks. Learn more here.

Rentals for this semester can be returned at any time but no later than May 12. Please click here to access Rental FAQ’s or feel free to contact your bookstore at any time with questions.

Top 5 Ways to Stay Connected

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During this time where we’re all online together, it’s still possible to stay connected to each other and to Central Piedmont. Let Student Life & Service-Learning offer you some easy ways to maintain your connections virtually! Be sure to visit the Student Life Events Calendar for all our virtual events!

  1. Join the online Seat at the Table with the Family Resource Center. Seat at the Table is a program created for students, faculty, and staff to have conversations that relate to their everyday lives outside of work and the (virtual) classroom. Friendships, mental health, self-care, and establishing boundaries are among the many topics that will be held during this stressful time. We meet online on Wednesdays at 12:30pm. Click here to join using the following meeting information (Meeting ID: 937-2645-1123 Meeting Password: 861458).
  2. Staying Connected While Staying Home: Civic Tech for Community Organizing. This program includes Christine Edwards, CEO of Amplify Charlotte, April 29th, 3pm-4pm. Join viaWebEx. We’ll cover strategies and best practices of staying connected through civic engagement while at home. Contact justin.knoll@cpcc.edu with any questions.
  3. Like poetry? Watch our SWAG (Student Writers’ Assembled Guild) students as they read their own poems and poems by US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. These students would have presented at an Open Mic for all at Levine Campus, and Joy Harjo was scheduled as our Irene Blair Honeycutt Distinguished Lecturer for Sensoria 2020.
  4. Attend the FREE webinar for students – “Crisis Budget Management.” We are offering this program each week through the end of the term.  Learn important information about how you can best manage your money through this difficult time. Click here to see our options of dates, to register, and to receive login information for joining the webinar. You can also visit the Student Life Events Calendar for complete details as well.
  5. Volunteer from your home and challenge others to get involved too! Stay active and join us as we raise awareness and funds to help community partner, Cool Kids, who works to support kids with cancer. They are holding a virtual 5K challenge! You can run or walk 5K, invite your friends, share on social media and support a good cause!

Questions? Ideas? Email student.life@cpcc.edu and let us know!

It’s Not Too Late – Apply for FAFSA This Summer

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Did you know?  You can still apply for the 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to attend summer courses.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application that you must complete to determine your eligibility for federal, state, or institutional student aid, such as Pell grants and work-study opportunities. Complete the FAFSA even if you are not sure that you are eligible for aid. You could be eligible for more than you expect.

It is tough to predict exactly how much money your family will receive, but complete the FAFSA even if you are not sure your will get financial aid. If you wish to apply for Central Piedmont scholarships and many other scholarships, you will need to have completed the FAFSA. Additionally, if your family’s financial situation changes while you are in school, it will be easier to determine if you qualify for any resources if you have completed the FAFSA.

If you haven’t done so already, complete the 2019-2020 FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. If you need help, contact a Financial Aid Representative at (704) 330-6942 or visit us online.

Advisory: Gov. Cooper extends statewide stay-at-home order through May 8

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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced yesterday he is extending his statewide stay-at-home order through May 8. The order continues to restrict gatherings of more than 10 and allows only essential businesses and institutions to operate. The stay-at-home  order is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

As announced previously, Central Piedmont Community College will complete the spring 2020 semester with students learning – and the vast majority of employees working – remotely.

The spring 2020 graduation ceremony scheduled for May 14 has been postponed. The college plans to hold a number of smaller, in-person, program-focused ceremonies on Central Campus, July 29-31. We will communicate the specific plans as soon as they are complete, but please mark these dates on your calendar. In the meantime, the Graduation Committee is exploring other ways to honor graduates during the month of May. More details to come.

Our summer terms will take place as scheduled. The method of instructional delivery – in-person, online or a combination of the two – will depend on the future severity of the pandemic. Our top priority will be keeping everyone safe. Priority registration for our current students for the summer and fall semesters began April 17. Open registration for new students begins April 27.

Current students who have not done so already should register for their summer and fall classes quickly while plenty of seats are still available.

Please continue to take precautions to stay home and stay healthy. The college has established the Central Piedmont Cares initiative to connect with you and to connect you with helpful resources, as we all continue to navigate this rapidly changing situation. Visit the Central Piedmont Cares website for information regarding available resources.

Student Employee of the Year: Michael Padgett

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Each year, during the second week in April, colleges and universities across the country recognize the importance of the student work experience during National Student Employment Week. Student employment offers students career-enhancing opportunities, the ability to develop skills relevant to any career, and better preparation for the job market upon graduation.

At Central Piedmont our student employees perform invaluable services with enthusiasm, dedication, and initiative. Indeed, many departments depend on the contributions of this reliable workforce for their daily operations.

Congratulations to Michael Padgett on representing Central Piedmont as Student Employee of the Year for 2020.  Michael works in the Military Families and Veteran Services Department at the Levine Campus. His passion to help students succeed and strong work ethic led him to be selected for this award. Michael is a wonderful teammate to his co-workers and goes above and beyond for everyone. His dedication to helping others only comes second to the dedication he has to being there for his family.

On behalf of the Financial Aid Office and the Federal Work-Study Program, thank you to all our student employees for their hard work and contribution to Central Piedmont.

Barnes and Noble Book Buyback and Rental Return

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With classes moved online, the bookstore has new virtual processes to support you. If you have rented textbooks, they can be returned free by shipping back via UPS. Keep in mind, you will need your order number to print the UPS shipping label. This can be found in the confirmation email from your online order OR if you rented your textbook in store, find it in any of your rental reminder emails. The UPS label can be printed on or before your Charge Date. Please go online for the easy step-by-step Rental Return instructions.

Need to sell your college books?

Barnes & Nobles has partnered with MBS Textbook Exchange, the nation’s largest textbook wholesaler, to offer you the best prices for your used books. You can pack and send your books free of charge, and receive payment within 3 weeks. Learn more here.

Please return rentals for this semester by June 15. Please click here to access Rental FAQ’s or feel free to contact your bookstore at any time with questions.

Elevate Your Career with Virtual Career Services

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Career Services has developed new online tools that provide immediate, reliable career resources to help you navigate your job search during the pandemic and beyond. It’s never too early to start preparing for your future. 
If you need assistance navigating the job market, or are unsure of what you need, complete a quick and easy New Career Interest Form and a career counselor will reach out to you during normal business hours.
Check out some useful online resources available:
  • 7-minute Resource video: View our Elevate Your Job Search from Home video. A quick, accessible video showing students how to succeed in taking their job search online.
  • Virtual Job Search Success Tip Sheet: A one-page, accessible guide with tips and article links to help students get ready for a new reality. View the guide here.
  • Job Market Tips during COVID-19: A one-page, accessible guide to managing the new economy, staying informed, and reaching out for help from the college. View the guide here.
  • Our Students & Graduates webpage: A page devoted to online resources available 24-7, including our Career Guide, student job board, mock interview software, and resume builder. View resources here.

Career Services staff are available to meet with students via phone, WebEx, e-mail and live chat (coming soon!). Email career.services@cpcc.edu or visit cpcc.edu/career if you need any assistance.

Student Heroes: Graphic Design Students Shed Light on Mental Health During COVID-19

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Like many other students, this spring semester began with many unforeseen adjustments. Professor Kenn Compton tasked his Design 4 students to take on a capstone project with one mission: to have a positive impact on changing the world. A dedicated class of 8 advertising and graphic design students began researching and landed on mental health as an area of opportunity to make this positive impact.

The original project objective was to develop mental health break rooms on campus to provide relief for students who found themselves overwhelmed during the day. These mental break rooms would incorporate useful resources designed by the class, including coping techniques corresponding with different illnesses to assist students in need. As Central Piedmont shifted to a new learn-at-home environment, the project scope also required a shift.

Team Project Manager, Georgina Burton shared “We need to be here to encourage people to keep fighting and to get stronger, because they will get stronger.”  Despite the unexpected and ambiguous circumstances brought on by COVID-19, Georgina and her classmates were not deterred from providing a solution to such a vitally important issue – arguably even more important in light of current circumstances.

The class decided to create the same mental health safe spaces online and launched a creative digital campaign on Instagram called Innerpeas2020. Sylvia Bowie, counselor on Harper campus, assisted with providing reliable statistics and resources to help shape their content, and the team leveraged their design skills to create the mental health campaign, which launched on April 8. They have now embarked on a 30-day campaign providing useful resources to students, staff, and the entire Central Piedmont community.

Navigating life with mental illness can be overwhelming, but having a supportive community and helpful resources makes the journey easier. Everyday, Innerpeas2020 shares a helpful graphic covering coping skills and resources, and releases practical and engaging tips every Tuesday and Friday. Check out innerpeas2020 on Instagram for encouraging messages and practical tips to cope with mental illness during these challenging times.

Kudos to these Central Piedmont student heroes for making a positive difference:

  • Cristina Isshika
  • Georgina Burton
  • Antoinette Bright
  • Nicholas Graber
  • Alyssa Melendez
  • Ashley Rice
  • Brittany Scott
  • Adam Harper

Practicing Self-Care from Home

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“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” – Audre Lorde

Seat at the Table (now Virtual Seat at Table) brings the Central Piedmont community together through conversation on the things important to us. Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, you will get the chance to spend time on yourself and listen to other folks on a different topic every week. You will also be able to access tools on how to best practice intentional self-care during these uncertain times.

If interested, e-mail Nawje.Samuda@cpcc.edu to be added to the e-mail list and learn how to join virtually.​

Top 5 Ways to Stay Connected

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During this time where we’re all online together, it’s still possible to stay connected to each other and to Central Piedmont. Visit the Student Life Events Calendar for some easy ways to maintain your connections virtually!

  1. Attend the FREE webinar for students – “Crisis Budget Management.” We are offering this program each week through the end of the term.  Learn important information about how you can best manage your money through this difficult time. Click here to see our options of dates, to register, and to receive login information for joining the webinar. You can also visit the Student Life Events Calendar for complete details as well.
  2. Looking for a good social support group during this strange time? Join Danielle, from the Central Piedmont Family Resource Center, for FRC virtual open office hours on Thursdays at 4pm, beginning April 23. She’ll host students for a virtual group gathering with guided discussion on healthy practices during this stressful time. Visit the Student Life Events calendar for details or email Danielle.Dosunmu@cpcc.edu if you’d like to attend!
  3. Join Student Life and the Central Piedmont Library to jam with DJ-CK in celebration of National Library Week on Friday, April 24, 6pm-8pm. Library Live 2020 is being sponsored by CP Library and Student Life, and students, faculty and staff are invited to jam with DJ-CK as he plays classic music from major recording artists. Let us bring you some joy as you shelter in place!
  4. Visit our student juried art show! Support your fellow student artists who were selected to participate in this special event. Click here to see the full show.
  5. Miss the blood drive that Central Piedmont hosted? There are many other opportunities in our community as donating blood is a priority need right now. Click here to learn about other blood drive opportunities.

Questions? Ideas? Email student.life@cpcc.edu and let us know!

Central Piedmont Instructor is Changing the Face of Healthcare

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Dr. Anne McIntosh wearing “The Communicator” mask

During this time where being solution-oriented is paramount, Central Piedmont instructor Dr. Anne McIntosh’s ingenuity has changed the face of healthcare. As Founder & CEO of Safe’N’Clear, Inc., Dr. McIntosh designed “The Communicator mask” a medical facemask with a clear panel to allow facial expressions and lip-reading for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to be communicated while protecting both patient and healthcare workers. Inspiration for the mask stemmed from Dr. McIntosh’s own birthing experience, and her inspiration was met with a unique, and extensive set of skills as a Central Piedmont Communication professor.

While 93 percent of the meaning of communication stems from non-verbal cues, this is especially important amongst deaf and hard-of-hearing patients who rely on facial expressions and lip reading during conversation. The Communicator mask enables speech to be less muffled, decreases communication breakdowns, and improves patient outcomes. Manufactured in the United States, the mask is being used by American Sign Language interpreters to help ensure their own personal safety while still providing effective interpretation and communication to their patients.

Read the full story. ​

Free loaner laptops and technology available for summer classes

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If you’re having trouble accessing technology, we want to do all we can to ensure you continue in your classes and achieve your academic goals this summer. A limited number of laptops and WiFi hotspots are available for loan — at no cost — to students in need. Students will be able to use these devices as long as they are enrolled in classes and until we are able to resume traditional, in-person classes. Please complete an application or email singlestop@cpcc.edu for more information.

We Need Your Help – Social Casting Call

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Students and Faculty, we need your help! We are creating an ad campaign that showcases the unity, creativity, and Central Piedmont spirit that our community has shown despite learning and working from home.

Please submit videos or photos of your experience over the past month! It could be your home office, your favorite Zoom screenshot, volunteering to help others, a TikTok dance in your favorite Central Piedmont T-shirt, a touching moment at your essential job, or anything else!

Upload your submissions by Monday April 20 at 5 p.m. to this Dropbox link and remember:

    • Include your full name in your submission –if you are using footage already shot, please include an additional submission that shows you saying your full name and that you are a student so we can identify you—this could be as simple as a video clip with “I’m a student, my name is John Doe– and I’m including this with my other submissions so you can identify me.” Upload this ID video at the same time as your other submissions please.
    • By submitting these files you are agreeing to let Central Piedmont use these in marketing materials including but not limited to commercials, online,  print and outdoor.
    • Submission of files does NOT automatically mean these will be used—this will be determined by such things as number of submissions, activities shown, etc.
    • Submission of files DOES mean you will be given a T-shirt for your participation when we return to campus.

Summer Classes Will Start Fully Online

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Don’t forget priority registration for the summer and fall terms runs from April 17 to April 26. Check your college email for your specific priority registration date. Please note all summer term classes will start fully online. Class sections with fully online instruction are listed as “online courses” during registration and do not show a campus location. Class sections that display a campus location will begin online, and may eventually transition to in-person instruction should the designated campus reopen during the summer term.

Our top priority is keeping you safe, and we will keep you updated on impacts to instructional delivery.

Summer 2020 classes start May 20. Don’t wait – register early for the best class selection:

  1. Be sure to check in with Academic Advising online to make sure you are registering for the right classes.
  2. Check your college email account for your priority registration date/time.
  3. Go to MyCollege.cpcc.edu and click on “Student Planning” to choose your schedule. Add your classes to your shopping cart.
  4. On your priority registration date/time, go to MyCollege – or use the Central Piedmont app  – to check out.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay focused on your education goals! For much more information, visit our current students web page or call the college’s Information Center  at 704.330.2722.

We’re Here to Help – Central Piedmont Cares Student Form Available

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We understand your plans for this semester have changed and you may be facing unique and difficult challenges. Please know you are not alone. Your needs are important and we are here to help. The college has established the Central Piedmont Cares initiative to connect with you and to connect you with helpful resources, as we all continue to navigate this rapidly changing situation.

Please visit the Central Piedmont Cares website for information regarding available resources. If you need assistance beyond what you find there, you can fill out the Central Piedmont Cares student form. Once the submission is received, a Central Piedmont staff member will reach out to you within the next 2-3 business days during standard college hours of operation (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).

This is an unprecedented time, and it calls on all of us to support each other with great care and compassion. We want you to stay safely at home so you can continue your studies and stay on track with your educational goals. Please know you can reach out to us. If you’re having any trouble at all, call our Information Center at 704.330.2722 during business hours or submit your questions online for help.

Top 5 Ways to Stay Connected

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During this time where we’re all online together, it’s still possible to stay connected to each other and to Central Piedmont. Let Student Life & Service-Learning offer you some easy ways to maintain your connections virtually!

  1. Single Stop is offering a webinar for students – “Crisis Budget Management” – on Wednesday, April 15 at 3pm. Learn important information about how you can best manage your money through this difficult time. Click here to register and receive login information to join the webinar. Questions? Email Student.Life@cpcc.edu
  2. Central Piedmont and community blood center, One Blood, will host a blood drive on April 21, noon-5 p.m., in the driveway of the Overcash building on Central Campus. Space is limited in order to properly social distance and appointments are required. All donors will receive a $20 eGift Card, as well as a free wellness check (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, pulse, iron count and cholesterol check). Reserve an appointment or contact Jesse.Bennett@cpcc.edu with questions.
  3. Know a teacher who has gone the extra mile or who has made an awesome transition to teaching online? The SGA has extended their nomination for the 2nd Annual Teaching Excellence Awards until April 24. Nominate a great Central Piedmont teacher and thank them for their work.
  4. Mark your calendar for your priority registration dates. Summer priority registration and fall priority registration begin Fri., April 17. Be sure to check in with Academic Advising to make sure you are registering for the right classes! 
  5. Show us your Central Piedmont SFH (study from home) pride by tagging @cpccstudentlife and @centralpiedmontcc wearing your Central Piedmont gear in your at home classroom!

Central Piedmont Health Programs Donate 30,000 Pairs of Gloves to Atrium and Novant Health

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Central Piedmont Health Professions and Human Services, donated more than 30,000 pairs of gloves, 670 N95 masks, 350 isolation gowns, 250 level 3 masks and 400 bouffant caps to Atrium Health and Novant Health.

All of the college’s health programs and Environmental Health and Safety department offered their supplies to meet the community needs. Although faculty from all areas were willing to come in and help pack, we limited the faculty involved for safety reasons. Here are a few of our Central Piedmont heroes:

  • Karen Summers, Interim Dean Health Professions and Human Services
  • Eileen Clark, Dental Hygiene
  • Cathy Flores, Medical Assisting
  • Mel Angelisanti, Surgical Technology

Thank you to all of the staff involved for supporting the community during such challenging times.

Engineering Instructors Provide 3D Masks for CharlotteMEDI

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Central Piedmont’s Dr. Adam Harris, chair of the computer engineering technology, electrical engineering technology and electronics engineering technology programs, and Dr. Jacob Garbini, chair of the engineering program, are partnering with Charlotte Latin to produce the parts needed for CharlotteMEDI to make face shields for area hospital personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As instructors, Dr. Harris and Dr. Garbini regularly work in the college’s FabLab, home to 10 3D printers, which the duo has been visiting tirelessly, sometimes twice a day, to manufacture the headbands and bottom clips needed to complete the assembly of CharlotteMEDI’s face shields.

To date, the Central Piedmont team has made approximately 300 3D printed parts, such as bottom clips and headbands.