Author Archives: Jennifer Conway

Free Poetry event with Pulitzer-winning author Jericho Brown

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Jerico wearing a crown of flowers.

Jerico Brown

Come see Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown, for this FREE can’t miss event.

  • Thursday, September 14
  • 11am – 12:15 p.m.
  • Central Campus, Overcash Building, Halton Theater

Jericho Brown is author of the “The Tradition,” for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown’s first book, “Please,” won the American Book Award. His second book, “The New Testament,” won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The covers of two of Jerico's books: "The Tradition" and "How We Do It."The Tradition, won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, TIME, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University.

In addition to being a celebrated poet and warm, engaging teacher, Brown is
the editor of the new anthology “How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill.”

Investigate the Makerspace in the Library

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A student works at a sewing machine, there is a wall of #D printers in the background.A Makerspace is a collaborative work space that allows you to enter with an idea for a project and leave with a finished product.

Check out the Makerspace in your local Central Piedmont Library!

Central Campus Library, in the Parr Center, offers 3D printing, laser engraving and cutting, sewing and embroidery, vinyl cutting, large format printing, and an array of arts and craft supplies to help you get started making. For more information about our Makerspace, check out our guide.

Cato, Harper, Harris, Levine, and Merancas Libraries offer 3D printing,  vinyl cutting, and other amenities. Stop by your local library, meet your librarians, and check out the makerspace activities available for you to start making.

Shoot hoops at basketball open gym

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Worrell gym at Central Campus shows college logos on the court and 6 basketball hoops Open Gym for basketball returns to Central Campus beginning Wednesday Sept. 6. Basketball will be available at the Worrell Gym on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3- 5:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for more information on other sports coming soon, including soccer, volleyball, and some special events you won’t want to miss.

Bring your student ID and appropriate shoes to participate in basketball. Register and sign the waiver.

Questions? Email Isaiah.battle@cpcc.edu 

New tutoring and academic support options

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Two students and an employee studying and working together to learn.The Academic Learning Center (ALC) has launched new tutoring options to help you be successful in your classes, with choices to get academic support throughout the day, evening, and on weekends.

You have two options to receive academic support. You can make an appointment with an ALC tutor right here on campus for either in-person or virtual support during the day.
You can also make a virtual appointment with a Brainfuse tutor, for appointments after 5 p.m. in the evenings, and on weekends.

Review the full student user guide for all the details, and learn how to:

  • Access the ALC Academic Support Platform
  • Make an appointment with an ALC Tutor using Tutor Match
  • Make an appointment with a Brainfuse tutor using Live Help

Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • You must login to Brightspace to access the ALC Academic Support Platform
  • You will find the ALC Academic Support link under the “Student Resources” widget in Brightspace, or directly through your live courses in Brightspace (if your instructor added it to your live course).

You can also visit us at one of our locations:

  • Central Campus: Parr Center, Level 2, Suite 2130
  • Levine Campus: Levine III, Room 2520
  • Cato Campus: Cato II, Room 270

If you have any questions, please contact the ALC by phone 704.330.6422 or via e-mail alc@cpcc.edu.

Student Story: Joan Laos-Garavito

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Joan holding a camera and smiling as he looks through it.“Central Piedmont has been my beacon of opportunity,” declares Joan S. Laos-Garavito, a determined individual whose journey embodies resilience and a relentless drive for knowledge. Hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, Joan’s path to academic success is a testament to tenacity.

Choosing Central Piedmont was a strategic decision. “I decided to attend Central Piedmont because it offers quality and affordable education,” Joan shares. This choice was a crucial steppingstone to fulfilling his aspirations. Graduating from Sharpstown HS in Houston, TX, Joan’s determination led him to pursue an IT Networking Technologies degree. Through the NC Works NexGen Program, Joan triumphed over economic adversities.In addition to assisting him with tuition and textbooks, the program also provided him with work experience as an employee of Central Piedmont.

Joan’s journey led him to become an employee at Central Piedmont’s ESL (English as a Second Language) department. Drawing from his passion for video recording and editing, he creates videos showcasing the college’s programs.  “It’s rewarding to help ESL students communicate their achievements to loved ones,” Joan shares, highlighting his dedication to supporting others.
“What I enjoy about Central Piedmont is the diversity of its students and staff and the quality of education,” Joan reflects. His journey has been enriched by experiences like being part of the Soccer Club, creating a sense of community within the campus.

His ability to navigate through the pandemic was a true test of his resilience. “The pandemic deprived me of the full college experience, and on top of that, I faced the loss of loved ones back in Colombia,” he recalls. Despite these hurdles, his family’s support has been his strength, motivating him to keep moving forward.

Joan’s fascination with technology is a result of the influence his father had on him growing up. “Thanks to my father, I’ve had access to technology,” he explains. “I began editing videos just for fun, but I’ve always wanted to understand how computers and the internet enable effective communication.”

His goal is to enter the workforce and acquire more experience in the field of information technology. However, he intends to never give up on learning new things. When Joan graduates from Central Piedmont, he plans to become certified in Network+ and Security+.

Joan’s advice for future Central Piedmont students: “College and University can the best part of life! Have fun, make connections, but keep a lookout on your deadlines.”

Impress Employers this September

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Handshake: The number one way college students find jobs. Join today and get recruited by the top employers for full-time, part-time jobs and internships--no experience required.Looking for employment opportunities this fall? Check out these employers at Central Campus on Wednesdays in September:

All on-campus recruiting events are 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Central Campus – Parr Center First Floor (near Information Desk)

Additionally, build your branding and networking skills with these upcoming events: 

There are hundreds of opportunities on our job board Handshake – including paid internships, on-campus, part time, full time and seasonal positions.  Check “events” to learn about employers visiting campus for recruiting.  Employers will visit additional campuses through the semester, and more employers will be coming to Central Campus too.

Have questions? Contact Career Services or make an appointment with a Career Counselor.

Follow your Campus Facebook page

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@centralpiedmontcc with facebook logo

Did you know that each Central Piedmont campus has a Facebook page? You can get specific updates for your campus on that Facebook page.

We post events, important notices and any other relevant information you need to know just about your campus.

Find your campus and follow us:

Cato Campus Facebook page

Central Campus Facebook page

Harper Campus Facebook page

Harris Campus Facebook page

Levine Campus Facebook page

Merancas Campus Facebook page

 

Labor Day weekend reminder

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Happy Labor DayThe fall semester is just getting started, but it’s time for a quick break. Central Piedmont will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day.

In addition, please remember that there are no classes on Tuesday Sept. 5 for an employee professional development day.

The Welcome Center at Parr Center, which is usually open on Saturdays from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., will be closed in observance of the holiday.

We hope you enjoy this moment to catch your breath or get caught up on your long weekend!

Safety Reminders for Campus

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Security on campus 704.330.6911.

Central Piedmont and the Risk, Safety, and Security team work to keep you safe while you’re on campus. 

Emergency Notifications
For Critical Alert messaging, Central Piedmont uses Rave, a mass notification system, to send urgent alerts to you via text, phone call, and college email if college operations are ever impacted by inclement weather, a power outage, or a campus emergency. We strongly encourage you to keep your mobile number updated in your MyCollege user profile for emergency communications.

Check and update your contact information here:

Please note you cannot opt out of Critical Alert notification emails to your Central Piedmont account because your Central Piedmont email is the college’s official channel of communication.

Safety & Security Procedures
We also want to remind you of the information available on Central Piedmont’s website about What To Do In An Emergency, for situations including an active shooter, severe weather, fire, and more. We all play a role in safety at the college, so please familiarize yourself with safety and security protocols at the college. In-person classes may begin with a “safety moment” to assign tasks needed in an emergency, such as calling college security, performing CPR/retrieving the AED machine in a medical emergency, and other steps to lead people to safety.

See Something, Say Something
Most importantly, Central Piedmont relies on its students and employees to be the eyes and ears of the college, so if you see or hear something, please say something. If you have a concern of an immediate threat, please call Central Piedmont College Security Services at 704.330.6911.

Contact College Security Services:

  • Emergency: 704.330.6911
  • Non-Emergency: 704.330.6632

Watch Out for Vehicles and Pedestrians
For your safety, when crossing streets, please use designated crosswalks, and use crosswalk buttons to activate available flashing lights. When driving around our campuses, watch out for pedestrians and people riding bikes and scooters. Also, be sure to use the college’s parking lots and parking decks for student drop-offs and pick-ups. Please do not park on or block city streets.

Research and technology help available at the library

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Student gets help at the circulation desk in the library.The Central Piedmont library is here to help with all kinds of support so you can be successful in your classes.

The library can help with research assistance, citations, and digital technology assistance, including Brightspace help. You can also email questions.

Congrats to the newest Opportunity Scholars

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Group photo of Opportunity Scholars on stage.

Congratulations to the newest class of Opportunity Scholars. This group of students is awarded a full scholarship– tuition, fees, and books– for two years of study at Central Piedmont, as well as a chromebook.

Students who are selected for the Opportunity Scholarship first attend the Summer Bridge program. Recipients of this full scholarship participate in service projects and other activities as a group, and also receive one-on-one support from an academic coach.

Summer 2023 Dean’s and President’s Lists

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Congratulations to all the students who made the latest President’s and Dean’s lists.

These students made the lists based on their grades from summer 2023 classes, and took at least 12 credit hours of college-level classes with no Incomplete (“I”) or Withdraw (“W”) grades. They are placed on either the DSummer 2023 President's List and Dena's List Available nowean’s list or President’s list based on their grade point average (GPA) for the semester.

Summer 2023 Dean’s List students have achieved a minimum of a 3.5 GPA for the semester.

Summer 2023 President’s List students have achieved a 4.0 GPA for the semester.

Use your financial aid money at the Campus Store

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Checking out at the Levine Campus BookstoreDid you know that you can use your financial aid to buy supplies, books & access codes, and even bus passes at the Central Piedmont Campus Store? Check out the online store for even more shopping options. Orders over $50 ship free!

Dates to use available funds (prior to release for your refund):

  • August 7-31
  • September 15-29
  • October 2-31
  • November 16-30

Not all financial aid is available at the bookstore, read more about financial aid policies.

Campus Stores are located at Cato, Central and Levine Campuses. Smart Lockers are available at Harper, Harris and Merancas Campuses for delivery after online purchases.

Find your Friends with a Student Group

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Two friends laughing together in Parr Center.

College is better with friends! Join a student group to find people who share your interests or program of study.

More than 50 student groups are available, in categories of arts, culture, leadership, mentoring, special interest, academic programs and honor societies.

From music to student government and beyond, you can find your interests and a group to join. Explore the options for joining a student group on our website.

Join the fun at Welcome Fest!

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People dance at Welcome Fest.Meet friends and catch the campus vibe at Welcome Fest–coming to a campus near you!

There will be giveaways, a DJ, yard games, and hand-crafted popsicles from King of Pops.

Representatives from various Student Affairs departments will be available for you to learn about all the different student resources we offer. Come and kick off the school year with your Student Engagement team!

All Welcome Fests will be held 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Campus Dates:

  • Merancas Campus – Aug. 21
  • Levine Campus – Aug. 24
  • Central Campus – Aug. 29
  • Cato Campus – Aug. 30
  • Harper Campus – Sept. 6
  • Harris Campus – Sept. 7

Hungry on Campus?

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Students order from the campus coffee shop

Stay hydrated, caffeinated, and fueled for a successful semester.

Catalyst Coffee Bar is open at Cato, Central and Levine Campuses, from 7:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. They offer a selection of beverages and grab-and-go food items.

Beach & Borough Sandwich Shop is open at Central and Levine Campuses 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.

For all locations, you can save time if you order ahead and pay through your account with the Connect & Pay app. Our food service is cashless, so vouchers are also available at the Cashiering Business office in $5 and $10 increments if you only have cash.

The Harris, Harper and Merancas Campus Catalyst Coffee Bar locations will be opening later in fall 2023. All Central Piedmont Campuses also have microwaves and vending options.

Visit our website for menus, locations, hours and app information.

 

Get help at Information Tables

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Employee helps student at an information table.Pop-up information tables will be set up at all six campuses during the first few days of fall classes. Look for employees wearing “Ask Me” buttons if you need help finding your classes or getting general questions answered.
Information Tables will be available on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 14-15, from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 5-6 p.m.
  • Cato Campus: Cato I Welcome Center, and Cato III lobby
  • Central Campus: Parr Welcome Center, outside of parking deck 3, Zeiss lobby
  • Harper Campus: Harper IV Welcome Center, Harper I security entrance, and Harper I middle college entrance
  • Harris Campus: Harris I Welcome Center
  • Levine Campus: Levine I Welcome Center and between Levine II and III
  • Merancas Campus: Claytor Welcome Center, Merancas IV lobby, and the Transportation Systems building Second Floor entrance

Navigators are at Welcome Centers year-round, and are available to help.

Plan Your Way to Campus

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Lynx line at Central Campus.The fall 2023 term begins Aug. 14 at Central Piedmont! Make sure you know your class schedule and plan your way to campus:

Plan how you will get to campus:

Learn your schedule & campus locations:

If you need to get in touch with a Navigator for more specific help, please email: navigate@cpcc.edu (en Español: ayuda@cpcc.edu) or call 704.330.2722.

Borrow a Chromebook from the Library

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Student types on a chromebook.Set yourself up for success! Central Piedmont’s Library has chromebooks you can borrow, for a few hours, or a semester. Limited quantities are available at each campus.
Graphing calculators may also available for check-out, for up to four hours.

You will be able to borrow equipment based on availability of items, and your previous equipment check-out status. Please bring your student ID card.

Student Wins Scholarship for Nursing Exam

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Mariam Idris smiles while speaking at a podium.

Mariam Idris, a nursing student and active Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) member at Central Piedmont Community College, has been announced as a recipient of the prestigious Hurst Review NCLEX® Scholarship.

Mariam is among the twelve exceptional students from across the nation who have been honored with this scholarship through Phi Theta Kappa international honor society.

The Hurst Review NCLEX® Scholarship, generously funded by Hurst Review Services, a prominent exam preparation company, is designed to support nursing majors affiliated with Phi Theta Kappa preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®). As part of this scholarship, Mariam will receive comprehensive NCLEX® study materials and a cash award that covers the expenses associated with the NCLEX® exam fees.

Congratulations to Mariam!