Category Archives: Alert

šŸšØ Fire Drills Scheduled: Get Ready to Practice Safety at Central Piedmont! šŸšØ

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picture behind Weiss building showing open sidewalkTo ensure fire safety and stay compliant with fire codes, Central Piedmont’s Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) team will be running fire drills on various campuses. Hereā€™s what you need to know to stay prepared! šŸ‘‡

šŸ“… Schedule of Fire Drills

  • Fri., Nov. 15
    • Cato Campus
    • Harper Campus
    • Levine Campus
  • Mon., Nov. 18
    • WTVI
  • Thur., Nov. 21
    • Merancas Campus

šŸ”” What to Expect

  • Alarms & Lights: Fire alarms will sound, and strobe lights will flash.
  • Evacuation Commands: Both building captains and Central Piedmont security will provide voice commands to evacuate.
  • Rally Points: Head to the nearest rally point sign once youā€™re outside the building.

šŸ•’ Key Details

  • Duration: Each drill should last around 10-15 minutes.
  • Cooperation Needed: Your full participation is crucialā€”help keep our campus safe!

ā— Questions?

If you have questions or need further information, reach out to the EHS team. Thanks for helping keep our community safe, even if it means a brief interruption to your day!

Important Notice: Registration and Payment System Closure šŸ”’

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Group of students sitting on the stairs inside the Parr CenterHeads up! Due to year-end processing, our registration and payment systems will be down from Wed., June 26 at 6 p.m. until Mon., July 1 at 7 a.m.

What You Can Still Do to Prepare for the Fall Semester During the Outage:

Please Note:Ā The college can still process transcripts and take in-person cash and check payments during the planned outage, just no credit cards.

Fall registration is now open, and you can register online before or after the temporary closure.

Need help? Call 704-330-2722 or email navigate@cpcc.edu. šŸ¤

Advisory: MyCollege Scheduled Maintenance šŸ› ļø

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Central Piedmont’s Information Technology Services (ITS) will conduct scheduledStudent on a computer in the libraryĀ maintenance on the MyCollege system starting Fri., June 21, at 12:00 p.m. This maintenance will continue until Mon., June 24, at 8:00 a.m. During this period, MyCollege will be unavailable.

Please make sure to complete any necessary tasks in MyCollege before the maintenance begins. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Transition to Microsoft 365 Complete! šŸŽ‰

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ITS Service Desk helping a studentWe’re thrilled to announce that 100% of student mailboxes and Drive data have successfully migrated from Google Suite to Microsoft 365!

  • šŸ“§ New Email: All student mailboxes are now on Outlook.
  • šŸ“‚ Drive Data: Your Google Drive data is fully accessible in your new Microsoft 365 account. If you’re new to navigating M365, check out these Microsoft 365 Tools and Applications.
  • šŸŒ Resources: We have answered lots of your frequently asked questions andĀ put the most requested knowledgebase articles in one place.
  • šŸŒŸ Learn More: Enhance your Microsoft skills on LinkedIn Learning

šŸ’» Support: Need help? Contact the Service Desk for technical assistance.

  • Please note that due to record-high call volume, the ITS Service Desk call queue has become saturated. Callers fill up the queue with callback requests each day, then create new callback requests before their place in line has come. The Service Desk starts the day with an unsustainable number of callback requests in the queue.
  • To prevent the queue from growing each day, ITS is going to implement the following temporary changes to the call queue starting May 21:
    • Stop accepting calls at 4 p.m. each day.
    • Purge a call waiting in the queue after four hours.
  • It is understood these changes may prevent somebody from getting through to the service desk by phone. The current recommendation is to browse the Service Desk client portal and review the knowledge base to find an answer to your question. If you cannot find the answer, then review our service catalog to start a ticket. Getting a ticket started will speed up the process of getting service fromĀ ITS.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation throughout this transition!

Have YOU Taken Advantage of the Next NC Scholarship? šŸŽ“āœØ

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The Next NC Scholarship offers a fantastic opportunity for North Carolina residents toNext NC logoĀ pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college. And this moneyĀ does not have to be paid back. Here’s what you need to know:

Who is eligible?

  • North Carolina residents eligible for in-state tuition
  • High school graduates or equivalency completers
  • Households with an annual Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less
  • Students enrolled in an eligible undergraduate program for the 2024-2025 academic year
  • Individuals taking at least 6 credit hours per semester
  • Students who have completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA with a resulting Student Aid Index (SAI) at or below 7,500

What does it cover?

  • Community Colleges: At least $3,000, which often covers full tuition and fees
    • Funds can also be used for things like books, food, housing, and other educational expenses.

How to apply?

  • Complete the FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is essential. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive the scholarship; there are no additionalĀ forms to fill out.
    • Ensure it’s submitted by August 15, 2024, for priority consideration. Funds are disbursed until they are exhausted.

Why apply? The Next NC Scholarship simplifies the financial aid process by combining state and federal resources, making college more accessible and affordable for many North Carolinians. This initiative is part of North Carolina’s commitment to investing in education and supporting its residents in achieving their academic goals.

For more details, visit the Next NC Scholarship website and start your application today!

šŸ“… Big Changes Coming: Central Piedmont Switches to Microsoft 365! šŸ“…

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As you know, our campus will be moving from Google Suite to Microsoft 365 (M365) on May 13. This means big changes in how you’ll access your emails and store your files, and here are some of the things you need to know:

Student on a Mac Book in front of a yellow wall in Parr Center library

What’s Changing?

  • šŸ“§ Email: Say goodbye to Gmail. All email services will now be handled through Outlook, accessible through the Office homepage.
  • šŸ“ File Storage: Google Drive is out, and OneDrive is in. You’ll store all your files on Microsoft’s cloud service.

Important Dates

  • Migration Starts: At about 5 p.m. on Fri., May 10
  • Migration Ends: By Sun., May 12
  • šŸ“ Note: During this period, expect that both Google and M365 services will be unavailable.

Tasks to Complete by May 10

  • šŸ“ø Save Your Photos: Make sure to download and save any photos you want to keep using these steps.

Dos and Don’ts

  • āœ… Do read all emails about the migration to keep yourself updated.
  • āœ… Do visit the Migration to Microsoft 365 website for FAQs, a detailed timeline, and a comparison guide.
  • āœ… Do explore the new services and features available on M365.
  • āŒ Donā€™t use M365 services or tools over the migration weekend (May 10-12).

After the Migration

  • šŸŒŸ Access to New Services: Starting May 13, dive into all the services, features, and applications M365 has to offer at Central Piedmont.
  • šŸ“‘ Read-Only Google Files: Your Google files will still be available in a read-only format until September 15, so you can view but not edit them.

Need Assistance?

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we transition to a more integrated and feature-rich environment with Microsoft 365.Ā Thank you for staying informed and prepared as we make this exciting transition! šŸš€

Advisory: Tornado Drills on Central Campus March 21 – 25

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picture behind Weiss building showing open sidewalkDuring the week of March 21 – March 25, the Emergency Management team, in collaboration with Central Piedmont Security, will be conducting tornado drills on the Central Campus. The drill should last 15 minutes depending on the size of the building. Please note that there will not be an audible alarm to signal the drill and we will not use our Critical Alert system. In the event of an actual tornado, the Critical Alert system will be used.

We will follow the emergency procedures for Shelter in Place for Severe Weather. Please review the emergency evacuation maps posted in your area and identify the nearest Shelter in Place location. If you are not near a designated Shelter in Place location, seek shelter inside on a lower level that does not have windows or glass (ex. restrooms, stairwells, interior hallways, or interior classrooms).Ā 

Please review the following Shelter in Place procedures for Severe Weather:

  • All students, staff, faculty, and visitors should move into, or stay inside, the closest permanent building.
  • Move to the lowest level of the building.Ā 
  • Move to the interior most area of the building (interior hallways and rooms).
  • Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands.
  • Stay away from exterior walls, windows, skylights, and other areas containing glass.
  • Stay out of areas with a vast room expansion (auditoriums, gymnasiums).
  • Remain in place until you receive the ALL CLEAR notification from Central Piedmont Security, or emergency response personnel, indicating that it is safe to return to normal operations.Ā Ā 

Thank you in advance for your attention to these important emergency procedures and your participation in this drill. Our goal is to enhance the preparedness of all students, staff, faculty, and visitors in the event of an actual emergency. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Emergency Management team if you have any questions.

Please review the scheduled drill times by location:

Ā 

Monday

Belk, 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Health Careers Building, noon-12:15 p.m.

Levine Health Sciences, 12:15-12:30 p.m.Ā Ā 

Tuesday

Library, 11-11:15 a.m.

Giles, 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Citizens, noon-12:15 p.m.

Wednesday

Overcash, 10-10:15 a.m.

Worrell, 10:30-10:45Ā a.m.

Sloan-Morgan, 11-11:15 a.m.

Thursday

Culinary Arts Building, 8:45-9 a.m.

Central High, 9:15-9:30 a.m.

Zeiss, 3:15-3:30 p.m.

NCB, 3:45-4 p.m.

Friday

Center for Arts Technology, 11-11:15 a.m.

Levine IT, 11:15-11:30 a.m.

Parking Deck Closures on Central Campus

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Parking at Central PiedmontParking Lot 6 on Central Campus will be closed for special event parking on the following dates in November:

Thursday, Nov. 11Ā – 7 a.m.-noon
Monday, Nov. 15Ā – 7 a.m.-noon
Tuesday, Nov. 16Ā – 7 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, Nov. 17Ā – 7 a.m.-noon

Students can also park in Parking Deck 1 (corner of Charlottetowne Ave. and 7th Street) or Parking Deck 4 behind Overcash on these dates.

Advisory: All Classes Moving Online Through February 2

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orange graphic COVID 19In accordance with the Mecklenburg County Public Health directive issued earlier today (Jan. 12), all Central Piedmont classes will be delivered online through February 2. Instructors will contact students directly with any special instructions.

All meetings involving Central Piedmont employees should be held virtually through Feb. 2.

Please check your Central Piedmont email frequently over the next several days for updates.

The college encourages everyone to stay safe and vigilant as COVID-19 cases are spiking in Mecklenburg County.

Advisory: Statewide curfew to take effect Dec. 11

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orange graphic COVID 19N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has issued a curfew for North Carolinians and businesses, effective Friday, Dec. 11.

The ā€œmodified stay-at-home orderā€ will require people to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and most retail and entertainment businesses to close by 10 p.m.Ā All on-site alcohol sales are required to end by 9 p.m., Cooper said.

Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of a family member is exempted from the curfew.

The governor said the move is to limit gatherings and to slow the spread of coronavirus. ā€œWe will do more if our trends do not improve,ā€ Cooper said.

The modified stay-at-home order will remain in place until at least Jan. 8.

According to the Governorā€™s executive order, between Nov. 21 and Dec. 4, more than three-fourths of North Carolina counties were experiencing ā€œsubstantialā€ or ā€œcriticalā€ spread COVID-19 community spread, based on the new County Alert System developed by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The college encourages all community members to stay vigilant in maintaining all of our safety practices. Please keep wearing a facemask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently, and monitoring yourself for any possible COVID-19 symptoms. Should you develop any symptoms or feel ill at all, please stay home and consult a physician.

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-homeĀ  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 ā€“ and the vast majority of employees working ā€“ 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,Ā 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 ā€“ in-person, online or a combination of the two ā€“ will depend on the future severity of the pandemic. OurĀ 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.Ā The college has establishedĀ theĀ CentralĀ PiedmontĀ CaresĀ initiative to connect withĀ youĀ and to connect you with helpful resources, as we all continue to navigate this rapidly changing situation. Visit theĀ Central Piedmont CaresĀ website for information regarding available resources.

Advisory: Mecklenburg Co. Issues Stay-At-Home Order (effective 3/26 at 8 a.m.)

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Please be aware that Mecklenburg CountyĀ issued a stay-at-home orderĀ this afternoon. It goes into effect this Thursday (March 26) at 8 a.m., and lasts through April 16. You can read theĀ full statement onĀ theĀ Mecklenburg County Government websiteĀ for moreĀ details.

According to the “Essential Businesses & Operations” section ofĀ the county’s proclamation,Ā educational institutionsĀ may remain openĀ “forĀ purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research related toĀ COVID-19, or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible,” so our most essential workers can continue to come to campuses as needed.

Students and all other employees should follow the county order, stay at home, andĀ not come to campus. However, our teams are still here to support you: WeĀ continue to provideĀ as many services as possible remotely, via phone and email. See the college website for a complete directory of departments, or call our Information Center during business hours atĀ 704.330.2722. Please reach out to us if we can help in any way.

Latest Update from the College About Coronavirus

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The coronavirus brings a worldwide concern to our community, and we understand it can be very scary and confusing. Central Piedmont continues to remain in contact with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, for updates and direction.

The governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, declared a state of emergency Tuesday (3/10/20), as leaders and public health officials continue to deal with the coronavirus. As of this writing, the Charlotte Observer reports North Carolina now has seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, health officials said. All of the patients are in isolation while officials identify close contacts.ā€

Now that cases have been confirmed in North and South Carolina, it’s time to put aside panic and focus on preparation. We can all stop stigma and the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 byĀ knowing the factsĀ and sharing them with others.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) providedĀ resources on mental health and coping during COVID-19 and also issued information aboutĀ helping end coronavirus-related stigma and discriminationĀ that is occurring toward groups of people including:

  • Persons of Asian descent
  • People who have traveled abroad or to states with coronavirus outbreaks
  • Emergency responders or healthcare professionals

In the meantime, the collegeā€™s contracted company for cleaning and janitorial services is taking extra care to clean and disinfect the usual virus and germ ā€œtransmission points,ā€ such as doorknobs, light switches, water fountains, phones, countertops, etc.

To reduce your chances of contracting any kind of illness, the CDC recommends the following.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick (social distancing).
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

We pledge to give you as much updated information as we can. This is an update to let you know we are thinking of every option to keep you safe and healthy. Visit theĀ college’sĀ Emergency Management website for updates from Central Piedmont.

Construction on Central Campus to Impact Charlottetowne Ave.

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Construction of the Charlottetowne at 5th Classroom Building, on Central Campus will require the closure of one lane of Charlottetowne Avenue from Elizabeth Avenue to 5th Street. Closure of the right lane, the lane closest to the building site, will begin Feb. 24, and last about six weeks.

The sidewalk along Charlottetowne will be shifted into the closed lane and separated from traffic by protective barriers. Traffic delays during peak times are expected. Please plan accordingly. Thank you for your patience.

Safe College – Active shooter preparedness

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We hope youā€™re off to a great start with the new semester! We want you to know campus safety is the top priority of Central Piedmontā€™s College Security Services team and Emergency Management staff.

Thank you for taking part in Wednesdayā€™s classroom phone paging system test. We will periodically test our emergency communication channels as part of our preparations for potential emergency situations.

We take this opportunity to remind you of the information available on the collegeā€™s website about What To Do In An Emergency, for situations including an active shooter, severe weather, fire, and more. The college has a short, safety video we want you to watch now about what to do in those kinds of emergencies.

If thereā€™s an active shooter on or near a Central Piedmont campus, would you know what to do? Itā€™s incredibly important for employees and students to be prepared.Ā PleaseĀ also take a moment today toĀ watch this powerful video to learn more about the “Run. Hide. Fight.” conceptĀ to help you know what to do if an active shooter is on campusĀ or in a building where you are located.Ā If a campus goes on lockdown, you should immediately find a way to secure yourself, whether that means run, hide, or fight. Hereā€™s more information:

RUN:

  • If you are outside or feel that it is safe to do so, exit the area and move away from danger to take protective cover.

HIDE:

  • If you are in a building and/or unsure of the location of the shooter, find the nearest classroom or safe area to securely hide.
  • Close and lock the door, close the blinds, find a spot in the room to hide away from the windows and doors, and remain quiet and calm.
  • If the door does not lock, use items from the room to attempt to barricade the door or hide behind.
  • DO NOT answer the door for anyone except first responders.

FIGHT:

  • This is a last resort. If you come into direct contact with the shooter, use the means at your disposal to fight and attempt to stop the individual.

The college relies on its students and employees to be the eyes and ears of the college, so if you see something, say something. PleaseĀ program the Central Piedmont College Security Services phone number, 704.330.6911, into your mobile phoneĀ and call if thereā€™s ever a concern of an immediate threat. If you know of behavior that is concerning or disruptive to the college community, please learn more aboutĀ counseling service referrals or how to submit a report to the Care Team, which is a cross-unit group whose members consist of college staff from Student Services, College Security Services, Counseling, Human Resources, and Academic Affairs. Here are multiple ways to contact College Security if you have additional concerns:Ā 

Contact College Security Services:

  • EmergencyĀ 704.330.6911
  • Non-EmergencyĀ 704.330.6632
  • Text-2-TipĀ Text to 67283: Start your message with “CPCCTIP”Ā and provide your security concern/tip

Spring semester test of the classroom phone paging system

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The college-wide phone system in classrooms has the capability to turn each phone handset into a paging speaker. In an urgent situation, the college can page classrooms phones at once, by campus. Please be aware that we will test this phone paging system and the college website on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 10:30 a.m.

This is also a great time to take a moment to confirm or update your mobile phone number and other contact information in our Critical Alert emergency text/phone/email system. Itā€™s important to keep your contact info updated, because this is how the college will contact you if classes are cancelled or impacted due to inclement weather or if thereā€™s an emergency situation.

  • Use your Central Piedmont login and password at cpcc.regroup.com.
  • To add text/call information, scroll down to the ā€œPHONE NUMBERSā€ section and look for the ā€œ+ Add New Phone Numberā€ option below any existing phone numbers.
  • To delete an incorrect phone number, select the trash can icon to the right of it.

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