Category Archives: Uncategorized

šŸŽ‰šŸŽ“ Congrats Grads! Career Services is here to help you with your next steps

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Two graduates in a sea of graduates, smiling at the camera

Attention, Central Piedmont graduates! Did you know that your journey with Career Services doesn’t end at graduation? As you embark on your career path, you can continue to benefit from the invaluable resources offered by Career Services.

šŸ’¼ Explore Career Opportunities:

šŸ¤ Tap into Resources:

  • Utilize Handshake, a platform connecting you with job opportunities and career counselors. Maintain access to your Handshake account by updating your primary email to your personal email address. Learn more about retaining access using these guidelines.

šŸ’¬ Sharpen Your Interview Skills:

  • Dive into Big Interview to master interview techniques and conquer any existing fears. Create your alumni account using your personal email address and the login code: cpcc63.

šŸ“§ Need Assistance? For any inquiries or further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Career Services at career.services@cpcc.edu or 704-330-6551.

Your journey toward a fulfilling career doesn’t have to be navigated alone. Take advantage of these resources and let Career Services continue to support you in achieving your professional goals! šŸš€

šŸ¾ Pawsitive Finals: Pet Therapy

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Looking to escape the whirlwind of finals? Seek solace and comfort in the company of our furry friends at the upcoming pet therapy session, brought to you by the Health Sciences.

Here’s what you need to know:Students gathered around a dog, petting it

  • šŸ“… Date: Tues., Apr. 30th, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • šŸ“ Location: Central Campus, North Quad
  • šŸŒæ What to Expect:
    • Experience a rejuvenating session designed to calm your mind and lift your spirits.
    • Interact with our adorable therapy pets for a dose of peace and joy amidst the stress of finals.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to unwind and recharge! Mark your calendars and join us for a blissful break from the chaos of finals.Ā 

Central Piedmont Students Participate in Leadership Conference

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A dozen Central Piedmont students participated in the North Carolina Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference from April 11-13 and brought home a handful of awards.Ā 

Ā The students participated in 20 competitive events and eight leadership seminars over the three days. Four students finished in first place in their respective events – Akhilshyam Bollepally, Jose Esquit, Erick Garcia, and Daniel Ramirez.Ā 

Ā Overall, eight students qualified to attend the National Leadership Conference, and one student, Genchen Hang, qualified in three different events. In addition to Hang and the first-place finishers, other students who qualified include Bella Calderon, Sam Faught, and Johnny Smith.Group of students at conference

Ā Joining that group as participants at the state conference were Caleb Carr, Tomo Kaneko, Stephane Monichon, and Lina Rodriguez.Ā 

Ā The National Leadership Conference takesĀ place June 24-27 in Orlando.Ā 

Ā FBLA helps students:Ā 

  • Develop competent business leadership skills.Ā 
  • Strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work.Ā 
  • Create more interest in and understanding of American business enterprise.Ā 
  • Develop character, prepare for useful citizenship, and foster patriotism.Ā 
  • Facilitate the transition from school to work.Ā 

Ā Central Piedmont students in FBLA have the opportunity to meet with local business leaders in areas of finance and business as part of the program, as well as work closely with Career Services. In addition to the competitions, FBLA students also participate in community service projects.Ā 

Audition for Central Piedmont Theatre: “Lost Girl”

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Central Piedmont Theatre announces auditions for its upcoming spring 2023 production of Lost Girl by Kimberly Belfower, directed by Carly McMinn.

AUDITION INFORMATION: All auditionees should prepare a 90-second contemporary monologue. Callbacks will consist of readings of sides from the script.

AUDITION DATE & TIME
March 14 & 16 (Callbacks) from 7- 9 p.m. in Overcash 300 at Central Campus.
March 15, from 4- 6 p.m. in the Georgia Tucker Fine Arts Hall on Central Piedmontā€™s Levine Campus

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES
April 21- 22 and April 27- 29 at 7:30 p.m.
April 23 and 30 at 2:30 p.m.

PLAY SYNOPSIS: Long after returning from Neverland, Wendy decides that she must find Peter in order to reclaim her kiss and move on with her life. Along the way, she meets other girls who went to Neverland and learns she is not alone. A coming-of-age exploration of first love and lasting loss, Lost Girl continues the story of J.M. Barrieā€™s beloved character ā€“ the girl who had to grow up.
ROLES AVAILABLE (6f, 6m)

Review the full details for available roles.

One year, 100 percent employment in Ophthalmic Medical Personnel program

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Smiling student with opthalmic equipment in background

Learn more about the program from Central Piedmont students.

You can become a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant in approximately one year.

Central Piedmont’s ophthalmic medical personnel program can prepare you with the skills and knowledge needed to be a professional in the eye care industry.

100 percent of our 2021-2022 graduates from this program at Central Piedmont are employed! Learn more about the ophthalmic program, in this video featuring Central Piedmont students.

Attend Brightspace Orientations for success with online classes

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Nervous about taking your first online course in Brightspace, Central Piedmontā€™s course Learning Management System? We can help! Our one hour, virtual instructional sessions will give you hands-on experience with Brightspace.

White B inside orange circle: logo for Brightspace by D2LThese sessions will demonstrate how to:

  • navigate Brightspace
  • turn on notifications
  • download the Brightspace Pulse app
  • take quizzes
  • upload assignments
  • post discussions
  • complete an Enrollment Verification ActivityĀ 

These sessions are open to all students. We think you should strongly consider signing up for this additional help if you:Ā 

  • are new to Central Piedmont
  • are an English as a Foreign Language student
  • do not feel comfortable with technology

We also encourage you to use the Brightspace Resource Guide for extra help if needed. Our goal is to make sure you are comfortable with the tools you need to be successful in class. We canā€™t wait to see you there!

View the Brightspace practice sessions schedule and register today.

Student Success Story: Ashley Coates

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Ashley CoatesAshley Coates, a dental assisting student at Central Piedmont, associates herself with Superwoman; and we would have to agree.

The first-generation college student consistently tackles more than 15 credit hours each semester, holds a part-time job, and helps co-parent her future stepdaughter. Most would crumble under the pressure of having so many responsibilities to manage, instead Ashley has thrived. She contributes her success to the learning environment Central Piedmont provides.

ā€œCentral Piedmont hires the right people. My instructors have been amazing at teaching me everything I have learned,ā€ explains Ashley. ā€œThey are not only knowledgeable in what they teach, but they also make me feel like Iā€™m important, which means so much to me.ā€

With the help of these same instructors and her two scholarships ā€“ the First Gaston Foundation Scholarship and the Merancas Technical Careers Scholarship ā€“ Ashley is successfully navigating the collegeā€™s rigorous dental assisting program and moving closer and closer to fulfilling her dream of one day working in the dental hygiene field.

ā€œUpon graduating in May 2022, I would love to work as a dental assistant and gain the experience needed to attend a dental hygiene program in the future,ā€ says Ashley. ā€œWhile I know I would enjoy working in an office setting, I think I would feel most fulfilled returning to the classroom, not as a student, but rather as an instructor. Being a student in Central Piedmontā€™s program has made me want to do more. I enjoy learning, and I want to teach others what I have learned from being here.ā€

Until then, the Bessemer City resident is enjoying her time at Central Piedmont, getting to know her instructors and making lifelong friends. She adds, ā€œCentral Piedmontā€™s dental assisting program has allowed me to be myself and given my personality an opportunity to shine through. I believe I can make anyone smile!ā€

Spoken like a true, aspiring dental assistant. Wouldnā€™t you agree?

Veteran Women’s Health Services Workshop on May 11

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Join Military Families and Veterans Services Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 9 a.m. ā€“ 1 p.m. at Cato Campus, Cato II Auditorium, Room 20 (ground level) at Central Piedmont Community College.

If you are a woman who has served in the military and are not enrolled in VA health care, this program is for you. If you have TRICARE and/or private insurance, you could still be eligible for VA services.

This Women Veterans Health Reengagement Training (heaRT) session will walk you through:

  • womenā€™s health services
  • whole health and mental health services
  • how to determine VA care eligibility and enroll in VA

Learn more about the event and register today!

Save Time With Winter Sessions

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teaching instructing in front of whiteboard while students are sitting in class using laptopsCentral Piedmont Community College wants to help you finish faster. If you add just one more course this semester, youā€™ll more quickly reach your goals. We also have the financial resources to help you stay on track with your educational goals – debt-free. Get a head start on next semesterā€™s course load by taking an accelerated class this winter to earn credits towards your degree.

Did you know that most classes this winter are Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) courses? This means the classes have been universally approved to transfer to most four-year universities in North Carolina.

Winter Session: Monday, December 6, 2021ā€“Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Learn more about winter sessions and how to register today.

If youā€™re having trouble with registration, call 704.330.6100, or email fye@cpcc.edu.

We look forward to seeing you back here soon!

Advisory: Submit a QEP Research Proposal – Earn a $500 Stipend

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students sitting in classThe Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) team appreciates your participation in ranking the proposed themes for the Quality Enhancement Plan Ā during the last two weeks of August.Ā  After reviewing the survey results, we found that students, employees, alumni and community partners all ranked career readiness as the top theme. Career Readiness will serve as the overarching framework for our QEP.Ā 

This framework is still too broad for the QEP, so our next step is to further narrow down the theme. In researching other Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges schools, we noted several schools follow-up their survey by offering a call for research proposals. The proposals offer an opportunity to assess the practicality, viability, and best practices of a topic before committing to that topic.Ā The QEP Topic Selection Team invites you to consider developing a proposal within the career readiness framework.Ā 

The Call for Proposals can be found here. We encourage you to partner with colleagues across the college and/or students in crafting your research proposals. The QEP Topic Selection Team will review the submitted abstracts and select up to five abstracts to be developed into a full research proposal. The writers of the chosen abstracts will have the opportunity to earn a $500 stipend (one stipend per approved abstract; partners will have to share the stipend) to further develop their abstract into a research proposal.

The deadline to submit the first three-page abstract paper is Oct. 15. Thank you in advance for participating in this important initiative as the college strives to improve its student success and student learning outcomes at every level.

FERPA: Annual Notification of Student Rights

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ferpa logoCentral Piedmont remains dedicated to protecting your student educational records. Learn more about your rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, (FERPA) by reading the annual notification below. For additional information about FERPA, visitĀ cpcc.edu/ferpa.

Annual Notification of Rights Under FERPA:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords you the following rights with respect to your education records when you turn 18 years old or enterĀ a post-secondary institution at any age:

  • The right to inspect and review your education records.Ā To review records, students and former students may contact Student Records, present valid photo identification, and request in writing to review the record. Central Piedmont will provide access to the record within 45 days.
  • The right to request amendment of education records that you believe are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of your privacy rights under FERPA. You may question information in your educational records that youĀ believe to be incorrect or inaccurate. This request must be in writing and must be submitted to the Dean of Admissions, Registration, Records, and Graduation.

All requests for corrections will be acted upon within 30 work days of receipt of the request. If the dean can verify that such data are, in fact, in error, appropriate corrections will be made. You will be notified in writing when the correction has been completed.

If an error cannot be readily substantiated, the request will be referred to an Ad Hoc Hearing Committee appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs.Ā After you have had the opportunity to present the case to the hearing committee, the committee will render a decision in writing, stating the reasons for its decision.

 

  • The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in your education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.Ā Directory information may be disclosed without your written consent. Central Piedmont Community College has declared the following information to be directory information: your name; your city of residence; dates of attendance; major field of study or program; credentials earned and dates awarded.

One exception which permits disclosure without your consent is disclosure to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the record. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is performing a task that is specified in his or her position description or by a contract agreement, performing a task related to your education, or performing a task related to your discipline.

  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Central Piedmont Community College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA compliance is:

Student Privacy Policy Office

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

 

Face Masks No Longer Required on Campus

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students in group sitting/standing on campus stairs

On Friday, May 14, N.C. Governor Roy Cooper announced the following changes to his previously mandated statewide COVID-19 restrictions. This relaxation of safety measures went into effect immediately on May 14.

  • No statewide face mask requirement in most settings
  • No mandatory indoor or outdoor mass gathering limits
  • No mandatory indoor or outdoor capacity limits
  • No mandatory social distancing requirements

The Governorā€™s new executive order is based on new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

Effective immediately, Central Piedmont Community College will not impose any restrictions beyond those the Governor has specified. Face coverings and social distancing protocols, while still encouraged for unvaccinated people, are no longer required by the college.

Nothing prevents employees and students from continuing to wear face coverings if they so choose. Please keep in mind individuals should not be asked to disclose their vaccination status or why they are wearing a face covering. This is private information and should be respected.

During this transition time, please be understanding as our employees and students make their decisions concerning face masks on campus. Please continue to monitor yourself for any COVID-19-related symptoms, and stay home if you feel ill at all. Please report if you are exposed to, tested for, or diagnosed with COVID-19 by sending an email to wecare@cpcc.edu.

The Governor and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services strongly recommend unvaccinated persons eligible for vaccination in the state be vaccinated as soon as possible. All persons in North Carolina age 12 and older are eligible. Likewise, Central Piedmont encourages all members of the college community ā€“ students, faculty and staff ā€“ to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine by accessing the following resources: StarMed Health, Walgreens, CVS, Novant Health, and Atrium Health.

College Announces 2021 Alumni Award Recipients

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Central Piedmont Community College has named Lynne Tatum Little, RDH, owner of LTL Consulting, the 2021 Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award recipient, and James ā€œDanā€ Bailey, president and CEO of Steeleā€™s Mechanical, the 2021 Young Alumni Award of Excellence recipient. The awards recognize former Central Piedmont students who have benefited significantly from experiences at Central Piedmont and whose efforts have helped the community.

Lynne LittleLynne Tatum Little, RDH ā€˜88 (Associate in Applied Science, Dental Hygiene)
A successful consultant and business owner, Lynne Tatum Little attributes her leadership abilities to her experience at Central Piedmont and the discipline required in her coursework. Lynne owns LTL Consulting and has been active within the dental hygiene profession, serving as commissioner of the American Dental Hygienistsā€™ Association, board member of the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, and past president of the North Carolina Dental Hygienistsā€™ Association. Additionally, she has served on the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation Board since 2016, committing herself to the mission and success of the college as a dedicated volunteer and donor.

James ā€œDanā€ Bailey ā€˜12 (Associate in Arts)Dan Bailey
As a U.S. Army military veteran who served as a construction engineer and paratrooper, Dan Bailey has acquired skills that would last him a lifetime. He considers Central Piedmont his home and the place where he gained invaluable leadership skills not to only lead, but also to follow. Today, Dan serves as president and CEO of Steeleā€™s Mechanical, where he has grown the 49-year old HVAC company from a local business to one of the fastest-growing mechanical contractors in the region. Heā€™s accomplished this all while continuing to serve the community as a tutor, coach, and supporter of organizations throughout the Carolinas.

The Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award is named after the collegeā€™s first president who served in the position for 23 years. The Young Alumni Award of Excellence was introduced in 2019 to recognize graduates who have completed in the last 10 years and who have made significant contributions to the community in their short time away from Central Piedmont. To learn more about the awards and past recipients, visitĀ cpccfoundation.org/awards.

Graduation Help From Career Services

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student sitting in front of computer in business attire

Graduation can be one of the most exciting, yet scary times in your life. Do you need help mapping out a game plan? Career Services is here to help! We want to help polish your resume, interview skills, and job search strategy. Our online job board is available to students and graduates, visit to view both part- and full-time employment opportunities.

If you are still thinking about your career direction and next steps, Career Services can help whether you are a transferring or a returning student preparing for registration. Complete this form to get in touch with us and find out how best we can serve you. Career Services can help you elevate your career.

STRIVE Scholars Program is Building Tomorrow’s Pre-K Educators

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STRIVE Scholars

The Mecklenburg County Pre-K initiative, the Foundation for the Carolinas, the Comprehensive Early Learning Center, and the Central Piedmont Foundation have awarded Central Piedmontā€™s early childhood education program a $4 million grant to create the STRIVE Scholars program.

The program provides full tuition, fees, books, and materials funding to academically qualified students preparing to become educators of young children in Mecklenburg County.

According to research conducted by Mecklenburg County, Charlotteā€™s workforce lacks the postsecondary education necessary to assure the quality of its lead and assistant Pre-K teachers in the classroom.

The collegeā€™s STRIVE Scholars program seeks to address this workforce need by providing students who are pursuing an Associate in Applied Science or certificate in early childhood education with better access to a higher education and need-based support services, including:

  • technology
  • transportation
  • child care

In addition, the program will provide Scholars with comprehensive support services, such as academic advising, mentoring, and more, to ensure their academic success.

The early childhood education program is grateful and excited to be a part of this important initiative to bring universal pre-kindergarten to Mecklenburg County.Ā Learn more about the STRIVE Scholarship.

Attend a STRIVE information session virtually.

Central Piedmont Student to Participate in 2021 Flexographic Forum

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Central Piedmont flexography student Micah Pursar will be one of the presenters during the Flexographic Technical Associationā€™s 2021 Forum, being held virtually on May 20. Pursar will participate in the ā€œInvestigating Methods to Increase Efficiency & Packaging Quality,ā€ session.

During the session, listeners will hear the results of the latest Flexo Quality Consortium projects that focus on opacity measurements, optimizing color gamuts through magenta ink selection, process control with ink temperature, and maximizing plate life.

Additionally, student scholarship recipients ā€“ like Pursar ā€“ will present their research on a variety of topics, including post-print corrugated distortion calculations and Digimarc technology to facilitate brandsā€™ recycling initiatives.

Pursar plans to present ā€œThe Best Variables for an Opaque White Print.ā€ She will discuss how her project sought to find the combination of variables that would help opaque white ink print on both craft and film substrates.

Her research tested a combination of 80 different configurations of variables to see which produced the cleanest print, focusing mainly on film substrate. The objective was to find a way to put data behind each configuration so printers can know what best to use in their run, cutting out material waste and time used in testing.

Congratulations to Micah Pursar on being named a participant! Learn more about the 2021 Forum.

Don’t Miss Out on Available Grant Funds – Apply Today

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female student. with black face mask on sitting at outside tableGrants are a great way to help reduce some of the financial barriers that may be preventing you from pursuing your educational goals. Unlike loans, grants typically don’t require repayment. Take advantage of financial support available to help you this semester.

The Finish Line Grant is designed to assist you in addressing financial situations that would prevent you from continuing or completing your program of study or credential. If you are facing a financial hardship, you may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 to cover eligible expenses per semester. This is not a monetary award ā€” funds will be paid to the vendor directly to cover your expense. If eligible, you can receive the grant a maximum of two semesters.

Ā Application Steps:

To apply for the Finish Line Grant, log in to MyCollege, select ā€œStudent Services,ā€ then ā€œOnline Forms.ā€

Here is the information to apply for our student emergency grants/ student relief grant:

Eligible students are allowed to apply for The Student Relief Grant (CARESĀ Act) funds through their my college account. The grant is for students with expenses that can be related to COVID (ex: loss of income, canā€™t pay bills, need technology for class, tuition, etc.). Students can upload their expenses (take a picture and attach it to the application) and the team will make a determination on how much to award you. This is a direct cash payment to you. Funds through this grant are dispersed to your Bank Mobile account.

To apply:

*Ā  Ā Go to your My College account
*Ā  Ā Click on Student Services
*Ā  Ā Click on Online Forms
*Ā  Ā On the bottom right hand side click on Central Piedmont Student Relief Grant

Learn more about eligibility requirements before you apply.

Get Prepared for the New Year with Career Services

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Despite social distancing, the end of the year is still a great opportunity to build connections that elevate your career. With so many people working and attending school virtually, people are easier to contact online than ever before. Check outĀ thisĀ short videoĀ ā€‹to learn quick tips like these:

  • Put together a nice holiday/New Yearā€™s message to touch base with your network, like former instructors, coworkers, and supervisors
  • Ask your network for names of people you should know
  • Develop your LinkedIn profile (see page 8 in theĀ Career Guide)
  • Reach out to professionals doing what interests you for a virtual informational interview or brief chat about their career journey

Want to know more?

Donā€™t Miss Out on Money For Classes ā€“ FASFA for 2021 -2022 Opens October 1

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To keep you moving forward with your educational goals at Central Piedmont, our Financial Aid office is available remotely to assist you with the completion of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The FAFSA is the primary form used by federal, state, and financial assistance programs to determine your eligibility for grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships. Did you know you must Ā fill out a new FAFSA every year?

Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, as funding can be limited ā€“ so you definitely donā€™t want to wait. Ā If you do not fill out the FAFSA, you risk losing out on money that you might be eligible for.

The FAFSA for 2021ā€“2022 opens Thursday, October 1.

Let a financial aid expert from the Central Piedmont Financial Aid office guide you through the process at a FAFSA Workshop. Learn more today!