Category Archives: Uncategorized

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  during the last two weeks of August.  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. 

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. The QEP Topic Selection Team invites you to consider developing a proposal within the career readiness framework. 

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, visit 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 enter a post-secondary institution at any age:

  • The right to inspect and review your education records. 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 you 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. 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. 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 Governor’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 – students, faculty and staff – 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 “Dan” Bailey, president and CEO of Steele’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 ‘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 Hygienists’ Association, board member of the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, and past president of the North Carolina Dental Hygienists’ 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 “Dan” Bailey ‘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 Steele’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. He’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 college’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, visit 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 Piedmont’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, Charlotte’s workforce lacks the postsecondary education necessary to assure the quality of its lead and assistant Pre-K teachers in the classroom.

The college’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. 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 Association’s 2021 Forum, being held virtually on May 20. Pursar will participate in the “Investigating Methods to Increase Efficiency & Packaging Quality,” 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 – like Pursar – will present their research on a variety of topics, including post-print corrugated distortion calculations and Digimarc technology to facilitate brands’ recycling initiatives.

Pursar plans to present “The Best Variables for an Opaque White Print.” 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 — funds will be paid to the vendor directly to cover your expense. If eligible, you can receive the grant a maximum of two semesters.

 Application Steps:

To apply for the Finish Line Grant, log in to MyCollege, select “Student Services,” then “Online Forms.”

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 (CARES Act) funds through their my college account. The grant is for students with expenses that can be related to COVID (ex: loss of income, can’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:

*   Go to your My College account
*   Click on Student Services
*   Click on Online Forms
*   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 out this short video ​to learn quick tips like these:

  • Put together a nice holiday/New Year’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 the 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?

Don’t Miss Out on Money For Classes – 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  fill out a new FAFSA every year?

Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, as funding can be limited – so you definitely don’t want to wait.  If you do not fill out the FAFSA, you risk losing out on money that you might be eligible for.

The FAFSA for 2021–2022 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!

Positive Community for Women Presents: Virtual Zoom Party

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VIRTUAL ZUMBA PARTY! Join the Positive Community for Women on Wednesday, September 23 at 2:00pm via Zoom for fitness and fun with your fellow classmates. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and come ready to sweat! Please register to let us know you’re coming or join us on the day! We can’t wait to see you there.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/91056983750?pwd=QnlJS21PUi9wTVBGZ0l5cytyUlFKUT09

Meeting ID: 910 5698 3750

Passcode: PCW

Access Student Support Services Online

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Central Piedmont is devoted to helping you have the best learning experience possible. All academic and student support services are available online. Limited staff are available on campus to provide general information during the following times:

  • Monday, Thursday, Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
  • Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 am – 7 pm (evening hours are subject to change)

Learn more about Central Piedmont’s student support services at www.cpcc.edu/current-students. The service you need is available online, please don’t hesitate to call or email to let us know how we can help. 

If you experience issues, please know that we are here to support you. Complete the Central Piedmont Cares student form, and a Central Piedmont staff member will reply to you within 2-3 business days during standard college hours of operation (Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5 pm).

Please also remember to wear a face covering and complete the weekly Health Acknowledgement Form, which is required while on campus. Visit the return to campus page for details.

Free Shipping for Textbook Returns and Orders

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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.

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.

Rented Textbooks

Rented textbooks can be returned free by 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.

Rentals can be returned at any time, but no later than June 15.

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. 

Questions? Check out textbook rental FAQ’s or contact the bookstore with questions.

National Student Literary Competition – “Once Upon a Time..”

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The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in the community college environment. The annual League for Innovation Student Literary Competition is now open for submissions on the local level.

The submission deadline is Monday, March 23, 2020.

General Eligibility:

  • Contestants must be 2019-20 students enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College.
  • Entries must be original works written during enrollment.

Categories:

  • Poetry (not exceeding 67 lines)
  • Personal Essay (not over 2,500 words), related to this year’s theme: “Once Upon a Time…”
  • Short Fiction (not exceeding 3,500 words)
  • One-act play (not over 3,500 words)

* Email submissions to cpccwrites@gmail.com

Local winners in each category will be published in Central Piedmont’s Student Arts and Literature magazine “The Hammer”, and move on to compete in the will the national competition, where there will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Certificates of merit are awarded to all student work submitted to the national level. The 1st place winner will be published in NATIONAL winners’ anthology.

Please send any questions to Colin.Hickey@cpcc.edu.

Safe College – Active shooter preparedness

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

Thank you for taking part in Wednesday’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 college’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 there’s an active shooter on or near a Central Piedmont campus, would you know what to do? It’s incredibly important for employees and students to be prepared. Please also take a moment today to watch this powerful video to learn more about the “Run. Hide. Fight.” concept to help you know what to do if an active shooter is on campus or in a building where you are located. If a campus goes on lockdown, you should immediately find a way to secure yourself, whether that means run, hide, or fight. Here’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. Please program the Central Piedmont College Security Services phone number, 704.330.6911, into your mobile phone and call if there’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 about 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: 

Contact College Security Services:

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

Central Piedmont Theatre presents ‘Chess the Musical’

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Chess the Musical “Chess the Musical” is coming to the Halton Theater Stage!

Chess is a rock musical with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Richard Nelson based on an idea by Rice. The story involves a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters from America and the USSR and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other.

From Bangkok to Budapest the players, lovers, politicians, and spies manipulate and are manipulated to the pulse of a monumental rock score that includes “One Night in Bangkok” and “Heaven Help My Heart.”

Revered as “one of the best rock scores ever produced”, by TIME Magazine, make sure you check out “this  “angry, difficult, demanding and rewarding show” which is sure to entertain.

Central Piedmont students with a valid Central Piedmont ID will receive FREE admission. Tickets are $5 for all non-Central Piedmont students with a valid student ID.  Visit tix.cpcc.edu or call the SunTrust Box Office at ext. 6534 for more information.

Central Piedmont Galleries Announces New Exhibits

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To kick off the new year, The Central Piedmont Art Galleries are pleased to present two new exhibitions.

Overcash Gallery:

“Structure and Void” by Richard Elaver

“Structure and Void” is an investigation into surface, structure, and systematized randomness. The work re-presents patterns from nature in organic forms and fluid surfaces. Those forms are deconstructed into cellular elements and reconstructed in a variety of materials using generative software and digital fabrication techniques.

Richard ElaverWhen: January 13 – March 12, 2020, Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Artist Lecture: January 30, 3:30 p.m. – Tate Hall
Opening Reception: January 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Overcash Gallery
Where: Overcash Art Gallery, Overcash Center, 1206 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 2820

 

Ross Gallery:

“I Am My Things and My Things Are Me” by Allison Tierney

Allison Tierney’s work relies heavily on painting and a decorative aesthetic to discover personal identity, comment on consumerism, and investigate the divide between craft and art. Through the act of repurposing, Tierney is able to transform unwanted items into colorful and optimistic works of art that give value to the value-less.

Allison Tierney art

  • When: January 13 – March 12, 2020, Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Artist Lecture: February 5, 3:30 p.m. – Tate Hall
  • Opening Reception: February 5, 5:00 p.m. – Ross Gallery
  • Where: Ross Art Gallery, Overcash Center, 1206 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204

 

Both galleries are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

 

Join us for the 16th Annual MLK Challenge

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MLK '20 Challenge

The 16th Annual MLK Challenge will take place on January 20, 2020. This event celebrates the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The day incorporates an educational kick-off, service projects, and a reflection wrap-up. The challenge begins with an introduction to King’s life and lessons, then students are randomly assigned to groups and given a service project at a local organization to complete. Students must work together and utilize problem-solving skills in order to finish their task.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for all participants.

Participants should dress for anything. Students will receive a FREE T-shirt and 8 hours of service but must stay for the entire day.

  • Who: Any Central Piedmont student registered for the Spring 2020 term
  • What: 2020 MLK Challenge
  • When: January 20, 2020 | 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Where: Zeiss 1100
  • Why: Honor the legacy of MLK, serve our community, and meet other Central Piedmont students!

Click HERE to register.

If you have questions or to learn more, please contact Jesse Bennett at jesse.bennett@cpcc.edu, 704.330.6824, or visit the Service-Learning Coordinator on your campus!

Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief Fundraiser

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Help us support the victims in the Bahamas who have been affected by Hurricane Dorian by donating to the GoFundMe page of the Buddy Hield Foundation.

Come out to Worrell Lobby on Monday, November 25 from 2 – 4 p.m., to hear more about how your funds support The Bahamas recovery.

Questions? Contact Kiyoshi Roberts at krober43@email.cpcc.edu or Kelvin Chege at kelvin.chege@cpcc.edu.