Virtual Connections in South Africa – Join us February 18

Trevor Noah book clubThe Global Learning Office is hosting a virtual book discussion on author Trevor Noah’s book – Born a Crime.

In this life-changing book, Noah tells his coming-of-age tale during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa. The discussion (moderated by EDU Africa) will be centered around a variety of “glocal” themes: bridging cultural differences, race and identity, and overcoming adversity. If you need a copy of the book, email nadine.russell@cpcc.edu.

If you don’t get to read the book in time, you are still highly encouraged to engage in the dialogue! Register for the event, held Friday, February 18th from 11 – 12:30 pm.  The event is Friday, Feb 18th from 11-12:30pm.

This virtual program gives you the unique opportunity to engage and connect directly with local South Africans to find out what makes this Rainbow Nation so special. Don’t miss out – save your seat today!

Free STEM Event for Students – Meet Former Rocket Scientist Shayla Rivera

headshot of shayla riversCentral Piedmont will partner with the BFB Foundation to host aerospace engineer Shayla Rivera in Central Piedmont’s Halton Theater on April 9 at 10am.

Rivera is a former rocket scientist with NASA turned salesperson, corporate trainer, and now international keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, TV and HBO comedy special. She is currently the director of the ENGR[x] program and professor of practice with the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Please join us for this free event to learn about Rivera’s journey and vision of how our potential can be realized through education and science! Students, STEM educators, and student groups can reserve free tickets in advance. Don’t wait – register today!

“Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina” Traveling Exhibit Begins February 28

Join Central Piedmont Libraries for, “Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina” Traveling Exhibit between February 28- May 6, 2022.

Created by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission (AAHC), a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resource, this traveling exhibit features impactful stories from oral histories and showcases sites important to, and personal memories about, American travel during the “Jim Crow” era of legal segregation. “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” published between 1936 and 1966, was both a guide and a tool of resistance designed to confront the realities of racial discrimination in the United States and beyond. The book listed more than 300 North Carolina businesses—from restaurants and hotels, to tourist homes, nightclubs and beauty salons—in the three decades that is was published. The exhibit highlights a complex statewide network of business owners and Green Book sites that allowed African American communities to thrive, and that created “oasis spaces” for a variety of African-American travelers.

Library Host Sites:

  • Central Campus Library:  February 28-May 6, 2022
  • Cato Campus: February 28-March 11, 2022
  • Harper: March 14-March 25, 2022
  • Harris: March 28- April 8, 2022
  • Levine: April 11 -April 22
  • Merancas: April 25- May 6, 2022

Eight vibrant panels form the traveling exhibit, showcasing images of business owners, travelers, and historic and present-day images of North Carolina Green Book sites. The words of African-American travelers and descendants of Green Book site owners are featured prominently in the exhibit.

Don’t Miss 2022 Young Professionals Day on March 19

students sitting in classPBS Charlotte and the Young Leaders Council are proud to host the 2022 Young Professionals Day on March 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for local area students. Come and learn important skills such as where to find the job that you want, writing an outstanding resume, and how to stand out from the crowd in an interview.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn valuable job hunting tips and tricks – register for this free event today!

Community Partners Encourage Students to Speak Up

four panelists sitting on stage in front of a projector screenIn celebration of Black History Month, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council at Central Piedmont Community College hosted a virtual panel discussion today featuring prominent leaders from some of its key partner organizations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. The panel was comprised of:

  • Kieth Cockrell, president, Bank of America Charlotte
  • Chiquitha Lloyd, director of diversity and inclusion, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • Dr. Dana McDonald, vice president of talent development, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
  • Fernando Little, vice president and chief diversity officer, Atrium Health

During the event, Central Piedmont employees and students had the opportunity to hear the group discuss their personal stories as they relate to equity, diversity, and inclusion; and most importantly, learn about each individual’s professional experiences with actively advocating for and promoting opportunity, access, and fairness within their organizations and in the community-at-large.

“I’d encourage all of you, no matter how you classify yourself or what you think about this campus, to speak up,” said Cockrell during the event. “We all have a voice and we all need to show a willingness to make things better.”

Be on the lookout for upcoming events and learning opportunities that support your success both personally and professionally. Check the college event calendar often to see what exciting things are happening on campus – both online and in-person.

Listen to a recording of the event here. (Central Piedmont credentials required to access audio file.)

Free Tax Preparation for Eligible Students and Employees

counselor sitting alongside student while looking together at a computer screenFor the 2022 tax season, Single Stop has partnered with the Central Piedmont accounting and finance program to offer free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) on Central Campus. If your household income in 2021 was $72,000 or less, you could qualify to take advantage of this free tax preparation resource.  Students, staff, and faculty (including immediate family members) are eligible to receive free tax preparation.

Until April 18, 2022, tax preparation appointments will take place in-person in Overcash Center, Room 232 on Central Campus. Walk-ins will be accepted based on availability.

Please visit the Single Stop web page for available hours and schedule your appointment today!

Mental Health Matters – for All of Us

You are not alone! Anyone can feel down, but what happens when this stretches into days or weeks? If you notice someone going through a rough time, asking how they’re doing can make a world of difference – even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Unsure how to start that conversation? Or maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed yourself? Central Piedmont’s Counseling Services is available when you want to talk through concerns about a friend or your own mental and emotional well-being. To learn more, complete our Service Request Form, email counseling@cpcc.edu, or phone 704-330-6420.

100 Days Until Graduation

The countdown begins! In just 100 days, Central Piedmont is excited to hold our spring 2022 commencement ceremonies at Bojangles’ Coliseum on Thursday, May 12 to celebrate our graduates. This venue will provide space for faculty, graduates, and their guests to safely gather and celebrate. Graduates will attend either the morning or afternoon ceremony, depending on what that best fits their schedule. Central Piedmont’s graduation ceremonies are scheduled for May 12, 2022, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

In addition, Central Piedmont will host our first fall graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at 10 a.m., at Bojangles’ Coliseum. The addition of a fall ceremony will allow summer and fall graduates to be honored in the same timely way as our spring graduates.

The majority of this year’s graduates completed most of their studies during the pandemic, and we are excited to celebrate all students have overcome! Graduation is always a joyous occasion and Central Piedmont can’t wait to share in the celebration of this important moment in our students’ lives.

MAN UP Program Information Session

Are you interested in being apart of an inclusive, supportive community at Central Piedmont? Are you looking for leadership opportunities, a mentor, or maybe just a group of peers to connect with at the college?
Then come join the Man Up program today! Man Up helps connect students to the resources they need to be successful at Central Piedmont. Learn more about the program at the MAN-UP Information Session on February 7th at 1pm. (Read on for meeting details below.)
Send questions via email william.crandall@cpcc.edu. We can’t wait to see you there!

Want to learn more but can’t join? Complete an interest form today.

Black History Month: “Fates Intertwined” Panel Discussion on February 16

photo of all black students dancing at Queen's Dance in 1963Carver College began as a junior college with a mission to serve as the counterpart of Charlotte College for African-Americans. Opened Sept. 1949 by the Charlotte City School Board, Carver College operated out of a basement of a Second Ward High School and offered courses in liberal arts, business, vocational studies, and an accelerated high school program. In 1957 the General Assembly passed the North Carolina Community College Act. Under this act, the Board of Trustees of the Charlotte Community College System gained control of Carver College which marked the first in a strong of changes.

In 1961, the board changed the name of the institution to Mecklenburg College and by 1962, construction for a new campus was underway. Mecklenburg College combined with the Industrial Education Center to create Central Piedmont Community College in 1963. “Fates Intertwined” follows the creation of Carver College and its metamorphosis into Central Piedmont Community College, and examines the interconnectedness of UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont. Central Piedmont Archivist Erin Allsop will serve as a panelist during the free event on Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 4 – 5:30 p.m.

Register for Fates Intertwined today!   The event will be recorded if you are unable to attend.

Calling all Writers: Submit your Literary Work for Student Arts Magazine

student sitting alone reading a book on Levine CampusCreative expression can help connect people with one another and opens us up to new ideas and ways of thinking. Central Piedmont’s Annual Student Arts & Literature Magazine (The Hammer) is now accepting student writing submissions for the 2022 publication. Submissions are due Sunday, March 27th for Poetry, Short Fiction, and Essay.

Here are the Genre Guidelines:

  • Poetry:  max 64 lines
  • Fiction: 200 – 3,500 words
  • Essay: max 2,500 words (2022 essay theme: “The Chrysalis”)

The best and brightest submissions will be published in the 2022 edition of The Hammer (in print and online). Please share your voice and help us show the community how amazing you are!

Line/word maximums due to spatial limitations, and are guidelines. Send submissions and/or questions to cpccwrites@gmail.com.

Central Piedmont Hosts Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panel with Community Leaders

two students sitting in auditoriumIn celebration of Black History Month, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council at Central Piedmont is hosting a virtual panel with prominent leaders from partner organizations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. Central Piedmont students and employees don’t want to miss this opportunity to hear personal and professional experiences of how some of our top community leaders advocate for opportunity, access, and fairness within their organizations. 

The panelists: 

  • Kieth Cockrell, president, Bank of America Charlotte
  • Chiquitha Lloyd, director of diversity and inclusion, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • Dr. Dana McDonald, vice president of talent development, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
  • Fernando Little, vice president and chief diversity officer, Atrium Health
Students and employees can join the event on February 2, from 1:00 -2:30pm online. (Link will be made live the day of the event. Currently it goes to the Central Piedmont homepage.)

The Paul J. Koehnke Fine Arts Scholarship

CPCC Dance Theatre performers on stageAre you studying music, visual arts, dance, or theatre? The Paul J. Koehnke Fine Arts Scholarship honors Dr. Paul J. Koehnke, former dean at Central Piedmont Community College. This $1,000 scholarship honors Koehnke for his 31 years of service to students, faculty, and staff in higher education administration.

The scholarship is open to any Northwest School of the Arts graduating senior or current Central Piedmont Community College student studying music, visual arts, dance, or theater, and specifically those pursuing an Associate in Fine Arts. Don’t wait — submit your application today!  

The application deadline is March 1, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. For more information or application related questions, please contact Nancy Taylor at 828-438-7105 or nwtaylor@cfburkecounty.org.`

 

Join us for Welcome Week and Student Resource Day

Student Life Group shotSpring is already off to a fast start.  Do you know where to go for support?  Still have questions about your campus? Which clubs and organizations can help you reach your goals?

Join Student Engagement for Welcome Week Events January 31 – February 3! Stop by the closest Student Engagement table to spin a prize wheel to win free t-shirts and other goodies. While you’re there, learn all about exciting campus events and find ways to get involved with clubs and organizations. Here are the table locations:

  • Cato: Cato III Lobby
  • Central: Zeiss Lobby
  • Harris: Harris I Entrance
  • Harper: Harper IV First Floor Lobby
  • Levine: Levine I Atrium
  • Merancas: Merancas IV Room 101

To close out Welcome Week, attend the virtual Student Resource Day on Feb 3rd from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. via Zoom meeting Student Engagement Coordinators will be available to answer questions, connect you with other college departments, and introduce you to student clubs and organizations that peek your interest in breakout groups. Please join us – here’s how:

We can’t wait to meet you! Visit the Student Events Calendar and follow Student Life Instagram @cpccstudentlife to learn more about upcoming student events.

2022 Young Professionals Day on March 19 – Learn to Land the Job You Want

student engaging in an interviewPBS Charlotte and the Young Leaders Council are proud to host the 2022 Young Professionals Day on March 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for local area students. Come and learn important skills such as where to find the job that you want, writing an outstanding resume, and how to stand out from the crowd in an interview.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn valuable job hunting tips and tricks – register for this free event today!

Putting the Work in Workforce Development

Central Piedmont is dedicated to helping students from all backgrounds succeed in reaching their goals, which includes graduating with a strong work ethic, high technical skills, and the knowledge needed to compete in a global economy. Whether its advanced manufacturing, early childhood education, nursing, or technology-intensive operations, such as information technology or life sciences – Central Piedmont brings employers and employees together.  Our career education programs are designed with students in mind.

Check out the first episode of a new student-inspired video series called, “Putting the Work in Workforce Development”.

Important Tax Information for Students

student on laptopDid you know that you can receive your student tax form 1098-T electronically?

Save time and access your form sooner when you consent to receive your form online.  The good news is that it’s easy to consent!  To do so, log into MyCollege and change your consent under “Tax Information.”

If you need assistance or have questions, please reply to cashier@cpcc.edu or call 704-330-6964.

Bring Your “A” Game Program Starts January 20

The Office of Mentoring and Bridge is offering its ‘Bring Your “A” Game’ program to the entire campus! Bring Your “A” Game is a bi-weekly program where students get together to talk about issues going on that affect students. If you are looking for a group of peers to talk with this is the perfect opportunity for you.
We can’t wait to see you there. Contact mentoring.bridge@cpcc.edu with any questions.

Free Hotspots and Chromebooks Available Through the Library

image of Chromebook with central piedmont logo as the screen saver

Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots are available for loan — at no cost —  to help you continue in your classes this spring. If you need technology, we’re here to help you get the equipment and tools you need.

All student hotspots and Chromebooks will be managed by the library. Student hotspots and Chromebooks will be made available at all campus libraries for checkout. View all campus hours and locations. 

Hotspots will be checked out for one semester at a time. Most of the Chromebooks will also be available for one semester at a time. Hotspots and Chromebooks will be available for checkout at your local campus library starting January 10, 2022.

All student hotspots and laptops will be due back to the library on or before the last day of the spring semester (May, 20, 2022).

The number of available equipment is limited and available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please be aware we are not able to take reservations, either online or over the phone. 

For questions, please email Martin House at martin.house@cpcc.edu.