Check out The Bill and Patty Gorelick Gallery Programs

Have you had a chance to visit any of the art galleries at Central Piedmont? Well, you should. The Gorelick Family has generously contributed to the exhibition of visual arts at Central Piedmont for the benefit of students and there is a gallery located on each of the college’s six campuses. There is a wide variety of art being showcased, and here are some of our favorites:

picture of an oil fire by artist Malu Tan

Malu Tan, We Didn’t Start the Fire, Oil on Canvas

Artist Malu Tan uses rich colors and careful technique to convey strong messages with simple scenes. Her inspiring work is on display at the Levine Campus.

picture of an orange glass structure

Elijah Kell, Ice Fields, Kiln-Formed Glass

Another interesting artist is Elijah Kell, a high school junior who specializes in glasswork. Elijah has his own public gallery and studio at only 17 years old?! Imagery plays a key role in his work, and the pieces he creates are truly breathtaking.

Check out the other artists on display; follow us on instagram @cpccarts, and share your experiences with us!

Legal Workshop Series Open to all Students

counselor sitting alongside student while looking together at a computer screenLegal matters can be complicated and confusing. Join the Central Piedmont’s Single Stop office, in partnership with Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy for a semester-long virtual workshop series focused on a variety of legal topics. Get expert insight to help you better understand things like:

  • public benefits
  • tenant’s rights
  • healthcare
  • criminal history expungement
  • veteran’s benefits

Learn more about upcoming workshop dates and topics today.

Central Piedmont’s Cato Campus to host annual Fall Plant Sale

three people standing surrounding a green plantThe Central Piedmont Community College Horticulture Technology program invites you to attend its annual Fall Plant Sale October 1 – 2nd on Cato Campus. An array of vegetables, perennials, shrubs and trees will be available for purchase throughout the two-day event. All proceeds will benefit the Horticulture Technology program at Central Piedmont.

Horticulture students will be on-site to assist attendees with choosing from a variety of items such as:

  • fall vegetables – lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and more
  • assorted trees, shrubs and flowers

If you’re a gardener at heart, you won’t want to miss this event. Mark your calendar today!

Friday, October 1, 9 a.m.–6 pm. – Saturday, October 2, 9 a.m.–Noon

This event is free and open to the public. Masks are required. Personal checks, cash and cards accepted. FREE parking is available at the Cato Campus.  For more information, visit us online or please email kelly.black@cpcc.edu.

2021-2022 Central Piedmont Catalog Now Available to View Online

student on laptopThe catalog is the college’s authentic information source to students. The 2021-2022 College Catalog is available to view online. Users will notice this year’s catalog features a new user-friendly design and a cleaner aesthetic that is closely aligned with the college’s website and brand.

In addition, several enhancements will be made to the document in the coming months to further enhance the user experience, including:

  • The addition of an A-Z filter, providing users with an easier search experience for their courses and programs of study

  • A program/course sequencing tab to help students identify which courses they need to complete to graduate on time.

If you have any questions or ideas on how to improve the College Catalog, please email nichole.patterson@cpcc.edu. Thank you.

Apply for TRIO-SSS Today – Free Tutoring, Success Coaching, and More!

masked female student looking at laptopDon’t miss your opportunity to join an academically focused community for students just like you. TRIO-Student Support Services provides academic services designed to help you graduate from Central Piedmont. The program is currently accepting applications for the fall semester. TRIO- SSS offers students who qualify, free tutoring for Math, Science, and English, Success Coaching, Clifton Strengths Assessments, Dave Ramsey Financial Literacy Workshops, and much more.

Applying is easy.  Please visit the TRIO-SSS webpage for more information, including eligibility requirements, and to complete our short online application.

Your success is our main priority and we look forward to working with you.

Central Piedmont Offers Debt-free College Options

Students on Central Piedmont Community College campusAs of August  20, Central Piedmont Community College has disbursed almost $1.1 million in North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant funding to more than 1,300 students enrolled in fall 2021 classes.

The North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant program was launched by Governor Roy Cooper last May to provide 2021 North Carolina high school graduates, who planned to attend a North Carolina community college, with financial assistance to cover their tuition and fees toward a two-year degree or attaining transfer credit.

As part of the program, full-time eligible students are guaranteed to receive $700 to $2,800 per academic year, for a total of two years. Part-time students may receive a partial award. The Longleaf Commitment Grant ends at the conclusion of the 2023 spring semester.

With this funding in mind, Central Piedmont reminds area residents that:

  • debt-free college is possible thanks to the upwards of $3 million in scholarships and grants it is able to provide, and
  • seats remain available for the fall semester, including classes in its upcoming four- and eight-week sessions. The college’s four-week sessions begin on Sept. 13, Oct. 13, and Nov. 10. Central Piedmont’s second eight-week session starts on Oct. 13.

To learn how to register for fall 2021 classes, visit cpcc.edu/admissions/registration. For more information on the N.C. Longleaf Commitment Grant, visit cpcc.edu/financial-aid/grants/nc-longleaf-commitment. To find information about all of the types of financial assistance available to Central Piedmont students, see cpcc.edu/financial-aid/attend-college-debt-free.

Career Services is Here to Help

student sitting in front of computer in business attireStill deciding on your career or major?  Career services is here to help you take the next step. Here are some helpful resources:

Career Coach

Online “It’s a ‘Major’ Decision” session  

Learn the basics of making a career decision, including how to:

  • Choose your program or future transfer major
  • Get reliable information about where the jobs are in Charlotte (and beyond)
  • Find out what degree is needed for the job you want and how much it pays
  • Starting September 15 , sessions are held Wednesdays at Noon and Thursdays at 4 pm.  Please sign up today!

Career Counseling

As Emma Watson said (remember her from Harry Potter?), “I don’t want other people to decide who I am.  I want to decide that for myself.”

Access Student Support Services Until 7 p.m. on Campus

students being helped behind clear shield on campusCentral Piedmont is devoted to helping you have the best learning experience possible. Generalist student affairs support will be available at Student Success Centers at each campus until 7 p.m. Specialized support services including Financial Aid, Advising and Counseling will also be available for virtual assistance during these hours. Should you have questions or need support with any Student Affairs matter, stop by the Student Success Center, and our staff will connect you with the help you need.

Student Success Centers will be open Monday– Thursday, 8 a.m.– 7 p.m., and 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. Friday, at the following locations:

  • Cato Campus: Cato I Building, atrium
  • Central Campus: Central High Building, second floor
  • Harper Campus: Harper IV Building, Room 200
  • Harris Campus: Harris I Building, first floor lobby (Harris 1-1101) 
  • Levine Campus: Levine I Building, second floor lobby
  • Merancas Campus: Claytor Building, first floor lobby

Please remember, all academic and student support services are available online. 

If you visit us on campus, remember to wear a face covering and complete the weekly health acknowledgement form on Monday of each upcoming week. The Health Acknowledgement form resets every Monday, so please complete the form every Monday morning of each week you’ll be on campus.

Young Professionals Virtual Training Event – Register Today

PBS Charlotte Tune in logoJoin Young Leaders Council for an afternoon of growth and networking virtually on Saturday, September 11 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Register to attend today. Once registered, an email will be sent to you with further instructions on how to join the days events.

Learn how:

  • To build a resume that makes you stand out.
  • To maximize your presence on social media.
  • Where to find applications online.
  • To best answer interview questions.

All Sessions are 20 minutes:

  • Session 1: Resume Writing & Cover Letters
  • Session 2: How to build a professional social media presence
  • Session 3: Applying for jobs & how to find them
  • Session 4: Interviewing: How to prepare for the big day
  • Session 5: What to wear to your virtual or in-person interview

Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation – Join CRJC and Make a Difference!

logo that reads truth, racial healing and transformationAre you interested in racial equity and making a difference in our community? Central Piedmont is now accepting applications for the Central Piedmont Racial Justice Fellows Program for the 2021-2022 academic year. We will be hiring/engaging four Central Piedmont Racial Justice Fellows who will be part of the Charlotte Racial Justice Consortium (CRJC), composed of five universities – Central Piedmont Community College, Johnson C. Smith University, Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte Campus, Queens University of Charlotte, and the University of North Carolina Charlotte.

This is a paid stipend position that requires about 10 hours a week. Hours are flexible but students must be available on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm to meet with the larger consortium and campus cohort.

Students will receive racial equity and racial healing training/education, develop leadership skills to create a more comprehensive narrative on race, and experience and learn how to facilitate racial healing circles.

Don’t wait – submit your application today! (Applications are due by September 13th)

Contact Jesse Bennett, jesse.bennett@cpcc.edu, for more information!

CATS CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar will Open for Service August 30

streetcar safetyThe newly expanded CATS CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar mass transit line will open to passengers Monday, August 30, the Charlotte Area Transit System.

The streetcar line, which last operated streetcars in June of 2019 and has operated buses in the interim, has now been expanded an additional 2.5 miles to run from Charlotte’s Historic West End to the Elizabeth neighborhood.  The streetcar will operate every 20 minutes from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. The service will be fare-free until January 2022.

CATS is urging those who drive, walk, bike, or live near the streetcar alignment to become familiar with the rules of streetcar safety. It’s also important for all motorists who are accessing and visiting Central Campus to remember not to park on the streetcar tracks or on the side of the road, especially along Elizabeth Ave. Cars parked on streetcar tracks or incorrectly parked are subject to a citation and being towed.

Learn more about the project or view the new Gold Line route. For questions or concerns, please call 704.336.RIDE (7433) or visit ridetransit.org.

Advisory: Upcoming Vaccination Clinics open to friends and family

The upcoming student and employee COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Levine, Central, and Cato Campus are now open to friends and family members.

The clinics will be held at the following locations from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.:

During the events at Levine and Central, Atrium healthcare professionals will administer the first dose of the FDA-approved Pfizer, two-dose vaccine to all attendees ages 12 and up. (The vaccine that will be administered at Cato is not yet known.) The Centers for Disease Control and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services encourages everyone 12 and older to get vaccinated. Learn more about the vaccine today.

The vaccine is free of charge, and recipients do not need to be insured. Atrium healthcare professionals will share second dose information – including the date of their second dose and the vaccination location – with recipients after they receive their first dose.

Appointments for the clinics are encouraged to reserve your time. Walk-ins will be accepted.

Directions the day of the clinic:

  • Park in one of the campus’s parking lots. (View our campus maps for parking info.)
  • Enter the front entrance of the building listed above.
  • Check-in at the registration table.
  • Show your Central Piedmont employee/student ID. (Family and friends must be accompanied by a Central Piedmont student or employee to be vaccinated.)
  • Practice the 3W’s: wear a mask (required), wash your hands, and wait/keep at least six-feet apart.

Questions
Email aashima.rodkey@cpcc.edu.

We Have the Resources You Need – Learn More at Student Resource Day

two students with COVID masks being helped at a service deskAre you ready to start the semester off right? If so, make sure to attend the Student Resource Day virtually on Sep 2nd from 2:30 p.m – 4:30 p.m. via Zoom meeting. As part of the Student Resources Week, any current students who participate will be entered to win one of five $25 Amazon Gift Cards. 

Several student support departments will be answering questions and sharing important information to any students that join the Zoom meeting. Each department will have their own breakout rooms within Zoom for students to join. Join us to learn about the fantastic resources available to all current students on Sept 2!

How to Participate

Any student attending the Zoom Meetings will automatically get entered for the sweepstake. Students are encouraged to use their cell phones, laptops and desktops as long as they have an integrated camera to record their responses.   

You must be a Central Piedmont student. (Staff, Faculty, Part-time and Work Study students are not eligible).  Students must record a video sharing something new they learned to enter the sweepstakes. Students can also go directly to FlipGrid to submit video entries if they are not able to attend the ZOOM meeting. 

Upload your videos and comments using Flipgrid:  (Link not active until Sep 2nd) students can go to this link to submit a recorded response to the department listed. Students must sign in using their student credentials to be able to sign in. 

The winners will be contacted by email on Sep 13,  2021.

Questions? Contact John.Gomez@cpcc.edu.

Activities for Students by Students – Join Campus Activities Board Today

CAB Students sitting near Zeiss building on campus

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is excited for a new year of learning and fun. CAB offers a variety of FREE programs and activities by students – for students. We value the importance of peer to peer connection outside of the classroom; so, we have worked diligently to create a blend of in-person and virtual offerings. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for event updates, giveaways, and more! 

If you are interested in becoming a member of CAB, submit your application today. Applications are open to all Central Piedmont students, regardless of campus. Membership is limited, so apply now! The application deadline is September 12, 2021, by 11:59 pm. If you have any questions, contact Carrie.Street@cpcc.edu or John.Gomez@cpcc.edu

 

 

Introducing the Leon Levine Health Sciences Center

exterior of Leon Levine Health Sciences BuildingWe may have grown a bit since the last time you were on Central Campus so let us introduce you to the North Classroom Building (on the Quad) and the Leon Levine Health Services Building (across Elizabeth Ave from the bookstore & opposite the Levine IT Building)

In recognition of a $2.5-million grant from The Leon Levine Foundation to support health sciences education and health careers preparation at Central Piedmont Community College, the college is naming its new health programs facility on its Central Campus the Leon Levine Health Sciences Center.

 

Located at the corner of Charlottetowne Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue, the Leon Levine Health Sciences Center opened in August 2020. While many Central Piedmont students still were taking classes remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in a number of health careers programs that require in-person instruction began taking classes and labs in the new facility immediately.

 

Covering approximately 74,450 square-feet of space, the Leon Levine Health Sciences Center provides a home base for multiple health professions programs, including dental assisting, biomedical equipment technology, surgical technology, and polysomnography, and hosts a state-of-the-art virtual-anatomy classroom. In addition, the facility provides students with a number of hospital simulation rooms, including, trauma, mother and child, pediatric, typical patient rooms, an operating room, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy. The building is also home to the geomatics and civil engineering programs and provides several general use classrooms.

 

Read the complete story.

Adjusting to the new semester? Counseling Services can help!

masked female student looking at laptopThe start of any semester brings a host of emotions, ranging from excitement and optimism to insecurity and fear. All these regular experiences may feel more intense as we begin fall 2021. If worry, sadness, anger, or confusion have you feeling distracted or concerned, a Central Piedmont Counselor is available to help you sort it out and find new ways to cope. Services are free and confidential to enrolled students. To learn more, visit the Counseling Services website

Central Piedmont has a student new job board.  Join Handshake!

student engaging in an interview

Central Piedmont has transitioned to a new job board called Handshake! Handshake is the number 1 way students find jobs. With the student job board, you can manage and customize an unlimited number of open job opportunities. Career Services staff collaborates with faculty to promote your full-time, professional career opportunities. Creating an account on the student job board also helps you stay in the know on upcoming recruiting events.

Big Interview

Big Interview is available too!  This online system builds your interview confidence and expertise. Watch this 3-minute video for a quick introduction and check out the Big Interview flyer for tips on how to get started.

LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn.  This will be a space for Central Piedmont students and employers looking to hire students and graduates. We will share updates like hot jobs, career events, and help polish your online networking skills for jobs. Find us at Central Piedmont Career Services.  If you need help setting up your account, reach out to us.

We want to help polish your resume, interview skills and job search strategy.  Still deciding on your major? We can help with that too! Get in touch with us. Career Services helps you elevate your career!

Join a Global Learning Event this Fall

Friday, September 10th, 11am to noon – Virtual
Where will you go in 2022? The Global Learning office is traveling again! Come learn about study abroad at Central Piedmont and where we will go in the summer of 2022.
You will also learn about the NC Scholars of Global Distinction Program, the Global Student Association, and both virtual and local globally themed events.
Wednesday, September 15th, 10am –11 a.m. – Virtual
“Mzansi” (South Africa’s nickname) is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world. Join our partners from EDU Africa as they share about South African culture, language, and history. Register for this event today!
Global Student Association Meetings – to get on our invite list to receive information about our fall meetings and schedule, complete the GSA Registration Form
The Global Student Association is a group of students who learn about and celebrate different cultures. Supported by both the International Student Services Center and the Global Learning office, the Global Student Association appreciates different languages and different ways of doing things by participating in multicultural events and supporting students who want to study abroad. The Global Student Association also creates a sense of unity among international students and those interested in other cultures.  

 

New Pathway for Teachers Created from Community Colleges To UNC

woman standing in front of a projector screen presentingNorth Carolina education leaders signed an agreement on Aug. 23, to address the critical teacher shortage in the state. President Thomas Stith of the North Carolina Community College System and President Peter Hans of the University of North Carolina System made a joint announcement of their new Comprehensive Articulation Agreement that will increase opportunities for community college students to transfer to teacher education programs within the UNC System. It is effective beginning fall 2021.

The “Uniform Articulation Agreement in Teacher Education / Educator Preparation” is focused on developing a seamless transfer pathway for students who begin teacher preparation studies in the Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation (AATP) and the Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation (ASTP) programs at a community college and then transfer to one of the educator preparation programs within the UNC System to complete a bachelor’s degree and become a licensed teacher in the K-12 system.

The agreement includes 52 of North Carolina’s “Great 58” community colleges – including Central Piedmont – and 15 universities within the UNC System. Additional community colleges will offer the new transfer degrees for fall 2022.

Learn more about the articulation agreement.

Learn more about Central Piedmont’s Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation (AATP) and the Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation (ASTP) programs.

Your Voice Matters! Participate in a ‘Campus Conversation’ event.

teaching instructing in front of whiteboard while students are sitting in class using laptops

Central Piedmont is preparing for its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation in 2024. Our accreditation is vitally important since it impacts the college’s ability to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates to students – just like you.  It even affects your ability to receive financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

As a student, YOU are important to this process! Here’s where you come in: We need your help to develop the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is a requirement of the college’s SACSCOC reaffirmation process. The QEP topic will focus on an issue Central Piedmont can improve upon that deals with student learning outcomes and/or student success.

The QEP Topic Selection Team has reviewed various internal and external documents to identify possible student success themes and drafted questions to gather your feedback around the themes during Campus Conversations this past April. Now, you get to vote on your top theme. The top theme will then be narrowed into a QEP topic later this semester. 

Here is a link to the QEP Topic Selection Survey. Please complete the survey by the end of the day on Sunday, Sept. 5.

You will also have the opportunity later to help in the coming months by:

  • submitting a research proposal this fall that further narrows the focus of our QEP

We look forward to hearing from you!