Central Piedmont Fitness Centers Now Open

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male students lifting dumbbell weights in the Central Campus fitness centerFitness centers at the Central, Levine and Merancas campuses are now open! We can’t wait to see you in the fitness center this semester. Please review the new Fall 2021 Fitness Center Staffed Hours of operation:
    • Monday & Wednesday: 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
    • Tuesday & Thursday: 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
    • The fitness center at Central Campus will be Closed for PED-117 Weight Training Class, Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30-10:45 a.m. Hours at Levine may also have schedule adjustments for classes using the fitness center.

Please be aware, the Central Piedmont Fitness Center Use Guidelines & Wavier will be required of all employees and students who wish to utilize the fitness centers or who participate in other employee fitness opportunities.

  • All users will be expected to abide by the guidelines included in the waiver and college policies and procedures while using any campus fitness space.
  • All users of locker room spaces should also read and be familiar with locker room guidelines.

Questions about Central Piedmont Fitness Centers can be addressed to the following individuals:

Join us for a Week of Welcome events on every campus

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students walking with masks while on campusStudent Engagement wants to welcome you to the Central Piedmont community throughout our Week of Welcome (August 23-27)! Each campus is hosting a variety of grab-and-take home-style events that allow us to introduce you to what engagement looks like at Central Piedmont. Masks and social distancing will be required.
All events are from 11-1 unless noted otherwise and will be at the following campus locations (unless noted as a virtual event):
  • Central: Worrell Building Patio
  • Levine: Levine II Outside of Room 1400 (Student Engagement Suite)
  • Cato: Cato III Patio
  • Merancas: Merancas IV Patio
  • Harper: Harper IV Lobby
  • Harris: Harris I Room 1225, Student Engagement Suite
Welcome Week Events:
  • Monday, August 23: It’s hot outside, so grab a cool treat to cool you off! Free ice pops or ice cream!
  • Tuesday, August 24: Central Piedmont prides itself on service! Grab a take-home service project that helps Promising Pages, an agency providing books and literacy initiatives to young readers!
  • Wednesday, August 25 | Craft Day: get creative with a grab and take-home canvas and paint set! Tag us on social media to share your masterpiece with the student body!
  • Thursday, August 26 | Virtual Trivia | 11-3pm: Join us via Zoom for an opportunity to show off your knowledge on a variety of topics and a chance to win a gift card! Visit the Student Life Calendar for Zoom information!
  • Friday, August 27 | Virtual Club Fair | 1-2:30pm: Come meet the different student clubs Central Piedmont has to offer. Speak with staff and students about getting involved, and find information on clubs you would like to join!  Join us via Zoom Meeting. [Meeting ID: 980 3776 9241, Passcode: Clubs]
  • Friday, August 27 | Esports | 11am-5pm:  Download the FREE Mission Control GG App, Join the Central Piedmont Organization, Sign up, and suggest your favorite game! Registration closes on Aug 26.

Check the Student Engagement event calendar to see when Welcome Week events are on your campus!

If you see something, say something

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Welcome to the fall semester! Campus safety is the top priority of Central Piedmont’s College Security and Emergency Management teams. We take this opportunity to remind you of the information available on Central Piedmont’s website about What To Do In An Emergency, for situations including an active shooter, severe weather, fire, and more.

We all play a role in safety at the college and that’s why we ask you to review the college’s Safety and Security video by the end of this week to familiarize yourself with safety and security protocols at the college.

Most importantly, Central Piedmont relies on its students and employees to be the eyes and ears of the college, so if you see or hear something, please say something. If you have a concern of an immediate threat, please call Central Piedmont College Security Services at 704.330.6911.

 If you know of behavior that is concerning or disruptive to the college community, please use the online form at this site to report a concern for referral to the Care Team.

 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
    • 67283
    • Start your message with “CPCCTIP”
  • Recorded Message Line: 704.330.6888

 Have a safe semester! We look forward to serving you in the weeks to come.

Classroom phone paging system test Wednesday

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In an urgent situation, the college can page all phones in classrooms at once, by campus. Please be aware we will test the phone paging system Wednesday (August 25) at 10 a.m.

Take a moment to add or update your mobile phone number and other contact information in our Critical Alert emergency text/phone/email system. It’s important to keep your contact information updated because this is how the college will message you if classes are canceled or impacted due to inclement weather or if there’s an emergency situation. Here’s how:

  • Use your Central Piedmont login and password to access MyCollege
  • Select the person icon for “User Options” on your mobile or desktop screen
  • Select “User Profile”
  • Add or update your mobile number

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

We all play a role in safety at the college. If there’s an active shooter on or near a Central Piedmont campus, would you know what to do? It’s incredibly important for students and employees to be prepared. Please take a moment today to review this powerful video to learn 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.

 That “run, hide, fight” video is also included in the college’s required Safety and Security video that we hope you took time to review last week.

Great Leadership Opportunity – Apply for a Student Government Association Position

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student looking at laptop in the classroom with central Piedmont face mask on

The Student Government Association is excited to announce that the application period for the SGA senators at all campuses and Public Information Officer is now open!

Apply for a Student Government Position Today!

All Central Piedmont students are members of the SGA and are represented by elected student officers and appointed senators by the Executive Committee to represent the needs and interests of students at the college.

This is your opportunity to become an officer – be involved in the democratic process and create a positive change for yourself and students across the college.

Students who take on leadership roles in SGA serve as advocates for the student body, help fund student organizations, and support student engagement. You will have the opportunity to grow as a leader, work with diverse issues and have fun while you’re doing it!

Apply now! The deadline to apply is Monday, August 30 at 5 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Fall 2021 Parking and Transportation

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Parking at Central PiedmontWelcome to the new semester! We’re excited to welcome you to the fall 2021 semester.

GETTING TO & FROM YOUR CAMPUS 

Traffic is heavy during the first two weeks of school; therefore, please consider carpooling or using public transportation, and plan to arrive early to campus to allow enough time to park and find your classrooms and labs. Also, please be aware there are construction and maintenance projects on several Central Piedmont campuses that could cause issues. Please use caution when driving near campus, looking out for pedestrians and people riding bikes and scooters.

Also, consider visiting your campus ahead of time to get comfortable with your parking and classroom locations before classes start if this will be your first semester with the college.

Download the Central Piedmont mobile app for iPhone or Android to see all campus maps or for more specific information – and follow #cpccparking on Twitter for the most recent parking info.

CityLYNX Gold Line

CATS has not yet announced when the Gold Line will begin regularly serving local residents but they are currently in a testing phase, so you may see streetcars periodically.

CATS replaced the old trolley-style streetcars with more modern ones that operate more quietly, so please be sure to use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street, especially in the travel areas used by the new streetcars.

During testing, it’s 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.

PARKING DECALS

Student parking decals are now available at each campus’s Cashiering Office. Students will receive one parking decal per semester. Decals may be picked up after tuition is paid in full. The Cashier’s Business office hours on all campuses are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Parking decals must be displayed by Friday, September 17th.

CENTRAL CAMPUS PARKING DECKS

Please view the Central Campus map for locations of parking decks and lots. Here are the physical addresses of the parking decks at Central Campus:

  • Central Campus parking deck #1 – 1321 Charlottetowne Ave.
  • Central Campus parking deck #2 – 1108 Charlottetowne Ave.
  • Central Campus parking deck #3 – 1345 E. 4th St.
  • Central Campus parking deck #4 – 1225 E. 4th St.

Also, students may not park in the SunTrust bank lot or risk having your car towed. Other local businesses strictly enforce towing so please display your parking decal and only park on Central Piedmont’s campuses.

If you have any questions, please contact the Central Piedmont Information Center at 704.330.2722 (CPCC).

Information Tables Available the First Week of Classes

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Student being assisted at information tableOur Central Piedmont Student Engagement team is here to help! Information tables will be set up at all six campuses during the first week of fall classes should you need help finding classes or getting questions answered. Central Campus will have a welcome tent on Elizabeth Avenue in front of Worrell Gym at the following days and times:

  • Monday | August 16 | 7:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-6:30pm
  • Tuesday | August 17 | 7:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-6:30pm
  • Wednesday | August 18 | 5pm-6:30pm
  • Thursday | August 19 | 5pm-6:30pm

At all other campuses, tables will be set up in main entry points on campus. Look for our staff and faculty to assist you with any questions you might have.

We also strongly recommend you download the Central Piedmont app if you have not already. The app is a great way to stay informed, access your schedule, find campus maps, and check your Central Piedmont email.

We look forwarding to serving you on campus in the upcoming weeks!

Brightspace Orientation for Students

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student looking at laptop in the classroom with central Piedmont face mask onNervous about taking your first online course in Brightspace, Central Piedmont’s new Learning Management System?

We can help! Our one hour, virtual instructional sessions will give you hands-on experience with Brightspace.

These 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 Activity 

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

  • 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 can’t wait to see you there!

View the Brightspace practice sessions schedule and register today.

Let’s Keep it Up – Stop the Spread with Fall Safety Protocols

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students being helped behind clear shield on campusWhether your classes are online, completely in-person, or a mixture of both, the college is committed to providing a safe environment for you to learn this fall semester. As we return back to campus on August 16,  the college has put safety protocols in place through at least Aug. 31.

Face coverings are required indoors
Face coverings are required during instructional activities (during classes, labs, etc.); in face-to-face meetings, and whenever persons are moving through or gathering in indoor common areas, such as hallways, lobbies, stairways, elevators, our libraries, restrooms, etc. The only exception to this requirement is when employees are in their personal offices.
Face masks and gloves remain available at building entrances to anyone who needs them. Face coverings are not required outdoors on campus.

Stay home if you feel ill
Please stay home if you feel ill in any way. If your symptoms persist, please see a health care provider. Students should inform their instructors, and employees should talk with their supervisor.

Are vaccinations being mandated?

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, we strongly encourage you to do so, if you are so inclined, at your earliest opportunity. With the increase in positive COVID-19 tests and cases due to the delta variant spreading across North Carolina and the nation, the CDC and NCDHHS recommend that everyone 12 years and older be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Vaccination of all eligible faculty, staff and students is the most effective strategy to ensure our normal semester operations remain on track.

Due to the policy of our affiliated clinics, all health program students and faculty will have to be vaccinated for this upcoming semester, unless they have received a medical or religious exemption. This includes dental hygiene students. If you are a health program student, and have any further questions or concerns, please contact your health program instructor.

No other academic programs are requiring vaccination at this time. The college will not ask you to provide your vaccination status, nor should anyone connected to the college inquire about your status.

Will there be opportunities for students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated while on campus during the fall semester?
YES. The college is working out the details with a local health care provider to offer vaccination clinics on multiple campuses. We will share these details as soon as possible. However, you should not feel that you need to wait for these clinics. If you have the ability to be vaccinated within the coming days, please do so.

How should students and employees report positive COVID tests?
To report COVID cases and exposures, or to ask questions about our protocols, please email wecare@cpcc.edu. Students should also notify their instructors, and employees should make their supervisors aware as soon as possible.

What will be the isolation/quarantine protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated students and employees?
We will follow CDC protocols to determine isolation/quarantine recommendations for students and employees based on vaccination status. These will be communicated directly to persons who test positive for COVID-19 and have been in contact with positive-test persons.

By working together – wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing when possible, washing our hands frequently, staying home if we feel ill, and keeping our campus spaces clean – we can help keep eachother safe.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine by visiting or accessing:

Atrium Health

Top Things To Know Before Starting Classes this Fall

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female student. with black face mask on sitting at outside tableThe start of a new semester can be hectic. Whether this is your first semester, or you’re continuing your course plan – your success is our top priority. Familiarize yourself with the college’s student support services which are available to support you this semester.

Here’s a list of key things you need to know to help you get started at Central Piedmont this fall.

Important Update on Chromebooks, Wifi Hotspots, and Graphing Calculators

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student sitting at table working on laptop

For the fall 2021 semester, the Central Piedmont Library will have Chromebooks, Wifi hotspots, and graphing calculators for semester-long checkout. These devices will be available for checkout starting on Monday, August 9, one week before classes begin.

All equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must come to a physical library location to request and pick up an item. Find your nearest campus library. 

To expedite check-out, please bring your Central Piedmont Student ID with you. 

The Central Piedmont Library looks forward to helping meet your equipment needs! For more information on equipment check-out, visit https://researchguides.cpcc.edu/equipment.

Keeping Everyone Safe – Fall Semester Safety Protocols

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student looking at laptop in the classroom with central Piedmont face mask on

A Message from Dr. Deitemeyer:

I am excited for the start of the Fall 2021 semester on Aug. 16. I look forward to seeing so many of you back on campus for the first time in several months and some of you for the first time ever.

The college will operate at full capacity this fall, with a majority of classes being offered on-campus as well as many online. It is our intention to begin the semester operating in a way that mirrors pre-pandemic times as much as possible. Nevertheless, we want everyone to be as safe as can be while on campus. We have looked closely at the COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS), as well as the strong communication coming from the Governor’s Office. All of these continue to stress the importance of being vaccinated.

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, I strongly encourage you to do so, if you are so inclined, at your earliest opportunity. With the increase in positive COVID-19 tests and cases due to the delta variant spreading across North Carolina and the nation, the CDC and NCDHHS recommend that everyone 12 years and older be vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccination of all eligible faculty, staff and students is the most effective strategy to ensure our normal semester operations remain on track.

The college will not ask you to provide your vaccination status, nor should anyone connected to the college inquire about your status. Again, no one at the college should ask anyone else at the college about their vaccination status. However, that should not lessen your sense of personal responsibility in getting vaccinated.

In addition to encouraging everyone to be vaccinated, the college will have the following safety protocols in place through at least Aug. 31.

Face coverings required indoors while on campus
Effective immediately, face coverings are required during instructional activities (during classes, labs, etc.); in face-to-face meetings, and whenever persons are moving through or gathering in indoor common areas, such as hallways, lobbies, stairways, elevators, our libraries, restrooms, etc. The only exception to this requirement is when employees are in their personal offices.

Our face mask requirement does not affect the expectation of a continued return to on-campus work for college employees. Until the vaccination rate in Mecklenburg gets significantly higher or the rate of positive COVID-19 cases begins to diminish, requiring everyone to wear face coverings indoors will help keep everyone safe.

Face masks and gloves remain available at building entrances to anyone who needs them. Face coverings are not required outdoors on campus.

Stay Home if You Feel Ill
Please stay home if you feel ill in any way. If your symptoms persist, please see a health care provider. Students should inform their instructors, and employees should talk with their supervisor.

Will there be opportunities for students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated while on campus during the fall semester?
YES. The college is working out the details with a local health care provider to offer vaccination clinics on multiple campuses. We will share these details as soon as possible. However, you should not feel that you need to wait for these clinics. If you have the ability to be vaccinated within the coming days, please do so.

How should students and employees report positive COVID tests?
To report COVID cases and exposures, or to ask questions about our protocols, please email wecare@cpcc.edu. Students should also notify their instructors, and employees should make their supervisors aware as soon as possible.

What will be the isolation/quarantine protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated students and employees?
We will follow CDC protocols to determine isolation/quarantine recommendations for students and employees based on vaccination status. These will be communicated directly to persons who test positive for COVID-19 and have been in contact with positive-test persons.

Closing
As we continue to navigate this global pandemic, I send my sincere best wishes and thanks to our dedicated faculty, staff and students for your hard work, dedication and patience. Thank you for your flexibility as CDC and NCDHHS recommendations change. I know this will be a great semester, and working together, we will keep everyone as safe as possible.

College Receives $10-Million Gift Commitment

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visual arts studentA donor who wishes to remain anonymous has made a $10-million gift commitment to Central Piedmont Community College. The gift is the single-largest individual donation in Central Piedmont’s 58-year history and among the largest gifts ever made to a community college nationwide.

Central Piedmont will use the gift to transform its role as a community resource for arts and humanities programming and learning.

Read the complete story.

Share Your Opinion for a Chance at a Gift Card

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The Central Piedmont Bookstore Committee is conducting a study of our bookstore services, and would appreciate feedback on your experiences and preferences in purchasing books, supplies and/or materials, and other spirit or convenience items on our campuses or online. Your feedback will help us improve the overall bookstore experience, as well as influence the delivery mode of services.

The survey can be taken on any device including your phone; however, we recommend using a desktop or laptop computer, iPad, or other tablet devices for the best experience.

Survey participants will have the opportunity to win a $100 Visa gift card. Five Visa gift cards will be given away. Please check your inbox for the survey link, and complete the survey by August 6.

New FAFSA Rules Make Applying Easier

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Good news for students: applying for financial aid just got a little easier! To provide relief to millions of students facing challenges this year, the Department of Education is waiving verification of the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are no longer required to verify household size or federal tax filing information. This means when you apply for your FAFSA – the one form that makes you eligible for almost every scholarship and financial aid opportunity – you and your parents will not have to submit tax documents and other forms of verification that could slow down the process.

If you have already submitted your FAFSA, please check your Central Piedmont email to see if you’ve been awarded financial aid.

Some students may still have additional documentation required.  If you have questions, please check with the Financial Aid Office or MyCollege to get the most recent status update on your FAFSA.

Central Piedmont Awarded $25,000 for New Metallica Scholars Initiative

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Metallica

For the third-consecutive year, Central Piedmont Community College was selected to participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative and receive $25,000 in funding to support its career and technical education programs.

Funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative was created in 2018 to fundamentally improve the earning potential for students who become Metallica Scholars.

Central Piedmont will continue to use the grant funds to provide direct support for students enrolled in one of four healthcare career programs but who need financial assistance to complete their studies and become licensed healthcare professionals. The project will continue to focus on high-demand healthcare programs, including dental assisting, medical assisting, ophthalmic medical personnel, and pharmacy technology, and target underrepresented students who would not be able to complete their program or obtain credentials without financial support. The goal of the initiative is to ensure students receive relevant jobs skills that will make them competitive in the healthcare field.

“We are proud to work with Metallica to advance the career and technical education provided by the nation’s community colleges,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “Colleges across the country provide pathways to well-paying jobs through programs, services, and training that lead to in-demand skills, certificates and degrees for students. These programs are responsive to the needs of local businesses and provide a pipeline of qualified workers to local industry. It’s a win-win for our students and the local economy. For Metallica to continue to invest in these students and communities is a testament to the power of the workforce education community colleges provide and we are proud to do this work with them.”

Learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative at Central Piedmont.

Introducing the Leon Levine Health Sciences Center

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exterior of Leon Levine Health Sciences 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.

Come Back for More! Take Fall or Winter Classes.

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tutoring session with student and teacher reviewing book material

If you took classes with us during the summer, come back for more by taking a class this fall or winter.

Here’s why you should register now for fall and winter courses:

  • The college is offering nearly 40% more classes you can finish in a shorter amount of time — courses that are compressed into four- and eight-week sessions
  • We have more afternoon, evening, weekend, and online classes available
  • If you’re already enrolled at a four-year university, pick up a class here during your winter break. We have a four-week session that starts Dec. 6 and runs through Jan. 4.

If you’re having trouble with registration, call 704.330.6100, or email fye@cpcc.edu.

We look forward to seeing you back here soon!

Patricia Deshields Named 2021 PTK StudyBuddy Scholar

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Central Piedmont student Patricia Deshields has been named a 2021 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) StudyBuddy Scholar and has received a 100 percent discount on either the TEAS or HESI prep courses at StudyBuddy.live.

The StudyBuddy Scholarship is for PTK members enrolled in pre-nursing, nursing, allied health, medical assistant, and certified nursing assistant programs. StudyBuddy Scholars receive a full discount to enroll in the TEAS or HESI prep courses required for nursing school admission and professional licensure for up to 10 weeks.

Recipients are selected twice a year, in the spring and fall. Patricia is one of 25 PTK members to receive the award this spring. Up to 55 recipients will receive the award each year.

“We are so proud to be able to offer this scholarship benefit to our healthcare majors so they can better prepare for these exams leading to nursing school,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation and PTK Chief of Staff. “A discount on these prep courses will save them money both now and long-term as they will have a better chance at passing these exams on the first attempt. Congratulations to the recipients!”