Chromebooks and Hotspots for the Fall Semester

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female student sitting outside with mask in front of laptop

Effective immediately, 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 August 9, 2021.

All student hotspots and laptops will be due back to the library on or before the last day of the fall semester (December 10, 2021).

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.

 

There’s Still Time to Get Fully Vaccinated by the Fall Semester

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orange graphic COVID 19

Per the Governor’s executive order in May 2021, Central Piedmont is not imposing any COVID-19 restrictions beyond those the Governor specified.

That means when the fall semester starts next month, our campus will look like fall 2019: Face coverings and social distancing protocols — while still encouraged for unvaccinated people — will not be required by the college.

If you’re currently unvaccinated and are considering receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, here’s a fast fact to ponder: If you receive the vaccine as early as this week, you’ll be fully vaccinated by the time the fall semester starts on August 16. 

Knowing this, we invite you to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 response Web site or access the following vaccine resources: StarMed Health, Walgreens, CVS, Novant Health, and Atrium Health.

Your well-being is essential to us; therefore, we encourage you to make the decision that’s best for you.

Alumnus Competing in Tokyo Olympics

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Zach Lokken on the water in canoe

Photo Credit: AP

Central Piedmont alumnus Zach Lokken ’21 will represent Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics, July 23 – August 8. The Associate in Arts graduate will compete in the MC-1 Canoe Slalom event during his first Olympics appearance.

Born in Durango, Colo., Zach has won several awards in the sport of American Canoe, including third place in C1 and C2 during the 2015 U.S. National Team Trials.

When he’s not hitting the rapids, he enjoys skiing and longboarding.

Learn more about Zach.

WCNC-TV News Story: View the complete list of local athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympic games.

Central Piedmont Art Gallery Scholarship Program

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Gorelick Galleries at levine

The Central Piedmont Art Gallery Scholarship Program is an opportunity for current students at Central Piedmont to volunteer with the Arts Galleries Program to build leadership skills and gain valuable educational experience. Volunteers will learn about the daily operations of art galleries, explore possible careers in art-related fields, and share a passion for visual arts with others.

Opportunities:
– Limited and awarded based on skills and qualification of the applicant.
– Available with the Ross and Overcash Galleries and the Patty and Bill Gorelick Galleries at Central Piedmont.
– Students are expected to complete 5 to 10 hours a week during the semester.
– Students are expected to commit to both the fall and spring semester.
– Opportunities during the summer term may also be available.

Provided by the Central Piedmont Foundation, a scholarship of $2,000 is available to student volunteers accepted into this program for the 2021-2022 academic year. Please complete the application.

Please note: This application will close at midnight on July 17. Interviews will be held the first week of August. 2021.

Study Abroad in Summer 2022

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Imagine yourself in another country this time next year!  The Global Learning Office is resuming international travel in summer of 2022.  We are excited to announce our upcoming study abroad programs and destinations: Greece, British Isles, South Africa and Costa Rica. Each program is short-term and faculty-led. Applications are now open for students so be sure to check out the study abroad website to learn more.

Additionally, our North Carolina Scholars of Global Distinction Program continues to take student applications on a rolling basis. This honors program allows participants to expand intercultural awareness and global relevance of their college studies. Students will learn leadership skills and build resume credentials that set them apart in today’s competitive job market. Check out this NC Scholars Video to learn more and contact the Global Learning Office with any questions!

Introducing the Student Voices Survey Series

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student looking at computer screen

We want to hear from you — your opinions of and experiences at Central Piedmont are so important to us! That’s why we developed the Student Voices Survey Series. It’s from our Planning and Research team and will be made available to students at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Each student will receive one survey; however, the type of survey in the series will depend on the student. There are currently four surveys in the series (New Student Survey, Continuing Student Survey, Graduate Survey, Alumni Survey).

As a thank you for participating in this survey series, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Each survey in the series will have a separate drawing for a gift card. The survey links will be emailed to your Central Piedmont account and we will use that email for the drawing. Once you complete the survey, we will receive a notification and will enter your email into the drawing.

An invitation to complete your assigned survey will be sent to your Central Piedmont email account. A link to your individual survey will be sent at the end of each semester that you are a student and for at least three years after graduation as an alumni. View a description of the surveys and when you will take each one.

Your voice is crucial! The surveys are meant to capture key pieces of information from students at specific points during their time at Central Piedmont and the data we gather will be used for creating a successful student experience. 

Survey results are not intended for individual intervention and will not contain identifying information.

The only exception to this is the Graduate Survey which includes questions to gather information for future contact. Providing contact information is completely voluntary and will only be used to contact alumni for alumni activities. No reference to individual survey responses will be used.

If you have any questions regarding the Student Voices Survey Series, please contact Catherine Garcia, executive director of Planning and Research, at catherine.garcia@cpcc.edu. 

New Student Job Board Coming Soon – How to Get Ready

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two females sitting in front of computer
Career Services will have some big changes to our online job board. We are excited to announce that we will be transitioning to Handshake, an online job board and networking tool used by many colleges throughout the country.  The last day for you to have access to our current Student and Graduate Job Board is June 30, 2021.

Actions you should take:

  1. It is crucial for you to download any documents you have uploaded to your job board account, such as your resume, before June 30, 2021. Any documents that are not downloaded by June 30 will be lost and cannot be recovered.

  2. Students that want to apply for any jobs currently posted on the Student and Graduate Job Board can apply by June 30 or note an email address or hiring website if one is provided. More information about creating a Handshake account will be sent out at a later date.

If you need your resume reviewed by a career counselor, please email your request and resume attachment to resumes@cpcc.edu. Please note the preferred document types are Word and PDF. Please remember to send using your student email address.

Reminder: you can’t access the Student and Graduate Job Board if you haven’t reactivated your Central Piedmont username through the Activator application. If you haven’t already reactivated your username following the February 2021 technology interruptions, you need to do so as soon as possible (even if you never lost access to your email).

Registration and Payment Systems to Temporarily Close June 28 – July 1

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Due to year-end processing, the college’s registration and payment systems will close June 28 at noon and re-open on July 1 at 7 a.m. You will not be able to register or pay for classes during those days.

Don’t wait! Finish your registration now to avoid the temporary system closure. Fall registration is open and you can still register for classes online. Our student services teams are available, and our dedicated staff and faculty can assist you with registration and payment questions.

Accessing the Central Piedmont Website

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Central Piedmont homepage

It has come to our attention that some students, faculty, and staff members are having difficulty accessing the Central Piedmont website.

To access the college’s website (www.cpcc.edu), please include “www” in the URL address. Simply typing cpcc.edu (without the “www” in the URL) may not work at times.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Information Technology Services Help Desk at helpdesk@cpcc.edu or at 704.330.5000.

College to Offer More Four- and Eight-Week Classes This Fall

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students sitting in class

This fall, Central Piedmont Community College plans to offer close to 40-percent more compressed classes – this includes four- and eight-week classes – than it did in fall 2020.

The college’s decision to transition from the traditional, 16-week course schedule is based on national data from peer institutions, such as Odessa College, Ivy Tech Community College, Trident Tech and others, that shows students in compressed courses:

  • consistently achieve higher success rates than their peers who were enrolled in full-length courses. This is especially true among part-time students;
  • benefit from the constant pacing from term to term;
  • excel at a higher level because they have to focus on fewer classes at a time; and
  • have the opportunity to earn stackable credentials.

As a result of these findings, Central Piedmont created a pilot program in spring 2021 through a number of its programs, including Business Administration, Criminal Justice Technology, Interior Design, Welding Technology, and others, that offered students the option of enrolling in traditional, 16-week class sections, or taking multiple eight-week classes throughout the spring semester.

“We found students in compressed courses demonstrated improved time-management skills, enhanced focus and motivation, and improved knowledge retention,” said Dr. Heather Hill, vice president of academic affairs at Central Piedmont. “By offering our students more compressed sections, we are not only giving our students the opportunity to build a learning schedule that better accommodates their lifestyle, but also helping them complete and achieve their educational goals faster and on time.”

Central Piedmont plans to offer more than 1,000 classes in a compressed format in fall 2021. The fall semester, as well as the first four-, eight-, and 12-week sessions, begin Aug. 16. If you’re interested in learning more about Central Piedmont or registering for fall semester classes, please visit www.cpcc.edu/admissions/registration.

Students Selected for State-Wide Student Leadership Development Program

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Cristina Vargas Student Life recognizes Cristina Vargas-Bayas (left) and Ramone Thompson (below) for their outstanding achievement after being selected to represent Central Piedmont at the 2021 North Carolina Community College System Student Leadership Development Program (SLDP).

The program’s mission is to enhance leadership quality for community college students and increase their knowledge of soft skills to prepare them for professional and civic responsibilities. This year, the SLPD has partnered with a top-ranked provider of leadership development training, Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), to offer a virtual program.  Each year, approximately 30 student leaders from community colleges around North Carolina participate.

Ramone Thompson

Christina and Ramone, both members of the 2021-2022 Student Government Association Executive Committee at Central Piedmont, will attend eight leadership sessions beginning in June 2021 and ending in August 2021. We celebrate them for their incredible commitment as student leaders at Central Piedmont and wish them continued success in the future!

Attend Central Piedmont Summer Theatre’s Upcoming Production for Free!

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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Central Piedmont Summer Theatre is pleased to perform “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” July 9 – 25, on the renowned Halton Theater stage, located on the college’s Central Campus.

With music by Andrew Lloyd Weber and lyrics by Tim Rice, this musical is a reimagining of the biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, his eleven brothers, and his coat of many colors.

Told entirely through song with the help of a main character Narrator, the musical follows preferred son Joseph. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the amorous advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled, Elvis-inspired, Pharaoh. Joseph’s solution to Egypt’s famine elevates him to Pharaoh’s right-hand man and reunites him with his family.

This magical musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of styles, ranging from a parody of French ballads (“Those Canaan Days”) and country-western (“One More Angel in Heaven”), to calypso (“Benjamin Calypso”) and the unforgettable classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.”

WHEN: Friday, July 9- Sunday, July 25, 2021  

All Central Piedmont students, with a valid Central Piedmont ID, can attend the show for free. Or you can purchase tickets online or at the Central Piedmont Suntrust Box Office, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., as well as one hour before showtimes. Cash only at the Central Piedmont Suntrust Box Office, located in Overcash Center on Central Campus.

CORRECTION: CATS Gold Line Streetcar to Begin TESTING Streetcar Service June 9

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streetcar safety

Our apologies for the miscommunication. Charlotte Area Transit Services (CATS) will be TESTING – not launching – its Gold Line streetcar service on Wednesday, June 9, at 3 p.m. CATS has not yet announced when the Gold Line will begin regularly serving local residents. 

Once completed, the streetcar will feature a 2 ½-mile extension, allowing it to run from French Street (west of Johnson C. Smith University) to Sunnyside Avenue in the Elizabeth neighborhood near Central Piedmont’s Central Campus.

Please note: 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 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.

N.C. Longleaf Commitment Grant Provides Financial Help for Students

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student sitting in front of computer in business attire

Governor Roy Cooper announced this week the launch of the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant, a program for eligible 2021 North Carolina high school graduates who plan to attend one of North Carolina’s “Great 58” community colleges starting in the fall 2021 semester.

Thanks to the new program, high school graduates may be eligible to receive grant funds – not a loan – to cover tuition and fees toward a degree or to attain transfer credit.

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.

In addition, the Longleaf Commitment program will provide matching grants to affiliated colleges to help the institutions expand their student advising, success coaching, and related services to support student success after students have enrolled.

“This is tremendous news for prospective students,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president at Central Piedmont. “The funds provided by the Longleaf Commitment Grant will help our incoming students persist and complete, achieve their academic goals, secure a better paying job, begin a family-sustaining career, or pursue further education.”

Learn more about the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant, including its eligibility requirements, and get connected to helpful resources.

To talk with a financial aid counselor at Central Piedmont, call 704.330.6942, or email financialaid@cpcc.edu.

Attend an ‘It’s a Major Decision’ Session

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You want a career plan and answers instead of uncertainty?  With registration going on, now is the time to think ahead.  Career Services online “It’s a ‘Major’ Decision” sessions can help.  In an hour, learn the basics of making a career decision, including how to:

  • choose your program of study 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

Open to prospective and current Central Piedmont students – so invite your friends who are interested in attending too!  Come with questions to ask our career counselors, because there will be plenty of time.  Sessions are held Wednesdays at noon, and Thursdays at 4 p.m.  Sign up!

Career Services at Central Piedmont helps students with career/major decisions, job searches, and connects students with employers. Visit our website and let us help elevate your career.

Clarification on Option to Convert Final Grade to Pass/Emergency (PE)

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female student in class

Due to the impact of the Feb. 10 network incident, from now through July 31, 2021, students have the option to convert their final grade to a “PE” grade for one, some, or all of their spring 2021 courses.

A Pass/Emergency (PE) grade is an option for students who have earned a grade of “C” or higher in a course during the spring 2021 term. **Grades of “D,””F,” “W,” “WE,” and “I” are not eligible for conversion to a PE**. Students should consider the following before opting for the PE grade:

  •  A grade of PE will fulfill degree requirements and prerequisites requiring a grade of “C” or better for both transfer and non-transfer students at Central Piedmont only.
  •  A student who desires to transfer a class to a four-year institution should consult with the senior institution to ensure transferability prior to selecting the PE option.
  • The PE option can be applied on a course-by-course basis.
  • Once applied, the PE grade cannot be reversed.
  • A PE grade will not impact a student’s GPA.
  • A PE grade will not negatively impact a student’s financial aid.

All students should discuss the decision with an advisor, but particularly students receiving financial aid and/or students in the following programs:

  • University Transfer – students should consult with the four-year institution to ensure transferability prior to selecting the PE option.
  • Veterans/Dependents – students receiving VA benefits should speak with the Certifying Official prior to requesting a grade change as it may affect your benefits certification.  
  • Career and College Promise (dually enrolled high school students)
  • Programs requiring licensure in order to practice in the field.
  • Programs subject to special program accreditation.

Students should contact their faculty advisor if they have questions about how a PE grade may impact their specific program. Not sure who your advisor is? Contact placement.advising@cpcc.edu to receive that information.

Student Network Accounts Lockout Policy Update

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CPCC Information Technology Services

Beginning on May 25, 2021, Information Technology Services will implement an incorrect password lockout policy for students who use services that require a login. Three incorrect password attempts will result in an account being locked for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes the account will unlock. If a student needs immediate access, they will need to contact the Information Technology Services Help Desk to have their account unlocked.  

If you have any questions, please contact the Information Technology Services Help Desk at helpdesk@cpcc.edu.

 

The Art Galleries at Central Piedmont Presents “From the Vault! Adopt a Ceramic Show”

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Art Exhibition

The Art Galleries at Central Piedmont are proud to bring to you a unique exhibition of 3D works of art titled, “From the Vault! Adopt a Ceramic Show.” This is a collection of works not seen by the public eye for years.

The Art Galleries boasts a diverse selection of ceramic artworks in need of a new home. Many of these pieces on exhibition were removed from the college’s old library prior to its demolition on Central Campus. No longer will these ceramics stay in boxes collecting dust in storage. Instead, they will soon be unboxed for the viewing pleasure of all our gallery visitors during this special exhibition.

“From the Vault! Adopt a Ceramic Show” is no ordinary art exhibition. It comes with a special twist that the Central Piedmont Art Galleries hopes everyone will find enticing. The goal is to find a new home for each ceramic in the show in a Central Piedmont staff member’s office, rather than return the piece to storage Central Piedmont staff will be invited to “adopt” one of the ceramics for their current office area throughout the exhibition. Since the college already owns all of the ceramics in the show there is no paperwork or payment required for the ceramics, making the adoption process undeniably smooth.

Central Piedmont’s permanent art collection contains more than 700 unique works of art with the vast majority created by the college’s visual arts students. Pieces in the collection range from the college’s infancy in the 1960s, to the present day. The ceramics in “From the Vault! Adopt a Ceramic Show” represent a small portion of the collection.

When: June 7 – August 5 Monday – Wednesday 10a.m. – 2 p.m., or by appointment.

Where: Central Piedmont Central Campus, Overcash Art Gallery, Overcash Center

Join a Conversation about America’s Freedoms on June 15

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Juneteenth Freedom Day

Join the Central Piedmont Libraries on Tuesday, June 15, from 9:30 -11 a.m., for the third session in the Civics 101 Series, “Putting YOU in the United States of America,” a candid conversation about the meaning of freedom in America.

Our featured conversationalists, Dr. Hugh Dussek, a history professor at Central Piedmont, and Mr. Reggie ‘Baba’ Singleton, founder and executive director of The Males Place, will provide a contextual overview on the history of Independence Day and Juneteenth.

This interactive dialogue will also include a discussion on the cultural differences and similarities, the significance of becoming a national holiday, and understanding why we celebrate.

Learn how to join the event via Zoom.