Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) is pleased to partner with East Carolina University’s (ECU) College of Education and bring Wachovia Partnership East to the Charlotte area. Wachovia Partnership East is the brainchild of ECU and the Wachovia Foundation, and seeks to make it possible for students throughout North Carolina to complete a four-year degree in education from ECU in their local communities.

“There is a critical need for primary and secondary school teachers in North Carolina,” said Dr. Linda Dunlap, director of teacher education initiatives for CPCC. “Wachovia Partnership East strives to build tomorrow’s teacher – an individual prepared to make a difference in the classrooms of North Carolina and beyond.

Wachovia Partnership East provides opportunities for students to complete bachelor’s degrees in elementary education, special education and middle grade education (math, science and language arts). Students graduate with a four-year degree from ECU by completing the first two years of the Wachovia Partnership East program at their local community college. Students complete the second half of the program by taking ECU courses online or through face-to-face instruction with ECU instructors at one of the program’s consortia hub sites located at Craven Community College, Nash Community College, Wayne Community College and Beaufort County Community College.

“Many CPCC students are Charlotte residents, making it difficult for them to travel to the program’s hub sites all located in eastern North Carolina,” adds Dr. Dunlap. “Thankfully the program gives students the option of taking 100 percent of their classes online through the program’s Virtual Consortium housed at Pitt Community College. By doing this, Wachovia Partnership East serves students at every community college and is able to achieve its goal of ‘growing teachers’ close to home.”

In addition to online courses, Wachovia Partnership East participants benefit from on-site advising, tuition savings and a small college environment. The Wachovia Partnership East Virtual Consortium Office will serve as a central location for all information relating to Virtual Consortium students. Dr. Linda Woolard is the hub site coordinator and works with Dr. Dunlap at CPCC.

Interested CPCC students should schedule an appointment with Dr. Dunlap for initial discussions regarding the Wachovia Partnership East program. To learn more about Wachovia Partnership East, please contact Dr. Dunlap at 704.330.6883. 

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.

-30-

This release prepared by Mallory Benz, 704.330.6613. An archive of CPCC news releases is at http://www.cpcc.edu/college-news.