Information for Students

Information for students about the February 2021 technology interruptions.

Our Information Technology Services staff had to take the college’s critical systems offline, including phone lines — these systems are unavailable right now.

Stay Informed

Keep reading and check this page often to find the latest updates on the technology interruptions and how they affect your classes, registration, student services, etc. The college will officially let you know by text, phone call, and these technology interruptions pages when our systems are available again. Please also follow Central Piedmont on social media to keep up-to-date on what’s going on at the college.

Saturday, February 20 Update: How to Get Back Into Your Email

Last week’s cyberattack impacted many of the college’s main communication channels and learning platforms. The Information Technology Services team has been working to bring those tools back online, where possible, in a secure and deliberate process to ensure the future safety and reliability of the college’s technology systems.

Today, Information Technology Services is helping you reactivate your Central Piedmont username so you can access your student Gmail account, other tools in Google Workspace, and Webex.

Reactivate Your Account

You need to reactivate your Central Piedmont username with a new password. Follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Activator Application.
  2. Select “Continue.”
  3. Enter your college ID, choose your account type, and select “Claim.”
  4. Enter your personal information, which will prove to the app that you are who you say you are.
  5. If you successfully enter your personal information, a congratulatory message will appear confirming your user account has been reactivated. You can now log in to Google Gmail and Google Workspace, and use Webex.
  6. If you don’t enter your information correctly, you’ll get a message requesting you come to Central Campus to complete the account reactivation process in person.
If You Need to Reactivate Your Account In Person

View the Central Piedmont username in-person activation instructions.

Thank You!

Thank you so much for your patience during this challenging time. We understand the temporary loss of student email and communication with Central Piedmont faculty and staff makes information sharing difficult. Please know we are working as hard as we can to bring our other systems back online. More details on the status of the college’s other technology systems will be coming soon. Please keep checking these technology interruptions pages frequently and share any updates with your peers so we’re all in the loop.

Play Video

Class Updates from Dr. Hill, vice president of Academic Affairs

Dr. Hill shares important updates about the college's plans to deliver courses using Brightspace instead of Blackboard moving forward. Be on the lookout for a similar message from Dr. Hill sent to your email. Keep reading this page for Brightspace resources.

Classes, Registration, Communication, Student Services Updates

  • Effect on Classes

    The following classes will resume on Monday, February 22:

    • on-campus classes
    • online classes that are in Brightspace
    • online portions of hybrid classes that are in Brightspace

    We will send you more information about these courses once we get access to employee email back. All other spring semester classes will resume by Monday, March 1.

    Your instructors will communicate with you about any changes to your individual classes, including the schedule of assignments, due dates, and adjusted meeting time. 

    Keep checking this and the technology interruptions for more details.

  • Corporate and Continuing Education Courses

    All Corporate and Continuing Education courses are canceled until Monday, February 22, unless you have been notified otherwise by your instructor. We will automatically process refunds for canceled courses once we get access to our systems back. Your instructors will communicate any changes to your classes scheduled after February 22 once we get access back.

    Thank you for your patience. Please keep checking this page for updates.

  • Impacts to the Semester Schedule/Academic Calendar

    Given that the cyberattack has interrupted our spring semester, the planned spring break from March 8–12 will now need to be teaching days for many classes. This is unfortunately the only way to keep students on track to complete the spring semester on time. Staying on track is important, especially for those of you in the last semester of your program who absolutely need to complete your program on time.

    Keep checking this and the technology interruptions for more details.

  • Classes You've Registered for in MyCollege/Student Planning

    While you cannot currently get in to MyCollege to register for classes, etc., any information already in MyCollege Student Planning (like classes you've already registered for) appears to be safe — we do not expect any impacts.

  • Student Support Services

    Once the college's official communications channels are available again, academic advising and all other student support services will start back up. Once college campuses re-open, limited student services will be available on campus just like they were before the technology interruptions.

    The college’s public website (www.cpcc.edu) links to many college services and tools (MyCollege, the employee directory, Blackboard, support forms, etc.). Even though the website is up, the links on the site to other college services will not work right now.

    If you’ve submitted a support form you found on the public website on or after February 11, staff have not been able to access your form. Please hold off on submitting a support form for now until we know our support staff are accessible to help — we want to make sure we can respond to your request.

  • How to Get Help Right Now

    Central Piedmont Cares

    Connect with the Central Piedmont Cares team by completing the request for help form to let us know how we can help you. Please include your phone number so a support specialist can reach out to you directly.

    Student Assistance Program 

    As a reminder, you and your household family members still have access to the McLaughlin Young Student Assistance Program, which offers short-term counseling, expert legal or financial consultation, and work-life resources.

    Visit the student assistance program page to learn more.

  • Brightspace

    All Central Piedmont online courses will now use Brightspace instead of Blackboard. If you have not used Brightspace yet, you can start learning how to use Brightspace using these resources:

  • Student Gmail Email Account, Communication with Your Instructors

    It is safe for you to use your college Gmail if you currently have access.

    Central Piedmont employees, including instructors, lost access to their employee email on February 11. Employees are now able to get back into their email, but it could take some time for all employees to reactivate their accounts and to then get their new emails organized. Please re-send any messages you may have sent to your instructor(s) or any Central Piedmont employee since February 11.

    It’s tough to be disconnected. Your instructors are eager to reconnect with you.

    As always, please be careful in opening any suspicious emails or emails from anyone you don’t know — these could be phishing attempts. Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know. Remember, Central Piedmont will never ask for your password or any personal information through email or text.

    IT security tips

  • Chromebooks

    You can use still use the document creation and storage features of your Chromebook without having to log in with your Central Piedmont credentials. However, until we get access to our systems back, you won't be able to access Central Piedmont-provided services through your Chromebook.

  • Events

    Keep checking the college events calendar for details.

Financial Aid Updates

  • Withdrawals and Refunds

    If you stay enrolled in your classes right now, your financial aid award will not be impacted. Withdrawing from your classes may impact your financial aid eligibility and the financial aid you may have already received. If you are receiving financial aid and never attended a course you had registered for, or if you stop attending all your courses, you may owe money back to the Department of Education. Check with your financial aid counselor before withdrawing from any courses. (We have listed financial aid counselor contacts in the next section). Learn more about how withdrawing affects financial aid.

    The financial aid refund schedule may be adjusted based on when we get access to technology back. Learn more about financial aid refunds.

    Thank you for your patience. We encourage you to stay the course as we resolve technical issues to keep you on track this semester.

  • Financial Aid Counselor Contacts

    College phones are still down. Please email your financial aid advisor with any questions:

    Student Counselor Name and Email
    General Financial Aid Questions
    A Last Names Caitlin Shewell (caitlin.shewell@cpcc.edu)
    B–C Last Names Rocky Coleman (rocky.coleman@cpcc.edu)
    D–F Last Names Jordan Dalto (jordan.dalto@cpcc.edu)
    G–H Last Names Steven Bailey (steven.bailey@cpcc.edu)
    I–L Last Names Nickolas Shewell (nickolas.shewell@cpcc.edu)
    M Last Names Hunter Allen (hunter.allen@cpcc.edu)
    N–Q Last Names Jacob Mazur (jacob.mazur@cpcc.edu)
    R–T Last Names Rashaun Banks (rashaun.banks@cpcc.edu)
    U–V Last Names Jordan Dalto (jordan.dalto@cpcc.edu)
    W–Z Last Names Tommy O’Neil (tommy.oneil@cpcc.edu)
    Veterans Affairs General Questions Glenda Gibson (glenda.gibson@cpcc.edu)
    Veterans Affairs Certification Questions Lynette Cook (lynette.cook@cpcc.edu)

  • Veterans Affairs Education Benefits

    If you are receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits, there will be no change in your benefit as long as you stay enrolled in your current classes. If you drop a class without notice, change a program without proper advising, or withdraw from a second term class that has been approved, your aid may be affected. Please contact your academic advisor or a VA certifying official:

  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

    You can still submit your FAFSA right now. If you have not already submitted your 2020-21 or 2021-22 FAFSA, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applying early by submitting your 2021-22 FAFSA as soon as possible increases your chances of getting free aid you don’t have to repay, such as grants or scholarships. (Remember that you have to submit a FAFSA each school year.)

    Central Piedmont will process all 2020-21 FAFSAs as soon as possible once we get access to our technology back.

    Submit your FAFSA.

  • Satisfactory Academic Progress

    If you receive financial aid and/or veterans’ affairs educational benefits, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Learn more about standards of academic progress.

    When we get access to MyCollege back, you will be able to view any documents received and/or needed to process your financial aid application and award.

  • CARES Act Student Relief Grants

    CARES Student Relief Grant funds will still be available for the spring semester. The dates when CARES funds are disbursed will be adjusted based on when we get access to technology back. Learn more about CARES Act Student Relief Grants.

Applying to the College/Future Students

  • New Applications

    You can still submit the admissions application via the College Foundation of North Carolina.

    International students (F-1 visa) applying from abroad cannot apply to Central Piedmont at this time. Once we get access to systems back, apply as an international student.

    Please keep checking this page for updates.

  • If You Had an Application Started

    Your information is safe, and you do not need to reapply. If you submitted your application during the technology interruption, the college will download after the interruption has been resolved.

    If you submitted an international student (F-1 visa) application during this time, please resubmit it to geneva.coleman@cpcc.edu.

  • New Student Orientation and Advising

    Previously scheduled new student orientation and advising sessions have been cancelled due to the technology interruption. Once we announce that systems are back up, please register for an upcoming orientation or advising session. 

Scheduled Testing

Read the message from Dr. Deitemeyer

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