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Central Piedmont partners with Facebook to offer Digital Marketing Certificate
In an ongoing effort to ensure local residents are equipped with the digital skills needed to compete in today’s economy, Central Piedmont Community College has partnered with Facebook to offer a short-term workforce Digital Marketing Certificate program led through the college’s Small Business Center.
According to Burning Glass Labor Insights, digital marketing skills were required in more than 20 percent of the job posts listed across 30 different occupations in 2018. A similar study conducted by Emsi (economicmodeling.com) on the local level, found that Charlotte organizations, including banks and retailers, posted more than 6,600 jobs over the past 12 months that sought candidates with digital and social media marketing skills.
Recognizing the need for more digital marketing professionals in the marketplace, Central Piedmont’s Small Business Center will offer the Digital Marketing Certificate beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Designed for working adults, the six-month program will be offered as a non-degree program. No transcript or college application is required. Mostly delivered online, the program will include seven in-person sessions. The program will cost $2,250, with partial $1,000 and $2,000 scholarships available.
Top marketing professionals from Facebook, LinkedIn, Zillow, Spanx, and others created the program content which will cover a variety of topics, ranging from email marketing and social media marketing, to marketing analytics and paid search/display advertising.
Participants who complete the program will:
- Boost their portfolio with real-world projects, including a digital marketing plan, Facebook ad, email marketing campaign, and more to add to their portfolio
- earn a certificate endorsed and co-branded by Facebook and Central Piedmont
- prove they are top candidates and job-ready with core marketing concepts and practical technical skills
Central Piedmont’s Small Business Center will begin accepting scholarship applications Thursday, October 10 at cpcc.edu/digital-marketing. To reserve a spot or to learn more, visit cpcc.edu/digital-marketing.
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Criminal Justice Technology Department Hosts Town Hall
On October 2, 2019, the Central Piedmont Community College Criminal Justice Technology department hosted a Town Hall-style question and answer session with Arizona Appellate Court Judge Samuel Thumma. Program chair Jeri Guido and instructor Anne Marie Garmon welcomed the judge to the Levine Campus. Adjunct faculty member Sean Quarmby moderated the event. Students from Central Piedmont and UNC Charlotte were in attendance and asked the judge several intuitive questions regarding law enforcement, juvenile justice, probation and parole, and the law in general.
The students would later be commended by the judge for their thoughtful questions. One student asked a question relating to one of Judge Thumma's written opinions. It was evident the judge was quite pleased and impressed with this student. Program chair Guido commended all of the students for their participation and attentiveness during the session.
The Central Piedmont criminal justice technology department is planning on hosting similar events in the future.
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Central Piedmont Partners with Junior Achievement
Central Piedmont and Junior Achievement of the Central Carolinas have partnered to provide 10th–12th grade students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, charter schools, and surrounding counties with an interactive learning experience about the community college.
Junior Achievement, the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K–12 about work readiness and financial literacy, will host 50–100 students daily in their Finance Park facility between October and June.
Central Piedmont debuted its storefront location within the facility during the week of October 7. Central Piedmont developed the space to educate students, teachers, volunteers, and parents about the college’s academic offerings, outreach programs, and financial investment.
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Central Piedmont, UNC Charlotte Announce Innovative Co-Admission Program
UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College today announced a new co-admission program to facilitate degree completion and student success by creating a seamless pathway for individuals who want to start their degree at Central Piedmont and complete their degree at UNC Charlotte.
This innovative co-admission program, called 49erNext, allows both Central Piedmont and UNC Charlotte to engage in a fully integrated proactive advising model, ensuring students’ progress toward the timely completion of a baccalaureate degree. As participants in the 49erNext program, students are eligible to transfer into more than 75 undergraduate degree programs (130+ majors) at UNC Charlotte, as long as they earn an associate degree at Central Piedmont with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
“UNC Charlotte admits the most transfer students of all universities in the UNC System so this partnership with Central Piedmont will ensure that we are meeting students’ academic, financial aid, and career planning needs while making the transfer experience more seamless,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois. “Nearly 60% of students in the inaugural 49erNext class are from underrepresented populations, and this program is designed to produce a greater number of workforce-ready, qualified graduates at a significant cost savings to them.”
In addition to proactive advising, students enrolled in the program will also have access to:
- a coordinated set of support services in critical areas like career planning and financial aid;
- free student privileges on UNC Charlotte’s campus including admission to select Charlotte 49ers athletic events, library access, and admission to campus events;
- discounted CATS all-access light rail and bus pass;
- discounted access to UNC Charlotte recreational facilities.
For fall 2019, 111 students are enrolled in the 49erNext program. This past year, about 4,000 transfer students enrolled at UNC Charlotte—69 percent came from a North Carolina community college and 29 percent of those came from Central Piedmont Community College.
“Central Piedmont is excited about the 49erNext program because it offers students a direct pathway to a four-year degree as well as an avenue to greater economic mobility,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “Institutions the size of Central Piedmont and UNC Charlotte sometimes can be challenging to navigate for students. Those students in the 49erNext program will have a clearly marked map leading from one institution to the next. This program will serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community well as we seek to produce more individuals with bachelor’s degrees to meet our growing workforce demands.”
Both institutions have agreed to make collective institutional decisions and implement policies and processes that commit to:
- Put students first -- enable students to earn a quality degree in a timely manner;
- Foster success -- ensure and expect all students to achieve their full potential;
- Ensure equity -- ensure that all students, regardless of gender, race, income or family educational history, have equal opportunity.
Building on the partnership with Central Piedmont, UNC Charlotte hopes to expand 49erNext to other North Carolina community colleges.
Students interested in learning more about the 49erNext program should visit our web page or send us an email.
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$1-million gift establishes scholarships for students in 49er Next program
Peggy and Bob Culbertson of Charlotte have committed $1 million to Central Piedmont Community College to provide scholarships for financially needy students. The college will use a significant portion of the gift to establish the Peggy and Bob Culbertson 49erNext Scholarship Program to assist students in the newly created 49erNext Program. The Culbertson gift also will fund scholarships for Central Piedmont students pursuing career-focused technical degrees and preparing to enter the workforce.
49erNext is a new co-admission program to facilitate degree completion and student success by creating a seamless pathway for individuals who want to start their degree work at Central Piedmont and complete their degree at UNC Charlotte. This innovative co-admission approach allows both Central Piedmont and UNC Charlotte to engage in a fully integrated, proactive advising model, ensuring students’ progress toward the timely completion of a baccalaureate degree. As participants in the 49erNext Program, students are eligible to transfer into more than 75 undergraduate degree programs (130+ majors) at UNC Charlotte, as long as they earn an associate degree at Central Piedmont with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
The Peggy and Bob Culbertson 49erNext Scholarship Program will provide two-year, full-tuition scholarships to full-time students with financial need who are in the 49erNext Program. News of both 49erNext and the Peggy and Bob Culbertson 49erNext Scholarship was shared today at a signing ceremony held by UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont at UNC Charlotte’s Center City Building. John Culbertson spoke at the ceremony on behalf of his parents.
“We are big on upward mobility and believe education is absolutely the best answer,” Culbertson said. “Our goal is to give those who need financial assistance the opportunity to attend school. Central Piedmont is the perfect place for our gift because we can help students training for a vocational career and college transfer students.
A pilot class of 111 students opened the 49erNext program in August. This past year, about 4,000 transfer students enrolled at UNC Charlotte—69 percent came from a North Carolina community college, and 29 percent of those came from Central Piedmont.
“Central Piedmont is excited about the 49erNext program because it offers students a direct pathway to a four-year degree as well as an avenue to greater economic mobility,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “Institutions the size of Central Piedmont and UNC Charlotte sometimes can be challenging to navigate for students. Those students in the 49erNext program will have a clearly marked map leading from one institution to the next. This program will serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community well as we seek to produce more individuals with bachelor’s degrees to meet our growing workforce demands.
Students interested in learning more about the 49erNext program can visit the website or send an email.
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Central Piedmont’s partner Year Up launches Charlotte location
The national nonprofit Year Up celebrated the launch of its new Charlotte location with a breakfast and ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at Central Piedmont Community College.
Speaking at the event were Torrey Smith, Players Coalition Board Member and Two-time Super Bowl Champion; Year Up President Cyril Turner; Year Up Charlotte Site Director Elise Ford; National Year Up Site Director Roland Selby; Central Piedmont Community College President Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer; and Bank of America Community Engagement Executive Kathryn Black.
The free yearlong program prepares students (ages 18-24) for entry-level technology and customer-facing roles. Participants spend one semester taking technical and professional skills classes taught by Central Piedmont and Year Up staff, and the following semester in a full-time, credit-bearing internship at a corporate partner firm.
The program is provided to students at no cost. Throughout the year, students earn college credits and a weekly stipend, and have access to Central Piedmont’s many services, including the college’s library and tutoring resources, as well as additional Year Up services.
“We are excited because this partnership fits so well with the mission, vision, and historic purpose of Central Piedmont,” said Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “Central Piedmont has always been a driver of economic mobility. The college has always worked to build and offer pathways to careers and further education. We are proud to join with Year Up Charlotte and Bank of America as we seek to transform lives and bring new possibilities to individuals and their families.”
The first 53 students began classes in August 2019; the program will grow to serve 120 young adults over the next year.
Nationwide, 90% of Year Up graduates are employed or attending college within four months of completing Year Up, with average starting salaries of $40,000/year.
The program received a grant from the Players Coalition in Jan. 2019 to support the program’s expansion into new cities like Charlotte and help Year Up change perceptions of Opportunity Youth from social liabilities to economic assets.
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Cato Campus to host annual Fall Plant Sale Oct. 4–5
The Central Piedmont Community College Horticulture Technology program invites you to attend its annual Fall Plant Sale. 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.
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Central Piedmont Student Awarded Scholarship in Cytotechnology
Congratulations to Jeani Orr, Central Piedmont Cytotechnology student, who recently was awarded the Cytotechnology Bob Gay scholarship.
The scholarship was established by Kim Kowalczik in memory of her father, Bob Gay, who made significant contributions to the education of cytotechnology students and was a founding member of the American Society of Cytotechnology (ASCT). The scholarship awards $1,000 and sponsorship (travel and accommodations) to the upcoming ASCT annual conference to an outstanding student.
Candidates must have completed the first six months of training in an accredited cytotechnology program and must be members of the ASCT. The award is based on academic performance, financial need, service and a demonstrated potential to make significant contributions to the cytotechnology profession. Student membership with ASCT is complimentary and is a requirement for the scholarship application.
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Central Piedmont kicks off fall semester
Approximately 18,000 students from Mecklenburg County and beyond converged at Central Piedmont Community College on Thursday, Aug. 15, as the college kicked off its 2019 fall semester.
Throughout the day, Student Life representatives and other staff members were stationed at information tables across all six Central Piedmont campuses to help ease students’ first day of class.
Representatives guided students to classes, answered their questions, and provided them with important college information, such as valuable campus resources, parking guidelines, and available extracurricular activities.
In addition, Central Piedmont’s president, Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, welcomed students at the Central Campus as they began their studies to enhance their skills and prepare for future careers.
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Architectural Students Win First Place in National Design Competition
The Central Piedmont design team of Megan Burns, Valeria Ramon Vacas, and Eric Schiavo, won first place in the fifth annual National Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP) Student Design Competition. Led by Architectural Technology Program Chair Travis Smith, Associate AIA, the team’s work was compared against entries from 23 other schools in 14 states.
During the competition, students were asked to design an Ecology Center in Balandra Beach, California. The students were given a specific site and program, and asked to develop a complete building design that included a material proposal and architectural details. This is the second year Central Piedmont has participated in the competition. The students completed the design as part of their ARC 213 Design Project course.
The jurors, comprised of architects Rosa T. Sheng (SmithGroup), Kristen DiStefano (Atelier Ten), and Prescott Reavis (SEED), commended the Central Piedmont team for their “very strong integrated presentation which provided a clean, clear communication of the concept and execution.” The students were commended for their “beautiful diagrams and imagery,” as well as their “cultural and geographical investigations that informed the site analysis.” The first place team received a $300 cash prize and certificates.
For more information on the competition, please contact Melanie Reddrick at melanie.reddrick@cpcc.edu. Learn more about the Architectural Technology department on our website.