News and Features

Central Piedmont is preparing for its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation in 2024. Our accreditation is vitally important since it impacts the college’s ability to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates to students. It even affects students' ability to receive financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

We need help from our employees and students in developing a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is a requirement of the college’s SACSCOC reaffirmation process. The QEP topic will focus on an issue Central Piedmont can improve upon that deals with student learning outcomes and student success.

Current students and employees can help in the coming months by:

• virtually attending “Campus Conversations” events in March or April
• completing an online survey, arriving in your Central Piedmont inbox in late August
• submitting a research proposal this fall that focuses on a specific student barrier or challenge

View our “Introduction to the SACSCOC QEP Process” video for more details on the accreditation process.

In a February 24, news conference, N.C. Governor Roy Cooper announced he will begin to ease some statewide COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The current statewide curfew or state-at-home order was set to expire February 28.

Restrictions being reduced include:

• Alcohol sales cutoff at restaurants and bars will be extended from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Bars will be able to open indoors at 30% capacity or 250 people, whichever is less. The order takes effect Friday at 5 p.m. and lasts until March 26.
• Movie theaters are allowed to operate now at 30% capacity, with a cap of 250 people.
• Outdoor amphitheaters and concert venues can reopen at 30% capacity.
• The statewide curfew for all non-essential travel from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. also is expiring, so restaurants and bars will be able to extend their hours.
• More spectators will be allowed at high school, college and professional sports events. The number allowed will depend on the venue size. Arenas with a capacity of as many as 5,000 people will be able to open with up to 15% capacity, as long as they follow safety protocols.

For more information and resources on COVID-19, please visit the college's coronavirus information page.

Central Piedmont adapted quickly to a radically different environment in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Over the last year, the college has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic promptly by quickly developing new safety protocols and practices and addressing it students’ and employees’ needs in the following ways:

• moving more than 1,500 class sections online. Staff also moved all necessary student services to online/virtual delivery.
• providing more than 1,270 laptops and 1,120 Wi-Fi hotspots as free loaners to students and employees. (As long as students are enrolled, they can keep and use the devices free-of-charge.)
• raising more than $120,000 specifically for the Student and Employee Emergency Funds.
• developing safety protocols and contact tracing procedures. (Even though some students and employees have contracted COVID, the college knows of no cases in which a person caught the virus from someone else on campus.)
• welcoming students back in programs that require in-person instruction. Some students returned to campus as early as May 2020
• hosting a drive-through graduation ceremony for 2020 graduates at Cato Campus in July.
• establishing Central Piedmont Cares. To date, the Central Piedmont Cares and Single Stop teams have assisted more than 70 employees and 3,800 students. Categories of assistance provided include financial needs, food pantry, medical concerns, mental/emotional wellness, technology, and legal services.
• expanding on-campus instruction for the summer 2021 semesters.

Given the ongoing rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, Central Piedmont hopes to return to normal on-campus operations in time for the fall 2021 semester. Regardless of when things get back to “normal,” the college will continue its work around student success and community service, both of which are guided by its vision, mission, and values.

To learn more Central Piedmont’s other COVID-related news, visit cpcc.edu/news and select “COVID-19/coronavirus updates” from the left navigation.

The N.C. State Board of Community Colleges has awarded Central Piedmont Community College its 2021 Distinguished Partners in Excellence Award for its successful, ongoing partnership with Bank of America and Year Up.

The State Board’s Distinguished Partners in Excellence Award honors an exemplary employer, business or industry group that has demonstrated decisive involvement and a firm commitment to the professional development of its employees and/or to the development of North Carolina's workforce through its partnership efforts with one or more of the 58 community colleges.

Central Piedmont’s partnership with Year Up and Bank of America represents the award’s criteria well. The Year Up Charlotte program – which receives support from the Duke Endowment and the John M. Belk Endowment as well as Bank of America – strives to prepare low-income students throughout the Charlotte region for economically mobile careers. Nationwide, more than 90 percent of Year Up students identify as a person of color.

“We are proud of the partnership between Central Piedmont Community College, Year Up and Bank of America to continue to strengthen the economic mobility opportunities within the Charlotte market. Collectively our partnership provided the students the tools, but it is important to note these motivated and smart young adults leveraged the resources and proudly exceed all of our expectations,” said Charles Bowman, Bank of America’s Charlotte Market President. “We look forward to deepening the partnership and continuing to make a positive impact for the young adults and adults of this community and region.”

Launched in 2019, Year Up Charlotte offers first-semester students the opportunity to take credit-bearing technical courses taught by Central Piedmont faculty along with professional skills classes taught by staff of the national non-profit Year Up. Students earn a stipend and have access to the college’s many services, including its library and tutoring resources.

“Through their commitment and support, Central Piedmont and Bank of America have given Year Up Charlotte students the opportunity to learn in-demand skills and make an impact in corporate America,” said Elise Ford, site director for Year Up Charlotte. “We are thrilled to continue partnering with Central Piedmont and Bank of America as we work to empower more young people to redefine what talent looks like and where it comes from.”

In their second semester, Year Up Charlotte students enter a full-time, credit-earning internship at Bank of America or another corporate partner. There is no cost for students to participate in the program. Bank of America’s advocacy and strong leadership role, coupled with Year Up’s outcomes, have led other Charlotte-area companies to extend workplace-learning opportunities for the involved student population.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring 2020, Central Piedmont and Year Up provided laptops and personal Wi-Fi hotspots so students could continue their instruction online. Bank of America provided the interns with the same technology their employees use so they could work remotely.

“Central Piedmont is honored to receive the Distinguished Partners in Excellence Award with Bank of America and Year Up,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “When the

Year Up Charlotte program was launched at Central Piedmont in 2019, it was the largest opening class of students in Year Up’s history. From that point forward, with Bank of America’s generous support and intense engagement, Year Up Charlotte has been a superb, high-quality program that is transforming the lives of students. Central Piedmont’s goal is to help ensure the Year Up Charlotte program continues to be a model for other schools and cities to replicate.”

Of the partnership’s first cohort, 70 percent of graduates are now working at Bank of America full-time; 10 percent are enrolled in school full-time.

Year Up is a national nonprofit organization that serves more the 5,000 young people annually.

Learn more about Year Up.

See the complete list of 2021 N.C State Board of Community Colleges award recipients.

Learn more about Central Piedmont.

Spring semester 2021 hybrid classes can begin meeting on-campus Wednesday, Feb. 3. Students taking hybrid classes will check with their instructors over the next couple of days to confirm when their classes will meet on campus.

Students in classes that have been meeting on campus will continue coming to campus as specified by their instructors.

Students with questions about class meeting schedules have been asked to contact their instructors.

If you will be coming to campus for the first time this semester, remember to read the Employee Guide for Returning to Campus. Also, remember to complete the Health Acknowledgement form the Monday of each week you will be on campus.

Central Piedmont thanks its employees for working so hard this semester. Keep up the good work, and please stay safe.

Do you know a Central Piedmont Community College graduate who is making a tremendous difference in the community? Nominations are currently being sought for the 2021 Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award and the 2021 Young Alumni Award of Excellence. These awards recognize Central Piedmont graduates who have significantly benefited from their experiences at Central Piedmont and whose efforts have helped the community.

Nominations are being sought for individuals who have:

• demonstrated community involvement/professional involvement, social responsibility and impact
• acquired scholastic and learning skills that have led to continued personal and educational growth
• improved his or her economic status and social capital as a result of attending Central Piedmont
• invested in the lives of others and is seen as a role model
• graduated within the last 10 years (Young Alumni Award of Excellence only)

Individuals interested in applying should note:

• attendance at graduation is preferred
• political candidates may not be selected or honored in a year in which they are actively pursuing election or re-election

The college will present the award to this year’s winners virtually or at Central Piedmont’s commencement ceremony, depending on the status of the global pandemic. In addition, a one-year scholarship will be granted to a Central Piedmont student in an area of study reflective of the winner’s background.

Nomination forms are available on the Central Piedmont website.

Completed nomination forms should be submitted online; or mailed to Christa Newkirk, Office of Alumni Relations, P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC, 28235. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 12, 2021, at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Christa Newkirk at alumni@cpcc.edu or call 704.330.6808.

The N.C. State Board of Community Colleges has awarded Central Piedmont Community College its 2021 Distinguished Partners in Excellence award for its successful partnership with Year Up and Bank of America.

The State Board’s Distinguished Partners in Excellence award honors an exemplary employer, business, or industry group that has demonstrated decisive involvement and a firm commitment to the professional development of its employees and/or to the development of North Carolina's workforce through its partnership efforts with one or more of the 58 community colleges.

Central Piedmont’s partnership with Year Up and Bank of America represents the award’s criteria well. The Year Up program – which also receives support from the Duke Endowment and the John M. Belk Endowment – strives to prepare low-income, minority students throughout the Charlotte region for economically mobile careers.

Launched in 2019, Year Up offers first-semester students the opportunity to take credit-bearing technical courses taught by Central Piedmont faculty along with professional skills classes taught by staff of the national non-profit Year Up. Students earn a stipend and have access to the college’s many services, including its library and tutoring resources.

In their second semester, students enter a full-time, credit-bearing internship financed by Bank of America. There is no cost for students.

When the pandemic hit, Central Piedmont and Year Up provided laptops and personal Wi-Fi hotspots so students could continue their instruction online. Bank of America provided the interns with the same technology their employees use so they could work remotely.

Of the partnership’s first cohort, 70 percent of graduates are now working at Bank of America full-time; 10 percent are enrolled in school full-time.

Learn more about Year Up.

See the complete list of 2021 State Board of Community Colleges award recipients.

The Dickson Foundation of Charlotte has awarded Central Piedmont Community College a $500,000 grant to develop a new licensed practical nursing program at the college that will provide students with an accelerated path to a meaningful, family-sustaining career in the healthcare industry and address the employment needs of Charlotte’s healthcare sector. Thanks to the Foundation’s generous gift, the program will permanently be named the Dickson Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Central Piedmont.

“This gift will provide us with the resources we need to create a quality program,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “The funds will not only allow us to provide financial aid to our most in need students, but also enable us to hire full- and part-time faculty, develop challenging course content and purchase program-specific material and equipment that will produce quality graduates prepared to enter the workforce.”

Licensed practical nurses serve an important role in the healthcare delivery system, ensuring quality care for patients. They assist physicians and registered nurses in providing critical, essential services, including monitoring patients’ vital signs and supervising nursing assistants and collaborating with other members of the healthcare team. Licensed practical nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, private practices, medical offices and with home healthcare agencies.

Central Piedmont’s licensed practical nursing program will enable students to earn their professional credential in one year, preparing them for employment more quickly. This is especially important, given the median licensed practical nursing salary is $48,055, which offers a viable economic-mobility pathway for low-income residents in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

“The Foundation values and appreciates Central Piedmont’s important education and career training role in our community,” said R. Stuart Dickson, chairman of the board of directors for The Dickson Foundation of Charlotte. “The college is a critical resource in expanding opportunities for the citizens of Mecklenburg County. This grant addresses two of The Dickson Foundation’s priorities – education and healthcare. We are pleased to partner with Central Piedmont to begin and name this new program.”

The Dickson Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Central Piedmont will be based on the college’s Central Campus and will focus on patient data collection and subsequent care, safety and hygiene, medications, use of medical records, nursing procedures, applying anatomy and physiology, professional behavior, and healthcare law and policy.

The first cohort of licensed practical nursing students is expected to begin classes in fall 2021 and graduate in summer 2022. Upon completing the program, all of the program’s graduates will take the National Council Licensure Examination in Practical Nursing to become a nationally-certified licensed practical nurse. It is anticipated the program will begin with 18 students in its first year and grow to 40 students in the second year.

Central Piedmont will have the option to add students in subsequent years to meet student and workforce demand.

The Dickson Foundation of Charlotte is a longtime supporter of Central Piedmont and of healthcare and education in the Charlotte area. The Foundation’s grant will help the college further progress toward its Powering a Stronger Future campaign goal of $40 million.

Individuals interested in learning more about the Dickson Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Central Piedmont can contact Jeanette Cheshire, associate dean of nursing and nurse aid at Central Piedmont, at 704.330.6451 or at jeanette.cheshire@cpcc.edu.

In light of COVID-19 health directive clarifications provided earlier today by the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department and stringently following our pandemic safety protocols, Central Piedmont will move some career and technical education classes back to on-campus, in-person delivery.

Starting Thurs., Jan. 14, classes in the following program areas will resume on-campus, in-person classes:

• Basic Law Enforcement
• Cardiovascular Technology
• Cytotechnology
• Emergency Medical Science
• Human Services Technology
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Notary Public
• Nurse Aide
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Ophthalmic Medical Personnel
• Paralegal Technology
• Paramedic Training
• Pharmacy Technology
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Polysomnography
• Respiratory Therapy
• Surgical Technology

Class sections that began the semester as online or hybrid will continue online until Feb. 2, at which time the college will provide further guidance.

Students with questions about the mode of your classes – online or on-campus – contact your instructors directly and check Blackboard. The college will continue to follow pandemic-related executive orders from N.C. Governor Roy Cooper and recommendations issued by the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

The college encourages everyone to stay safe and vigilant in maintaining all of our safety practices, as COVID-19 cases are spiking in Mecklenburg County. Please keep wearing a facemask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently, and monitoring yourself for any possible COVID-19 symptoms.

For more information and resources on COVID-19, please visit the college's coronavirus page.

Central Piedmont is excited to announce Merancas IV, a new classroom building on its Merancas Campus in Huntersville, NC, will open its doors for select in-person courses in January 2021.

The new 67,660 square-foot facility, designed by ADW Architects and constructed by Rodgers, features:

• a campus library, including a computer classroom and student technology center
• four science labs
• nine general classrooms
• Middle College at Merancas Campus classrooms and offices
• reading and math labs
• student commons areas, including multi-purpose rooms, Student Government Association lounge and offices
• student study and lounge areas
• a campus administration office suite
• faculty office areas

“One of Central Piedmont’s core values is being student-centered and focused on student success,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “With this in mind, our new facility will help us better serve our students by providing them with additional spaces to not only study and learn, but also to engage with their peers and grow their leadership skills through our many Student Life programs and Student Government initiatives.”

The $27.5 million project was funded with Mecklenburg County 2013 Bonds.

If you are a student and are not sure if you have a class in the new facility, courses in this building have “Merancas IV” as the location on course schedules.

To familiarize yourself with the new building's location, view the Merancas Campus map.