News and Features

What's going on in the Central Piedmont community and what Central Piedmont is doing in the community.

  • Certified Medical Assistant Careers Are on the Rise

    According to a recent article published by Central Piedmont partner Novant Health, certified medical assistants are in high demand. In fact, the profession is expected to grow 19 percent over the next decade as the baby boomer generation grows older.

    As this population ages, physicians across the country will need help addressing this demographic’s preventative medical service needs. Certified medical assistants can help, easing doctors’ workloads by providing assistance in the following areas:

    • administration (organizing medical records, scheduling appointments, and receiving patients)
    • clinical care (recording vital signs, drawing blood, assisting with medical examinations, and administering immunizations)
    • lab work (from collection to testing)

    For more than 50 years, Central Piedmont’s certified medical assistant program has been producing graduates who are equipped with the above skill sets and prepared to pursue a successful career in healthcare.

    Our graduates are critical thinkers and problem solvers who enter the workforce with a high degree of technical skills, effectiveness, and efficiency. As a result, they are highly recruited by physician’s offices, urgent care centers, medical clinics, outpatient surgery centers, and ambulatory centers across the region.

    Learn more about this in-demand career or how to enroll in Central Piedmont’s certified medical assistant program.

  • Call for Papers: Fall and Winter 2020 Issues of Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice

    Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice (TALTP), a peer-reviewed journal published by Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina, is aimed toward instructors of American literature courses in four- and two-year universities and colleges.

    The journal is currently accepting submissions for our fall 2020 and winter 2020 issues:

    • Fall 2020 issue: Teaching Horror and the Weird in the American Literature Classroom, to be guest edited by Chris Brawley, author of "Nature and the Numinous in Mythopoeic Fantasy Literature."
    • Winter 2020 issue: Teaching Western and Native American Literature, to be guest edited by Susan M. Stone, author of works on 19th-century regionalism, gender, and Native American literature and culture.

    Learn more about Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice.

  • Message to the College on Coronavirus: Governor Cooper Extends Phase 3 Until at Least Nov. 13

    North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier today Phase 3 of statewide coronavirus restrictions will remain in effect until at least Nov. 13.

    In Phase 3, which began Oct. 2, bars, entertainment venues, movie theaters, and large outdoor venues were allowed to reopen with capacity restrictions. Capacity limits remained in place for restaurants, and mass gatherings were limited as well — 25 for indoors and 50 for outdoors.

    How Central Piedmont is Responding during Coronavirus

    Central Piedmont is offering courses in multiple formats — online, hybrid, blended, and face-to-face. (Hybrid and blended courses include both online and some face-to-face instruction.)

    For students who attend classes on campus, please read the Student Guide to Returning to Campus carefully. It is important you continue to follow all of the safety practices detailed in the guide. These include wearing a face covering, keeping a social distance from others, washing your hands frequently, self-monitoring for possible COVID-19 symptoms, and staying home if you feel ill at all.

    Employees are encouraged to read the Guide for Returning to Campus to learn how to best keep yourselves, your teammates and students as healthy and safe as possible.

    Registration for the spring 2021 semester begins Nov. 9. In addition, registration for Corporate and Continuing Education courses is ongoing. A complete listing of spring 2021 classes, including details such as section, prerequisites, and course descriptions are now available through Student Planning. Log into MyCollege to plan your class schedule. When it is the date/time of your priority registration, select "Register Now" to complete the registration process. 

  • Lowes Foundation grant supports Opportunity Scholarship Initiative

    The Lowes Foundation has awarded Central Piedmont a $52,500 grant, as part of the college's Powering a Stronger Future campaign, to support five Opportunity Scholarships at the college.

    Central Piedmont’s Opportunity Scholarship Initiative provides low-income students with a pathway to a degree and greater economic mobility by covering the full cost of attendance – tuition, books, and fees – for two years. Recipients also receive a notebook computer to meet their digital needs.

    Central Piedmont’s $52,500 grant is part of a larger, $9.25 million commitment the Lowes Foundation made to the greater Charlotte region on Oct. 13, to support some of the most critical challenges facing Charlotte today: providing safe affordable housing, continuing to grow the skilled trade industry, ensuring access to technology, and boosting small businesses hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Central Piedmont will use its grant funds to support students participating in the ROC (Rebuilding Opportunities in Construction) program – an initiative that trains and certifies high school students for in-demand trade skills in the construction industry – and/or students who are interested in pursuing a construction-focused career pathway.

    Learn more about the Lowes Foundation’s $9.25 million commitment and the many organizations it will benefit.

    Learn more about scholarship opportunities at Central Piedmont or the college’s partnership with the ROC program.

  • Message to the College on Coronavirus: Governor Cooper Moves State to Phase 3

    North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier today the state will move into Phase 3 of easing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Phase 3 will go into effect Friday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m.

     Under phase 3:

    • Movie theaters and conference centers can operate at 30% capacity or 100 people, whichever is less.
    • Bars may operate at 30% outdoor capacity or 100 people, whichever is less.
    • Small outdoor venues that hold fewer than 10,000 people can operate at 30% capacity or 100 people, whichever is less.
    • Large outdoor venues that hold 10,000 or more can operate at 7% capacity.
    • Outdoor amusement parks can operate at 30% capacity.

     Among the continued requirements:

    • Face coverings remain mandatory for people over age 5.
    • Mass gatherings remain limited to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
    • The existing alcohol curfew is extended.

    The college continues to offer its fall classes in multiple formats – online, hybrid, blended, and face-to-face. (Hybrid and blended courses include both online and some face-to-face instruction.) 8-week session fall classes begin Oct. 14, and Nov. 11.

    For students who attend classes on campus, please read the Student Guide to Returning to Campus carefully. It’s important you follow all of the safety practices detailed in the guide. These include wearing a face covering, keeping a social distance from others, washing your hands frequently, self-monitoring for possible COVID-19 symptoms, and staying home if you feel ill at all.

    Employees are encouraged to read the Guide for Returning to Campus to learn how to best keep their teammates and students as healthy and safe as possible going forward.

    Class registration for fall term is ongoing through Nov. 10. Continuing Education Registration is ongoing until all seats are filled. 

    Thank you for all that you continue to do to keep our community safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.

  • Small Business Center to offer two free webinar series this fall

    To help small businesses navigate any startup and/or growth challenges they are experiencing during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Central Piedmont Community College’s Small Business Center is offering two free webinar series this fall focused on “HVAC business development” and “non-profit capacity building post-COVID.”

    HVAC Business Development Series
    The demand for heating and air-conditioning services is anticipated to increase over the next five years with industry revenue forecasted to increase from $84 billion to $100 billion. This is an ideal time to plan entry into the industry. Technicians thinking about striking out on their own will find value in this series, which will equip them with the business skills needed to transition from a technician to small business owner. This series is designed for individuals with existing skills and licenses to start a business, as well as those interested in gaining the business skills to one day obtain the necessary industry certificates and licenses.

    Post-COVID Non-Profit Series

    This timely series will cover new ground and provide specific strategies to leverage during this era of social isolation. Attendees will discover how to elevate their board, find donors and dollars, and make virtual fundraising work for them. The series will be led by John Curtis, Ph.D., founder of IOD, Inc., and is tailored to help local nonprofit founders excel in the marketplace.

    Small business owners interested in enrolling in one of the above sessions are encouraged to register early; slots fill quickly. For more information or questions, email renee.hode@cpcc.edu.

  • Central Piedmont and Queens partner to launch RoyalUp program

    Central Piedmont and Queens University of Charlotte announced the launch of its RoyalUp program – a new pathway to a bachelor’s degree that aims to expand college access to more students – on Sept. 25.

    Students who enroll in RoyalUp will take their first two years of classes at Central Piedmont and finish their bachelor’s degree at Queens. Students who maintain a 2.5 GPA or above are guaranteed admission as well as a $10,000 annual scholarship at Queens. This plan offers a new, cost-effective and direct pathway for Central Piedmont students who want to pursue a four-year degree.

    “This public-private partnership is unique and will be a great benefit to students in Mecklenburg County. We are excited to offer this option and pathway to our students who will thrive at Queens, where they will enjoy small class sizes, relationships with professors and a strong surrounding community,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “At the same time, this partnership is a great example of the higher-education community in Charlotte working together to build more avenues to greater economic mobility.”

    Learn more about the RoyalUp program.

    Missed the event? Watch the digital recording of the live announcement.

  • Message to the College on Coronavirus: State Health Department App to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has launched the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification App to help slow the spread of COVID-19 across the state.

    The NCDHHS hopes college students and college employees statewide will download the app, which seeks to proactively notify students, faculty, and staff about potential exposure to the coronavirus so they may act quickly to protect themselves and their communities.

    The NCDHHS believes the more people who use the SlowCOVIDNC app, the more effective campuses and communities across the state will be in slowing the spread of COVID-19.

    Find download instructions and learn more about the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification App and its privacy protections on the app website.

    Questions? Email NCHealthIT@dhhs.nc.gov.

    Since the pandemic began, Central Piedmont has implemented its own set of “slowing the spread” initiatives to ensure a safe learning and working environment for all. These are outlined on the Return to Campus website and include:

    • creating wellness stations, equipped with optional infrared temperature checks, face coverings, hand sanitizer, and latex gloves
    • making face coverings mandatory by all individuals on campus
    • developing posters, fliers, floor stickers, seating charts, and more to remind individuals of the three Ws (wear face coverings, wash hands, and wait six-feet apart)
    • requiring individuals scheduled to be on-campus to complete the online attestation form weekly
    • and transitioning the majority of instruction online to create flexible class formats, and limiting on-campus meetings for students, faculty, and staff.

    Thank you for following our safety protocols and doing all you can to keep yourself and each other safe.

    Visit coronavirus information for all of Central Piedmont's updates on the pandemic.

  • Central Piedmont to participate in SECU Bridge to Career Program

    Central Piedmont Community College is participating in the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation Bridge to Career Cohort Program, an initiative that seeks to remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials through the workforce continuing education division of their local community college. The goal is to help students establish sustainable wage careers within their local communities.

    Central Piedmont is one of 50 community colleges in the state to receive funding for up to 30, $500 scholarships, as well as an additional $3,000 to hire an Education Navigator through the Bridge to Career Cohort Program. The Education Navigator is responsible for administering the program, guiding the cohort through the program and connecting them with the soft skills and interview preparation trainings needed to alleviate any barriers to job attainment.

    The scholarship program will be administered by Central Piedmont’s College and Career Readiness department with support from the college’s Financial Aid office and the Grants Administration team. The College and Career Readiness department will identify and select eligible students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in the college’s commercial driver license, welding and phlebotomy programs; and provide support services to the student cohort. Once named a scholarship recipient, students may apply their scholarship monies toward registration fees, books, certification fees, course supplies or any other educational expenditures charged to their college account.

    “Our team is excited to help students receive the workforce training and assistance they need to find employment opportunities in Mecklenburg County and beyond,” said Sheena Ashley, director of career development and NextGen at Central Piedmont. “We will walk with them every step of the way, providing them with support services, such as advising, career planning and coaching, to ensure their personal and professional success.”

    All 58 N.C. community colleges were invited to participate in the Bridge to Career Cohort Program for FY 2020-2021. To apply for the increased scholarship funds available through the cohort program (scholarships: $15,000; program support staff: $3,000), Central Piedmont had to submit a Request for Funding Proposal.

    To learn more about the SECU Bridge to Career Program, the eligibility requirements and more, please visit cpcc.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.

  • Small Business Center to Provide Free Government Contracting Webinar Series

    To help small businesses navigate any startup and/or growth challenges they are experiencing during the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Center is offering a series of free government contracting webinars in September and October.

    The series will focus on the following topics:

    Be sure to register early; slots fill quickly.

    Questions? Email renee.hode@cpcc.edu.