News and Features

N.C. Governor Roy Cooper and Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen shared updates today on the COVID-19 County Alert System, warning that more than 90 percent of North Carolina counties are now designated as red or orange. All counties in the Charlotte region are designated in the red zone.

Please see the official news release from the Governor’s Office.

Central Piedmont reminds all students and employees to guard against COVID-19 spread during the holidays by always wearing a face mask and keeping a good social distance from others when in public, avoiding large indoor gatherings, and practicing other safety measures such as frequent hand washing and COVID-19 symptom monitoring.

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

Please stay safe as we look forward to the start of the spring 2021 semester.

Congratulations to the following Central Piedmont students who joined a binational team of Iraqi students and placed second in the Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge, a project administered by IREX and funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. They are:

• John Dale Ardiosa
• Nancy Guerrero
• Aiden Keith
• Aakriti Lakshmanan
• Anny Leon
• Jenna Louis
• Devin McKillop
• Eslam Shaalia
• Gwen Thompson

The Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge is a virtual exchange initiative that supports workforce development in the U.S., Iraq, and Jordan. Community college students from the U.S. and university students from Iraq and Jordan team up to solve global challenges facing the business sector across industries.

The program improves global citizenship, strengthens problem-solving skills, and develops enduring connections, while enhancing students’ job skills through online collaboration.

The Central Piedmont/Iraqi team created the mobile app "planet eARTh," which provides awareness of the impact environmental damage can have on Charlotte and Sulaimani through local artwork. Explore their video pitch and business concept.

Kudos to Central Piedmont’s Camelia Taheri, discipline chair of Global Business, and Nadine Russell, director of Global Learning, who facilitated the team over the past eight weeks. 

Learn more about the Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge.

Learn more about global learning at Central Piedmont.

Central Piedmont is collaborating with Cognizant, a Fortune 200 technology and professional services company, to provide a new customized digital skills training program to help aspiring IT professionals develop the skills necessary to succeed as a full stack engineer.

Slated for launch in January 2021, the program, supported through the North Carolina Community College Customized Training Program, will be free of charge to qualified individuals and will incorporate virtual on-the-job “pre-apprentice” experience guided by Cognizant professionals, along with classroom curriculum. Individuals who successfully complete the program will earn a nationally recognized education credential and have the opportunity to interview with Cognizant for a paid one-year apprenticeship. Cognizant plans to hire up to 25 graduates of the program in 2021.

“Central Piedmont is proud and delighted to partner with Cognizant and to help support Cognizant’s growth in Mecklenburg County,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. “The apprenticeship strategy Cognizant and the college is undertaking is innovative and could become a model for other growth companies who want to develop a sustainable talent pipeline.”

“Cognizant is pleased to be collaborating with Central Piedmont on this new initiative,” said Eric Westphal, senior director, Global Workforce Strategy and Operations, for Cognizant. “We are committed to pioneering workforce development strategies that both contribute to bridging the skills gap and uplifting the local communities while meeting our business goals. This new apprenticeship program will provide an avenue for developing more local talent to compete for high-demand technology jobs, as well as helping to fill Cognizant’s own need for skilled, digital talent.”

The initial eight-week pilot program will be open to up to 25 participants. The classroom curriculum and unpaid “pre-apprenticeship” aspect of the program will teach JAVA Programming as a foundation skill. Individuals can apply by submitting an interest form and résumé online to the program and sitting for the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® offered at Central Piedmont. Training will begin in late January 2021 with selected applicants.

Cognizant currently employs more than 1,000 workers in Mecklenburg County. The program is being delivered as part of the North Carolina Community College System’s Customized Training Program, which provides education, training, and support services for new, expanding, and existing eligible business and industries throughout the state. To be considered for the program businesses must demonstrate an appreciable capital investment, the creation of new jobs, and/or the deployment of new technology.

Central Piedmont Community College received more than $700,000 from JPMorgan Chase to meet community needs for economically mobile career pathways and pandemic-related relief. A $500,000 grant will help the college develop new, fully online training pathways in high-demand IT fields, including cybersecurity, health IT and forensic accounting. The funds will provide for course development, instructional capacity, technology and student support services.

In addition, JPMorgan Chase will extend a second grant of $235,000 to Central Piedmont to provide sub-grants to 11 Mecklenburg County non-profit organizations that are serving populations severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant funds will help them meet increased demands for services like housing, food, healthcare, legal assistance and technology among the Charlotte area’s most vulnerable populations.

“When JPMorgan Chase comes to a city, one of the first things we do is identify community partners that will help us not only connect with the community, but also actually make a long-term and sustainable impact on its residents and their economic mobility. We found a partner in Central Piedmont Community College,” said Dekonti Mends-Cole, vice president of corporate responsibility at JPMorgan Chase. “Central Piedmont does not just educate students; it also identifies the needs of the surrounding community and provides the tools and the programs to address them. We’re pleased to partner with the college to help the residents of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County thrive.”

These two grants are the latest in a history of support JPMorgan Chase has provided Central Piedmont. Since 2014, JPMorgan Chase has invested approximately $1.6 million in the college to support multiple programs, including truck driver training, electrical vehicle technology training, global logistics and distribution, and a customized training program for workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Approximately 525 students have earned credentials though these programs.

“What an incredible blessing it is to be included in a partnership with JPMorgan Chase, Central Piedmont and 10 other nonprofits to help people in need in our community. At Loaves & Fishes, we see the faces of children, families and seniors here in our community who don't know where their next meal is going to come from. It fills my heart to know this funding will help to ensure everyone in need will have a full plate for the days, weeks and months to come,” said Tina Postel, executive director of Loaves & Fishes.

“JPMorgan Chase understands well and supports generously Central Piedmont’s mission of helping students achieve career success and greater economic mobility by providing pathways to skills training that is relevant in our global economy,” said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president. “JPMorgan Chase is a true partner and leader in this community’s work to ensure a greater number of our neighbors get the opportunity and support to build family-sustaining careers. The college and Charlotte region are blessed to have such an intuitive and responsive partner like JPMorgan Chase.”

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has issued a curfew for North Carolinians and businesses, effective Friday, December 11.

The “modified stay-at-home order” will require people to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and most retail and entertainment businesses to close by 10 p.m. All on-site alcohol sales are required to end by 9 p.m., Cooper said.

Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of a family member is exempted from the curfew.

The governor said the move is to limit gatherings and to slow the spread of coronavirus. “We will do more if our trends do not improve,” Cooper said.

The modified stay-at-home order will remain in place until at least Jan. 8.

According to the Governor’s executive order, between Nov. 21 and Dec. 4, more than three-fourths of North Carolina counties were experiencing “substantial” or “critical” COVID-19 community spread, based on the new County Alert System developed by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The college encourages all community members to stay vigilant in maintaining all of our safety practices. Please keep wearing a facemask, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently, and monitoring yourself for any possible COVID-19 symptoms. Should you develop any symptoms or feel ill at all, please stay home and consult a physician.

Visit coronavirus information for return to campus guidelines and other updates on the pandemic.

The dental assisting and dental hygiene programs at Central Piedmont Community College will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit from Monday, April 5 through Wednesday, April 7, 2021 by a team representing the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

CODA is nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the sole agency to accredit dental and dental-related education programs conducted at the post-secondary level.

Submit Comments by Sat., Feb. 6

Third parties, including faculty, students, program administrators, specialty and dental-related organizations, patients, and consumers are invited to submit comments. Signed or unsigned comments will be accepted. Names and/or signatures will be removed from comments prior to forwarding them to the program. All comments must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program(s) being reviewed, or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. A copy of the accreditation standards and/or the commission’s policy on third party comments may be obtained by contacting the commission at ada.org/en/coda.

Public comments must be received by Saturday, February 6, 2021 and submitted to:

Commission on Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced a new set of face covering requirements today, calling them the state’s “best weapon” against a “dire” spread of COVID-19.

He said the state now has 20 counties considered “red,” where “critical spread” is occurring, under the state’s coronavirus alert system — double what it was when the color-coded alerts were introduced just last week.

Governor Cooper said his new executive order requires wearing a mask at home when friends are over as well as all public settings, including when at work, the gym, stores, and schools. The order also adds to business’ role in making sure customers wear masks inside stores and keep six feet apart. The new executive order goes into effect at 5 p.m., on Nov. 25, and runs through at least Dec. 11.

Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and the state is under Phase 3 of reopening and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people unless they are part of the same household. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 persons, however; face coverings must be worn outdoors if persons do not keep at least six feet from non-­household members.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has strongly advised people to stay home for the holiday. North Carolina does not have travel restrictions.

Governor Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, also urge people to celebrate Thanksgiving with safety precautions, including small groups, eating outside, social distancing of at least six feet with people outside your household, washing hands frequently and wearing a mask.

Last week, NCDHHS unveiled a new alert system that shows different color-coded levels of yellow, orange, and red to represent COVID-19 hotspots by county. The levels include different suggestions for how the counties can curb the spread of COVID-19. Read more about the new system in this Charlotte Observer article​. Mecklenburg County currently is coded yellow, which indicates “significant” spread. However, counties surrounding Mecklenburg are shown as orange (substantial spread) and red (critical spread).

Central Piedmont Community College and Bank of America today announced a new $1-million jobs initiative partnership to help students of color successfully complete the education and training necessary to enter the workforce and embark on a path to success in the Charlotte region. This initiative builds on Bank of America’s ongoing work in the communities it serves to address underlying issues facing individuals and communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the current health crisis.

“Bank of America has a long-standing commitment to advancing economic mobility in the U.S., and particularly in Charlotte region,” said Bank of America Charlotte Market President Charles Bowman. “Our focus on workforce development has been integral in creating opportunities for local residents, and for that reason we have a history of supporting Central Piedmont. Recent events that heighten the urgency to advance racial equity have driven us to do more, and this financial grant is a first step of that commitment.”

The initiative is part of the bank’s recent nationwide $1-billion, four-year commitment to advance racial  equity and economic opportunity, and a $25-million commitment recently announced to enhance upskilling and reskilling for Black and Hispanic-Latino individuals.This year alone, the bank provided $3.3 million in grants to nonprofits that are connecting individuals to skills and employment in the Charlotte region.

“Central Piedmont is grateful and excited to be part of Bank of America’s national initiative to create educational and career success opportunities for Black and Hispanic-Latino students,” said Central Piedmont President Kandi Deitemeyer. “This generous grant will enable the college to support these students in developing the skills that lead to family-sustaining careers in high-demand employment fields. Bank of America’s thoughtful philanthropic investment promises significant benefits for students, their families, and our entire community.” 

The national $25-million initiative includes partnerships with nearly two dozen community colleges, including Central Piedmont, that serve predominately Black and Hispanic-Latino students, public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and public Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). Bank of America is also partnering with and providing funding to the Aspen Institute to convene the participating higher education institutions for technical and programmatic assistance and to share best practices.

“Today is a special day for Central Piedmont Community College and the thousands of students it serves,” said Dena R. Diorio, Mecklenburg County Manager. “For more than 50 years Central Piedmont has played an integral part in providing educational, training and workforce opportunities, making the college a key player in improving the economic trajectory for many of its students.” 

“Central Piedmont Community College is a treasured asset to Charlotte, not only as a solid workforce partner, but also as one of the key contributors responsible for our city’s prospering economic mobility,” shared Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “By offering careers, collaboration, and higher learning to our residents, this institution is a shining illustration that our city continues to flourish.”

Bank of America, in partnership with the Charlotte regions’ corporate community and local public sector, will continue to work to ensure the workforce development programs target specific hiring needs to create a clearly defined career pathway to future employment. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for our partnership with Central Piedmont Community College, as academic medicine continues to grow in importance for Atrium Health,” said Atrium’s Jim Dunn, Executive Vice President & chief people and culture officer. “The workforce development programs at Central Piedmont open up tremendous opportunities for local students to obtain the skills and experience to secure fulfilling and rewarding careers. From Certified Nursing Assistant training, to Nursing and Allied Health career pathways, the Charlotte area is fortunate to have such a local talent pipeline partner to help fill a variety of roles within our Atrium Health enterprise.”

The most recent financial commitment builds on support the bank has provided to other area higher education institutions focused on serving students of color and strengthening community economic mobility. Recipients include historically Black institutions of higher education, Johnson C Smith University and Livingstone College, as well as UNC Charlotte, Queens University and Johnson & Wales University.

“Central Piedmont provides much-needed opportunities for underrepresented populations to access higher education and acquire the skills needed to establish meaningful careers,” said President and CEO of myFutureNC Cecilia Holden. “The college’s short-term certificate and two-year degree programs are aligned with the needs of employers and offer direct pathways to in-demand jobs and greater economic mobility. Expanding higher education and career preparation access to underserved, low-income individuals will have immeasurable impact on their lives and the economic vitality of North Carolina.”

Additionally, as part of its “Executive on Loan” program, Bank of America executive Anna-Maria (Ria) Nicholls serves as Chief Diversity Officer to Central Piedmont and plays a key role in helping them shape an institutional vision for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier today Phase 3 of statewide COVID-19 pandemic restrictions will remain in effect until at least December 4.

With Thanksgiving two weeks away, Governor Cooper said everyone in North Carolina must focus on keeping themselves and their friends and neighbors safe. “We are on shaky ground as we head into Thanksgiving,” Cooper said. “We must avoid getting together especially indoors.”

Cooper announced a new executive order that reduces the limit on indoor gatherings from 25 people to only 10. It will go into effect on Friday, November 13, and will be in place through Friday, December 4.

The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services reported 2,582 new cases today.

In Phase 3, which began Oct. 2, bars, entertainment venues, movie theaters, and large outdoor venues were allowed to reopen with firm capacity restrictions.

How Central Piedmont is Responding during Coronavirus

Central Piedmont is currently 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.) Central Piedmont continues to follow the state's in-person guidelines that apply to higher education.

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 themselves, their teammates and students as healthy and safe as possible.

Registration for the spring 2021 semester is now open. A complete listing of spring 2021 classes, including details such as section, prerequisites, course descriptions, etc., are now available through Student Planning. Log into MyCollege to plan your class schedule. In addition, Corporate and Continuing Education course registration is ongoing. 

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.