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Central Piedmont Community College and UNC Charlotte the Charlotte region's two largest higher-ed institutions are strengthening their five-year commitment to growing the workforce in Charlotte-Mecklenburg through an updated partnership agreement.

The agreement, recently signed by the leaders of the two institutions, builds on 49erNext, UNC Charlotte's successful co-admission program first launched in 2019, and formally recognizes an added pathway for Central Piedmont students to pursue a bachelor's degree in the high-demand area of data science.

"Central Piedmont Community College is UNC Charlotte's largest transfer partner by far," said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. "This renewed agreement affirms our longstanding commitment to provide accessible, affordable, quality higher education to students here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg."

"The 49erNext program has been a great success 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. "The program is a tremendous benefit to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community as we seek to produce more individuals with bachelor's degrees to meet our growing workforce demands. 49erNext also is a wonderful example of the region's two largest institutions of higher education working together to serve students and be economic development accelerators."

Through the updated formalized agreement, Central Piedmont students in the Associate in Applied Science programs in Information Technology/Data Analysis, Information Technology/ Full Stack Programming, and Information Technology/ Software Development now have a path to pursue a bachelor's degree in data science, the first degree of its kind in North Carolina. Students can transfer up to 64 credit hours toward their bachelor's degree.

A bachelor's in data science, offered through UNC Charlotte's fast-growing School of Data Science, creates opportunities for high-demand careers such as data science engineer, data analyst, research engineer, and data science developer.

Several new agreements are also in the pipeline between UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont, as the institutions continue to streamline student transfer processes.

For 2022-23:

• About 17% of Charlotte's 23,000 undergraduates had transfer credits from Central Piedmont.
• 16% of UNC Charlotte bachelor graduates were Central Piedmont transfers.

UNC Charlotte is the No. 1 destination for North Carolina community college transfer students. 49erNext first launched with Central Piedmont in 2019 and has grown to include six community college partners. The program maximizes transfer credits through degree plans and regular data exchange between UNC Charlotte and the participating community college to ensure students' progress toward the timely completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Last fall, 93% of 49erNext transfer students were admitted into their preferred majors.

Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt visited Central Piedmont's Parr Center on March 20 and delivered a lecture on his background as a civil rights pioneer, architectural innovator, and influential politician. 

"If you want to do something, you've got the capacity to do it," said Gantt, the first African American student to enroll at Clemson University in 1963. "You might not go through the same types of struggles that I did, but that does not diminish the struggle you may be going through. If you believe in it, you can achieve it. You need to stay determined, and you can do well." 

Gantt spoke for an hour to an audience of Central Piedmont students, primarily in the architectural technology program, and answered questions about his life and career following the event. 

Gantt's story began in fifth grade, when a teacher noticed him sketching and drawing during class. Fearful that he was going to be admonished for not paying attention, the teacher instead encouraged him to continue his drawing and had him help design materials for the classroom bulletin board. 

While in high school, an English teacher and guidance counselor both encouraged Gantt's pursuit of architecture. At the time, Gantt said, less than one percent of architects in the country were African American, but that did not daunt him. 

So off he went to Iowa State University, where he excelled in the classroom, but not in the frigid winter environment. His eyes wandered back to his home state of South Carolina and Clemson University, which continually denied his application to attend not because of his academic record, but because of his race. 

Undeterred, a legal battle ensued, and Gantt eventually earned the right to attend Clemson then one of the top architecture programs in the country and graduated in 1965. Gantt later earned a Master of City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1971 and moved to Charlotte to begin his professional career. 

He co-founded Gantt Huberman Architects and surrounded himself with a diverse staff noting the same type of diversity he saw in the lecture hall full of Central Piedmont students. 

"We wanted our firm to be different," he said. "Our firm needed to look like the people who founded it. We intentionally went out to find people who wanted to work in that kind of environment. There were not that many African American architects at that time, so we had to go out and find them. We tried to meld a culture where everyone was important, and contributions were made by everyone." 

The firm went on to develop some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Charlotte Transportation Center, TransAmerica Square, ImaginOn, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center. Gantt shared stories with the students about how those designs came into play. 

"[It was so] enriching, this whole experience, to make a difference in public life, and make a lasting difference in the buildings we design for so many people," he said. 

Gantt's background in urban planning led him to pursue a career in politics, first serving on city council in 1975 before being elected mayor in 1983. He was the first African American mayor in city history and was in that role until 1987. 

During the question-and-answer session, Gantt left some parting words of wisdom for the students in attendance. 

"You will know when you want to do something in life that fits with who you are," he said. "Something that allows you to be centered, that allows you to feel like you made a contribution. Whatever your struggle is, it can also be an opportunity to learn." 

NC Campus Engagement (NCCE) has honored Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont Community College, with the 2024 Leo M. Lambert Engaged Leader Award. The Lambert Engaged Leader Award recognizes an NCCE president or chancellor who has fostered the creation and/or deepening of community engagement. 

NCCE is a collaborative network of North Carolina colleges and universities committed to educating students about civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. NCCE fosters campus connections, shares best practice information and resources, recognizes outstanding work, and champions civic and community engagement in higher education.

In 2012, the NCCE Executive Board launched the Lambert Engaged Leader Award to honor the significant contributions of Leo Lambert, former Elon University president, who played a key role in the formative years of NCCE.

"I humbly accept the Lambert Engaged Leader Award, in honor of the faculty and staff of Central Piedmont Community College and in gratitude to our many corporate and community partners as well as those in higher education," Deitemeyer said. "As I have learned and come to appreciate during my 30-plus years in higher education, our institutions cannot flourish without strong partnerships. Our colleges and universities do important work. We strive to improve the world through educating and empowering individuals. Thank you to North Carolina Campus Engagement for all you do to amplify our efforts."

NC Campus Engagement is based at Elon University.

Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont Community College, was honored at a March 7 luncheon event as Queens University's 2023 "BusinessWoman of the Year."

The event was held on the Queens University of Charlotte campus and attended by more than 100 business and community leaders; higher education leaders; and colleagues, family and friends of Deitemeyer. In its 38th year, the award and event celebrate female leaders who have made significant contributions to the Charlotte region through outstanding leadership and achievement.

"Kandi is a dynamic leader, educator, businesswoman, and now the senior chief executive of Charlotte's thriving higher education landscape," said Queens University President Dan Lugo. "Her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to student success have transformed Central Piedmont into a driving force of economic growth for Charlotte while empowering countless students and their families to achieve greater economic mobility. It is a great privilege and honor to recognize her with this year's Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year award."

The distinction of being named Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year has been given to prominent figures in the Charlotte community including Diane Morais, president of Consumer and Commercial Banking at Ally Financial Inc; Tanya S. Blackmon, former executive vice president and chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer for Novant Health; Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County Manager; Peggy Brookhouse, former president of Luquire George Andrews (LGA); and Carol Lovin, executive vice president and system chief of staff for Atrium Health.

"The award and today's gracious event are gifts I will treasure," Deitemeyer said in her acceptance remarks. "I will keep telling the amazing stories of our students, of our college, and of the significant work we are all doing together in this community."

Deitemeyer came to Central Piedmont in 2017 to serve as its fourth president and second female leader. Dr. Ruth Shaw, the 1995 BusinessWoman of the Year, served as Central Piedmont's president from 1986 to 1992.