Central Piedmont Offering New Certification Program in Massage Therapy

Central Piedmont Community College will launch a nine-month, non-credit Massage Therapy Certification program on June 27, through its Corporate and Continuing Education division.

The certification program will offer students a hands-on education and extensive training in therapeutic and medical massage techniques to prepare them to sit for and pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), a license all professional massage therapists must earn to legally practice their craft in 49 of the 50 states across the country.  

"Our massage therapy certificate program is an attractive career path for individuals interested in securing a healthcare-related position, in a short amount of time, that offers an earning potential of $42,750 a year," said Roschella Stephens, associate dean, therapy and acute care division at Central Piedmont. "This program also will be the least expensive massage therapy program in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, which aligns well with the college's mission to provide an affordable education to all." 

Sixteen students are expected to be in the program's first cohort this summer. During the program, they'll learn about the fundamentals of massage therapy, anatomy, physiology, and advanced modalities in the field, and have the opportunity to engage in 114 hours of hands-on training through the program's built-in clinical rotation.

For more information about the new certification program in massage therapy at Central Piedmont, including its program requirements, class days/times, course sequencing, and more, contact Marcus Caldwell by emailing marcus.caldwell@cpcc.edu, calling 704.330.2722, ext. 7234  or visiting cpcc.edu/programs/healthcare-continuing-education.

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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Foundation News, Resources, Students.

International Education Prevalent at NC Community Colleges

NC State's Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research recently released its International Education at North Carolina Community Colleges report, and Central Piedmont's efforts in providing international education opportunities to its students were featured in the report's findings.

Female student with arms spread above Machu PicchuThe report is a collaboration between the Belk Center and the North Carolina Community College System Office and uses data collected during the 2019-2020 academic year to explore how North Carolina community colleges address the system's mission to "develop a globally and multi-cultural competent workforce."

The report provides a broad overview of what sorts of international education opportunities are available at NC community colleges and suggests that international education is much more prevalent at NC community colleges than national data indicates.

Central Piedmont has been offering study abroad experiences to its students and members of the local community in for more than 20 years. Each year, during spring break and the summer term, Central Piedmont faculty members lead short-term study abroad excursions to a variety of locations across the globe, including: Ecuador, Italy, Greece, Japan, Thailand, Peru, Tanzania, and many others.

Since the college's 2020 study abroad programs were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Learning Office has turned its attention to:

  • providing students with virtual, international exchange experiences
  • encouraging students to apply for the Scholars of Global Distinction program
  • ensuring the college's curriculum includes a global learning perspective

To learn more, please contact global.learning@cpcc.edu or visit cpcc.edu/academics/global-learning/study-abroad.

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Posted in Community, Foundation News, Resources, Students.

PNC Foundation $25,000 grant supports Single Stop, Emergency Fund

The PNC Foundation has awarded Central Piedmont Community College a $25,000 grant to support the college's Single Stop program, an initiative that connects students to the support services they need to succeed in college and administers the college's Emergency Fund.

"Our entire community has been affected by COVID-19, and the pandemic has been particularly difficult for students who have lost employment and income -- and who depend on campus resources for access to learning and technology," said Weston Andress, PNC regional president for Western Carolinas and a Central Piedmont Foundation board member. "During this challenging time, we want the Central Piedmont student community to know that we understand and are committed to helping address some of the hardships they are facing."

Since 2016, Central Piedmont's Single Stop program has served as a free, on-campus resource, removing barriers for students with critical needs by connecting them with resources to help them flourish academically, obtain good jobs and achieve financial stability -- through one-on-one meetings with experts representing the financial, tax and legal fields.

In addition to matching qualifying students with specific tools to help fuel upward mobility in their lives, Single Stop administers monies available through the college's Emergency Fund, which provides one-time support of up to $500 for students who have emergency needs related to housing, utilities, medical expenses, food, technology and more.

The PNC Foundation's gift is timely. The college will use the grant to help purchase the following items, which have been identified as students' most pressing needs during the coronavirus pandemic:

  • Grocery/food gift cards. These items will allow students to purchase food, medicine and other essential products.
     
  • Technology access (laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots). The college has witnessed a surge in students needing laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots since it moved much of its course instruction online.
     
  • Resources for budgeting during a crisis. Single Stop's financial counselors are implementing and delivering online and virtual sessions for individuals and groups who need crisis budgeting assistance. Each emergency grant recipient is contacted by a financial counselor with tips on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic from a financial perspective.
     

"As a result of the pandemic, the college has witnessed an increase in the number of students needing resources to sustain their everyday lives in addition to their studies," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. "Many agencies in the Charlotte area have had to close temporarily, limiting the resources students can turn to for emergency crisis assistance. The PNC Foundation's gift will help us streamline the connectivity process, ensuring resources such as nutrition assistance, technology support and financial aid reach the students who need them most in a critical time of need."

Learn more about Central Piedmont's Single Stop program. If interested in supporting the college's Emergency Fund, visit https://secure.cpccfoundation.org/donation/.

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Posted in Announcements, Community, Foundation News, Resources, Students. Tagged as covid19response, emergency grant.

Update on Central Piedmont's Response to COVID-19

COVID-19 has upended almost all aspects of our daily lives. Our greater Charlotte community is making amazing and immediate efforts to meet the new challenges presented by the pandemic and local and state stay-at-home orders. Here at Central Piedmont, our students, faculty, and staff remain committed and are focused on a positive future ahead. To protect the health and well-being of our community, friends, and family, we are responding in the following ways:

We hope this period of uncertainty and change will end quickly. In the meantime, Central Piedmont is ready to continue to carry out its mission and to serve the community the best we can. 
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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Community, Faculty/Staff, Foundation News, Resources, Students. Tagged as covid19response.

Anonymous Donor Gives to Emergency Fund, Issues Matching Gift Challenge

Central Piedmont Community College Foundation is proud to announce an anonymous donor has made a generous and timely commitment that will match all gifts made to the college's Emergency Fund on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $100,000

Central Piedmont's Emergency Fund provides short-term financial support to students and employees experiencing financial emergencies.

"This amazing gift, and the community's response to our donor's matching-gift challenge, will enable us to better respond to the growing financial needs of our students, faculty, and staff during the coronavirus outbreak," said Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, president of Central Piedmont. "These needs include access to the technology needed for remote learning and scholarships for tuition and books, as well as resources for food, housing, child care, transportation, and medical care."

If you're a member of the community who would like to make a gift to Central Piedmont's Emergency Fund, and participate in the matching gift challenge, visit cpccfoundation.org/donation. Your support for the Central Piedmont family will be of enormous assistance as the college works together to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Students with financial and other needs are invited to email singlestop@cpcc.edu, while Central Piedmont employees can email wecare@cpcc.edu for assistance.

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Posted in Announcements, Community, Foundation News, Resources. Tagged as covid19response.

College Loans Chromebooks, WiFi Hotspots to Students & Employees

Recognizing not everyone has access to technology while they learn and work remotely during this unprecedented time, Central Piedmont has loaned a limited number of Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots -- at no cost -- to approximately 250 students and employees in need. A distribution point, staffed by Central Piedmont employees, has been set up behind the North Classroom building, located on the college's Central Campus.Staff hands chromebooks to student in car

In the weeks and months ahead, students in need will be able to use their assigned device as long as they are enrolled in classes and until the college is able to resume traditional, in-person classes. At that point, computer labs will reopen. Employees will be able to use their loaned equipment until they are able to return to on-campus work.

"Our internal community is our top priority, we understand that everyone may not have the technology needed to complete their studies or work," said Dena Shonts, associate dean for student engagement at Central Piedmont. "Our job is to help them succeed and providing them with the tools to do that is essential."

To be considered for the program, students and employees had to apply online or call the college's Single Stop office.

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Posted in Announcements, Community, Foundation News, Resources, Students. Tagged as covid19response.

Central Piedmont Community College - COVID-19 Update

In light of recent COVID-19 developments, the Foundation will modify its in-person staffing and institute telecommuting procedures to continue operations and help maintain the safety of staff.  Beginning immediately, certain Foundation staff will be present in their offices on a rotational basis during the work week and will telecommute on other days; someone will be available each day of the week answer calls and respond to messages and questions.  Other staff members will work exclusively online as a result of public school closures or health concerns.

In accordance with CDC and local guidelines. Foundation events which will gather 50 or more individuals between now and the beginning will be cancelled unless notified otherwise.  Please continue to check this site about the status of upcoming events.

During this challenging, rapidly-evolving period, your understanding and patience are much appreciated.  Thank you for your ongoing support of the Central Piedmont and students.

For the latest updates and announcments from Central Piedmont regarding COVID-19, please visit the college's coronavirus information information page. Read more

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Community, Foundation News, Resources.

Fifth Third Bank Donates $50K to Central Piedmont

The Fifth Third Bank Foundation has announced its 2019 Strengthening Our Communities Fund grants for North Carolina. The awards benefit local nonprofit programs that support small business development. The Fifth Third Foundation awarded Central Piedmont Community College a $50,000 grant to support entrepreneurship through a pitch competition.

Central Piedmont designed the "53 Ideas Pitch Competition" to help address income inequality and equity through entrepreneurship. The competition will provide underserved individuals who participate with access to the capital, training resources, and social connections needed to remove barriers, and allow individuals to take an idea and turn it into a viable business. The top prize winner of the competition will receive $10,000 in seed money for a start-up business.

"Fifth Third Bank is committed to strengthening our communities, and we cannot do it alone: it takes strong and engaged partners like Central Piedmont to truly make a difference," said Lee Fite, regional president for Fifth Third Bank in the Mid-Atlantic. "The '53 Ideas Pitch Competition' addresses an essential link between economic mobility and entrepreneurship. The work our partners like Central Piedmont are doing to increase access to capital for entrepreneurs will directly benefit our community."

"Studies show that four out of five entrepreneurs do not access bank loans or venture capital. Rather, their sources of funding are personal net worth, family wealth, or connections to networks," said Renee Hode, executive director of Central Piedmont's Small Business Center. "Unfortunately, this leads to inequality in entrepreneurship. The '53 Ideas Pitch Competition' seeks to expand opportunity for everyone in the greater Charlotte region, especially those populations who may experience barriers or have limited access to resources to start a business."

The "53 Ideas Pitch Competition" is an open call for business ideas from residents across the region. Individuals will have 53 seconds to pitch their idea in the form of a video submission uploaded to 53ideas.com. The submission deadline is Feb. 20, 2020. For open, inclusive access to the needed technology, Central Piedmont's Small Business Center will be hosting pop-up recording events throughout the community. Visit 53ideas.com for pop-up dates and times.

Judges will review the submissions and select the top 53 pitches. Top entrants will advance in the competition and receive a $50 award. Over the following 53 days, the participants will work to refine their ideas and master their pitch before another selection process.

Training and coaching on pitching, marketing, financing, forecasting, and business law will be available to participants, regardless of whether they advance in the competition. Free resources will be offered by Small Business Centers located at community colleges throughout the region, including Central Piedmont, Cleveland, Gaston, Mitchell, Rowan-Cabarrus, South Piedmont, and Stanly.

After the 53-day training period, the top 53 entrants will participate in a closed pitch event where the judges will narrow the field down to 15. The top 15 will receive $200 each and go on to compete on stage for the top awards: first place receives $10,000; second place earns $5,000; and third place receives $2,500 in seed funding to help turn their ideas into a viable business.

The 38 participants who did not advance can still showcase their ideas at an expo before the final pitch event. This gives these participants visibility with event attendees, as well as an opportunity to share their ideas and increase their social networks.

"53 Ideas Pitch Competition" is made possible by the support from the Fifth Third Bank Foundation and the Central Piedmont Foundation, and also the City of Charlotte's Economic Development Office.

Learn more about the "53 Ideas Pitch Competition" at 53ideas.com or upload a video submission by the Feb. 20 deadline.

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Posted in Announcements, Community, Foundation News, Resources.

C-STEP New Transfer Program Expands to Central Piedmont

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill launched C-STEP (the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program) in 2006 to enable more community college students to transfer to and graduate from Carolina. This year, UNC Chapel Hill  has expanded C-STEP to include a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College and Guilford Technical Community College, and has launched a new component of the program, Pathways to STEM Success. The additions to the program were made possible by a $1.13 million grant from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation.

As part of UNC Chapel Hill's mission to provide a high-quality education to North Carolinians of all backgrounds, C-STEP is used to identify high-achieving high school seniors and community college students whose household incomes fall at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Once accepted in C-STEP, students are guaranteed entry to UNC Chapel Hill following the completion of an associate degree with cumulative grade-point averages of at least 3.2 at a partner community college such as Central Piedmont and the 12 other partner schools. Student also receive transition and support services, such as dedicated advising, mentoring, networking opportunities, and special seminars. This support contributes to the program's success. C-STEP students earn their bachelor's degree at a rate of over 85 percent, as opposed to only 17 percent of students completing their bachelor's degree outside of the program.

In addition to the expansion of C-STEP, the new Partners to STEM Success initiative aims to train the next generation of STEM and health professionals. Students in this part of the C-STEP program will receive specific mentoring to prepare them for graduate study or careers in STEM and health professions, and have opportunities for immersive experiences such as summer internships and lab assistantships. Read more

Posted in Announcements, Foundation News, Resources.

$1 Million Gift Establishes Scholarship for 49erNext 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 should visit cpcc.edu/49erNext or email 49erNext@cpcc.edu.

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Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Community, Foundation News, Resources, Scholarships.

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