Learning College
With its new Strategic Plan for 2004-2009, CPCC has made a commitment to become a more learning-centered college. A learning college places learning first and provides educational experiences for learners any way, anywhere, anytime, with a mission to produce learning with every student by whatever means work best. The college itself is a learner, continuously learning how to produce more learning with each entering student.
The purpose of a learning college is not to transfer knowledge, but to create environments that bring students to discover and construct knowledge for themselves and to make students members of communities of learners that make discoveries and solve problems. All college employees are encouraged to be learners, and to accept collective responsibility for student learning and success. To learn more about CPCC's Learning College initiative, visit the Learning College website.

New Programs During 2005-2006, the College will introduce three new degree programs: Baking and Pastry Arts, Geographic Information Systems/Global Positioning Systems Technology, and Information Security Systems. The Baking and Pastry Arts curriculum provides specific training required to prepare students for employment as baking/pastry professionals in a variety of foodservice settings. The Geographic Information Systems/Global Positioning Systems Technology curriculum provides a broad background in these technologies with practical applications in municipal, industrial, and natural resources and management. The Information Security Systems covers a broad expanse of technology concepts. This curriculum provides individuals with the skills required to implement effective and comprehensive information security controls. For more information, visit the College Catalog at http://www.cpcc.edu/catalog/

James J. and Angelia M. Harris Conference Center opened in January of 2005 on the West Campus of CPCC. The James J. and Angelia M. Harris Conference Center is a learning-centered conference environment designed to serve the off-site meeting needs of regional businesses and industry. This unique facility has fourteen flexible meeting spaces including video conferencing and computer training capabilities. The conference center has quickly established itself as a preferred meeting site in the Charlotte area.

Service-Learning is an innovative new program designed to deepen student learning in the classroom and enhance a sense of civic responsibility through meaningful and organized service activities in the local community. CPCC is partnering with numerous schools, community agencies, and nonprofit organizations that benefit from the service work provided by our student service-learners. CPCC is the first community college to become a charter member of North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to promoting civic engagement among our students.

New Buildings and Renovations! There is so much going on at our CPCC Campuses, please visit our Hard Hat Update.

An Individual Development Grant ($1.765 million) was awarded to CPCC on October 1, 2003 under the Strengthening Institutions Program, authorized under Title III, Part A of the Higher Education Act of 1965. During the five-year grant period, the College will implement an Activity to increase the retention and success rate of high-risk students. The Activity, Improving Academic and Student-Support Services for High-Risk Students, is composed of three components that relate directly to the success of developmental students. The three components (Improving Student Services, Improving Faculty Skills, and Improving Technology for Student Tracking) should result in a response that increases high-risk students' access to improved academic and student-support services.

2 + 2 Teacher Education Articulation Agreement is a collaborative with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to establish Elementary Education, Special Education, and Middle Grade Education transferable degree programs. In the fall of 2003 a Teacher Education club was established at the College to support this student group. Information about this 2 + 2 initiative may be found at www.cpcc.edu/teacher.

The Continuing Education Teacher Education program is marketing heavily to all elementary teachers in North Carolina. A brochure has been developed and mailed to this population. Classes are being offered online as well as in the classroom. With the state needing 11,000 new teachers annually, Central Piedmont Community College is supporting those already in the classroom to maintain the currency of their licensure.

American Academy of Applied Forensics was originally funded in 2001 by a Congressional appropriation for forensics-related training. The function of the AAAF is to enhance field applications of forensic sciences and to increase the knowledge, skill, and ability levels of law enforcement and medico-legal investigative practitioners. Elevating the skill levels of those who first encounter evidence raises the likelihood that the evidence will reveal the truth and that ultimately justice will be served.

Adult and Academic English as a Second Language programs prepare students who need to improve their English language skills for college-level study or for career advancement. The programs also prepare non-native speakers of English to function successfully in institutions of higher education and in professional settings, prepare newly arrived immigrants 18 years and older who need to improve their basic literacy communication skills, and provide English language instruction at a distance.

The Integrated Counseling and Advisement Network (ICAN) is an award-winning advising system that includes faculty, staff, academic advisors, counselors, peer advisors, and technology in collaborative ways to foster total student development and enhance student success. Advising plays an essential part in student persistence and success. If advising is viewed as part of a retention and student success strategy, it cannot be narrowly defined. At CPCC, advising is viewed as an integrated, developmental process that contributes to a student’s total college performance. To enhance online advising services for students, the College has developed a comprehensive website including synchronous advising and a new student interactive orientation (www.cpcc.edu/ican). The ICAN has received best practice recognition and has become a model for other community colleges.

Courses in Bioinformatics, Geospatial Technology, and Homeland Security are following a national trend and are interdisciplinary in nature. Bioinformatics involves using the analytical power of high performance computing to solve complex problems in molecular biology. Geospatial Technology is a computer-based method for collecting, managing, analyzing, and preserving spatial data. Homeland Security is emergency preparedness training for first responders, emergency management, and civilian and corporate/private security.

Pathways to Employment is a nationally acclaimed short-term training program designed to prepare students to enter the workforce as skilled employees. Pathways programs run twelve to fourteen weeks and combine classes that teach basic academic and job readiness skills with training for jobs where skilled workers are high in demand. Central Piedmont Community College has quickly become a model for other community colleges seeking to develop their own Pathways programs.

JumpStart was designed to provide a labor pool of skilled workers to meet the growing workforce in the Charlotte region. In an effort to meet the needs of business and industry, CPCC developed a flexible, intensive training program in which competency- based curriculum is tied to skill standards. The success of this program has resulted in JumpStart becoming a model for other community colleges around the country.

Global Issues Project under the direction of Dr. Lynn Moretz and the Center for Teaching and Learning continues to raise awareness among CPCC faculty and students of the extend and impact of global business, institutions and other enterprises. This goal is accomplished through the Global Issues Forum Speaker Series as well as the integration by faculty of relevant global issues into course content, cases, and projects designed to increase students' competence in dealing with global issues.

Regional Information Technology Training Collaborative is a group of nine community colleges in the Charlotte region formed in 1999 by Dr. Tony Zeiss through the introduction of a special appropriations bill into legislation. Its goals are to research the current and future Information Technology training needs of business and industry in the region, use the results of this research to develop a set of "skill standards" required for specific IT jobs, and integrate these standards into courses and curricula at the partner colleges to better meet the critical demand for IT workers.