On Thursday, March 13, CPCC will partner with the City Emergency Responders Planning Group to conduct a mock crisis drill on the Harper Campus. The purpose of the event is to provide the College with an opportunity to role play a “real-life” crisis event and to test our emergency preparedness and crisis communications plans.

Please note, due to security reasons, the Harper Campus will not be open to the public that day. Only those signed up to assist with the drill will be allowed on campus.

The drill will be held during Spring Break; therefore, we are in need of more than 200 volunteers to assist with this effort. Volunteers should report to the Harper Campus at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast and an orientation session. Volunteers will learn more about the crisis situation and receive their assignment at that time.

The mock crisis drill will be completed by 1:00 p.m.

Volunteers should plan to dress for an indoor or outdoor volunteer role. Volunteers are eligible for three hours of professional development credit. Anyone interested can sign up through LearnerWeb.

For more information, contact Kathy Watkins at 704.330.6299.

Please note, anyone volunteering must have a CPCC photo ID card. Photo ID cards can be made at any campus from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  

As a reminder, please include the official orders from the military or court with your timesheet or leave report to document absences. Please refer to PPM 4.19 for Military Leave or PPM 4.20 Court Duty for additional information on these policies.

CPCC and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation have reserved certain parking areas during the week of spring break, March 10-16, as part of the community’s support of the ACC tournament. Student Decks 1 and 2 and surface lots 3, 6, 7 and 8 are reserved.

Ben Brockman has already worked with most staff regarding usage relating to Overcash Center, Pease Auditorium, Testing Center and CCE classes. If others are planning a group event on Central Campus during this timeframe, please contact Ben Brockman at 704.330.6117 to discuss parking arrangements.

Please note that the gates to the Faculty Parking Deck will remain closed throughout this 7-day period. Security will be present during special events on campus to open the gates but prevent unauthorized access.

Be sure to bring your parking card to gain admittance to the Faculty Parking Deck at any time of day during this week.

This is a reminder that nominations for the Innovation and Entrepreneur awards are due by the end of the day on Thursday, March 20, 2008.

Innovation award:
Nominations due by March 20, 2008, and awarded at fall conference. The award is designed to recognize a significant innovation designed and implemented by College staff/faculty. Characteristics that should be addressed refer to quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness, replication, creativity, currency and vision. The $1,000 award is given to the department. Past winners include Crossroads Café, eProject Express, Career Services, Larry Fisher and Laurie Walker, and CPCC Television. (Awarded once a year)

Entrepreneur award: 
Nominations due by March 20, 2008, and awarded at fall conference. The purpose of the award is to provide recognition for identifying and implementing entrepreneurial activities of the College. The criteria include the project’s creativity in identifying a problem and providing a solution that brings value to the student or customer. The award includes a one-time stipend of $1,000 to the winner. Past winners include Terri Manning, Lili Johnson, and Steve Corriher. (Awarded once a year)

All forms are online at the CPCC Forms page. Just click on the appropriate form and download to your computer.

All forms and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically and emailed to Kim Heffernan by the date listed above. I

f you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kim at 6672.

On March 3, Cabinet approved changes to the following policies:

4.15 Employee Recognition
Fall and spring semester winners for Classified Staff, Professional Staff or Administrator, and Faculty will now receive $1,000 rather than $400. Additionally, part-time employees now will be eligible for the $1,000 as well. The change to this policy eliminates the annual award winners. Thanks to the CPCC Foundation for agreeing to increase the funding to $8,000.

4.65 Mediation Program for Employees
The policy was amended to offer an opportunity for employee relations assistance and informal mediation prior to an employee filing an official grievance.

7.09 Grievance Process for Students
The addition to this policy more clearly explains the option for mediation in the Course Grade Appeal procedure.

7.15 Student Mediation Program
The portion of Policy 4.65 Mediation Program that applies to students has been placed into a separate policy that is located in the student section of the Policy and Procedure Manual for ease of reference. If you have questions, please contact Susan Oleson.

In order to help all CPCC employees discover the quickest way to more easily find, organize, analyze, and use the information they need to succeed, ITS is partnering with Professional Development to schedule Office 2007 training for all users. In the first session, you'll learn some tips and tricks, including keyboard shortcuts, as part of the overview of Office 2007.

Weekly classes are scheduled to run through June. Please check LearnerWeb for training classes on your campus.

For further information, check out the MS Office project page at http://www1.cpcc.edu/its/faculty-staff/office-2007.

For support with this or any other IT service, contact the ITS Help Desk at 5000.  

The annual Student Excellence Convocation recognizes the achievements of CPCC’s exemplary students. This year’s ceremony is Sunday, April 27, at 4:30 p.m. in Halton Theater.

Faculty, please nominate from your department, one curriculum degree or diploma student by completing the nomination form. 

The form can be electronically submitted, mailed to Nichole Patterson in 101 Disher Building, or faxed to 704.330.6225. The Office of the VP for Enrollment and Student Services will notify selected students.

Nominations are being accepted until March 20. 

For more information, please contact Nichole Patterson at 704.330.6039.

The Credentials Committee of the College Senate is pleased to announce that it is now inviting applications for faculty titles from any faculty member who has been a faculty member at CPCC for 10 years or more.

Please direct your inquiries to Brenda Armentrout, Chair of the Credentials Committee.

In order to provide a broader range of support services to CPCC employees and to complement similar services currently offered to our students, the College will launch a new pilot chaplain assistance program. The new program is a voluntary benefit designed to help improve the quality of life for CPCC employees. The chaplain’s role will be to build caring relationships with people who indicate a need for support for a variety of personal issues, as well as a listening ear.

The chaplain will visit Central Campus every Monday afternoon to offer a moment of encouragement and to talk with employees who are interested. During this pilot effort, the chaplain will visit employees in the Central High and Terrell buildings; however, all CPCC employees are welcome to contact the chaplain, as desired.

Ron Hudson, with I Am Corporate Chaplains of America, will be serving as the chaplain at CPCC in this pilot program. Ron can be reached at mailto:rhudson@chaplain.org or at 1-877-322-CHAP, ext. 4017.

If you were enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account in 2007 for medical or dependent care expense reimbursements, please submit your claims to Interactive Medical Systems by March 31, 2008. Expenses must have been incurred in 2007.

Any claims submitted after March 31, 2008, will not be processed and balances will be forfeited.

To access the claim form, please visit the HR website.

The College Senate Educational Resources Committee has committed all of its available funds for the current fiscal year.

For more information, contact Joel Moore.

Give us a couple of hours of your time early Saturday morning, April 26, and we’ll have you back in your garden or on your way to the lake by 10:00 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help make the Charlotte Skyline Run/Walk a safe and fun event for the nearly 1,000 visitors we expect on Central Campus.

Volunteers get a free race t-shirt! Volunteer by emailing Patricia Williams at patricia.williams@cpcc.edu.

For complete information about the race, visit our website.

—Mitchell Hagler, Skyline Run Volunteer Coordinator
 

The following openings are now available at CPCC. Details about qualifications and a complete job description are available on the Human Resources website.  Please look under the “Employment” section for a list of job openings, as well as instructions on how to apply. Résumés cannot be substituted for an application. For faculty positions, copies of transcripts are required with applications; original transcripts required at date of hire. A separate CPCC application is required for each position.

Internal & External Position(s)

Executive Secretary (Budgets & Payroll), Position #5ADSRCT-FNC-6, REQ ID #289. This position performs a variety of moderately complex administrative and secretarial tasks which may include responding to phone and in person inquiries, typing, monitoring budget, entering information into computer, maintaining calendar, making travel arrangements and scheduling appointments to assist the head of a major administrative unit; provides detailed information requiring some interpretation of guidelines regarding department's programs and policies; responds to inquiries by phone or in person; researches and resolves problems and complaints; monitors budget; may inform head of department regarding budget status; may prepare and maintain accurate and up-to-date budget records; may assist in compiling information for department's budget request; oversees student employees; may establish schedule and assign tasks; may monitor and review performance. Minimum qualifications: high school diploma or GED; completion of a minimum of one course beyond high school related to office or administrative support skills and at least two years of full-time experience in an office environment working in an administrative support position. Closing Date: Monday, March 3, 2008.

Financial Aid/Veteran Affairs Specialist, Position #4STFINA-FNC-4, REQ ID #290. This position performs a variety of moderately complex clerical and administrative tasks related to reviewing and processing financial aid and veterans benefit certifications: counseling and advising students of financial aid opportunities; reviewing, researching and resolving discrepancies; utilizing various software programs to process applications and files. Maintains a thorough knowledge of federal and state regulations; counsels and advises students concerning financial aid opportunities, application processes and financial management strategies. Educates students in the identification of all sources of financial aid available, including the requirements and regulations within programs; provides intake services in the Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs Office as needed at all campus locations; answers questions and concerns regarding the financial aid/veterans affairs process. Reviews student files and requests the necessary documents needed from the student to complete their financial aid file; determines eligibility and awards financial aid applicants utilizing various software packages. This includes processing applications and corrections, document tracking, completing the verification process, generating tracking and award notifications and monitoring the probation/suspension status and the 150% timeframe for students. Minimum qualifications: bachelor’s degree in education, finance, business administration or accounting from an accredited institution; one year of related experience is preferred; broad skills in financial aid methodology, financial aid software and federal regulations governing the student financial programs are also preferred. Closing Date: Sunday, March 2, 2008.

Pre-Press and Design Specialist, Position #2PRINTS-FNC-3, REQ ID #291. The Campus Printing Center is a customer driven department that continues to monitor its customers needs and position the department technologically to fulfill those needs. They are committed to providing customers with the most cost-effective quality products available. This position assists customers with pre-press lay-out and design for printing projects; lays-out projects to ensure efficiency in production process and quality results; organizes computer files for easy access and prioritizes work to meet production schedules; handles all proofing and other customer service duties; prepares customer files for printing on PC and Mac platforms as appropriate; communicates effectively with customers and other departmental personnel on status of printing projects; create designs to satisfy customer requirements and utilizing the functionalities of available equipment and processes. Minimum qualifications: associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in graphic arts or printing and two years of experience in a similar position; or high school diploma or GED and four years’ experience in a similar position. Closing Date: Sunday, March 9, 2008.

Instructional Office Assistant, Position #3INFOSY-FNC-1, REQ ID #277. Instructional Office Assistant position available in Information Technology Division located on Central Campus. Provides a variety of duties to maintain efficient operations with Information Technology Division. These duties include general clerical tasks, making reports, monitoring budgets, generating contracts, assisting with projects, gathering data and information, and interacting with faculty, students, and administration. Requires a high school diploma or GED; completion of a minimum of at least one (1) course beyond high school related to office or administrative support skills (may include computer or office technology skills); and one (1) year of full-time experience (or the equivalent in part-time) experience in an office environment working in an administrative support position. Closing Date: Monday, March 31, 2008.

Director, Teacher Education Initiative, Position #3DINFO-FEA-10, REQ ID #281. Director, Teacher Education Initiatives position available in Instructional Development Division located on Levine Campus. This position is responsible for development and implementation of all K012 Teacher Education offerings at the college, to include curriculum, OE and self-supporting courses. The Director, Teacher Education Initiatives is responsible for the assessment of specific needs, as required by the state Department of Public Instruction and area LEAs for lateral entry teacher certification as well as teacher renewal credits. Master’s degree in education or instructional-related field from an accredited institution with 4-to-6 years of direct experience in teaching or education administration. Teaching experience and a NC teaching certificate or reciprocal required. Ph.D preferred. Knowledgeable in the following areas: course methodology, pedagogy; course development; national, state and local teacher education requirements. Ability to interact and provide information to individuals or groups with diverse background a plus. Closing Date: Friday, March 7, 2008.

GIS Project Coordinator, Position #3GSPTEC-FNC-2, REQ ID #280. GIS Project Coordinator position available in Geospatial Technology located on Central Campus. The GIS Project Coordinator will effectively oversee activities within the GIS Engineering Technologies Division. This position is required to produce the desired outcomes of industry projects on time and within budget while maintaining quality. Associate’s degree from an accredited institution in business, GIS or a closely related discipline; and one or more years of full-time work experience (or part-time equivalent) with project management and GIS applicants and knowledge of the geospatial theory and applications. Bachelor’s degree in geography, surveying, engineering or computer science and proficiency in the use of GIS technology (specifically Arc GIS and associated software preferred. Ability to manage multiple GIS projects and communicate effectively with all levels and problem solving a plus. Closing Date: March 9, 2008.

Instructional Office Assistant, Position #3BESCAD-FNC-1, REQ ID#285. Instructional Office Assistant position available in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Division located on Central Campus. This position performs a variety of standard to moderately complex administrative and clerical tasks in support of instruction programs, learning initiatives and operations of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Division. Requires a high school diploma or GED; completion of a minimum of at least one (1) course beyond high school related to office of administrative support skills (may include computer or office technology skills); and one (1) year of full-time experience (or the equivalent in part-time) experience in an office environment working in an administrative support position. Closing Date: Friday, March 14, 2008.

The third seminar in the Technical Seminar Series “Turnings of the Technology World; Conversations on the Future” will be presented on Monday, March 24, 2008, in Tate Hall of the Overcash Center beginning at 1:00 p.m. The featured speaker will be Dr. Helene Hilger, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNC Charlotte.

The title of her talk will be “Sustainability and 21st Century Design,” an extension of Dr. Hilger’s specialty in environmental engineering.

Dr. Hilger was the 2007 recipient of the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, the university’s highest faculty honor.

Questions on the seminar may be addressed to Donald C. Jessep Jr. of Engineering Technology.

The seminar series also now has a website.

§ Mary Smith, program coordinator and instructor in the Public Safety and Healthcare Continuing Education, presented a workshop at the National Educational Leadership Conference of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 21-24. The topic of the workshop was “Providing Culturally Sensitive Training for Nurse Aides using Multi-Media Materials.” This presentation is the result of work funded by a UNC Charlotte grant from the Alzheimer’s Association for the development and implementation of online instruction for Nurse Aide students who are non-native English speakers.

The Harris Conference Center welcomed over 140 guests from the Charlotte Dental Society last week. This is the first time the Dental Society has held a meeting at the conference center, and plans for this annual conference are in the works for 2009.

CPCC, in conjunction with CDS International, Inc., is currently seeking a host family for the 2008-2009 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals, an ongoing, reciprocal exchange for career-minded young adults supported by both the American and German governments. The program finances the costs for language training and study at American colleges.

Participants, who are between the ages of 18 and 24, arrive in this country in early-to-mid August, study for the fall term at a local community college and work at a paid internship in their respective fields from January through the end of June. They return as a group to Germany following a mid-July seminar at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

All participants are fully covered by a comprehensive medical insurance, are furnished a J-1 work visa by the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and are required to purchase their own automobiles.

Upon request, a modest monthly stipend is available to host families to defray living expenses.

In the Charlotte area we are currently seeking a family, couple or single person interested in bringing a young German adult into his or her home for six or eleven months.

If you would like to know more about the program in this area, please contact Donna Apgar, 704.330.6167.

Career Services wishes to thank all the CPCC staff who contributed their time to make our March 5 Career Fair a success. We registered 98 employers and sold out the fair for a second year in row.

The following volunteers helped us make the Career Fair run smoothly for our students, visitors, and employers: Julie Grahl, Phillip Lopp, Mark Perryman, Dena Shonts, Eric Price, Pat Adams, Elvira Johnson, Betty Williams, Peggy Brooks, Tracey Questell, Quinn Lacy, Heather Hamilton, Lisa Davis, Deborah Rivers, Linda Jones, JJ McEachern, Tony Jones, Monique Taylor, Anne-Marie Maino, Don Taylor, Alice Hugi, and Mark Helms.

We would also like to thank the staff whose creative marketing and public relations efforts have helped us immensely with planning this event: Jerri Haigler, Stuart Beame, David Rhew and the Channel 17 Staff, Tom Covington, Denise Wells, Ben Brockman, Richard Griffin, Sonya Jarrett, Bill Rooks and the Facilities Services staff.

On behalf of all the students and employers, thank you for helping them connect and get a job!

Please welcome Oksana Kyper, Executive Secretary to Maha Gingrich, Assistant to the Executive VP–Student Intake.

Oksana is located in Disher Building 114 on Central Campus and can be reached at 6986 or at oksana.kyper@cpcc.edu.

Thank you to all my CPCC family for the kind words, cards, e-mails, thoughts and prayers sent in sympathy for the loss of my father. Your concern and care have made it easier to deal with this sad time in my life. Your comfort has extended beyond CPCC to my immediate family in this area as well as my family in Arkansas. Thank you for caring.
—Diann Back  

BIRTHDAYS
Mar. 7	Marcus A. Redlinger
8	Yolyndra S. Green Jack S. Monell Gloria Mary Vickers-Koch
9	K.C. Caldwell Lisa J. Foley Timothy Morris Griffin Scarlett Dawn Hollingsworth Monica Ann Montoya Jerry Wayne Pickler Sr.
11	Zachariah Lawless Houghton Arthur Lohn
12	Matthew E. Bruining
13	Shannon Griffin Blair Kim Bui Heffernan Denise H. Wells

§ State Employees Association of N.C. District 13 will have its next meeting Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 5:45 p.m. at the Saints Paradise South Cafeteria (formerly McDonald's Cafeteria), I-85 and Beatties Ford Roa., Charlotte, NC. All SEANC members are encouraged to attend.

§ District 13 is accepting applications for the association’s scholarship program, which awards nearly $100,000 a year in district-level and state-level scholarships to qualified SEANC members and their dependents. Applications are available on the SEANC website.

§ Townhouse 2BR, 2.5BA, open loft, master on first floor. In the Fort Mill, SC, area—$125,500. Phone 803.548.2576 or 704.330.6227 for information.

§ Dell Dimension 4600 desktop computer, 512MB RAM, Pentium 4 2.80 GHz Processor, two 80 GB internal drives, two internal CD/DVD read/write drives, Windows XP Pro. Includes a Logitech Fusion webcam and Samsung Syncmaster 712n 17" flat screen monitor—$350. Call Rich Rosenthal at 6316.

§ 1990 Mazda Miata MX5, white/black, new convertible top, new tires and paint, runs good—$3,200. Call Sonya, 6516 or 704.747.9270, or call Cal at 704.460.8235.