CPCC has a new registration process, and we need the help of faculty and staff to inform students about these changes. Although we will be reaching students in various ways, information that students receive in the classroom about priority registration will undoubtedly have the most impact.

Instructors will soon be receiving priority registration information cards to give to students, along with some answers to questions  that may be asked.

Our combined efforts to inform students about this change will help to ensure their success during this new process. Thank you for sharing this information with your students, and together we can help them Get There!

National research indicates that the earlier a student commits to a course the more likely they are to be retained and successful. With that in mind, the College has been reviewing our withdrawal policy and its impact on student success.

In the spring of 2007, a presentation was made to the College Senate regarding a change in our withdrawal policy requiring students to withdraw before the first 35% of the class (as compared to the last 25% of the academic term in our earlier policy). This recommendation is more consistent with four-year colleges and universities in the area. College Senate supported this recommendation as did CPCC cabinet members. This change will become effective in the fall 2008 semester.

The information will be communicated to new and returning students in a number of ways. We ask that our faculty and staff also help us communicate this change to students.

Watch for more information in the near future.

Senator Elizabeth Dole will serve as the keynote speaker at CPCC’s commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cricket Arena. Elizabeth Dole has had a remarkable public service career, serving five U.S. Presidents.

The first woman elected to represent N.C. in the U.S. Senate, she serves on the Armed Services, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Small Business and Aging committees.

From 1969 to 1973, she served as Deputy Assistant to President Nixon for Consumer Affairs. In 1983, she joined President Reagan’s Cabinet as Secretary of Transportation, the first woman to hold that position. Her awards are numerous, ranging from honors for civic service and leadership in government to accolades for her charitable commitments and dedication to issues surrounding women in the workplace. A native of Salisbury, N.C., she graduated with distinction from Duke University and earned a degree from Harvard Law School. She also holds a master’s degree in education and government from Harvard.

The Adult High School/GED graduation ceremony will be held earlier on Tuesday, May 13, at 1:30 p.m. at Cricket Arena. Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, will serve as the speaker.

The Strategic Planning Committee has developed a draft of the goals and strategic initiatives for the 2009-2014 plan. In order to solicit feedback and input, the committee members are facilitating open forums (see schedule below) and all CPCC employees are encouraged to attend.

Please register on LearnerWeb and receive one hour of Professional Development credit. Prior to attending, please take a few moments to review the current 2004-2009 Strategic Plan and review the 2009-2014 draft.

Please contact the facilitators or Susan Oleson with questions.

Strategic Planning Forums
Campus & Facilitators	Date	Time	Location
Cato N. Patterson & L. Embrey	Apr. 2	12:30–1:30	Auditorium
Central L. Alexander & S. Oleson	Apr. 3	3:30-4:40	PD304
Central M. Sivy & M. Moss	Apr. 2	12:30-1:30	PD304
Harper J. Potter & C. McElroy	Apr. 4	1:00-2:00	HP 301
Harris M. Vickers-Koch & G. Rubio-Festa	Apr. 9	1:30-2:30	HC2124
Levine D. Bouton & T. Hall	Apr. 10	1:30-2:30	LE2150
North A. Capobianchi & H. Bennett	Apr. 8	1:30–2:30	TS 249

Are you prepared to compete in the global workforce? Many of us are being asked this question, and our students need to be prepared. 

The Global Issues Forum, sponsored by the Business & Accounting Division, invites you to attend a lecture on Friday, April 4, in Tate Hall, Overcash Center, from 9:30-10:20 a.m. Mr. Firoz Peera, former chair of the Charlotte World Affairs Council, will speak to students about global trends and how to prepare themselves for global competition.

Each semester, a new topic relevant to international business, culture or economics will be addressed. Stay tuned for more!

Space is limited, so please reserve seats for you and your class by contacting Nadine Russell (6585).

Nominations are now being accepted for the Spring 2007 Employee Recognition Award. This is a way for you to recognize your peers for the outstanding job that they do! There are four categories to choose from:

• Classified Staff
• Part-time employee
• Instructor
• Administrator/Professional Staff

All forms are online at the CPCC Forms page. Just click on Employee Recognition Awards Nomination.

Please email the form and any supporting documentation to Kim Heffernan. Letters of support from other co-workers give the committee members more information and help to strengthen the nomination.

The deadline for spring nominations is April 18.

Spring award winners will be announced in August of this year. Please help the committee recognize and reward those employees who do so much to ensure the success of our students and who support the efforts of all who work at this College!

For the nomination process, only electronic copies accepted.

College Senate elections will be conducted during the last two weeks in April. All individuals interested in running for the office of President Elect must send an email to the current President (Fred Tone) by April 4.

All applicants must have served at least one year on College Senate to qualify.

• Trail of History with host Gary Ritter explores Charlotte’s textile roots. The show debuts Sunday, March 30.
• CPCC Snapshot highlights the latest on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway with guests Dr. Tony Zeiss and experts from Park and Recreation and Mecklenburg County land resources. The show debuts Thursday, March 27.
• Culinary instructor Pamela Roberts prepares beef Wellington for the next Charlotte Cooks debuting Monday, March 31.
• Alumni Success focuses on a real lifelong learner at CPCC. Florence Jaffa has been taking classes here for more than 30 years.
• Charlotte Arts host Rob Craig welcomes Maha Gingrich this month. His interview with Peggy Rivers debuts April 16.

For programming schedule www.cpcc.edu/tv

Scheduling activities in Outlook 2007 is as simple as choosing the correct type of entry. You can schedule activities in your Outlook Calendar as appointments, meetings, events, or tasks. Your choice of entry type will depend on who else is involved and how you want the entry to appear.

By selecting entries in your calendar correctly, you'll know at a glance what's going on, when, and with whom. You'll choose from four types of entry.

1. Appointment: An appointment is an activity that involves only you, at a scheduled time.
2. Meeting: A meeting occurs at a scheduled time, like an appointment, The difference is that you invite other people by using a meeting request that's sent via e-mail.
3. Event: An event is an activity that lasts all day long. Unlike an appointment or meeting, an event doesn't block out time in your calendar. With an event, you can still have other entries appear in your schedule for that day.
4. Task: A task is an activity that involves only you, and that doesn't need a scheduled time.

New to Outlook 2007 is an area in your calendar's Day and Week views that shows tasks.

For more information, check out CPCC's MS Office 2007 project page at http://www1.cpcc.edu/its/faculty-staff/office-2007.

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

College Fellows is accepting individual and team applications for: (1) Learning Fellow, (2) Applied Research Fellow, and (3) Community Fellow. Selected Fellows can receive release time to work on research project, stipend to use for expenses associated with project, and a laptop computer to use during the project.

For more information, contact Anne.McIntosh@cpcc.edu or Debbie.Bouton@cpcc.edu.

The 13th Annual Skyline Run/Walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Hopefully you have been doing your “Be Well” walks in preparation for this event. The team captains for each campus have met and are in the final stages of developing their master strategies to capture the coveted Skyline Run/Walk trophy. We also have the “Stepping Up” trophy that goes to the campus team with the largest percentage increase in participation.

Please show your support for our students by registering as a member of your campus team. Fast or slow, graceful or awkward, we need you. The registration fee is $18, and proceeds go to support student scholarships. There are also a limited number of complimentary registrations.

Please contact your team captains if you are interested. You can also register online. 

For the past five years, Cato Campus has won the Skyline Run/Walk trophy. Last year, Levine Campus had the largest percentage increase and took home the “Stepping Up” trophy. We look forward to seeing who will win this year.
 

Skyline Run Campus Captains 2008
Central	Levine
Amanda Capobianchi, 6374 Eddie Howell, 6594 Erin Reed, 6946		Frank McGuire, 4291 Nicole Ritchie, 7261 Vivian Edwards, 4236
Cato	Harris
Wanda Hill, 4881 Janet Dinh, 6172 Timothy Dienes, 6096	Michael Matlock 4643 Vann Branch 4622
Harper	North
Alyssa Williams, 4422	Anne Marie Maino, 4139 Brantlee Drake, 4174
Other Contacts
Karen Streppa, 6351 Debbie Bouton, 6796

§ The staff is attending a two-day Sprint Education College Fair this week to recruit new students.

§ This week, the staff will kick off the College Connection early registration day at Vance, North Mecklenburg and the Performance Learning Center high schools. Student recruiters, academic advisors, counselors, admissions/registration and Financial Aid staff visited the high schools to make the process a success.

§ Last week, the staff participated in “Bring a Parent to School Day” at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. CPCC staff member Latosha Hicks talked to parents about getting involved with their student’s education early and how to prepare in high school for college.

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)

Project Specialist, Position #3CUSTSV-FNC-15, REQ.#296. Project Specialist position available in Corporate and Continuing Education at Levine Campus in Matthews. The project specialist performs complex administrative tasks to support the management team. In this role the individual will be responsible for tracking projects and processes, running reports, reviewing and updating training materials, organizing shared drives, reviewing and updating web pages and assisting with the budget. Another key duty is learning and acting as a backup for the maintenance of all department databases. Making travel arrangements, coordinating meetings, generating forms, and maintaining department files is also required. The preferred candidate will have excellent communication skills, strong organizational skills and high level computer skills. Flexibility and initiative are characteristics that will be essential for success. Minimum qualifications: associate’s degree from an accredited institution in education, business, marketing or information technology with two years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in an office environment. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in education, business, marketing, information technology or closely related field and experience in project coordination preferred. Closing Date: April 10, 2008.

Financial Aid/Veteran Affairs Specialist, Position #4STFINA-FNC-4, REQ #299. 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. Also 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. 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. 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: April 3, 2008.

Information Systems Analyst I, Position #2CLTSVC-FNC-2, REQ #295. This is an entry-level position focusing on a variety of technical work and analysis required for the development of user and systems requirements; performs simple or routine tasks involving testing, installation and maintenance of college systems; primarily provides first-level support to users although not limited from working at other levels of the support model as needed. Additional tasks may involve installing, configuring, troubleshooting and maintaining user’s hardware and software; responding to inquiries and requests from users for assistance with the college’s computer systems or personal computers; identifying problems, troubleshoots and provides solutions to assist users; coordinating with other units within ITS to resolve problems as necessary; implementing plan for new systems or processes and may assist in training of users; acting as a customer service advocate in resolving service requests and arbitrates between systems and users when conflicts arise. Minimum qualifications: high school diploma or GED, associate’s degree preferred; industry specific certification required if lacking associate’s degree; 1-to-2 years of related experience. Closing Date: Sunday April 6, 2008.

Infrastructure Analyst II, Position #2DISTTC-FNC-8, REQ #294. This position is a mid-level position focusing on root cause, system and infrastructure analysis as needed by the Information Technology Services department in delivering service and support to clients. Performs a variety of moderately complex tasks required for the support of user and system requirements. Also primarily provides second-level support to users although not limited from working at other levels of the support model as needed. Tasks may involve installing, configuring, troubleshooting and maintaining user’s hardware, software and network devices; designs and implements plan for new systems or processes and may assist in training of users and entry-level staff; provides recommendations on specific components and procedures for resolution of problems; provides recommendations on changes to procedures and policies; assists users in formulating requirements and advises on alternatives and implications; acts as a customer service advocate in resolving service requests and arbitrates between systems and users when conflicts arise. Minimum qualifications: associate’s degree in computer science or information technology related field from an accredited institution, a combination of completed college-level coursework (at least 30 hours) and experience may substitute for the degree; industry specific certification; 2-to-4 years of related experience. Open Until Filled.

Generation Engage with the support of Service-Learning will host candidates for N.C. State Treasurer in an economic empowerment curriculum iChat. Using video conference technology, programming will originate from Wake Technical Community College and at CPCC. 

Candidate participants will speak with Generation Engage members, ambassadors, and community college students in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Candidates will address the issues of how to effect civic change through economic empowerment. 

State Senator Janet Cowell (D)., State Representative Bill Daughtridge (R), and Micheal Weisel (D) will be participating in the iChat.

The iChat will take place on Thursday, April 3, in LRC 404 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

If you would like to bring your class, need further information, or have questions please contact Dena Shonts at 6558.

When Jeannine Sargent enrolled in a business plan writing course at the Institute for Entrepreneurship, she had no idea it would lead to winning a national competition and money to start her business. But that’s exactly what happened when Sargent won a $50,000 seed money award in the 2007 “Make Your Dreams Come True with Mirassou” contest. California-based Mirassou Winery created the award as part of its support for women-owned businesses.

In addition to funding, Mirassou will also provide a team of business, marketing and legal experts to support Sargent in launching her business.

The business plan Sargent developed in the CPCC class is the one she submitted for the Mirassou contest, besting 20 other plans by semi-finalists, from an original field of 350 contestants.
 

The Harris Conference Center  hosted the first seminar in the five-seminar series Process Excellence: A Journey, Not a Destination. With keynote speaker Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker, CCE welcomed over 100 guests for the day. The group was able to use the newest technology offered at the conference center by having the seminar recorded directly into a podcast-friendly MP3 format using the Zoom H4 audio recorder.

CPCC and Rowan-Cabarrus CC have partnered to sponsor a five-part seminar series on process excellence.

Please visit http://www1.cpcc.edu/pess to learn more.

The next seminar will be April 22.

CPCC’s Center for Sustainability (CFS) is partnering with the Sierra Club and the US Green Building Council on a regional environmental education event that will take place on Central Campus April 19. Charlotte: Clean and Green (CC&G) will be the first of its kind in the Charlotte region, focusing on the educational side of consumer “green” living.

Volunteers are needed and will receive a free T-shirt (valued at $20) and free lunch (valued at $10) for only four hours of your time. Please see our CC&G website for details and instructions for volunteering. Come be a part of something important and help our programs run smoothly. Look for the volunteer link on the left of the homepage.

Contact Ernie McLaney, 6427, or Keith Ratliff, 6349, for questions, or go to the CFS website.   

By Mitchell Hagler, SACS Liaison
The 2007 annual meeting of the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools brought nearly 4,000 college and university personnel to New Orleans, Louisiana. North Carolina had one of the largest delegations at the conference. Debbie Bouton, Mitchell Hagler, Susan Oleson, Michael Moss, and Marge Wilson represented CPCC.
 

BIRTHDAYS
Mar. 28	Bettie I. Dibrell John K. Royals
29	Hubert P. Graham Jr. Nadine Anastasia Russell
30	Carol D. Begley Ingrid Schlotterbeck Wanda P. Towler
31	Kathy H. Drumm Ruth McMurray Hedgpeth Anthony T. Lockhart
Apr. 1	Peth Chin Kristen Alison Monteith Karen Nelson Williams
2	Heather A. Parusel Mathew S. Rubright Pik Thongdee Barbara Sue Vyse
3	Marcia Snipes Copeland

SouthPark Lions Club is very involved with CPCC. Our motto is “We Serve.”

Our club is hosting a special performance of The Miracle Worker on Thursday, April 24, presented by the CPCC Theatre in Pease Auditorium. Tickets are $15 of which $10 is the nominal value and $5 supports Lions charitable activities. The Miracle Worker is the story of Helen Keller (1880-1968) and her teacher, Anne Sullivan. At the age of six months a fever left Helen Keller both blind and deaf. Anne Sullivan taught her to read, write, and speak. She graduated from Radcliffe College with honors in 1904. In 1925 Keller addressed the Lions International convention and challenged Lions to become “knights to the blind in the crusade against darkness.”

This is why Lions Clubs are active in vision-related activities such and juvenile diabetes, Camp Dogwood on Lake Norman for the visually impaired, Lions Services with its manufacturing workshop and eye clinic on North Tryon Street, and the vision van screening.

Please support these worthy projects that benefit the College, the community, and the visually impaired. Contact Phil Adams at 6478 or in CH339 for tickets.

§ In celebration of Administrative Professionals Week, the Charlotte Chapter-IAAP presents Hats Off to Women, a spring fashion show and ladies’ tea featuring clothing from Coldwater Creek, Saturday, April 19, from 2:00 till 4:00 p.m. at Black Lion, 10605 Park Rd. Catered by Delectables by Holly. All attendees will receive coupons from Coldwater Creek and Black Lion favors and door prizes too! $25 per ticket. Contact Patricia at 6566 for tickets.

§ 1999 Chrysler Sebring LXi Coupe, 67,300 miles. Power everything. Leather, alloys, security, café latte—$6,495. Call Bob, 704.877.8945, or Linda, 6566. Interior photo.

§ Looking for a great, used, reasonably priced bike? We have them. Visit the TFKC ReCyclery Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at 512 E 15th Street (back of the building) for kids to adults, road to mountain bikes. Save gas and the environment! www.tripsforkidscharlotte.org.

§ Patio table set with 9 ft. table, 38 inches x 64 inches, five chairs w/pads. Paid $450, asking $150. Contact Mark, 4232.