News

BMCC Accounting Alumni Reach Global Heights in Their Professions 
Two Accounting alumni share how BMCC set them on a path to career success. Both men earned their associate degree at BMCC, then a bachelor’s degree at Baruch College, CUNY. Yefry Jave, who moved to New York City from Lima, Peru as a young adult, is now the VP of Finance and Operations at the luxury design firm Michael Aram Inc. Sean Cornelius, who moved to New York City from the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, is now an Assurance Director at one of the world's largest accounting firm BDO USA, LLP.  

Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program Provides Alternative Path to the College Experience
The BMCC community celebrated four students who completed the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (MRHEP) at BMCC. Nicolas Castro, Stephanie Garcia, Luis Jacome and Catherine Madden took one class a semester for up to three years, to complete the program. They also participated in special events including a student art exhibition at BMCC, and completed internships offered through the program.

Newly Created Heckscher Foundation Workforce Development Grants Aim to Create More Than 1,100 Full-Time Jobs in New York
The Heckscher Foundation for Children announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind workforce development program intended to create more than 1,100 full-time jobs for underserved young adults in New York State. BMCC is proud to be one of the 20 grantees in this unique initiative and transformative grant model for work readiness and job placement programs. It differs from traditional models because a full-time job commitment from the employer partner is required to be considered for grant funding.

BMCC and CIEE Partnership BMCC has joined a partnership with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a nonprofit Study Abroad and intercultural exchange organization that offers programs in a variety of disciplines and countries. Eligible BMCC students participating in the CIEE Study Abroad programs are provided with academic classes, housing, meals (if applicable), field trips and cultural excursions. In addition, CIEE provides coursework, on-site orientation, academic counseling, student services and accommodations. In some cases, students’ academic credits and grades earned during a CIEE Program will transfer toward their associate degree at BMCC. Students may be able to transfer financial aid to a CIEE program. CIEE offers many need-based and merit-based scholarships, including the Frederick Douglass Fellowship Program which covers 100% of tuition, program fees and travel costs. Learn more here.

CUNY in The Heights Hosts Children’s Aid Society Parent Leaders
BMCC/CUNY in The Heights Director Ingrid Renderos hosted a group of Parent Leaders from the Children’s Aid Society on July 17. The Parent Leaders toured the facilities and also learned about the career and education pathways offered at BMCC, with a focus on the CUNY in The Heights location. The Parent Leaders will be able to share the information they learned about BMCC’s various programs with the surrounding community, including the credit bearing courses available at the BMCC/CUNY in The Heights location. For more information about BMCC/CUNY in The Heights, please visit: BMCC/CUNY in the Heights.

Small Business Entrepreneurship Program Director Professor Shane Snipes Releases New Book on AI and Chat GPT Business Management Deputy Chairperson Roderick Shane Snipes has released a new book, "Transforming Education with AI: Guide to Understanding and Using ChatGPT." The book explores how artificial intelligence, particularly the cutting-edge language model ChatGPT, can transform teaching, education planning, and learning. It provides step-by-step guidance, practical examples, pedagogical considerations, and tips for implementing AI in the classroom. The book is available now on Amazon.

Making Headlines

BMCC Student Vivian Chavez featured in article about trash eating watercraft
July 24, 20223—The New Yorker

Health Education Professor Lesley Rennis comments in article about occupational injuries among West African hair braiders
July 17, 2023—Harper’s Bazaar

English major Maleea Mcphatter has been named a team member of the The City Limits Accountability Reporting Initiative for Youth
July 17, 2023—City Limits

Did You Know?

Announcements

New and Improved BMCC Bookstore is Open
BMCC has teamed up with Follett Higher Education, the industry-leader in collegiate retail, to provide a new bookstore for the College community. Students who wish to purchase Summer II course materials, books and other BMCC merchandise can do so online or at the bookstore’s 199 Chamber Street campus location. Visit the online BMCC bookstore here. 

Apply for CUNY Start's JUMPStart Program
The application timeline for CUNY Start’s JUMPStart program is July and August 2023. JUMPStart is a partnership between CUNY Start and Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP). The program was created to guide the academic transition of students required to complete corequisite courses during the first year. JUMPStart program participants will be enrolled as matriculated students, at “less than part time” status, in both CUNY Start (either in Math Start (MS) or English Start (ES) and one 3 credit course concurrently in the same semester. For more information, contact mathstart@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Office of Public Affairs Seeks Faculty and Staff Experts for Media Opportunities The Office of Public Affairs is seeking faculty and staff who are comfortable speaking to the press and having their work or research pitched to outside media sources, when it is relevant to today's news cycle. Also, in an effort to make a reporter's search for experts more seamless, Public Affairs is working to redesign its faculty and staff experts’ website.

Members of the media will be able to scan the college's experts' list and connect with a faculty or staff member's short biography that includes a headshot, some stand-out credits and compelling evidence of expert insight.

Are you a potential BMCC Expert?

• Does your work at BMCC offer unique insight into today’s news headlines?  
• Are you a faculty or staff member who has spearheaded a unique and successful student program or service, and you have insight to share about that process?  
• Does your funded research, recently released book or article, academic contribution or other work provide a fresh perspective on gender and racial equity, the economy, environmental justice, STEM discoveries, innovative workforce training, immigration, health care, societal forces and other issues trending in the general news?
• Do you have expertise specific to community college student success, the culture and future of community colleges, and related topics that are the focus of higher education trade publications?

Mandatory considerations include:

• Are you available by cell phone at any time (within reason) outside of work hours and are you willing to respond promptly?
• Are you comfortable being on camera, speaking in a podcast or being quoted in an article, and do you consider yourself an easy-to-follow spokesperson who enjoys breaking down complex issues for a general audience?
• Is your faculty page updated to showcase your recent accomplishments?   
• Does your faculty page include a recent photo, and if not, would you be willing to provide one or take part in a quick photoshoot for a recent head shot?

If you are interested, please send a brief email responding to the above points to publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu by August 1, 2023. We look forward to hearing from you.

Enrollment

Fall 2023: There's Still Time to Register
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to talk to their advisor to discuss their academic progress and registration. Things to know: CUNY’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate has been lifted. Proof of vaccination is not required to enroll in college classes. All students must meet with their advisor before registering. Students can register on CUNYfirst or meet with a Panther Station Specialist on Zoom. When choosing classes on CUNYfirst, students should pay close attention to the class meeting mode (in-person, online or hybrid). For more information, visit the Registration page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Sports and Wellness

Barry Gonzalez Officially Named BMCC Women’s Basketball’s New Head Coach

Eight BMCC Student-Athletes Named to The 2022-23 NJCAA All-Academic Team

Check out the upcoming game schedule on the BMCC Athletics page Learn more about BMCC’s recreation schedule, including the fitness center and swimming pool.

Calendar

Conexiones and UMLA Field Day
July 31

NYC Men Teach Information Session
July 31

CPR/AED and First Aid Training
August 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9 10.

Connect with BMCC

FOLLOW BMCC

@BMCC is produced and published by the Office of Public Affairs.

Faculty and staff: Submit items for consideration in an upcoming @BMCC to publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu by 12 noon, Wednesday.