@BMCC

September 14, 2023

BMCC Marks Solemn 22nd Anniversary of 9/11
On the morning of September 11 at BMCC’s main campus, President Anthony E. Munroe led a wreath-laying ceremony near the plaque where eight BMCC community members killed on September 11, 2001 are memorialized. In the shadow of the rebuilt World Trade Center, VP for Student Affairs Marva Craig led a moment of silence that was followed by a reading of the names. “We lost eight of our BMCC family members and since then, many more became sick and succumbed to illnesses that were directly and indirectly related to the attacks on September 11,” said President Munroe, who noted the original Fiterman Hall was also destroyed. Representatives from BMCC’s SGA—Maximilian Rodriguez-Situ, Harileen Singh, Mandy Zhang and Irvin Aquino—also took part in the ceremony. SGA Senator and U.S. Navy veteran Keene Valle held the U.S. flag during the ceremony. "Participating in this event made us feel connected with the community as we displayed our strength and mourned the saddest day in New York City together, 22 later," said SGA President Jennifer Marquez. "We continue to give the utmost respect to all those in our BMCC community who were affected by this tragedy." See photo gallery.

Respiratory Therapy Program Renews Accreditation
For the eighth year in a 10-year cycle, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) has granted accreditation of the Associate in Applied Science Respiratory Therapy (RT) program in the BMCC Allied Health Sciences Department. According to the CoARC website, BMCC has the only CoARC-accredited RT associate degree program in CUNY and is one of 13 in the state. This means graduates of the BMCC program are eligible to take the Certification and Registry Examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020, 18 RT majors at BMCC took advantage of the opportunity to graduate early and go straight into critical care settings. “In times of crisis as well as more stable times, our Respiratory Therapist graduates have the knowledge, skills and values to practice as safe and competent respiratory care specialists who will continue to learn as the field advances,” said Allied Health Sciences Chair Everett Flannery.

President Munroe Attends Public Launch of Welcome Corps on Campus
BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe joined Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes as well as other members of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration (shown above) for the Welcome Corps on Campus public launch event on September 12, at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The Welcome Corps on Campus initiative is a groundbreaking opportunity for college and university communities to sponsor refugee students. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration supports and advocates for undocumented, international and refugee students in higher education, and Dr. Munroe is pleased to serve as a member of the Steering Committee. Learn more about the Welcome Corps on Campus event here.

BMCC Music and Theatre Students to Perform Monthly at Perelman Performing Arts Center
BMCC is proud to present free afternoon performances from the college’s Music program as well as from the Speech, Communications and Theatre Arts department as part of the Perelman Performing Arts Center’s (PAC NYC) afternoon showcase series, set to take place each month on the lobby stage. BMCC’s premier performance, the afternoon of September 27, will feature the college’s talented student musicians showcasing a wide variety of contemporary and original material. PAC NYC recently announced collaborative partnerships with community organizations including BMCC.

BMCC Alumna Sandra Lindsay Makes History Again as First American to Receive New COVID-19 Booster
Nearly three years ago, BMCC Nursing Alumna Dr. Sandra Lindsay made history as the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. On September 13, Dr. Lindsay repeated the feat by volunteering to be the first American to receive this season’s shot: Pfizer-BioNTech 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine. “It’s important that people understand that COVID is still around and can still severely affect an individual,” said Dr. Lindsay in a Northwell Health press release. “Having worked through the darkest days of the pandemic and seen the devastating effects it can have, I tell people not to take chances. We have powerful weapons like vaccines to prevent those devastating outcomes.” Dr. Lindsay is Vice President of Public Health Advocacy at Northwell and a BMCC Foundation board member. Watch a WABC 7 interview with Dr. Lindsay.

"BMCC Commons" Is Available Online
The "BMCC Commons," BMCC’s bi-annual publication that showcases faculty, staff and administration achievements is now available online here. From Theatre to Engineering, the Fall 2023 "BMCC Commons" showcases BMCC alumni accomplishments, faculty research and new College-wide initiatives.

Washington Market Park Basketball Courts Refurbished
On September 8, BMCC participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly refurbished Washington Market Park Basketball Courts which adjoin the entrance ramp at 199 Chambers Street. Danish menswear brand Les Deux invested $70,000 to refurbish the two basketball courts as part of the New York City Parks’ creative courts initiative. Vice President for Student Affairs Marva Craig joined New York City Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner Anthony Perez, City Council member Christopher Marte and representatives from Les Deux, as well as lower Manhattan community members at the event. The basketball courts are open from 8 a.m. until dusk. “We are thrilled by the collaboration between the Parks Department and Lex Deux in revitalizing these courts, a development that will significantly benefit both our students and the broader community,” said VP Craig.

Fall 2023 Club Fair a Success, Next Event is September 22
The Office of Student Activities hosted the first of two Fall 2023 Club Fairs on September 13 in Richard Harris Terrace. This event introduced students to the College’s many clubs and activities. At the Club Fair, students can speak to members of the different clubs and ask questions. A second day of student club fair activities is set for September 22 in Richard Harris Terrace from 12 to 3 p.m. See photo gallery.

Environmental Economics Class Learns About Ecosystem at Hudson River Park
Economics Professor Christine Farias’ Environmental Economics class collaborated with educators from the Hudson River Park project and learned about its ecological zones on September 13. The field visit, arranged by BMCC Director of Research Odaelys Pollard, included information about the ecosystem of trees and plant life as well as the habitat enhancement work at Pier 26.

Making Headlines

BMCC alumna featured in story about college application process
September 12, 2023—Ed Surge

Perelman Performing Arts Center announces partnerships with organizations including BMCC
September 10, 2023—CityLife.org

BMCC highlighted with community colleges in look at affordability of CUNY 4-year colleges
September 6, 2023—Forbes

Did You Know?

Announcements

Deadline to Register for Free Nov. 8 Naturalization Clinic is Oct. 27
The BMCC Advocacy and Resource Center has partnered with City Bar Justice Center and Fragomen to sponsor a free naturalization clinic designed to assist currently enrolled BMCC students who are Permanent Residents to complete a U.S. Citizenship Naturalization application on November 8 from 12 to 3 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace. Students will meet with a licensed attorney to complete the application. Registration by October 27 is required; space is limited. To register, visit the Advocacy and Resource Center Office, 199 Chambers Street, Room S-230, email ARC@bmcc.cuny.edu, or call (212) 220-8195.

BMCC Transitions and Transactions Conference April 5-6
BMCC’s English department invites faculty to submit paper and panel proposals for the seventh annual Transitions and Transactions conference scheduled for April 5-6, 2024. The Transitions and Transactions conference is dedicated to helping community college teachers of literature flourish and excel as they envision, invent and expand ideas. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2024. For more information and submission information, visit the event’s web page.

Voices and Experiences of Poverty: An In-Person Read-In of W. E. B. DuBois’ The Souls of Black Folk with Professor Jamie Warren, September 22
BMCC faculty directors of the project, “Voices & Experiences of Poverty: A New Interdisciplinary Humanities Curriculum” will host an in-person community read-in of W.E.B. Du Bois’ "The Souls of Black Folk" starting at 4 p.m. on September 22 in Room N-452 at 199 Chambers Street. Published more than a century ago, this seminal work by W.E.B. Du Bois is still powerfully resonant today and offers an example of what is possible when the minds and souls of the oppressed refuse to be silenced. For more information, visit the event webpage.

CUNY Senior College Student Services Directory
The CUNY Senior College Student Services Directory is a useful resource for students looking to transfer to senior colleges, and was created as part of the AcMo 2.0 initiative. This directory contains a comprehensive list of contact information for various support services available at CUNY senior colleges, designed to provide transfer students with additional guidance and assistance.

Visit the New BMCC Online Learning Webpage
We are pleased to announce the new online learning landing page, with a visually appealing design and user-friendly navigation. The webpage provides a comprehensive overview of BMCC’s online degree programs and courses, and includes detailed information about the array of support programs offered to online students. Whether students prefer in-person, hybrid or fully online programs, BMCC offers flexible learning options to fit their needs and goals. Visit the online learning webpage.

Submit a Session Proposal for Professional Development Conference: Deadline Sept. 25
Sr. Vice Chancellor Doriane K. Gloria invites BMCC faculty and staff to submit session proposals by September 25 for the CUNY Professional Development Conference, “Bridging the Growing Divide: Working Towards Inclusivity and Consensus,” set for November 9 and 10. To complete the conference proposal form, log in with your Office365 username and password (i.e. username: Jane.Doe20@login.cuny.edu, password: your CUNYfirst password).Please email University.Training@cuny.edu with any questions or concerns.

Domestic Violence 101 Webinar Series
BMCC staff and faculty are invited to attend a Domestic Violence (DV) 101 training. Throughout October, the New York Office for Prevention of Domestic Violence will be hosting a weekly one-hour, free webinar on domestic violence which is open to all. These webinars will cover definitions, power and control tactics, staying versus leaving and survivor-centered responses. The Lunch & Learns and the DV 101 webinars provide an opportunity for staff to learn about some of the intricacies of domestic violence. Please feel free to send the flyer, “OPDV DV101” to all staff in your agency as this series is open to the general public.” See available dates and registration information.

Enjoy Merchandise and Entertainment Discounts, as Well as Free Subscriptions to “The New York Times” and “Wall Street Journal”
BMCC students, faculty and staff are eligible for retail and entertainment discounts and other perks throughout the year. The College community can also sign up for free online subscriptions to “The New York Times” and “The Wall Street Journal.” Visit the discounts page to learn more.

Enrollment

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week Events
Throughout National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, from September 18 to 22, BMCC will host a series of events centered around providing adult learners with opportunities to explore returning to school. If you know anyone who has been thinking about going back to school, is looking to change their career or align it with their life experiences, seeks to raise their employment income and is passionate about joining BMCC, please encourage them to attend. For more information, see event info, or contact Admissions at admissions@bmcc.cuny.edu.

There’s Still Time to Register for Fall 2023 Express Session!
There is still an express session available for Fall 2023. This 8-week session is from October 26 to December 20. While the Express Sessions give students the flexibility to take courses during a shorter time frame, please keep in mind that they offer limited course offerings and have some financial aid limitations. Learn more here. Students can speak with an advisor to determine whether the Express Sessions are the best option for them. They can register on CUNYfirst or meet with a Panther Station Specialist on Zoom. For more information, visit the Fall Express page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Human Resources

BMCC Flu Clinic is Back on October 12
BMCC faculty and staff can get a flu shot at the faculty and staff lounge in Room S-344 on October 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are available here. Print a consent form here and bring it with you to your appointment.

Gender-Based Violence Training Joins ESPARC and WVP Mandated Trainings

The state- and CUNY-mandated Employee Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) and Workplace Violence Prevention Training (WVP) are available for the 2023-2024 academic year. All part-time employees, including adjuncts, must complete both trainings by the end of the current semester. Full-time employees have until May 31 to complete the trainings.
The state- and CUNY-mandated Gender Based Violence Training (GBVT) is required for HR professionals and managers with at least one direct report. Full-time employees notified by email about GBVT must complete it by May 31; part-time employees who are contacted have till the end of the current semester.

Sports and Wellness