News

Social Justice Week 2024 Features Dynamic Speakers and Performances
Social Justice Week 2024—"Challenging Conversations: Building Pathway to Hope and Unity”—opened March 19 in Theatre 2 at 199 Chambers St. Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, BMCC President, welcomed keynote speaker Dr. Jelani Cobb, journalist, author and Dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, who spoke about historical as well as more recent challenges to democracy and how they impede the social justice movement. Also, Lashallah Burgess, Director of CUNY Start Programs at BMCC and a member of REI’s Campus Climate Survey subcommittee shared updates on BMCC’s work with the USC Race and Equity Center to administer the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC). Day One of the events also featured the BMCC Choral Program under Professor Eugenia Yau and Professor Jee Eun Ahn. Music major Stephanie Marrow and her band also performed. The day closed out with a debrief of the day’s activities led by Speech, Communications and Theatre Professor Alvin Eng. Day Two included a keynote address from Professor Salguero McGee, Director, Intercultural Student Engagement and Dialogue at CUNY, who shared insight on building relationships and spaces across differences. Day Three featured Hip Hop performances from Savannah Lucas and Zurishaddai Salehe and a panel discussion titled “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos: Hip Hop Politics, Prison Reform and Abolition,” led by Ethnic and Race Studies Professor Remy Salas. BMCC students Jasmine Mitchell and Candy Assanah, as well as Linda Tigani, NYC Racial Equity Commission, and Carlene Pinto, Immigration Campaign Manager for the NY Immigration Coalition, also participated on the panel. In earlier remarks, Dr. Munroe spoke of the importance of events such as Social Justice Week. "What we do individually and collectively, is important because we have power," said the President. "Whether it is through our words, our actions or our decisions, we all can make a positive difference."

“This Is What I Was Meant to Do”: Nursing Alumnus Ki Bang Wins Prestigious DAISY Award
Ki Bang, a 2022 BMCC Nursing alumnus and father of two, changed his life’s course by pursuing a nursing career in his fifties. Now working as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the Orthopedics department of Mount Sinai Hospital, he was just awarded The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. “This is my third career, and I feel like this is what I was meant to do,” says Mr. Bang, who worked in finance, then IT, then as an AV technician at a nonprofit. He enrolled at BMCC in 2019, and was accepted into the Nursing program in January 2020, just as Covid hit. “We developed a sense of camaraderie,” Mr. Bang says. “We would help each other, reach out to the people that were faltering or discouraged.”

President Anthony E. Munroe Honored at Caribbean Impact Awards BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe was one of 41 honorees at the 2024 Caribbean Life Impact Awards hosted by "Caribbean Life" on March 20 at Terrace on the Park in Queens. The annual Impact Awards recognize the achievements and contributions of outstanding individuals born in the Caribbean or Caribbean background who have made the most impact in their respective career fields, ranging from healthcare to the arts to advocacy to entrepreneurship. "Caribbean Life" said in a statement, “The celebrated honorees are committed to creating and framing the path for incoming immigrants and inspiring generations to come.” Read more about the awards here.

Inclusive Economy Career Fair Provides Leads, Advice and Community 
The Inclusive Economy Career Fair held March 20 in the BMCC gymnasium was a collaboration led by Office of Internships and Experiential Learning with the departments of Computer Information Systems, Health Education and Media Arts and Technology. Close to 350 students attended the event. Around 45 employers from a variety of industries set up tables where they met with students and talked about their companies and explored how students’ skills might be applied to a particular position. A portion of the gym was filled with tables where students sat with laptops and reviewed their résumés and portfolios with faculty and corporate partners who also provided interview practice and coaching. In another section of the room, a professional photographer worked with students to provide them with a headshot they can use in their LinkedIn profiles and professional outreach. “What made this career fair a success was the feeling of community, the warmth of our employer partners, faculty and staff as they talked with students about the economy that needs them, and the opportunities that await them,” said Sharon Reid, Director of BMCC’s Office of Internships and Experiential Learning. 

Speech, Communication and Theatre Arts Students Deliver Stellar Performances at PAC NYC
BMCC’s Speech, Communication and Theatre Arts Department presented a Monologue Slam at BMCC Live at Perelman Arts Center’s (PAC NYC) Vartan and Clare Gregorian stage on March 20. The performance was a component of PAC NYC’s ongoing civic alliance with BMCC.  Speech, Communication and Theatre Arts Chair Vincent (Tzu-Wen) Cheng delivered welcoming remarks to a full house audience in the lobby where the stage is located. The performance, curated by Theatre Professor Angela Polite, featured a series of monologues weaved together by the beat and sound of the drum. “Our monologues come from a diverse group of writers and they beautifully exemplify the universal themes of love and loss, taking risks, family relations and finding joy,” she said. Performers included Professors Joel Oramas and Rebecca Collier as well as students; Kadiatou Maiga, Diego Yane, Ruby Gonzalez, Stella Tulman, Jasmine Gosein, Kayla Toure, Oluwafemi Olosunde, Virginiya DiDonato, Frank Glass, Ethan Homan, Keanna Seegar, Jalen Andujar, Antony Zeng and Wagens Jerome.

Latino College Expo Breaks Barriers to Higher Education
On March 16, BMCC hosted the Latino College Expo (LCE) in the College gym at 199 Chambers Street. Students and their families explored educational opportunities, connected with college representatives, and gained valuable insights into their academic journey. The LCE plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers to higher education by providing tailored resources and support to Latino students and families, empowering them to pursue their dreams with confidence.

Community College of Rhode Island Reps Visit BMCC to Learn More about CUNY Start Program
BMCC’s CUNY Start program hosted administrators and professors from Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) on March 20 at the Murray building. The BMCC event was part of a two-day visit to CUNY campuses where the CCRI delegation is learning more about CUNY Start. “We’re calling this a design studio,” said Susannah Thompson, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at CUNY Start (Central). “It’s a way to show the folks from CCRI what our program is about.” Thompson said the CCRI group was interested in seeing BMCC classrooms and the CUNY Start program in action. “We’ll be doing a deeper dive into how the program is run later in the day,” she said. In addition to CUNY Central, representatives from Hostos and Queensborough Community Colleges also took part in the visit according to Lashallah Burgess, CUNY Start Program Director at BMCC.

Making Headlines

Teacher Education Professor Jean Plaisir weighs in on ongoing events in Haiti
March 20, 2024—Spectrum NY1

Did You Know?

Announcements

Donate Used Eyeglasses and Make a Difference for a Sight-Impaired Person The Office of Evening/Weekend and Off-Site Programs is collecting used eyeglasses, in partnership with Lions Clubs International by providing usable eyeglasses to children and adults throughout the world. Lenses can be scratched or broken but not frames; all recipients will receive new lenses. The drop box location is at the Office of Academic Affairs in room S-715 at 199 Chambers Street. Read more here.

Promotion to Supervisor Electrician Exam Accepting Applications Till March 26 CUNY employees only can apply through March 26 for a fee of $101 for Exam #4556, Promotion to Supervisor Electrician. The test date is June 18. For more information, read the full Notice of Examination on the NYC DCAS website.

Mandatory Ethics Training Offered March 28
Pursuant to New York State law, all BMCC faculty and staff are required to attend ethics trainings every two years. BMCC employees can complete the training remotely via ZOOM on March 28 at 3 p.m. To sign up for the training, click here.

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Day 2024 Is April 3
WAC Day—both in-person at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-341, and available on Zoom—is set for Wednesday, April 3. The event will feature guest speaker Ted Hadzi-Antich, founder of the Great Questions Project and a professor at Austin Community College. A faculty panel at 12 noon will feature BMCC Professors Laura Kujo (Teacher Education), Michael Liu (Ethnic Studies), Cara O’Connor (Social Science) and Anika Thrower (Health Education). A panel of students discussing their experience in writing intensive courses across the disciplines will start at 12:40 p.m. Learn more about BMCC WAC here.

Catch Cybersecurity Threats Before They Catch You 
Faculty and staff are strongly urged to complete a 40-minute, online Cybersecurity Awareness Training course, accessible via Blackboard. Completing this course will enable users to apply best practices in safeguarding their personal information as well as CUNY and BMCC data. Those who complete the brief course will gain tips on how to recognize and mitigate potential cybersecurity threats, including phishing attacks, spam and account breaches. To access the training, log into Blackboard using your CUNYfirst credentials. Under “My Organizations,” click on "Borough of Manhattan CC Cybersecurity Awareness Training FY23-24." For assistance with the training or more information, please contact the Office of Information Resources and Technology (IRT) Service Desk at userservices@bmcc.cuny.edu, or visit 199 Chambers Street, Room S-141, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Encourage Students to Apply for BMCC Foundation Scholarship: Deadline April 21
Students are encouraged to submit applications for the BMCC Foundation Scholarship. The deadline is April 21. Eligible candidates receive up to $3,200 annually. To qualify, students must be matriculated, pursuing their first college degree at BMCC and maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Full-time students should have completed a minimum of 12 credits by the conclusion of the Spring 2024 semester, while part-time students should have completed at least 20 credits by the same period. Here are additional details. Contact Scholarship and Special Services Manager Sussie Gyamfi, sgyamfi@bmcc.cuny.edu with questions.

Transitions and Transactions Conference Set for April 5–6
BMCC in collaboration with the Working Writers reading series, New York College English Association (NYCEA) and Pennsylvania College English Association (PCEA) will host the seventh annual Transitions and Transactions conference April 5–6 at BMCC. The Transitions and Transactions conference is designed to help community college literature teachers navigate the evolving landscape of teaching and respond to the distinct challenges of diverse student populations as well as the dynamic demands of the profession. For more information, including registration, click here.

Civic-Minded Students Encouraged to Apply for Sen. Gillibrand’s Summer Internship Program by April 30
The New York City office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is seeking highly motivated, dedicated and civic-minded students to apply for the Summer 2024 internship program. Interested students are invited to apply here. Applicants must submit a current resume, cover letter, writing sample, letter of reference and transcript (unofficial accepted). Contact Gillibrand_InternshipsNYC@gillibrand.senate.gov for more information or questions.

Let Students Know: Free, Virtual Tax Assistance Is Available Through April 8 Staff from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance will help currently enrolled BMCC students prepare and e-file their income tax returns in free, self-help Zoom sessions on March 11, 18 and 25, and April 1 and 8. Sessions are from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. The students will need an active email account, photo ID, social security number, proof of income, information related to claimed credits, their 2022 tax return and banking information for direct deposit. For details and to register, students can visit here.

Would Your Students Benefit From a Free Naturalization Clinic? Registration Deadline is April 11 for April 18 Workshop
The BMCC Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC), the City Bar Justice Center and Fragomen, a law practice, will sponsor a free naturalization clinic on April 18 at 199 Chambers Street, Richard Harris Terrace, from 2 until 5 p.m. Students who are permanent residents can attend the clinic and work with a licensed attorney in completing their U.S. Citizenship Naturalization application. The registration deadline is April 11 for the April 18 workshop. To register, students can visit ARC at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-230; email ARC@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-8195.

Enrollment

Summer and Fall 2024 Advisement and Registration Starts March 25
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to talk to their advisor to discuss their academic progress and registration. Things to know: 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), as well as the class session (15, 8 or 7 weeks). For more information, visit the Registration page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

CUNY Extends Decision Day Deadline for New Students
CUNY has extended the "Decision Day" deadline for new students to accept admissions offers, giving applicants until June 1 to determine their full financial aid package before they decide. Current students can visit CUNY’s FAFSA guide for news about financial aid and tools to plan their educational future. Students who have questions about their financial aid or enrollment status, should contact finaid@bmcc.cuny.edu or visit www.bmcc.cuny.edu/panther-station/.

Human Resources

Annual Step Challenge Is Back: Register by April 5
During WorkWell’s four-week step challenge, “Let’s Move NYC,” thousands of City employees will walk, run or roll towards their fitness goals and a healthier NYC from April 22 through May 19. The deadline to register is April 5.

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, as well as full-time employees must complete both trainings by May 31.
• The state- and CUNY-mandated Gender Based Violence Training (GBVT) is required for HR professionals and managers with at least one direct report. Full and part-time employees notified by email about GBVT must complete it by May 31.

Human Resources will host pre-recorded, two-hour ESPARC and WPV Zoom sessions. Visit here to view the dates through April 25. To schedule a Zoom training, contact Lori Mazzola at lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu and include the training date and time you want to attend.

Calendar

Women’s Herstory Month: Women in Leadership: The New York City Council
March 25

BMCC Lunch and Learn Series: Supporting Students Through Financial Aid and the New FAFSA Application
March 26

Sleep Hygiene: What is it and how can it help you get a good night’s sleep?
March 26

Stop the Bleed Training
March 27

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