News

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Names 13 BMCC Students as Semifinalists for Competitive Transfer Scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has named 13 BMCC students as semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Among CUNY and New York State community colleges, BMCC has the highest number of semifinalists. The BMCC students were among the 467 semifinalists chosen from a pool of more than 1,600 applicants who attend 212 community colleges in 43 states. The rigorous selection process assesses candidates on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, demonstrated financial need, perseverance, and leadership.

Criminal Justice Students Attend Eastern Sociological Society Conference in Boston
Twenty-four BMCC Criminal Justice (CRJ) students attended the annual Eastern Sociological Society (ESS) conference in Boston from March 4 to March 9. CRJ Professor Brenda Vollman, who coordinated the trip and CRJ Professor Shenique Davis accompanied the students to the conference. Founded in 1930, ESS advances sociological research, promotes the effective teaching of sociology, develops more vital relationships between sociology and related disciplines, and uses the tools of the social sciences to address social problems. This year’s conference featured numerous presentations, sessions and exhibitions exploring topics related to the theme, “Building Solidarity to Break Cycles of Repression.” Each day of the event, the BMCC students attended at least four sessions, then participated in check-ins and mandatory evening dinners where they spent time debriefing and community building.

BMCC President Joins CUNY Leaders in Albany to Discuss Budget Priorities with Legislators
On March 5, BMCC President, Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, joined other Presidents and Deans from CUNY’s 12 Manhattan institutions for a breakfast with state legislators where they made the case for robust CUNY funding in this year’s state budget. President Munroe spoke to the transformative role CUNY and BMCC play in driving the upward social mobility of New Yorkers from all means and backgrounds, and the critical role CUNY students play in meeting the city and state’s workforce needs. The CUNY leaders offered support for Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal and emphasized the need for additional funding to meet mandatory needs, collective bargaining agreements and investment in key programing and capital initiatives.

BMCC and Perelman Performing Arts Center Launch Mentorship and Professional Development Program
BMCC’s Center for Career Development in collaboration with the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) officially launched a pilot program called the Mentorship & Professional Development Program (MAPD) during an event at Fiterman Hall conference center on March 12. MAPD is an eight-week initiative designed to connect high-achieving students with industry professionals from PAC. BMCC Senior Career Advisor Katherine Bedoya, who is overseeing the program, said the event was a success. “We welcomed students from a variety of majors, like Art History, Computer Science, Communication Studies, and Psychology, who got the chance to connect with mentors from the Perelman Performing Arts Center,” said Bedoya. “With eight weeks ahead, we’re excited to see how these connections help our students gain valuable career insights and grow their professional networks.”

BMCC Students Attend Symphony Space Event Featuring Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Students in Academic Literacy and Linguistics Lecturer Ewa Barnes’ English 100.7 course attended a book club event at Symphony Space on March 11 featuring Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who talked about her book “Dream Count.” “We are grateful to Symphony Space for giving us complimentary tickets to this sold-out event,” said Barnes. “We also feel inspired by Ms. Adichie's reading and her question and answer session, in which she addressed female empowerment and the magic of writing.” The BMCC students are currently reading “Dream Count,” in their class.

Making Headlines

Marking 25 years, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation names national semifinalists for scholarship
March 6, 2025—JKC.org

BMCC hosts Eagle Academy Foundation All Male College Fair
March 12, 2025—PIX 11

Did You Know?

Announcements

CUNY TV Presents Showcasing BMCC Student Films Throughout March
Throughout the month of March, the show CUNY TV Presents is featuring Media Arts and Technology Professor Tassos Rigopoulos as well as talented BMCC student and alumni filmmakers: Becky Lamming, Carla Robles, Renzo Esposito, and Jerome Gayman. Together, they share insights into their captivating films and reflect on their unique experiences at BMCC. During the second half of the program, the BMCC students' films are shown. The episodes run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. For the full schedule of the film screenings, click here.  

BMCC to Host Special Education Program Information Session on March 25
The BMCC Teacher Education Department will host an information session for students interested in becoming Special Education Teachers on March 25 from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom. BMCC’s program articulates with the program at Brooklyn College (CUNY). Learn more about the program as well as the currently more than 2,200 available special education jobs available in New York City. Register here.

BMCC’s ARC to Host Immigration Information Session
The BMCC Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) has partnered with City Bar Justice Center, Fragomen, and CUNY Citizenship Now! to sponsor a free Immigration Information Session on April 9 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. Currently enrolled BMCC students who are taking classes can find answers to general and frequently asked immigration questions during the session. No registration required.

BMCC Testing Office Moving to Fiterman Hall
The BMCC Testing Office is relocating from 199 Chambers St. to the Fiterman Hall lower lobby, effective immediately. They will be moving from S103 (testing office) and S106 (testing lab) to the Lower Lobby of Fiterman Hall.

Handshake: Student Career Connection Available
Handshake is BMCC's premier career services platform, connecting students and alumni with a wealth of opportunities. Whether an individual is searching for internships, part-time jobs, full-time positions or simply exploring career paths, Handshake is a good resource. Job or intern seekers can claim their profile to showcase skills and experience and gain access to thousands of job postings and other resources. Handshake also allows individuals to register for career events, schedule appointments with career advisors and receive personalized job recommendations. Handshake is a one-stop shop for launching a career! BMCC community members with questions about Handshake can contact Director of Career Development Robert Earl at rearl@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC AI Literacy Day Coming March 28 BMCC’s Blackstone Launchpad will host the BMCC AI Literacy Day: Solving Local Challenges with People-first AI on March 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers St. The event will feature keynote speakers and various workshops and opportunities for teams to pitch ideas before AI expert judges. Learn more here.

LinkedIn Learning Platform Now Available LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform designed to assist users with improving business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. The LinkedIn Learning video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by industry experts allows users to learn at their own pace. Available courses include Developing Presentation Skills, Learning Time Management Skills, How to Be An Effective Leader, QuickBooks Tutorials for Accountants, Adobe Creative Cloud Tutorials Web/Fashion Designers, AutoCad Tutorial for Engineers, Scripting Languages for the Application Developers and more. For more information, contact Leticia Dinkins, Instructional Computer Services Manager, at the Learning Resource Center, at ldinkins@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development Host IT Course Information Session BMCC’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education will host a new information session focused on new IT courses including; Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Networking, Web Development, Cloud Computing or Programming. The one-hour long session is available on March 25 at 12 p.m. or 1 p.m., and March 27 at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. at 25 Broadway. Individuals interested in pursuing careers in IT can learn about course offerings, career pathways and industry certifications. Faculty and advisors will be available to answer questions and provide guidance. For questions or more information, contact IT-program manager Manasa VK at mvaragapallikarunasek@bmcc.cuny.edu.

IRT Issues Instructions on Logging Into Wi-Fi
BMCC-EDUROAM is a secure and seamless Wi-Fi connection available to students, faculty, and staff on campus, as well as at participating institutions worldwide. You can log in using your CUNYfirst credentials, which ensures a reliable and secure connection for all academic and research activities. For step-by-step instructions on how to connect your device, please visit our Knowledge Base article here: How to Connect to BMCC-EDUROAM. For questions or assistance, contact the BMCC IRT Service Desk.

The Moth Story Lab All-CUNY Workshop at BMCC in Spring 2025
The Department of Speech, Communication, and Theatre Arts co-presents The Moth Story Lab All-CUNY Workshop Series, a free workshop program where CUNY students—both undergraduate and graduate—can learn the art and craft of true, personal storytelling during the Spring 2025 semester. A series of in-person and virtual workshops are available now. For a full description of the event as well as links and workshop dates, click here.

Free Flu Shots for BMCC Students
The Health and Wellness Center (HWC), located at 199 Chambers St., Room N-380 offers free flu shots to all BMCC students daily throughout the winter months. No appointment is necessary, just walk in. For more information, contact the HWC at HealthServices@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-8256.

Students Facing Food Insecurity Can Visit the Panther Pantry BMCC is a member of the College and University Food Bank Alliance. Let your students know that if they are facing a food emergency, they can take home nutritionally balanced, non-perishable and frozen food items by visiting the Panther Pantry in the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC), 199 Chambers Street, Room S-230, on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Faculty and Staff: Do Your Students Work in K-12 or Daycare?
The LEAP to Teacher (LTT) program—a partnership between the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) and BMCC—offers free services to all (Pre-K to 12th grade) school and daycare workers pursuing a degree or certificate at BMCC to advance their careers in teaching or other fields. These free services include academic and career support, financial assistance, workshops on NYS teacher exam prep and more. To access the services, students must register online. Learn more here or contact Antoinette Adman, LTT Program Specialist, at Antoinette.Adman@slu.cuny.edu.

Enrollment

Summer and Fall 2025 Advisement and Registration Starts March 17
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to talk to their advisor to discuss their academic progress and registration. Things to know: 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), 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.

Join us at the Admissions Spring Open House, March 18
The Admissions staff is calling all future BMCC Panthers to step onto 119 Chambers St. for a college experience at the Spring Open House on Tuesday, March 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. Prospective students and their families are welcome for a night full of activities, including a tour of our vibrant College, information about financial aid and resources, support programs, and the opportunity to engage with our dynamic faculty to discuss potential majors and career paths. Faculty are invited to participate in the open house. This is a great opportunity to highlight your academic program and generate interest for enrollment. For more info, contact the Admissions Office at (212) 220-1265 or admissions@bmcc.cuny.edu. Learn more.

Spring 2025 Express Session—8 Weeks, Fast & Flexible!
A Spring 2025 Express Session is available from March 22 to May 22! This 8-week session lets students earn credits faster, but course options and financial aid may be limited. Encourage them to check with an advisor to see if it’s a good fit. Learn more here. Students can register on CUNYfirst or meet with a Panther Station Specialist on Zoom. For more information, visit the Spring Express page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Human Resources

Register Now for Spring 2025 Professional Development Trainings
College Resources, Professional Development and Learning (PDL) in the office of University Human Resources provides professional development opportunities for Spring 2025.

• PDL Spring Courses. Provided through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), these courses range from $75 to $150 per person and require supervisory approval. Register online.
• DCAS Open Enrollment: Citywide training is provided in cultural awareness, management, technology and more.
• Campus On-Site Training Requests. Custom training sessions can be requested through DCAS.

For full details, please refer to the Spring 2025 Professional Development Opportunities Catalog. CUNY employees who participate in professional development outside of PDL’s offerings are asked to log those activities on the Professional Development Tracking Form. Questions can be sent to University.Training@cuny.edu. 

Meet with a Financial Consultant on Campus Christian Hawkinson from TIAA will be on the BMCC campus to assist employees in person with investment planning, retirement and more. One-on-one appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Room N599P, on these dates: Thurs. Apr. 24; Wed., May 14 and Wed., June 11. Space is limited, so register online now or by calling (800) 732-8353.

Sports and Wellness

Panthers Register Non-Region Road Victory Over Middlesex CC

Follow the Panthers The BMCC athletic program leads eight varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For more news on the Panthers, visit the official site of BMCC Athletics and follow the Panthers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Calendar

Jane Young Spring 2025 Film Series: Films of Resistance and Revolt
March 16

Life Dance/Biodanza Series — Let’s Dance! (followed by Pizza and Salad Party)
March 17

Breaking Barriers: Women in STEM and their Innovative Journeys
March 19

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.