@BMCC Newsletter: BMCC Astronomy Professors Find Black Hole Flare Is Biggest and Most Distant Ever Seen

November 7, 2025

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)

News

BMCC Astronomy Professors Find Black Hole Flare Is Biggest and Most Distant Ever Seen

BMCC Astronomy Professors K. E. Saavik Ford and Barry McKernan are co-leaders of a team of researchers who witnessed the brightest black hole flare ever seen according to a Nature Astronomy paper they co-authored, titled “An Extremely Luminous Flare Recorded from a Supermassive Black Hole.” The cosmic object was first observed in 2018 by the US National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), based at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory, and the Caltech-led Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey, which is also funded by NSF. The flare rapidly brightened by a factor of 40 over a period of months, and, at its peak, was 30 times more luminous than any previous black hole flare seen to date. At its brightest, the flare shined with the light of 10 trillion suns.

BMCC Opens Hispanic Heritage Month with Inspiring, Joy Filled Ceremony

BMCC community members celebrated the opening of the College’s Hispanic Heritage Month with an afternoon ceremony featuring political leaders, live music, and cultural performances on November 5 in the cafeteria at 199 Chambers Street. This year’s theme, Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future (Herencia Colectiva: Honrando el Pasado, Inspirando el Futuro), honors the legacy of José Francisco Peña Gómez, a Dominican advocate and political leader known for his resilience and commitment to justice, and the Mirabal Sisters, Dominican activists who became symbols of courage and resistance against dictatorship.

BMCC Continuing Education and Workforce Development Hosts New York Metro Cybersecurity Conference

BMCC Adult Continuing Education and Workforce Development hosted the 12th Annual New York Metro Joint Cybersecurity conference October 30 in Theatre two at 199 Chambers Street. This was the first time the industry event was held in collaboration with BMCC. The conference brought together nearly 130 cybersecurity professionals, educators and students for a day of networking, innovation and knowledge sharing focused on the evolving landscape of information security. BMCC Continuing Education and Workforce Development Director Steven Nunez welcomed attendees on behalf of BMCC, noting that the College continues to be “a cornerstone of opportunity and access, serving one of the most diverse student populations in the entire nation.”

BMCC Faculty Secure Over $1.8 Million in Grant Funding for Student Success

BMCC’s Office of Sponsored Programs announced that faculty, staff and administrators have secured more than $1.8 million in grant funding for new programming, research and student supports during the current academic year. The awards span critical areas including workforce development, STEM education, student parent support and pathways to advanced degrees, demonstrating BMCC’s commitment to removing barriers and expanding opportunities for students.

BMCC Student Participating in APEC Women and Youth Empowerment Conference in Taipei

BMCC Business Administration major student Elaine Hamilton is participating in the APEC Forum on Women and Youth Empowerment: “Enhancing Digital Competitiveness and Inclusive Economic Growth through Innovative Enterprise Education,” being held in Taipei, Taiwan, November 5 – 7. The aim of the project is to foster the cultivation of youth talent and empower women by developing digital competency and fostering innovative and inclusive entrepreneurial mindset, which will contribute to long-term regional prosperity and inclusivity. The event is hosted by the Taiwan Ministry of Education. Hamilton is a campus mentor, Conexiones Advisor, and a CUNY Women’s Public Service Intern.

Making Headlines

BMCC graduate who transferred to Princeton University talks about importance of support services for student parents

November 6, 2025—EdTrust

Astronomy Professors K.E. Saavik Ford and Barry McKernan co-lead team that witnessed record setting energetic flare in space

November 4, 2025—Reuters, Phys.org, The Weather Network, China Daily

CUNY Chancellor Touts CUNY Beyond, which is set to debut at BMCC, in Op-Ed

November 4, 2025—AM New York

Queens BMCC student shares details from commute by bus, which is often crowded

November 2, 2025—AM New York

Did You Know?

Veteran’s Day, which is November 11, originated as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I.
Read more here

Announcements

Spread the Word! CUNY in the Heights to Host Open House on November 13

CUNY in the Heights (CITH) will hold an Open House Celebration on Thursday, November 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at 5030 Broadway (between 213th and 214th Streets). Students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to discover the wide range of programs and resources CUNY in the Heights has to offer. Attendees will learn about both credit-bearing coursework and non-credit-bearing Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs, including free and low-cost Allied Health certification programs such as Certified Nursing Assistant, Hemodialysis, and the IHOPE Program. Representatives will also be on hand to share information on ASAP, the CUNY Language Immersion Program, Adult English Learning, Citizenship Now! and the SUNY ATTAIN Lab. Financial aid and application workshops will be offered, as well as sessions on résumé writing and interview skills. A free dinner provided by local restaurants will also be available. This event is presented in collaboration with Congressman Adriano Espaillat, State Senator Robert Jackson, Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa.
RSVP in advance is requested.

BMCC IDs Currently Available

BMCC IDs are currently available to all registered students and active employees at the Service Desk located in room S-141 of 199 Chambers Street, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Service Desk Knowledge Base.

BMCC Cafeteria and Fiterman Café Fall Hours

BMCC Cafeteria at 199 Chambers St. is open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fiterman Café is open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call for Proposals: BMCC Transitions and Transactions Conference

BMCC’s English department invites faculty to submit paper and panel proposals for “Transitions and Transactions VIII: Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and the Classroom,” scheduled for April 17-18, 2026. 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 November 15. For more information, visit the event’s web page.

Enrollment

Winter, Spring and Summer 2026 Advisement and Registration is Open

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.

Human Resources

Annual Compliance Training Available Online

We are pleased to announce the launch of CUNY’s 2025–2026 annual compliance training program. All employees are required to complete their assigned trainings in Brightspace, the University’s new learning management system. This is the first year compliance trainings are being offered through Brightspace. We encourage all employees to log in and complete the required courses as soon as possible.

Required Trainings:

ESPARC: Employee Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Course
WVP: Workplace Violence Prevention Training
GBVT: Gender-Based Violence Training (Required for HR professionals and employees who supervise at least one direct report)

Deadlines:

Full-time employees must complete all assigned trainings by May 29, 2026.
Part-time employees, including adjuncts, must complete their trainings by May 29, 2026, or by the end of their employment for the semester, whichever comes first.
Employees who become inactive in CUNYfirst will lose access to the trainings.

How to Access Your Trainings:
You have been automatically enrolled in your required compliance courses.
To get started:

Log in to Brightspace
Go to the "Compliance" section under My Courses

New employees will gain access the day after their CUNYfirst record becomes active.

Resources and Supports:

Thank you for your continued commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace for all members of the CUNY community.

Sports and Wellness

@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.

Office of Public Affairs
245 Greenwich Street
(212) 346-8501