News

Record Number of BMCC Students Awarded Gilman International Scholarships Ten BMCC students have been awarded the prestigious US State Department Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the October 2025 application round.  This cohort of Gilman Scholars is the highest number in BMCC’s history.  The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) supports students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to the country’s national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman Program is a highly competitive, merit-based scholarship. The program encourages students to study or intern abroad in all world regions and from all U.S. states, academic fields, and types of institutions. In total, the 10 BMCC students received $26,000 with awards averaging between $2500-$3000.

BMCC Paramedic Program Selected for NYS Educational Innovation Award

The BMCC Paramedic Program has been selected for the 2025 EMS Agency for Educational Innovation Award from the New York Department of Health. BMCC’s program was recognized for its leadership in bridging the gap between certificate training and higher education by offering students a paramedic degree program and granting 34 college credits for current paramedics toward completing their degree. The Paramedic program’s goal is to raise the standard with an associate degree for paramedics. The program’s leaders and professors believe that paramedics should receive college credit for their studies and graduate with a degree, says Professor Meghan Williams, program coordinator. This precedent ensures that paramedics can grow and nurture their career ambitions, while EMS progresses collectively as a profession.

Student Filmmakers Showcase Creative Talent at BMCC Film Festival

BMCC’s Cinema Arts Club presented the Fall 2025 BMCC Film Festival on December 7 in Theatre 2 at 199 Chambers Street. The biannual event showcases BMCC’s emerging filmmakers, who write, plan, film, edit, and screen an original film before a live audience. Of the 73 entries submitted for the festival this semester, 50 were selected to be screened and judged by a panel of film professionals. The films were divided into six categories—Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Client-Based, and Montage or Experimental. Festival judges included Gabriella Loutfi, an Emmy award–winning editor; Bryan Thomas Norton, a filmmaker, professor of cinema, and horror film historian; and Eriq Ortiz, a filmmaker and BMCC alumnus. Documentary filmmaker and Media Arts and Technology Professor Anastassios “Tassos” Rigopoulos guides the event’s student organizers.

Teacher Ed Professor Jennifer Gilken Elected President of NYS Association of Early Childhood Educators Teacher Education Professor Jennifer Gilken has been elected president of the New  York State (NYS) Association of Early Childhood Educators. The NYS Association of Early Childhood Educators is the state chapter of the larger organization, the  National Association of Early Childhood Educators. The goals of the organization include promoting professional membership growth, discussing educational issues and advocating for improvements in early childhood teacher education.  The organization also provides a forum for consideration of issues and concerns of interest to educators of early childhood teacher educators as well as facilitating the interchange of information and ideas about research and practice. Upon election, Professor Gilken was also appointed to serve on the NYS Early Childhood Advisory Council. “During my term, I hope to advocate for the needs of young children and families and the early childhood workforce, and continue to support Early Childhood teacher educators,” said Professor Gilken.

Students Discuss Careers in Public Service During Visit to Kings County Supreme Court

Eight BMCC students representing the Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA), Student Government Association (SGA), Crear Futuros, and Conexiones & Connections visited the Kings County Supreme Court and met with Hon. Patria Frias-Colón on December 9. The students exhibited both professionalism and curiosity while interacting with court interpreters, officers, clerks, and administrative leaders. During an exclusive question-and-answer session with Judge Frias-Colón, the students learned about leadership, ethics, and careers in public service. They also heard from other personnel, including Major Luz G. Bryan, a trailblazing leader in the New York State Unified Court System; a court interpreter who emphasized the importance of language access in promoting equity and justice; Court Officer Escobar, who transitioned from private banking to public service; Tamara Broadus, who advanced from Court Officer to a higher-ranking Court Clerk; and Deputy County Clerk Frank Schatzman, who outlined administrative and records-management career pathways within the court system. Judge Frias-Colón concluded the visit by reflecting on cases and offering candid guidance on integrity, public service, and long-term career planning.

Making Headlines

BMCC alumnus discusses the transfer process to Pomona College

December 9, 2025—Pomona website

Did You Know?

BMCC will host a NY State Opportunity Promise: Free Community College Information Session on December 16.
Find out more here.

Announcements

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.

Cafeteria Announces Holiday Hours The BMCC cafeteria at 199 Chambers Street will close on December 20 and reopen on January 5. The cafeteria will be open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Fiterman Café will also close on December 20 and remain closed until the start of the Spring semester.

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 December 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:

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

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

Resources and Supports:

• Employee Navigation Guide
• Compliance Training FAQs
• Need help? Contact your campus compliance administrator.

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

Calendar

Theater Play: Faded
December 17

Healing Rhythms: Drumming Circle

December 17

Storytelling Lives Featuring BMCC Students at Perelman Performing Arts Center

December 17

Connect with BMCC

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