The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) serves as a point of contact between members of the campus community and the media, and heightens BMCC's profile on a local and national level. Working with departments and offices across the College, OPA promote BMCC's faculty achievement, student success and academic excellence to the citizens of New York City and beyond. The News and Social Media Report 2020 provides a brief overview of BMCC’s media placements and readership engagement for web articles, press releases and social media.

The BMCC Office of Public Affairs produced 49 editions of the weekly newsletter @BMCC in 2020. 25% of the 2,982 faculty and staff who received the publication opened it each week according to November sampling of mailing data from the web application Constant Contact. In addition, over 30,000 alumni and donors receive @BMCC each week. Each @BMCC now features nine sections that includes web news stories, calendar events and more. The content in @BMCC is usually linked back to a more detailed entry on the college website. The BMCC Public Affairs team also produced 131 stories for the website in 2020. Many of the stories written for the web were accompanied by original videos and photography. In 2020 the most read web stories according to clicks include:

1. Dr. Anthony E. Munroe Becomes BMCC’s 11th President
   (4,874 clicks, published 6/29)
2. BMCC Receives Transformative Gift of $30 Million from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
   (4,184 clicks, published 12/15)
3. BMCC Is Named One of 10 National Finalists For $1 Million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
   (3,678 clicks, published 6/9)
4. BMCC Launches Free Rapid Response Workforce Training Courses
   (1,432 clicks, published 6/4)
5. BMCC Nursing Graduate Passes the NCLEX, on the Heels of Recovering from COVID-19
   (1,399 clicks, published 4/22)
6. BMCC Receives $3 Million Title V Connexiónes Project Grant
   (1,086 clicks, published 9/10)
7. Singers Wanted: BMCC Creating CUNY’s First Virtual Choir
   (1,005 clicks, published 2/6)
8. President Munroe Shares Message on How BMCC is Tackling Challenges
   (1,000 clicks, published 11/20)
9. BMCC Honors Class of 2020 With Virtual Celebration
   (977 clicks, published 5/29)
10. BMCC Partners with Google and Pathstream to Offer Google’s First Federally Registered Apprenticeship Program
    (965 clicks, published 8/3)
    

In 2020, BMCC administration, staff and students as well as events made headlines in a number of major media outlets including national newspapers and education focused publications. Total global media mentions of BMCC were up significantly over 2019 levels. These media placements that reached millions of readers and viewers helped further secure BMCC’s place in the nation’s collective conversation about the important role of community colleges in higher education success. Faculty and administrators also penned several opinion pieces on various topics in national publications. Here are a few of the more notable media placements from 2020.

1. I Was Stunned’: Big Gifts to Small Colleges From an Unexpected Source/Interview with BMCC president (BMCC Receives $30 million gift)
   December 16, 2020—New York Times
2. BMCC Receives $30 million gift from Mackenzie Scott
   Inside Higher Ed, NBC 4, NY 1, Gothamist, AM New York, Tribeca Citizen          
3. Astronomers Barry McKernan and K.E. Saavik Ford may have detected light from black hole merger for the first time
   June 25, 2020—CNN, Scientific American, MSNBC, Science Daily, Space.com
4. 'The heart of a nurse': Mother of 4 overcomes COVID to earn degree (profile of BMCC student and support services at BMCC)
   December 24, 2020— USA Today, The Hechinger Report (and numerous Gannett newspapers and affiliated outlets)
5. How can we get more men in early childhood education? (Op-Ed)
   January 30, 2020—NY Daily News
6. Finalists Announced for Aspen’s Community College Award
   June 10, 2020—Inside Higher Ed
7. Anthony E. Munroe named President of BMCC
   July 16—The Chronicle of Higher Education, NY Daily News, Queens Chronicle, AM New York, News Americas, Campus News
8. How parents of young kids make it through college: Spotlight of BMCC Early Childhood Center
   February 25—The Hechinger Report
9. Providing Career Services for Virtual Times: Spotlight of BMCC Center for Career Development
   December 14—Community College Daily
10. BMCC Named Finalist for Aspen Prize
    June, 22, 2020—The Chief Leader, Inside Higher Ed
11. BMCC Virtual Choir Brings Singers from around world together
    April 9, 2020—NY1,  WNYC/NPR
12. From the Frontlines to the Classroom and Back: Spotlight of BMCC’s EMT Paramedic program
    April 19—Community College Daily
13. BMCC employee opens a community refrigerator providing fresh food to those facing hunger
    June 7, 2020—Curbed
14. BMCC Nursing program graduate details her experience working on frontlines of COVID testing effort
    April 28—The Washington Post
15. Politico notes that BMCC created an emergency fund for its students
    April 8—Politico

Total Media Mentions (U.S. Press), 2020 compared to 2019

Facebook

1. Governor Cuomo just announced CUNY courses will go online. We will be sending updates soon. Thank you.
   Reach: 21,870
   See post
2. 19 years ago Fiterman Hall was damaged when World Trade 7 fell against it, today we’re stronger and more resilient than ever. We remember and honor those lost and affected on September 11, 2001. #NeverForget 🇺🇸
   9/11 and BMCC: https://bit.ly/2krYhrH
   Reach: 6,199
   See post
   
3. BMCC student Jessica Castro is registered to vote. Are you?
   Register to vote by October 9. 
   Actions speak louder than words. Take Action.
   Learn more at www.bmcc.cuny.edu/vote 
   Reach: 5,803
   See post
4. The COVID-19 pandemic may be putting other celebrations on hold, but not at BMCC! We are happy to celebrate the academic success of our students and we wish them well in their future endeavors as they demonstrate our college’s slogan — Start Here. Go Anywhere.
   Please check out https://www.bmccgraduation.com
   Graduates and guests can sign the virtual guestbook and view photos and videos.
   Rewatch the Class of 2020 celebration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1cVJC6ilOs&feature=youtu.be
   #BMCCclass2020 #BMCCStrong #StartHereGoAnywhere
   Reach: 5,391
   See post
   
5. The City University of New York Board of Trustees proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Anthony E. Munroe as the 11th President of Borough of Manhattan Community College! Learn more: https://bit.ly/2VuFScN
   Reach: 5,134
   See post
6. Some students we're having challenges w. #distanceLearning due to lack of computer equipment. We’re excited to announce that laptops and Chromebooks arrived today! Students, please check your emails for pick up instructions. #Thankyou to the staff working to help distribute. #BMCCStrong
   Reach: 5,003
   See post
   
7. BMCC Nursing Program graduate Is working in a coronavirus hot zone. Learn more about Brenda’s deployment: https://bit.ly/2wKrqnT #BMCCStrong #ThankYou
   Reach: 4,744
   See post
   
8. We Need Your Help. BMCC created a COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund to support students who now find themselves confronting the loss of work, loss of child-care options, housing and food insecurity, and are at high risk of dropping out. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3dZFQ4h
   Reach: 4,560
   See post
   
9. Borough of Manhattan Community College administrators are volunteering to handout food bags to BMCC students from their Panther Food Pantry. Start Here. Go Anywhere! #TODAYHeroes #BMCCStrong #PantherPride #StartHereGoAnywhere
   Reach: 4,532
   See post
10. ICYMI: Borough of Manhattan Community (BMCC/CUNY) hosted its first virtual Honors Convocation on Friday, June 12. Faculty and staff recognized over 40 students with the highest GPAs and most ambitious accomplishments. #Congratulations #BMCCStrong #StartHereGoAnywhere
    Do you recognize your fellow students?
    Learn more: https://bit.ly/3e5MzJE
    Reach: 4,500
    See post

Twitter

1. We will be sending updates about this soon (Andrew Cuomo distance-learning model for CUNY & SUNY).
   Impressions: 18,705
   March 11, 2020
   See post
2. Coronavirus Updates: We have a dedicated link that provides information, resources, and on how to prepare for online course/work migration for students, faculty, and staff: https://bit.ly/2Q0LGZ1 #COVID19
   @CUNY
   Impressions: 17,913
   March 11, 2020
   See post
3. All large EVENTS (not courses) on campus will be canceled, effective March 12 through March 31, for both internal and external audiences. For more Coronavirus information and resources: https://bit.ly/2Q0LGZ1
   Impressions: 15,130
   March 11, 2020
   See post
4. #COVID19 - We are monitoring the situation closely with
   @CUNY. Please visit @BMCCELearning to learn about using Blackboard in case we decide to shift courses online. Also make sure your contact information is correct on CUNYFirst.
   Impressions: 13,671
   March 10, 2020
   See post
5. Coronavirus Update: Message from Interim President Karrin E. Wilks to BMCC students, faculty, and staff. For more information please visit our Coronavirus information and resources page: https://bit.ly/2Q0LGZ1
   Impressions: 13,646
   March 11, 2020
   See post
6. BMCC is hosting a "Planning for Instructional Continuity" training, Wednesday, March 11, from 2-4 p.m. in Theatre I. All faculty & staff are strongly encouraged to attend. Livestream here: https://livestream.com/BMCCMedia/training2020…. Coronavirus info & resources: https://bit.ly/2Q0LGZ1
   Impressions: 13,477
   March 11, 2020
   See post
7. We wish you continual success
   @iamcardib!
   #StartHereGoAnywhere!
   Impressions: 13,315
   March 9, 2020
   See post
8. #COVID19 - Update to BMCC community from Interim President Karrin E. Wilks. https://bit.ly/2W31DSm
   Impressions: 13,241
   March 10, 2020
   See post
9. Borough of Manhattan Community College administrators are volunteering to handout food bags to BMCC students from their Panther Food Pantry. Start Here. Go Anywhere! #TodayHeroes #BMCCStrong #PantherPride #StartHereGoAnywhere
   Impressions: 12,212
   March 31, 2020
   See post
10. Faculty/Staff: We're hosting "Instructional Contingency Planning" workshops every day until March 18. Details below:
    E-Learning Emergency Preparedness: https://bit.ly/2wQlbi6
    Coronavirus Information and Resource page for details: https://bit.ly/2Q0LGZ1
    Impressions: 10,577
    March 12, 2020
    See post

Top Instagram Posts by Likes

1.		19 years ago Fiterman Hall was damaged when World Trade 7 fell against it, today we’re stronger and more resilient than ever. We remember and honor those lost and affected on September 11, 2001. #NeverForget 🇺🇸 9/11 and BMCC: bit.ly/2krYhrH September 11, 2020 Likes: 678 See post
2.		@nygovcuomo just announced: our courses will go online. We will be sending updates soon. March 11, 2020 Likes: 458 See post
3.		The COVID-19 pandemic may be putting other celebrations on hold, but not at BMCC! We are happy to celebrate the academic success of our students and we wish them well in their future endeavors as they demonstrate our college’s slogan — Start Here. Go Anywhere. Please check out https://www.bmccgraduation.com (link in bio) Graduates and guests can sign the virtual guestbook and view photos and videos. #BMCCclass2020 #BMCCStrong #StartHereGoAnywhere May 29, 2020 Likes: 444 See post
4.		Some of our students we’re having challenges with #distanceLearning due to lack of computer equipment. We’re excited to announce that laptops and Chromebooks arrived today! Students please check your emails for instructions for pick up. Thank you to the staff working tirelessly to help distribute the laptops. #BMCCStrong March 31, 2020 Likes: 386 See post
5.		The CUNY Virtual Choir Project at BMCC is premiering at @bmccmusicdepartment TONIGHT at 7pm! 📺👀 Join us in watching hundreds of musical submissions from around the world synchronized into one choir! Learn more about all the hard work that went into the CUNY #VirtualChoirProject (link in bio under BMCC News) October 13, 2020 Likes: 338 See post
6.		Business Administration major and future finance professional Lewis Welt @lewiswelt finds opportunity and acceptance at BMCC. Learn about his experience: link in bio #BMCCStrong #StartHereGoAnywhere May 8, 2020 Likes: 337 See post
7.		BMCC's Paramedic Student Program Graduation Ceremony is today, December 9, 3:30pm. Please join us in congratulating our future essential frontline workers! 🎉🎓🚑 Live stream: link in bio #EMT #Paramedic #frontlineworkers #StartHereGoAnywhere December 9, 2020 Likes: 327 See post
8.		As we collectively and individually confront the unrelenting and systemic racism in our country, it is especially important to observe Juneteenth, the oldest national commemoration of the emancipation of slaves in the United States. It is a day of celebration, education and contemplation, and given this moment in our history, we encourage everyone to pause— to reflect, learn and support each other, their families, and their communities. Please visit our resource page created to learn how to be an ally and fight racism alongside your peers of color: https://bit.ly/37G2gVA (link in bio) Karrin E. Wilks, Interim President, message to the BMCC Community: https://bit.ly/37KT3ex (link in bio) #Juneteenth June 19, 2020 Likes: 326 See post
9.		BMCC Nursing graduate Irena Butcher passes the #NCLEX exam, after recovering from COVID-19. Learn about her experience: link in bio #BMCCStrong #StartHereGoAnywhere @cunyedu @cunychancellor April 28, 2020 Likes: 321 See post
10.		BMCC names aspiring filmmaker, social justice advocate and @bmcc_la student, Ana Maldonado @unacaminante as Class of 2020 valedictorian! Let’s congratulate her! #BMCCStrong #StartHereGoAnywhere Learn about her journey: link in bio. May 26, 2020 Likes: 313 See post

In 2020 our YouTube video catalogue was viewed 378,545 times (32% more than 2019). Viewers watched 8,174 hours of BMCC content (57% more than 2019). We also gained 394 subscribers (14% more than 2019) and had 889,330 impressions (31% more than 2019). Here is a list of our top 10 most popular videos created this year:

1.		BMCC Interim President Karrin Wilks' message to the BMCC community - March 27, 2020 3,648 Views
2.		BMCC Vice President Marva Craig's message to the BMCC Students - April 3, 2020 3,402 Views
3.		Welcome back to Fall 2020 at BMCC! 3,208 Views
4.		BMCC Success Story: Lewis Welt 1,561 Views
5.		BMCC Is Named One of 10 National Finalists for $1 Million Aspen Prize 1,043 Views
6.		Happy Holidays from Manny the Panther and BMCC! 849 Views
7.		Reimagining BMCC 2020 820 Views
8.		BMCC Success Story: Lavonia Thomas 817 Views
9.		BMCC's Academic Advisement & Transfer Center Well Wishes 780 Views
10.		BMCC Success Story: Isa Mendez 720 Views

The BMCC website calendar showcases the range of events offered by the college. Select calendar entries are shared on our social media channels, or included in the @BMCC 
e-newsletter.

This chart compares the number of BMCC calendar entries from 2015 through 2020.

This graph illustrates the comparison of the number of BMCC calendar entries from 2020 to 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Advertising Campaign Report
9/2019 – 6/2020