@BMCC

May 6, 2021

BMCC and CUNY in the Heights Leaders Share Expansion Details With Community Members
More than 100 community members, educators, administrators and elected officials attended a virtual town hall hosted by CUNY in the Heights and BMCC on May 4. The event presented plans for the renovated and expanded facility and provided a forum for community concerns. It was held in collaboration with Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Assemblymember Carmen De La Rosa, State Senator Robert Jackson, City Councilmember Ydanis Rodríguez and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe welcomed participants. “The CUNY in the Heights mission is very important to BMCC," said President Munroe. "We want to be your partner.” The town hall discussion led by BMCC Director of Government and Community Relations Doug Israel and moderated by Media High School Assistant Principal Sofia Russo included survey questions to encourage input from local leaders regarding the community’s needs and how CUNY in the Heights can meet them. The town hall also featured BMCC AVP of Campus Planning and Facilities Jorge E. Yafar, who presented details and images of the facility. A PowerPoint from the event is available here.

Fifteenth Annual Entrepreneurial Summit Explores Diversity Among Startups and Provides Business Grants
More than 100 participants attended the virtual 15th Annual BMCC Entrepreneurial Summit/4th Annual Founders Festival on May 4. Hosted by the BMCC Small Business/Entrepreneurship program, the event featured business founders who showcased inclusiveness in action. Attendees connected with investors, mentors and other student entrepreneurs. Students attended panel discussions and presented business ideas and models, receiving feedback from guest mentors. Winners of the 2021Student Founders Festival business grants were Dimitris Puesan (Alpha 3D Virtual Tours), Afsaneh Akbarzadeh (TetrAQua) and Taylor Woodberry (Errand, personal assistant service). The event was moderated by Professor Shane Snipes, Deputy Chairperson of the Small Business Entrepreneurship program. In the words of BMCC alumnus, Foundation Board member and co-founder of Laughing Man Coffee, “There is a great new wave of entrepreneurship happening at BMCC and it’s really exciting.”

Dean John Montanez Retires After Serving BMCC More than 30 Years
John Montanez, who joined BMCC in 1987, will retire from his role as Dean of the Office of Sponsored Programs on June 15. From 1987 to 1992, Dean Montanez served as BMCC’s Director of Continuing Education, overseeing both tuition-based and workforce development programs. He participated in city-wide efforts to link the College with key agencies in the public and private sectors, and developed initiatives in business (IBM AS/400 Training), health services (Emergency Medical Technician), child care and adult literacy. As Dean of Sponsored Programs, Montanez has identified funding sources, facilitated large institutional proposals and overseen an annual grants portfolio of $10 million. In recent years, Dean Montanez worked with faculty and staff to develop college-wide student success initiatives and other flagship programs. To assist faculty and staff in identifying funding opportunities and provide support with proposal development after Dean Montanez steps down, BMCC has secured the services of the Hanover Research Group, a national resource development consulting firm.

BMCC's NSLS Chapter Inducts 221 Students and Presents Speakers Lauren Simmons, Charles Knippen and Gary Tuerach
BMCC inducted 221 students into the college’s National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) chapter on May 4 in a virtual ceremony hosted by the NSLS National Office. Keynotes were NSLS President Charles Knippen and NSLS Founder Gary Tuerack. A Q&A featured special guest Lauren Simmons, who at age 22 shattered the glass ceiling as the youngest and only full-time female equity trader on Wall Street for Rosenblatt Securities. Known as the “Wolfette of Wall Street,” Simmons is the second African American woman in history to hold the equity trader title. For more information about NSLS at BMCC, contact co-advisors Kayla Maryles and Denise DellaPorta at NSLS@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Erwin J. Wong Named Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs
Erwin J. Wong has been named BMCC’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, effective immediately. Having served as acting Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs since 2018, Provost Wong will continue to recruit, retain and support BMCC’s diverse faculty, working closely with academic deans, department heads, student services professionals and other faculty and staff to provide quality educational programs both within and outside the classroom.

Announcements

Due to High Demand, LGBTQIA+ SafeZone Ally Training Offers a Second Session
Because of the high volume or requests by the BMCC community to take SafeZone Training, it will be offered again on Thursday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a 50-person maximum capacity. SafeZoneTraining participants will learn to be better allies and create safe and inclusive spaces for the Queer community at BMCC and beyond. Participants will explore LGBTQIA+ identities, gender and sexuality, as well as prejudice, societal expectations and privilege. Participants who complete the two-hour training will receive a certificate of completion and SafeZone email-signature logo to verify they are BMCC SafeZone trained. Students will also receive Co-Curricular Transcript (CCT) credit. Those who have been trained in the past are asked to train again, as new information has been added. This is a first-come, first-served opportunity. Register now!

How to Submit Requests to the Office of Public Affairs
The BMCC Office of Public Affairs builds support for BMCC’s mission and promotes the accomplishments of its constituencies. The Office of Public Affairs also helps implement strategic communications initiatives and events that support academic programs, faculty research, student achievement and community engagement. To request assistance from the Office of Public Affairs, please fill out this form and provide a project description and other details.

Critical to the Core: A Core Books at CUNY Panel, May 7
Core Books like Plato’s “Republic” and Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” are foundational to a liberal arts education. What place do they have at CUNY community colleges? To examine this question—and as part of the Teagle Foundation Core Books at CUNY initiative—BMCC and LaGuardia Community College will co-sponsor on May 7 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., a webinar panel organized by Holly Messit, BMCC English Professor and Syreeta McFadden, BMCC lecturer of English and a writer whose credits include The Atlantic, New York Times Magazine and The Guardian US. The panel, moderated by McFadden, will feature Alhelí Alvarado-Díaz, historian and creator of the film and media project “Shooting the Core”; Christina Katopodis, Executive Director and postdoctoral fellow with Transformative Learning in the Humanities; Dan-el Padilla Peralta, Associate Professor of Classics at Princeton University featured in The New York Times article, “He Wants to Save Classics from Whiteness. Can the Field Survive?” and Elizabeth Weybright, Ph.D. candidate in English at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and a Teaching and Learning Fellow at Macaulay Honors College. CUNY students, faculty and staff are invited to register here. (Shown L-R: Alhehi-Alvarado, Katapodis, Padilla Peralta, Weybright)

Learn More about MEOC’s Free Virtual Phlebotomy Technician Program, May 11
Share this opportunity with your networks: On Tuesday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC) will host a free and virtual Certified Phlebotomy Technician presentation for individuals who have entered the healthcare profession and want to gain certification and upgrade their skills. The session will introduce the field of phlebotomy and related career paths, as well as explain the MEOC admissions process. Reserve a seat online. For more information, contact MEOC Enrollment Coordinator Adam Cruz, adam.cruz@man.eoc.cuny.edu.

Enter 199 Chambers Street at West Street Entrance While Ramp Is Closed
To complete the Plaza Roofing Replacement Project before Fall 2021, ramp access to the BMCC entrance at 199 Chambers Street will be off-limits to the general public. Access to the main campus will be through the West Gate (on West Street at the south end of the building, and adjacent to Theatre I). As you walk west on Chambers Street, turn right at the intersection of Chambers and West Street, and the West Gate will be about 200 feet north. A Public Safety team member and signage will guide members of the community into the main building. Thank you for your cooperation.

Free Immersion Program for Remedial Courses
BMCC immersion workshops and tutorial programs provide eligible students a chance to complete certain courses they did not pass, or need to take to satisfy their remedial requirements. Both immersion workshops and tutorial programs are free. Click here to see the workshops and tutorials offered in Summer 2021. For more information, contact immersion@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Compliance and Diversity Policies: Equity Is our Strength
BMCC policies protect equal educational and employment opportunity, and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment. These policies may also apply to online and off-campus incidents. If you have experienced or witnessed unlawful discrimination and harassment, you can report it to the Office of Compliance and Diversity.

Learn More About Race Equity and Inclusion (REI) at BMCC
Under the guidance of BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe, the Race, Equity and Inclusion (REI) steering committee explores ways to dismantle systemic racism and structural inequality by advancing equity, inclusion and justice for students, staff, faculty and all BMCC communities. As the conscience of the College, the REI strives to amplify all BMCC members' voices, providing actionable items for the College to prioritize and institutionalize. For more information, visit the REI webpage or contact REI@bmcc.cuny.edu

Encourage Students to Submit Original Writing and Art Through May 17
Through May 17, BMCC students in any major are invited to submit an original drawing, photograph, poem or reflection up to 300 words on how the pandemic has affected their lives and the theme “Hard Times in the Modern World” for inclusion on the Modern Language Colloquium web page. Students can upload their submissions and direct questions to the Modern Languages Department at rzelaya@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Nominate an Outstanding Employee or Team for the Employee Appreciation Award by June 18
Time to cast your ballot! BMCC students, faculty and staff are invited to submit nominations for the  2020-2021 BMCC Employee Appreciation Awards presented to full- and part-time administrative, support and service (non-teaching) staff members in appreciation of their quality of work and dedication to the College. Eligible staff include Civil Service series (including Provisional); College Assistants; Research Foundation employees; Gittleson (COA, CSA, CAA); and HEO Title Series. Full- and part-time faculty are not eligible for this award. The deadline for ballot submissions is Friday, June 18.  Submit one ballot ONLY with nominations for one or more of these categories: Leadership Award, Inspiration Award, Innovation/Technology Award, Rookie of the Year and Team Achievement.

Were You in Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001?
As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, BMCC invites students, faculty, staff and alumni who were present in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001 or were a member of the BMCC community for the rest of that semester and school year to share their thoughts and experiences. A planning committee led by Vice President Marva Craig is organizing the college's commemoration of this important milestone and there will be a variety of platforms through which to participate. Please begin by completing this form.

Visit ITS Website for Computer Lab and TEC Availability Information
Faculty and staff can visit the BMCC Instructional Technology Services (ITS) webpage to check availability and log into computer lab and Technology Enhanced Classrooms (TECs). ITS staff are available to assist faculty with using technology in education, research, conferences and special events. For more information, click here.

Quiet Study and Computer Lab Reservations Available
Students can reserve a single-seat study space on the second floor of the Murray Building at 70 Murray Street, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students must bring a photo ID and complete the daily health screening each day they visit campus. They can reserve a study time here.

Electronic Devices Available Through Campus Pick-up
Eligible BMCC students can borrow an electronic device Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the BMCC gym, 100 North Moore Street. Students must apply and choose a day to pick up their device. For more information, students can contact studentaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Campus Planning and Facilities

Resilience, Health and Wellness: A Comprehensive Website Supports the BMCC Community
Whether focusing on fitness or finding support in a time of crisis, the Resilience, Health and Wellness website provides resources and news for students, faculty and staff. As BMCC President Anthony Munroe puts it, “As a community, we need to reach out to each other, encourage each other to access the resources available to us. No one has to experience this time alone.”

Daily Everbridge Wellness Screening Mandatory for Faculty, Students, Visitors and Staff
All visitors to the BMCC campus must complete a daily health screening using the Everbridge App or the Everbridge Email Option. Students, faculty and staff can use this Instructional Guide and visitors can use this Visitor's Guide. The CUNY FAQ guide is also helpful. For those who do not have a smartphone, go to the Everbridge Member Portal and sign up, using your CUNY login credentials to receive email notifications. To protect your own health, as well as that of the BMCC community, it is important to be accurate as possible in self reporting on the Wellness app.

Reimagining BMCC Website Provides Quick Reference to Student Resources
Scroll down the Reimagining BMCC website to find Faculty Resources, Staff Resources and Student Resources—the last of which includes a listing of services, offices, hours of operation and virtual contact information to help you guide students toward resources during the academic year. Other sections provide information on campus reopening, procedures, safety measures and more.

Have You Traveled Outside New York Recently? New Everbridge Guidelines Apply.
The Everbridge COVID screening has been modified to meet New York travel guidelines. It will ask the question, "Have you traveled outside of New York State or traveled internationally during the past seven days?"

If you have traveled to Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Vermont during the past seven days, you must answer “No”
If you have traveled to a state other than Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Vermont in the last seven days, or if you have traveled internationally, you must answer “Yes”

Enrollment

Catch Up on Credits or Get Back on Track to Earning a Degree This Summer
Summer classes at BMCC help students jump start their fall semester, catch up on credits or get back on track to earning a degree. BMCC offers summer class schedules ranging from six to 12 weeks. Session One begins May 27 and Session Two starts July 20. Tuition waivers are available for certain summer courses. Students enrolled at other CUNY schools are welcome to enroll in BMCC summer courses through e-permit. Learn more about Summer at BMCC and important deadlines, as well as application and financial aid information here.

Summer/Fall 2021 Advisement & Registration is Open
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to schedule a Zoom meeting with 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 Specialists on Zoom, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Registration page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Application Workshop Walks Students Through the Process
Every Tuesday at 3 p.m., admissions specialists will answer questions and explain how to complete the BMCC application or apply as a readmit student. BMCC uses the CUNY Application to admit new students, and in these sessions, staff will walk students through the whole process—from completing the CUNY application online to figuring out how to send BMCC their school transcripts to complete their applications.

Information Session Demystifies Majors, Financial Aid and More
On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m, BMCC admissions specialists will share information about major options, financial aid, career planning and more.

Chat with Admissions Staff
Students who prefer communicating via chat, can ask general questions about BMCC on Fridays at 3 p.m., through one-on-one chat sessions.

Say Hello to the Admissions Office on Social Media
We appreciate your likes, follows and thumbs up.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat

Listen In: Podcast Series Features Authentic Student Conversations
Get a first-hand perspective on BMCC. In a limited-release podcast series from BMCC Admissions, students and alumni look back at 2020 in conversations on choosing classes, club shenanigans, and fitting-in, in an online college community. Listen and subscribe!

Making Headlines

BMCC Professor Schneur Zalman hosts podcast with author Lila Corwin Berman on relationship between Jewish philanthropy, democracy and capitalism
May 5, 2021—PlayerFM Network

BMCC students share their business ideas in Entrepreneur Summit and Founder's Festival
May 1, 2021—The Daily Dispatch

BMCC alumnus Ceon White thrives as new student at Columbia University
April 28, 2021—Patch, Upper West Side

CUNY and BMCC hourly classified staff including College Assistants want paid leave for Juneteenth
April 30, 2021—The Chief-Leader

Human Resources

Payroll Distribution: May 13
Payroll Distribution will occur on Thursday, May 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Theater I, Lower Lobby. Theater l will be the location for payroll pick up until construction is complete on Breezeway, 2 South. Please bring your own pen to sign the register.

Workplace Violence and ESPARC Training Mandatory for All
All BMCC employees must complete both a Work Place Violence Awareness (WPV) and Employee Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) training. Part-time employees must complete both trainings before the end of this semester. Full-time employees must complete both trainings by July 30, 2021. There are two options for taking the trainings. One is through CUNY Blackboard, following instructions on the HR Training and Development webpage. The other option is Zoom classes led by HR staff at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. on May 20 for ESPARC and May 18 for WPV. Reserve a Zoom seat through Josefa Larios at jlarios@bmcc.cuny.edu; space will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

City Employee-Only Vaccination Updates
BMCC employees can take advantage of these dedicated locations to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: Bronx, Queens and Staten Island Register online here. For Brooklyn and Manhattan locations Register online here. Enter the reference number from your paystub (NYCAPS account) to unlock appointments at employee-only clinics.

Free Webinar: Addressing Anxiety
Addressing Anxiety in an Uncertain World, provided by CCA@YourService, a CUNY Work Life Partner, will be available on demand starting May 18 at noon through CCA@YourService, password CUNY, then go to Online Seminars.

Enjoy Free Yoga, Meditation, Boxing and More
WorkWell Digital presents virtual movement workshops through May. Workshops in chair yoga, meditation, dance cardio, kickboxing and more are available, so register now. Other free virtual workshop options are available on nyc.gov.

Join WW and Celebrate National Nutrition Month
Join WW and learn about the new holistic program. To register, click here. Join by May 15 and get a free fresh start kit. The recipe of the Month: Italian Vegetable and Egg Scramble and 10 additional meals is bursting with Spring flavors.

9/11 Victims Compensation Fund: File Claim by July 29
If you were employed or a student at BMCC between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002, please know that the normal deadline for filing a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is two years from the certification of an illness by the World Trade Center Health program (WTCHP) or two years after the death of a loved one. With the permanent reauthorization of the VCF in 2019, a two-year window allows previously time-barred claims (claims which were not filed within the time limit) to be submitted. This extension, however, expires on July 29, 2021. More information is available at vcf.gov/deadlines. NOTE: Several firms specialize in World Trade Center Victim’s Compensation Fund claims, and can be viewed in the 911 Victims Fund PDF. BMCC/CUNY does not endorse any of these firms, and they are listed solely for informational purposes. You may find additional resources by doing a World Trade Center Victim’s Compensation Fund Google search.

Alumni and Donors

Learn How Charitable Giving Can Be a Key Element in Your Financial Plan: Join Webinar, May 19
On Friday, May 19 from 1 to 2 p.m., the BMCC Office of Institutional Advancement invites alumni, faculty, staff and friends to join a unique learning opportunity—a webinar with Larry Holzberg, LUTCF (shown left) and Rufus Davenport, CFA (shown right), both of Fortis Lux Financial. These financial experts will explain how charitable giving can be a key element in a financial plan that will not only accomplish philanthropic goals but provide tax and income benefits. Learn how lifetime gifts differ from charitable bequests and how income tax deductions factor into charitable gifts. Identify methods that defer donations but yield upfront benefits to you, and more. Register today. Space is limited. See you there!

Give the Gift of Education
Your generous donations go a long way in funding scholarships, research and programs, and allow us to continue delivering quality education to our students. Ways to give include Direct Gifts, Gifts of Securities, Gifts of Real Estate and many more. For more information, please visit the Ways to Give website, call the Office for Institutional Advancement at (212) 220-8020 or email lmalcolm@bmcc.cuny.edu). Your support is greatly appreciated.

Take Action Now on Charitable Deductions for Non-Itemizers
The CARES Act allows taxpayers who take the standard deduction to claim a charitable deduction for cash donations made to public charities. For 2021 only, the law doubles to $600 the maximum amount joint filers may deduct. (Single filers or married filers who file separately are limited to $300.) Please consider a charitable donation to Giving to BMCC Foundation. For more information, please contact Phillip Keefe, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at (212) 346-8650 or pkeefe@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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