News

Get Vaccinated at CUNY in the Heights  In collaboration with CVS Pharmacy, BMCC students, faculty, staff and the NYC community are invited to get a free COVID-19 vaccination at CUNY in the Heights, 5030 Broadway in Upper Manhattan on Tuesday, July 20 from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Call (212) 220-8000 to register. Walk-ins welcome. BMCC goody bags will be handed out.

Join Virtual Town Hall July 15 and Share Thoughts on Fall 2021 Return to Campus
BMCC faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a Town Hall at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 15 via Zoom for updates on the college's Fall 2021 repopulation plan. The Town Hall will provide a safe space for community members to share thoughts and points of view related to the pandemic. Also, Dr. Scott Ratzan, Distinguished Lecturer, CUNY School of Public Health and Executive Director,  CONVINCE USA, will share important facts about the COVID-19 vaccine. Please register here to attend.

MEOC Hosts Virtual Information Session on ESOL Program The Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC) will host a Partner Information Session to highlight their English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program on Wednesday, July 14 at two times: 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Staff from community-based organizations, schools and government offices are invited to attend and learn more about the MEOC's free ESOL program and how to refer prospective students for classes starting September 2021. Reserve your seat here.

Announcements

9/11 Victims Compensation Fund: Document Your Presence, File Claim by July 29 If you were working at BMCC on 9/11/2001 to May 31, 2002, you were exposed to the same toxic dust as the first responders. There are 68 approved cancers that have been approved by the WTCHP as presumed to be caused by exposure to 9/11 toxic dust. If you can prove your presence in the exposure area during the exposure period above, and you develop one of the approved illnesses, you are entitled to all the benefits provided by the new legislation. You do not have to prove that your illness was caused by 9/11. Read more about documenting your proof of presence here. The deadline is July 29, 2021 for filing a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF); either 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 on. Read registration and claim filings details here. NOTE: Firms specializing in World Trade Center Victim’s Compensation Fund claims 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.

CUNY Staff Will Return to In-Person Work in August  CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez has announced that all CUNY staff, including those at BMCC, will return to their campus workplaces the week of August 2. Faculty will follow the BMCC academic calendar. This return to in-person work will be guided by CUNY's safety-first approach, which includes blended remote and in-person scheduling. Full details and instructions to request reasonable accommodations available here.

Call for Members: Pride Month 2021 Planning Committee BMCC is planning Pride events for October with a BMCC Pride Month Committee comprised of co-chairs, general members and event organizers. Use this form to share your interest in joining the committee. If you have questions, feel welcome to email safezone@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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 that semester and school year, to share their experiences. A planning committee led by VP 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.

Enter 199 Chambers Street at West Street Entrance While Ramp Is Closed  To complete the Plaza Roofing Replacement Project, ramp access to the BMCC entrance at 199 Chambers Street is off-limits and access to the main campus is through the West Gate on West Street. 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. Public Safety staff and signage will help guide you. Thank you for your cooperation.

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 by advancing equity, inclusion and justice for students, staff, faculty and all BMCC communities. The REI steering committee, as the conscience of the college, strives to amplify all BMCC members' voices, providing action items for the College. For more information, visit the REI webpage or contact REI@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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 students, faculty, staff and alumni. We also help implement strategic communications initiatives and events that support BMCC programs, faculty research, student achievement and community engagement. To request assistance from the Office of Public Affairs, please fill out this form.

Campus Planning and Facilities

Resilience, Health and Wellness: A Comprehensive Website Supports the BMCC Community 
Faculty, students and staff focused on fitness, seeking support in a time of crisis and more can find resources in the Resilience, Health and Wellness website. 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 BMCC 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 CUNY login credentials to receive email notifications. To protect your and everyone else's health, be as accurate as possible while self-reporting on the Wellness app.

Enrollment

Register Now for Fall Express Sessions 
BMCC is offering two Fall 2021 express sessions: A 7-week express session, September 1 through October 26 and an 8-week express session October 27 through December 21. (The regular 15-week Fall 2021 session will be August 25 through December 21.) All students are welcome to enroll in the Fall 2021 express sessions, but they are ideal for part-time students or new and continuing students who miss registration for the regular 15-week session. Please note, there will be limited course offerings in the express sessions and some financial aid limitations. Students are encouraged to speak with an advisor to see if the Express Sessions are the best option for them. Here are registration instructions.

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 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 and Registration is Open Faculty and staff, please encourage students to schedule a Zoom meeting with their academic advisor. 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.

Stay Connected with the Office of Admissions 
Students who prefer communicating via chat, can ask general questions about BMCC on Fridays at 3 p.m., through one-on-one chat sessions.

Making Headlines

BMCC alumna Sandra Lindsay serves as Grand Marshal, NYC Hometown Heroes Parade
July 7, 2021— CBS New York

BMCC alumna Sandra Lindsay honored by U.S. President Biden in White House ceremony for being first to receive COVID-19 vaccination and healthcare advocacy
July 7, 2021 — CUNY Wednesday Brief, MSN.com, New York Post, Caribbean National Weekly

Nicole Clemente, graduate of Lillian L. Rashkis High School, is headed to BMCC for Fall 2021 to major in history
July 6, 2021 — USA News

Human Resources

Summer Fridays Continue Through August 13 The College will be closed these Fridays:  July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6 and August 13. During those weeks, employees will work 8.75-hour days, Monday through Thursday.

Make Your Appointment at a CUNY Employee-Only Vaccination Site 
CUNY employees are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine at an employee-only site. Book an appointment with your employee ID number at Bronx/Queens/Staten Island, Brooklyn/Manhattan or one of these NYC sites: 

• The Bronx, Hunts Point Job Center, 847 Barretto Street, Bronx,10474  
• Brooklyn, George Wingate High School, 600 Kingston Ave, Brooklyn, 11203  
• Manhattan, Louis D. Brandeis High School, 145 W 84th St, New York, 10024 
• Queens, NYC Dept. of Health, Gotham Center, 42-09 28th Street, Long Island City, 11101 
• Queens, Queens Public Library,Flushing, 41-17 Main St, Flushing, 11355  
• Staten Island, Susan E. Wagner High School, 1200 Manor Rd Staten Island, 10314  

Learn Tasty Al Fresco Recipes in Virtual Cooking Demonstrations Starting July 13 In the Kitchen with WorkWell NYC: Al Fresco Edition presents a series of five virtual cooking demonstrations July 13 through August 10. Learn healthy, simple recipes using fresh ingredients. Beat the summer heat with a creative take on burgers, wraps and refreshing water infusions. Register here.

Enjoy Free Virtual Meditation, Yoga and More, Through September WorkWell Digital presents free virtual classes in yoga, Zumba, meditation, boxing and more, through September. For more information and to register for a class, visit here.

Alumni and Donors

Join Virtual Mixology Class July 21 and Learn to Make a Special Summer Cocktail BMCC's Office of Institutional Advancement invites alumni and the BMCC community to join a Virtual Mixology Class on July 21 at 6 p.m., presented by Cody Lyon, part-time NYC bartender and mixologist. The event will feature how to make a Spicy Blueberry Margarita and Refreshing and Simple Paloma. Register here.

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 Lorna Malcolm, Vice President, Institutional Advancement at 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 maximum amount joint filers may deduct doubles to $600. (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 call the Office for Institutional Advancement at (212) 220-8020 or email Lorna Malcolm, Vice President, Institutional Advancement at lmalcolm@bmcc.cuny.edu. Thank you for your support.

Calendar

English 101 workshop: Thesis/Outline
July 12

Admissions Information Session
July 13

Transfer Talk Tuesday
July 13

International Admissions Information Session for F-1 Students
July 14

Admissions Information Session: Thriving in a World of Online College
July 15

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.