News

Town Hall Provides Latest Updates on Campus Repopulation
As many as 500 BMCC students, faculty and staff attended a virtual town hall for presentations on the college’s repopulation plans for Fall 2021 as well as fact-based updates on COVID-19 vaccines. BMCC students are required to get the COVID-19 if they plan to enroll in hybrid or in person classes.  

Get Vaccinated at CUNY in the Heights on July 20 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.

Students Registering for In-Person Classes Must Be Fully Vaccinated for COVID-19
CUNY and SUNY students attending in-person classes are required to get COVID-19 vaccinations before entering in the Fall 2021 semester. CUNY has posted up to date guidance that includes requirements, deadlines, exemptions and other details so students can be ready for the start of the semester on August 25.  To be considered fully vaccinated, students must receive two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine by August 10.

Answer Your BMCC Office Phone From Any Device: RingCentral Now Available Faculty and staff can now answer their BMCC office phone from any device, anywhere with the Ring Central service.  Download the RingCentral app from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The app can be installed on a PC, Mac or other personal device. BMCC has also pre-installed the RingCentral app in desktop computers throughout the college. Visit here for more information. For training resources and videos, visit the BMCC RingCentral resources page.

Announcements

9/11 Victims Compensation Fund: Document Your Presence, File Claim by July 29 If you were working at BMCC September 11, 2001 through May 31, 2002, you were exposed to the same toxic dust as the first responders. There are 68 cancers that have been approved by the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) as presumed to be caused by exposure to 9/11 toxic dust. If you can prove your presence in the exposure area September 11, 2001 through May 31, 2002, and you have developed 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 WTCHP or two years after the death of a loved one. 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.

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.

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, 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 Professor Yvonne Phang featured in story about 9/11 victim fund
July 8, 2021—The City

BMCC nursing program alumna Dr. Sandra Lindsay serves as grand marshal ticker tape parade honoring healthcare workers
July 9, 2021—The Island Now

Human Resources

Obituary: Accounting Professor Harvey K. Man BMCC is sad to announce that Accounting Professor and Certified Public Accountant Harvey K. Man has passed away. Professor Man joined BMCC in February 1995 as an adjunct, then was appointed assistant professor in September 2005. “Harvey loved to teach and help others and his love for the classroom was genuine,” said Josh Wolfson, chairperson of the Accounting department. Wolfson said Man understood who his students were. “Harvey also knew what they were capable of doing and he did everything he could to help the students in all their endeavors. He was a kind and generous soul and we will miss him.”

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  

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.

In the Kitchen with WorkWell NYC: Al Fresco Edition
Join us for a series of five virtual cooking demonstrations featuring healthy, simple recipes, using fresh ingredients. Beat the summer heat with creative takes on burgers, wraps and refreshing water infusions. Participants can cook along or watch and learn. See you in the kitchen!
Tuesday, July 20 - August 10 | 6:00PM | Register Here

Alumni and Donors

BMCC Human Services Alumnus Brian Romero Recognized As Rising Star in NY Politics Brian Romero (Human Services, ’10), has been named a New York State rising star in politics according to the 2021 Albany 40 Under 40 published by City & State New York. Romero, who also earned a master’s degree in social work at Hunter College and has long been involved in Queens politics, works with Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas as her chief of staff. According to the publication, “Romero is key in carrying out her office’s legislative priorities, and encourages her [González-Rojas] to build relationships across the political spectrum within the Assembly.”

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

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

Welcome Event for Immigrant and Undocumented Students
July 19

Online Free Workshop: How to Manage Your Time When Taking Classes Online
July 20

Workshop: How to Apply to BMCC as an International Student
July 20

Coffee, Startups and Innovation
July 21

Connect with BMCC

@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.