@BMCC

September 9, 2021

BMCC Hosts 20th Commemoration Ceremony of 9/11
Members of the BMCC community gathered at Richard Harris Terrace, in 199 Chambers Street to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. An in-person ceremony featured remarks by CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and (BMCC/CUNY) President Anthony Munroe who said, “Even though the events of 9/11 happened two decades ago, it was a day that changed our world forever – redefining our sense of safety and uniting all of us as a city and a country.”

Inside Higher Ed Article Highlight's BMCC's Resiliency After 9/11
An article by David Ho in Inside Higher Ed, “At a College Wounded on 9/11, Memories Endure 20 Years Later,” presents the insight of those who were at BMCC on September 11, 2001. These include former BMCC President Tony Perez and Vice President for Student Affairs Marva Craig, as well as BMCC Professors Lisa Rose and Caroline Pari-Pfisterer. “We all came together to produce the miracle of finishing that semester for the students,” Pari-Pfisterer says. To read the article in its entirely, click here.

BMCC Hires Director for Renovated CUNY in The Heights
BMCC welcomes Ingrid Renderos as the Director of BMCC/CUNY in The Heights. Renderos brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education and will lead programmatic and operational efforts for the CITH campus. “I hope to bring to CUNY in The Heights my commitment to the communities that CITH serves, especially since I grew up The Heights, and my family continues to live here,” says Renderos, who was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and immigrated to the United States as a child. This summer, BMCC renovated facilities and enhanced academic programs at the CITH campus. The expanded facility includes more classrooms and has been redesigned to meet the accessibility needs of all students, while creating a physical environment that is functional and aesthetically pleasing.

BMCC Led Research on Virtual Guide Dog for Visually Impaired People Receives $500,000 NSF Grant
A research project—Training a Virtual Guide Dog for Visually Impaired People to Learn Safe Routes Using Crowdsourcing Multimodal Data— led by BMCC Computer Information Systems (CIS) Professor Hao Tang, has received a $500,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant is part of the NSF’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering Minority-Serving Institutions Research Expansion Program (CISE-MSI). BMCC is the only two-year institution to receive the CISE-MSI grant so far during this year’s cycle.

Regular Testing Mandated for Unvaccinated Faculty and Staff
CUNY provides on-site COVID-19 testing at 20 University locations — including BMCC. All faculty, staff and students who (1) have not submitted proof of COVID-19 vaccination in the CUNYfirst system, (2) are unvaccinated or (3) have undisclosed vaccination status, must register on CUNYfirst and make a selection under the vaccination status box, then click the “submit” button at the bottom of the page. This generates a personalized link that lets you register and make an appointment at one of the 20 CUNY testing locations.

CUNY Students: Deadline to Get Vaccinated
Starting on October 7, all students taking remote-only classes who wish to visit a campus at any point this fall for any reason must be fully vaccinated and have their vaccination documents approved in CUNYfirst — unless they have been granted a religious exception or a medical exemption. More information about CUNY’s vaccination mandate can be found in these Frequently Asked Questions and for help uploading your information, see the Student Guide to Vaccination Verification.

REMINDER: the deadline for students who are taking in-person or hybrid classes to be fully vaccinated is October 7, and students will need to upload proof of vaccination in CUNYfirst no later than September 27. To meet this deadline, any student who is still unvaccinated will need to get the single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by September 23. More information about the vaccination mandate for students is in the Student Guide to Vaccination Verification.

Upload Vaccination Documents by 9/27 Or Risk Withdrawal
Students must upload their vaccination documents to CUNYfirst by September 27 or face potential academic withdrawal from class! This could impact their financial aid and make them ineligible for refunds on their courses. Full details: cuny.edu/coronavirus. For instructions on how to upload vaccination verification documents, click here.

Watch How-to Video: Submitting Vaccination Documentation

Mask Mandate Keeps Everyone Safe
CUNY has enacted a mask mandate based on vaccination statistics and coronavirus transmission rates. For now, all students, faculty and staff — regardless of vaccination status — must 1) Wear a face mask inside all CUNY campuses and office buildings and 2) Wear a mask outdoors on campus when unable to maintain physical distance from others (for example, while attending a CUNY gathering or sporting event). Learn more.

Visit the Reimagining BMCC website for more information on returning to campus.

BMCC Employee Appreciation Awards, Live Broadcast September 30
Tune in to a live webcast of the 2020-2021 Employee Appreciation Awards on September 30 at 4 p.m. The BMCC Employee Appreciation Program recognizes outstanding achievement, performance and creative contributions beyond what is normally expected of employees. Learn more here. To view the September 30 Livestream, click here.

Announcements

CUNY IT Virtual Conference Invites Submissions: Deadline September 15
BMCC faculty and staff are invited to submit proposals by September 15 for one-hour individual presentations or panels for the 20th Anniversary Annual CUNY IT Conference, "Technologies for Teaching, Learning and Working at the Future CUNY — Utopias and Dystopias," set for December 2 and 3. Visit the conference website for more information.

What to Know if Students Ask About NSLS: Deadline September 24
Eligible students have received an email invitation to join BMCC's chapter of the National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS). The college's NSLS chapter was inaugurated in 2018 and recognized with the Distinguished Chapter Award in 2020. Students who accept the nomination by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 24 — no exceptions — will complete a five-step leadership program remotely to become an inducted NSLS member. The one-time registration fee of $95 provides lifetime membership and benefits such as scholarships, professional communication training and more. For more information, NSLS@bmcc.cuny.edu.

CUNY LGBTQI + Advocacy Academy Application: Deadline September 30
BMCC community members interested in the CUNY LGBTQI + Advocacy Academy must apply for the program by September 30. The academy, under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Maybank and Assistant Vice Chancellor Rosa, will take place from October 15, 2021 to April 29, 2022. Students accepted into this program will receive leadership training, mentoring, the opportunity to interact with influential leaders and activists in the LGBTQI+ community, stipends and more. For more information and the application, click here.

BMCC Cafeteria/MBJ Food Services: New Hours of Operation
BMCC students, faculty and staff can enjoy a hot meal, snack or beverage in the BMCC Cafeteria at 199 Chambers Street. MBJ Food Services provides a wide variety of menu items at a reasonable price. The cafeteria will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on days when no classes are scheduled, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tables are available throughout the lobby, so you can rest and refuel with fellow students and colleagues. Please mask up, when you're viewing and purchasing food.

Early Childhood Center Extends Services to Faculty and Staff
BMCC’s Early Childhood Center has extended its services to BMCC faculty and staff for the duration of the pandemic. Currently, 3K and Pre-K For All slots are available. In addition to Pre-K programs, the Center has a Family Child Care Network, an off-site program supervised by BMCC’s Early Childhood Center staff and consisting of licensed child-care homes serving children under 2 years old. Registration is ongoing throughout the semester. For an application, click here, then submit to Executive Director Cecilia Scott Croff at cscottcroff@bmcc.cuny.edu or to Office Manager Yvonne Gutierrez at ygutierrez@bmcc.cuny.edu.

9/11 Victims Compensation Fund: Document Your Presence
Did you work at BMCC during 9/11? If you can prove your presence in the 9/11 exposure area September 11, 2001 through May 31, 2002 for the requisite period of time (generally 80 hours) and you have developed one of the 68 cancers and non-cancers approved by the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and presumed to be caused by exposure to 9/11 toxic dust, you are eligible for the available benefits. Even if you are not sick, you should take steps now to preserve your right to file a future claim. You do not have to prove that your illness was caused by 9/11. Read more about documenting your proof of presence here. Read registration and claim filings details here. 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.

BMCC Panther Pantry Open
The Panther Pantry is open. BMCC students facing a food emergency are welcome to visit the Pantry on Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and take home a three-day supply of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. Contact the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) at arc@bmcc.cuny.edu or by calling (212) 220-8195 for more information.

BMCC Library Is Open
The BMCC Library is open for studying, access to textbooks, printing, computers and more. Please see our website for details and hours. Students, faculty, and staff can chat with a librarian via the website, call for assistance at (212) 220-1451 or email help@bmcc-cuny.libanswers.com. We look forward to seeing you in the library this semester.

Student Device Loans: No Appointment Necessary
A limited number of iPads, Chromebooks and internet hotspots are available for loan to students with a current ID who do not have a device or reliable internet at home. Students do not need an appointment or referral from Student Affairs to pick up their device or hotspot on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (but not on holidays) at 199 Chambers Street. After entering the building, make a left — do not go through the turnstiles. For questions about borrowing a device or hot spot: help@bmcc-cuny.libanswers.com. For tech support after receiving a device: servicedesk@bmcc.cuny.edu.

The Center Launches Student Careers and Higher Education Goals
The BMCC Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development (the Center) enables adult students to launch their careers and higher education goals in Information Technology, Allied Health and more. Whether seeking certificate training in cybersecurity, respiratory therapy, data analytics, film editing and other high-demand areas; whether looking to build English-language skills or build a path to an associate degree, students at the Center gain a competitive edge in today's changing workforce. Learn more in the Summer/Fall 2021 Catalogue, available here.

Answer Your BMCC Office Phone From Any Device With RingCentral
Faculty and staff can answer their BMCC office phone from any device, anywhere with RingCentral. Download the RingCentral app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to 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, visit the BMCC RingCentral resources page.

CUNY Partnership With Kognito Enables Staff and Faculty to Support Students Around Mental Health Issues
CUNY has partnered with the online program Kognito to provide training modules for faculty and staff on how to recognize signs of distress in students and connect them with support. Through simulated conversations between a student and faculty or staff, the modules address mental health, suicide prevention, bullying and more. To launch the Kognito program “At-Risk for Faculty and Staff,” available through December, click here and use the enrollment key bmccaruf. For more information, please contact Professor Shirley Leyro at sleyro@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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.”

Enrollment

There’s Still Time for Students to Register for Fall 2021
BMCC is offering an 8-week express session from October 27 through December 21.

All students are welcome, but the Fall 2021 Express Session is ideal for part-time students, or new and continuing students who missed 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.

Resources for Supporting Students: Two Updated Brochures
The Office of Public Affairs has released the new Academic Programs brochure, which provides degree program information. The newly released Support Programs brochure highlights offices and services such as financial aid and tutoring programs. BMCC students, faculty and staff can use these publications to: learn more about the college's academic programs; provide assistance to students; and inform the college community about support services available on campus.

Enrollment Questions? Visit the Panther Station
Whether you’re a newly-admitted student or a current student, the Panther Station is your one stop for information and assistance with Admissions, Financial Aid or Registration questions. You can meet with a specialist virtually or speak to a specialist by phone at (212) 220-8000. Ext. 7320 or email Station@bmcc.cuny.edu. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Sociology Professor Amy Sodaro weighs in on criticisms of 9/11 Museum
September 9, 2021—HuffPost

Recently deceased actor Michael K. Williams remembers attending BMCC, in Fresh Air interview
September 8, 2021 — Kera News

BMCC alumna and first in U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID-19 focuses on global health and looks back on her life
September 8, 2021 — Jamaicans.com

BMCC administrators and faculty share lessons learned after 9/11 that reverberate amid the COVID-19 pandemic
September 6, 2021 — Inside Higher Ed

Veteran DC 37 staffers describe experience in BMCC neighborhood on 9/11
September 3, 2021 — The Chief

Human Resources

Payroll Distribution, Thursday, September 16
Employees who do not receive direct deposit can pick up their paper check on Thursday, September 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Theater I, Lower Lobby. Please bring your own pen to sign the registry.

Digital Diabetes Prevention Program Launches in September
Join WorkWell NYC’s Digital Diabetes Prevention Program to receive a full year of support to eat healthier, move more, manage stress and stay motivated. Participants will be led by a certified diabetes educator, who will provide tailored health coaching throughout the year. Express interest here.

Biweekly COVID-19 Briefing for New York City Workers
BMCC staff are invited to a biweekly COVID-19 briefing presented by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Immunization Justice Workgroup on Thursdays at 12 p.m. Health Department clinician Dr. Julian Watkins will provide updates on current events, COVID-19 cases in NYC, COVID-19 vaccines, and be available for Q&A. Register here.

Employees Asked to File Permanent Address Meeting Commutable Distance Standard by December 1
During the period of remote work necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, some CUNY employees changed their permanent address of record to an area outside the University's commutable distance standard, which encompasses parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and upstate New York. Because CUNY is not set up as an employer in states beyond the commutable distance standard — and cannot withhold other states’ incomes taxes, participate in those states’ unemployment programs or apply their localized state and municipality laws — employees are asked to submit a change of address form to officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu, reinstating their pre-pandemic address of record that met the commutable distance standard, by December 1.

Join the STEPtember Walking Challenge
The STEPtember Walking Challenge is back!!! Enjoy movement through music and gain access to exclusive playlists, dance classes, walking groups, step tips and more, September 20 through October 19. Compete on a team within your agency, or as an individual. Lace up your shoes and let's get moving and grooving to the top of the leaderboard! Register online through September 15 with the Organization Code: workwellnyc.

Free CCA@YourService Return-to-Work Wellness Seminars Available
Click to watch these helpful online webinars: Return to Work Wellness Seminar; Kelly McGonigal: How to Make Stress Your Friend; Managing Stress As We Return To Work PowerPoint.

Alumni and Donors

BMCC Foundation Invites Community to Invest in the Future of Students
BMCC and the BMCC Foundation Board of Directors invite everyone to support the “Invest in a Future” Virtual Fundraiser scheduled at 6 p.m., September 30. Donations collected from the fundraiser will support student scholarships. The fundraiser will be livestreamed and will include student success stories, as well as music and theater performances from BMCC students. This year's honorees are Deirdre Featherstone, owner of Featherstone Fine Jewelry and award-winning gemologist; and John Dunleavy, Global President of Eightbar/WPP Global Client Leader of IBM. MAKE A DONATION HERE. Thank you to our Corporate Supporters (so far): Bank of America, BNY Mellon, CBOE, CBRE, CITI, and DTCC. For more information email advancementevents@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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