News

BMCC Hosts Health and Wellness Fair
Faculty, staff and students attended the BMCC Health and Wellness Fair on October 20 at 199 Chambers Street in the Theatre 1 lobby and courtyard on October 20. Free COVID-19 as well as flu vaccines were available. Representatives from BMCC’s Counseling Center, the Panther Pantry as well as Metroplus Health Insurance shared information and brochures. Nursing students checked attendees blood pressure while Respiratory students were on hand to check pulmonary function. The event also featured the GE Healthcare’s Breast Imaging Roadshow which showcases the latest innovations in breast imaging. To learn more about BMCC’s Resilience, Health and Wellness services, click here.

NYC Mobile Vaccination Bus Coming to BMCC Express, Oct. 28
Students, Faculty, Staff and the NYC community can get free vaccinations (with the $100 incentive) on Thursday, Oct. 28. The NYC Mobile Vaccination bus will parked in front of BMCC Express, 255 Greenwich Street, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will offer COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters with no appointment necessary. In addition, the Panther Pantry, BMCC Admissions and Information Resources Technology will be on-site to provide services with food distribution, college information and to help students upload their vaccination verification on CUNYfirst, respectively. #vaxupcuny 

Students Taking In-Person or Hybrid Classes Mandated to be Vaccinated  CUNY mandates that all students taking in-person and hybrid classes get vaccinated and upload proof of vaccination to CUNYfirst. For details, click here or read these Frequently Asked Questions. For instructions to upload your information, see the Student Guide to Vaccination Verification. Regular Testing Mandated for Unvaccinated Faculty and Staff  CUNY provides on-site COVID-19 testing at 20 University locations — including BMCC. 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 an email with a personalized link to make an appointment at a CUNY testing location. CUNY Access Pass Through Cleared4 Replaces Everbridge VaxPass Vaccinated BMCC students, faculty and staff must use the CUNY Access Pass to document their vaccination status and enter campus. The CUNY Access Pass — generated through the Cleared4 platform — replaces the Everbridge VaxPass and expires one year from the date you became fully vaccinated. Watch for an email from “no-reply@cleared4work.com” in your BMCC email (check your spam folder, if you don't see it). For more information, visit CUNY Access - Cleared4 Guide for Vaccinated CUNY Students, Faculty and Staff or Cleared4 FAQs. Visit the Reimagining BMCC website for more information on returning to campus.

BMCC's Conexiones & Connections Brings Community, Culture to Campus
In connection with Hispanic Heritage Month, BMCC's Conexiones Program hosted an orientation event for students, that included games, music, pizza and information sessions. The event offered an opportunity for students to engage with faculty and staff, in-person and socially distanced. Click here to learn about Conexiones & Connections.

BMCC Receives $500K Grant to Increase Engagement Among Students Underrepresented in STEM A group of BMCC professors led by CIS Professor Mohammad Azhar have received a $500,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will develop learning environments intended to engage underrepresented minority students as well as women in STEM courses, activities and career paths. Over the course of the grant period, the project will facilitate relationships and engagements by incorporating local business and incubator partnerships.

President Anthony E. Munroe included in AM / Metro New York Power Players in Education 2021 Feature In AM / Metro New York's annual feature highlighting exceptional leaders who craft long-term educational policy and have an impact on the day-to-day work of running a school, BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe is highlighted. See page 29.

Italian Heritage Events Present Art, Music, Environmentally Themed Lectures and More BMCC will honor and celebrate Italian Heritage on Tuesday, October 26 with a full day of virtual performances and talks. Professors Claudia Terry, Michael Spath, Patrizia Comello Perry, Eugenia Yau, Can Olgun, Tom Means, Caroline Pari and Lisa Sarti will present talks on the arts, the environment, language learning and more. BMCC President Anthony Munroe and Sr. VP/Provost Erwin Wong, students Julia DiVergilio and Galilea Piedra, TPAC Director Mario Giacalone and artist Riccardo Vecchio are also speakers or presenters for the day’s events.

BMCC Pride Month Honors the LGBTQIA+ Community  BMCC supports the LGBTQIA+ community with resources and events including Pride Month, celebrated each October. Whether you are a student who wants to talk about identity, a faculty/staff member interested in serving as a Pride Mentor or more, you'll find a supportive forum at the Pride Month events. Events include Watch Party: Call Me By Your Name, October 22; LGBTQIA Entrepreneurs: Real Talk, October 26; LGBTQ & Women’s Health Series: Lesbian and Bi-sexual Love in Movies, October 27; Pride Ball: End of Month Celebration, October 29 and Pride Month: Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil, November 18.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrates the Latinx Diaspora with Art, Documentary Film and More  BMCC honors Hispanic Heritage with events that run now through December and are hosted by staff and faculty from the Departments of Academic Literacy and Linguistics, Ethnic and Race Studies, Modern Languages and Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice, as well as the ESL Lab and the Women’s Resource Center.

Announcements

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. Also, 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. 

BMCC Counseling Center Offers Free Assistance to Students
BMCC’s Counseling Center offers free and confidential services to all currently enrolled students. Counselors assist students in addressing psychological and adjustment issues such as depression, anxiety, and relationships. Counselors also work with students to address other issues that can impact academic performance including stress and time management. The Counseling Center is located in Room S-343 at 199 Chambers Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Virtual office hours are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Fridays. Counseling sessions are by appointment only. For more information, click here.

BMCC Panther Pantry Assists Students Facing Food Insecurity  BMCC students facing a food emergency are welcome to visit the Panther Pantry and take home a three-day supply of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) at arc@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-8195 for more information.

Food Distribution and COVID-19 Vaccines Available at CUNY in The Heights
BMCC/CUNY in the Heights (CITH) provides educational opportunity to communities in Inwood, Washington Heights and the Bronx. BMCC’s Panther Pantry provides a Food Pick-up at CITH on Tuesdays through November 30, so students in need can take home free, nutritional food. CITH will also provide a clinic to deliver the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday, October 26, and Thursdays, October 28. For more information, contact CUNY in The Heights at (212) 776-6610 or cith@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Economics Is too Important to be Left to Economists: A Talk with Dr. Jayati Ghosh October 25  The BMCC community is invited to a talk with economist Dr. Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, on October 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Dr. Ghosh will discuss why decisions affecting people’s lives are often made by policy makers using economic theories that are illogical and ungrounded. This session will help people be aware of these policy decisions, and develop the understanding to question them. RSVP to receive the Zoom link.

Pablo Helguera Exhibition Now Open at Shirley Fiterman Art Center The Shirley Fiterman Art Center (SFAC) at BMCC will present A Journal of the Year of the Pharmacy, a large-scale exhibition of the work of Pablo Helguera accompanied by a series of performances at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. The exhibition at SFAC will be on view from October 15, 2021 through January 22, 2022 and accompanied with a series of free performances on October 15, 22 and 29 at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (BMCC TPAC).

Help Our Students Succeed: Share Information About the Learning Resource Center
Let students know about free, in-person academic coaching and tutoring offered through the BMCC Learning Resource Center (LRC) at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-510. The LRC also offers computer lab hours so students can complete classwork on campus. Email lrc@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-1383 for more information. 

BMCC Cafeteria/MBJ Food Services: 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 variety of menu items at a reasonable price from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on days when no classes are scheduled, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Don't forget to mask up, when you're purchasing food.

Enrollment

Register Now for Fall Express Sessions
BMCC students can still register for the Fall 2021 8-week express session set for October 27 through December 21. This session is ideal for part-time students or new and continuing students who missed registration for the regular 15-week fall session. Please note, there will be limited course offerings in the express sessions and some financial aid limitations. 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.

Virtual Open House Events, November 4 and 10, Welcomes Future Students  The BMCC Admissions Office is offering future students and their families a two-day Virtual Open House on Thursday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 10, each from 4 to 6 p.m. Students will become familiar with BMCC's 50+ academic programs and online learning options through virtual mini sessions. They’ll have the unique opportunity to speak with current BMCC students and faculty, and learn how to apply. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (212) 220-1265 or admissions@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Application Workshop Walks Students Through the Process   
Every Tuesday at 3 p.m., admissions specialists will 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 virtual sessions, staff walk students through the whole process — from completing the CUNY application online to including transcripts and more.

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

Making Headlines

BMCC Professor Emily B. Anderson, a Hawks board member for over 36 years, comments on the program at its 60th Anniversary Gala
October 20, 2021 — Radio Lounge

BMCC student Bryan Mendoza weighs in on Disney characters as Halloween costumes for college students
October 19, 2021 — College Magazine

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout discusses her latest novel Oh, William! and references her literary beginnings while teaching at BMCC
October 19, 2021 — Entertainment

Teacher Education Professor Kara Kronen shares insight into whether Ivy League schools are worth the tuition, and the value of community colleges
October 18, 2021 — WalletHub 

Business Professor Tiffany Schreane advises on how to create cookie-free marketing campaigns
October 18, 2021 — American Marketing Association

Human Resources

Open Enrollment for Flexible Spending Accounts: Now Through November 19
The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program open enrollment period for Plan Year 2022 is open now through November 19, 2021for an effective date of January 1, 2022. The Plan Year 2022 FSA Program brochure and forms are on the FSA website under Forms and Downloads. Once the proper forms are processed, the participant will receive a confirmation letter. If FSA payroll deductions don’t appear in January 2022, the participant should notify FSA immediately.

Payroll Distribution October 28, 2021
Employees who do not have direct deposit can pick up their paper paycheck on Thursday, October 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Theater I, Lower Lobby. Please bring a pen to sign the registry.

CUNY Time Off to Vote Notice for Election Day, November 2 The CUNY Time Off to Vote Notice to Employees lays out parameters for taking time off to vote on Tuesday, November 2. For voting information, visit Vote.org, Vote NYC or the New York State Board of Elections. Employees can also contact BMCC Human Resources, officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu or (212) 220-8300.

CUNY Extends Annual Vacation Carryover 
For the annual leave year ending August 31, 2021, the August 31 deadline to use annual leave has been extended to December 31, 2021:   

• Annual leave above the designated cap as of the close of business on August 31, 2021 may be carried into the annual leave year that began September 1, 2021.      
• The annual leave balance in excess of the cap will be deducted from the employee's accrual balance on December 31, 2021.
• Unscheduled holidays from the annual leave year ending August 31, 2021 will not be carried over.

Electrician Exams Open Through October 29 
The Electrician (CUNY) Exam #2076 and Electrician (CUNY) (Pro) Exam #2526 are open through October 29. The filing fee is $101. The exams are open-competitive and promotional. Applications will not be accepted at CUNY college HR departments or the 395 Hudson Street location. Instead, visit the Online Application System (OASys). For more information, visit CUNY’s Notice of Exams or email classified.centex@cuny.edu.

Full- and Part-Time CUNY Employees Must Complete These Trainings   
Part-time employees must complete by end of the fall semester, the Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) and Workplace Violence Prevention Training (WVP). Full-time employees must complete both trainings — which are on Blackboard — by the end of the academic year. To learn more, visit Compliance Training FAQs here or contact Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu or Loriann Mazzola lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Alumni and Donors

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 details, please visit the Ways to Give page on the BMCC 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 in 2021 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 that 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

National Transfer Student Week: Applying for Transfer Using the Common App October 22

Online Free Workshop: How to Be a Successful Online Student
October 25

Career Development: Black in Business Panel
October 26

Free Legal Immigration Services for BMCC Students
October 27

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.