@BMCC

November 11, 2021

U.S. Surgeon General Comes to BMCC to Visit with CUNY Students
On Nov. 9 U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA; came to BMCC to visit with CUNY students and talk about the importance of mental health. Anthony E. Munroe, BMCC President and Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, greeted the Surgeon General upon his arrival to the BMCC Campus. BMCC encourages its campus community to be mindful of their well-being and practice health and wellness. "College students face a lot of stress, even under normal circumstances, and the pandemic added new burdens. I’m so inspired by the vision that these students have for the future despite the challenges they’ve faced during their college years," the U.S. Surgeon General said in a tweet.

The Inquirer, BMCC Journal, Celebrates 30th Anniversary
The Inquirer, a journal devoted to teaching, learning and scholarship at BMCC — and published with the support of BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe, Provost Erwin J. Wong and the Office of Faculty Affairs — is celebrating its 30th Anniversary issue, Volume 28, Fall 2021. For three decades, this groundbreaking journal has provided a space for BMCC faculty and staff to engage with ideas crucial to building BMCC’s unique learning culture. The Inquirer provides a forum where faculty can share pedagogy, tried-and-true approaches for engaging students and more. To read submission guidelines for The Inquirer, scroll to the last page of the current issue. To join the BMCC community in celebrating the journal's milestone anniversary, register now for Faculty Development Day 2021.

Veterans Resource Center Celebrates U.S. Marine Corps Birthday
The BMCC Veterans Resource Center celebrated the U.S. Marine Corps birthday on November 10. The Veterans Resource Center is proud to help U.S. veterans continue their education at BMCC, and are available to help them adjust to college and civilian life with services. For more information on the center’s services and other information, click here.

BMCC Celebrates 2021 Paramedic Program Graduates
BMCC hosted a ceremony in Theatre One at 199 Chambers Street to celebrate the graduating class of 2021 paramedic program on November 10. The event, which was also live-streamed, featured speakers including BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Erwin Wong and guest speaker Ryan P. Greenberg, Director, New York State EMS Bureau. Nationwide, employment of Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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.

Faculty, staff and students who have been vaccinated, uploaded their vaccination verification in CUNYfirst and were approved, have turnstile access when entering the BMCC campus.

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.

BMCC Faculty and Staff: Upload Proof of Vaccination
Once your vaccination proof is uploaded, the Office of Human Resources will review the verification within 24 hours. Employees should check the approval status 48 hours after submission to confirm approval. If you haven’t provided this information, please do so ASAP.

Obtain CUNY Access Pass Through Cleared4
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.

Monitoring and Reporting Positive Cases

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

Announcements

Winter Tuition Waivers: For Eligible Students who Register by December 1
BMCC is offering two tuition waivers for the Winter 2022 session starting January 3. Both cover $210 per credit for courses that count toward the student’s degree, and students must register for those courses by December 1. The waivers do not cover fees and materials such as textbooks. The Petrie Completion Waiver is for students who have one or two courses left to complete their associate degree. The STEM Waiver is for students who are NYC residents and U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time the waiver is applied. It applies to credit-bearing math or computer science courses, as well as any CIS course, LIN 101, MEA 201, MMP 100 and PSY 100. For more information, students can contact the Academic Advisement and Transfer Center at aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Share This Opportunity: Free Workforce Trainings at MEOC
The SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC), administered by BMCC, provides free programs to learn English, earn a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma and prepare for immediate workforce goals. If you know someone who is 18 years of age or older, has lived in New York a year or more, has low or no income, has earned an HSE and fewer than 33 or no college credits, they are welcome to apply for OSHA 40 Construction Training (starts December 2), EKG Training (starts December 6) or Security Officer Training (starts December 13). First, they must apply online and submit documents to kberry@bmcc.cuny.edu. Staff members who would like to refer a participant, please complete this form. Students can register for a virtual admission session November 15, 18 or 22 to learn more.

Faculty Development Day 2021, November 12
BMCC faculty are invited to register now for Faculty Development Day 2021. This year’s theme is “Research and Practices as we Transition to a New Realm of Teaching” and will address how the pandemic has entailed shifts to pedagogical practices that support students on synchronous, hybrid, and asynchronous platforms. Keynote speakers will be Professors Elizabeth Wissinger, Holly Messitt and Page Delano. Read more about the day’s activities, and register online. The day’s events will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BMCC faculty journal, Inquirer. Contributors to the journal will present on topics including sustainable pedagogical practices that extend beyond the era of COVID. For more information, contact Professor Ruth V. Guirguis at rguirguis@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Economics, Environmental Disasters and Indigenous Peoples Response: A Talk With Steven Smith (owl), November 17
The BMCC community is invited to meet Steven Smith, who will talk about the Guyana Omai gold mine disaster, one of the 100 most important environmental cases in the 20th century and a reflection of the interaction of economics, law, engineering, finance and politics that led to that disaster. This discussion will present both an eyewitness account to environmental disasters and ways to respond.

BMCC Community Members Invited to Join Broadway Passport Series
BMCC community members are invited to apply for the TDF Broadway Passport Series which offers low-cost tickets to Broadway shows to select community groups throughout New York State. Just go to Passport.TDF.org and fill out the short membership form, selecting CUNY Arts or your specific campus as your "Community Group."

CUNYTuesday Addresses a Critical need by Raising Funds for UMLA
The BMCC Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA) is committed to increasing the graduation rates of groups that are severely underrepresented in higher education, particularly men of color. Participants of the program have shown a higher graduation rate than their peers outside UMLA — even as the gap between Black male student success and that of other groups has widened at BMCC over the years. This year, BMCC will dedicate funds raised through the 2021 University-wide campaign #CUNYTuesday to UMLA. Donate today to support this important program.

Faculty and Staff Encouraged to Follow CUNY Zoom Security Protocol and Practices
BMCC academic departments, offices, faculty or staff that use Zoom for any CUNY related activities are required to follow the CUNY Zoom security protocol and practices guide. Following these guidelines will help prevent random event disruptions such as Zoombombing and maintain a safe, collegial environment for virtual events and classroom activities. For more helpful information on hosting virtual events visit the BMCC Virtual Events Page.

BMCC Race, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee Seeks Student Volunteers
The BMCC Race, Equity and Inclusion steering committee is looking for student volunteers to join faculty and staff as they work collectively to actively dismantle systemic racism and structural inequality across the BMCC community. Student representation and perspectives are crucial to the success of the committee’s diversity initiatives. For more information or answers to questions, contact REI@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrates the Latinx Diaspora with Jazz, Art, Film and More
BMCC honors Hispanic Heritage with events that run now through December and include a student and faculty art exhibition, a presentation for Latinx women entrepreneurs, a jazz performance by Jennifer Jade Ledesma and a screening of a film on Mexican migrant labor life, Sixth Section.

BMCC Students, Faculty and Staff Can Access Free, Self-Paced Courses Through LinkedIn Learning
BMCC students, faculty and staff can access thousands of free, self-paced, online courses with LinkedIn Learning. Using their BMCC email log-on credentials through the Learning Resource Center, they can even earn course completion certificates to advance their careers. Visit here to learn more.

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.

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

Winter/Spring 2022 Advisement & Registration is Open
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to schedule a Zoom meeting with their advisor to discuss their academic progress and spring registration. Things to know: All students must meet with their advisor before registering. Students can register for classes and upload proof of vaccination on CUNYfirst. For assistance, students can meet with a PantherStation Specialists on Zoom, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Registrationpage, 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 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

CUNY in The Heights celebrates re-opening
November 5, 2021 — Manhattan Times

CUNY expands programs that serve student veterans
November 10, 2021 — CUNY Newswire

Human Resources

Open Enrollment to Change Benefits: Now Through November 30
Faculty & Staff, Adjuncts, looking to Change Benefits? November 1 through November 30 is open Enrollment, the one time during the year when you can change your benefit elections or add/remove dependents for health, dental and flexible spending account plans without a Qualifying Life Event. For additional information contact Diana Lopez (dlopez@bmcc.cuny.edu).

Join Holiday Healthy Eating Webinar, November 17
In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, join WorkWell NYC's nutrition and mental health specialists as they answer questions in a special webinar, Hacking the Holiday Menu: Your Healthy Eating Survival Guide, November 17 at 12 noon. Register here.

Full- and Part-Time CUNY Employees Must Complete These Trainings
By the end of the fall semester, part-time employees must complete the Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) and Workplace Violence Prevention (WVP) trainings. 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.

File Permanent Address Meeting Commutable Distance Standard by December 1
While working remotely, some BMCC employees have changed their permanent address of record to an area outside CUNY'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 beyond those areas, employees are asked to submit a change of address form to officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu, reinstating their address of record that met the commutable distance standard, by December 1.

Reminder: BMCC Faculty and staff should upload their proof of vaccination through CUNYfirst
Once uploaded, the Office of Human Resources will review the verification within 24 hours. Employees should check the approval status 48 hours after submission to confirm approval. If you haven’t provided this information, please do so ASAP.

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