@BMCC

December 9, 2021

NYC Mobile Vaccination Bus Coming to BMCC December 14, 15 and 16
BMCC students, faculty, staff and all New Yorkers can get free COVID-19 Pfizer and J&J vaccinations, including boosters, with no appointment necessary — and a $100 incentive for the first dose. The NYC Mobile Vaccination Van will be parked on the BMCC campus at Fiterman Hall, 245 Greenwich Street at Park Place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14; Wednesday, December 15 and Thursday, December 16. BMCC students will also receive in-person assistance uploading their vaccination verification to CUNYFirst and the BMCC Panther Pantry will provide food distribution. Take advantage of this opportunity, and prepare for the holidays and the 2022 spring semester! For more information, call the Office of Public Affairs at (212) 346-8501 or email publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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.

Four Outstanding Students Named 2021 Kaplan Scholars
Four BMCC students—Economics major Bryan Garcia (not pictured), and (L-R) Psychology major Raquel Hernandez, Childhood Education major Quiana James and Science major Nana Wiafe Addae Owus—have been named this year’s Kaplan Leadership Scholars. This is the fifteenth year BMCC has been working with the Kaplan Educational Foundation to help underserved students transfer from associate degree programs to exceptional four-year colleges. Kaplan Scholars receive a comprehensive array of financial and academic support, transfer admissions advising and leadership skills development.

BMCC Recognizes Essential Staff at Holiday Reception
On December 7, BMCC hosted a holiday reception to recognize and thank the College's essential staff members for their dedication. During the past two years, essential staff have played a key role in keeping the college clean and safe, while monitoring the developments of the pandemic. BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe thanked the essential staff for their hard work. Jorge Yafar, Assistant Vice President for Campus Planning and Facilities, also recognized the staff for their many contributions to the college's daily operations. The reception included a raffle and catering by MBJ Food Services.

Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics Office Relocates to Fiterman Hall
In keeping with the College’s reevaluation of space utilization to enhance instructional, academic and student support areas, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics (IEA) has moved from 199 Chambers Street into Fiterman Hall. As of Monday, December 6, the IEA office is located on Fiterman's 13th floor (F1330-N). Faculty, staff and students can visit and request assistance with data, research and assessment questions. Please reach out to Minh Truong (mtruong@bmcc.cuny.edu) to coordinate any in-person visits to the new space.

Announcements

De-Stress Fest Helps Students Stay Grounded Before Exams
Students are invited to attend in-person and online events designed to minimize stress and provide helpful information in preparation for final exams. The full list of activities can be found at the De Stress Fest webpage. Events run through December 21.

Music Lecturer Jazzmeia Horn Nominated for Grammy Award
Music Lecturer and vocalist, composer and musical arranger Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force have been nominated for a 2022 Grammy for their album, “Dear Love,” in category #33, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. There are 86 categories in the 64th Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy will live stream the 2022 Grammy Awards show announcing the winners on Monday, January 31, 2022. Lecturer Horn was also nominated for the 60th and 62nd Grammy Awards.

BMCC Fitness Center and Swimming Pool Open Through December 21
The BMCC Fitness Center and pool are open through December 21 to fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff. The Fitness Center is open from Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offers cardiovascular and resistance equipment, free weights and more. Patrons are required to wear a mask. The BMCC pool is open Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Learn more on a virtual tour of BMCC’s fitness facilities or contact Dakota Olson, Coordinator of Athletics and Athletics facilities.

BMCC Publishes 2020-2021 Annual Report
The 2020-2021 Annual Report, Excellence, Equity and Opportunity, is now available on the BMCC website. The report includes articles highlighting college events, fundraising efforts, student achievements and faculty research from the 2020-2021 academic year. A list of donors is also included.

BMCC Community Encouraged to Take Advantage of Resilience, Health and Wellness Services
Students, faculty and staff are invited to visit the Resilience, Health and Wellness website to explore resources and strategies for physical fitness, mental health, food insecurity, nutrition, financial support and other vital areas. With a focus on health and wellness, BMCC builds a diverse and connected community that supports its members every day.

Holiday Reminder: Acceptance of Gifts Guidelines
CUNY employees are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts from vendors and other interested sources, regardless of whether the gift was intended to influence or reward the recipient. For guidelines, visit CUNY’s Conflict of Interest policy page.

CUNY Zoom Security Practices Help Ensure a Safe, Collegial Event
BMCC faculty and staff that use Zoom for CUNY-related activities are required to follow the CUNY Zoom safety protocols. These guidelines help prevent disruptions such as Zoombombing, and maintain a safe, collegial environment for virtual activities. To learn more, visit the BMCC Virtual Events Page.

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 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 explain how to complete the BMCC application or apply as a readmit student. 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

Former BMCC Theatre Professor Shawna Lucey named General Director and CEO of Opera San José
December 8, 2021 — Broadway World

BMCC guide on dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy referenced in discussion on how to talk to children about the Oxford High School gun violence
December 3, 2021 — Metromode, Metro Detroit

Claudine Bradford completes administrative training and returns to workforce as enrollment specialist at BMCC
December 2, 2021 — The New York Times

Former Criminal Justice Lecturer and CUNY ASAP Assistant Director Lutful Khan named Senior Project Director for Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS)
December 2, 2021 — Massachusetts Patch

BMCC Business Management Lecturer Brett Whysel weighs in on peer-to-peer lenders
November 3, 2021 — WalletHub

Human Resources

Payroll Distribution: Thursday, December 23
Employees who do not have direct deposit can pick up their paper paycheck on Thursday, December 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Lower Lobby. Please bring a pen to sign the registry.

ESPARC and WPV Trainings: Mandatory for all Employees and Now Available via Zoom

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 offered on Blackboard, as well as Zoom — by the end of the academic year. To learn more, visit Compliance Training FAQs or contact Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu or Loriann Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu
ESPARC trainings will be offered via Zoom from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on these Tuesdays: December 14 and 21. WPV trainings will be offered via Zoom from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on these Thursdays: December 16 and 23. To sign up, email Josefa Larios at jlarios@bmcc.cuny.edu and cc Amal Bakleh at abakleh@bmcc.cuny.edu from your BMCC account. Include your name and employee ID number as well as which training (ESPARC or WPV) and date you want to attend. The Zoom link and support documents will be provided the Monday before your training. Sign up now, while seats are still open!

Paying it Forward: Free Online Seminars Start December 21
At noon on Tuesday, December 21, BMCC faculty and staff will be able to access a series of free, on-demand, online seminars: "Practicing Generosity Builds Resilience," "Pay it Forward With Kindness and Generosity," "Be a Great Mentor" and "Invest in Yourself." To learn more, visit CCA@Your Service and enter the Company Code: CUNY.

Senior Stationary Engineer Exams Open Through December 21
The Senior Stationary Engineer (CUNY) Exam #2093 and Senior Stationary Engineer (CUNY) Exam #2534 (Pro) are open through December 21. The filing fee is $101.00. The exams are open competitive and promotional. Applications will not be accepted at any CUNY college HR department or at the 395 Hudson Street location. To complete the application online or download it, go to the Online Application System (OASys) at www.nyc.gov/examsforjobs. If you have any questions, please email classified.centex@cuny.edu.

Donors and Alumni

CUNY Tuesday: It’s Not too Late to Donate
The BMCC Urban Male Leadership Academy (UMLA) is committed to increasing the graduation rates of groups severely underrepresented in higher education, particularly men of color. Other BMCC programs dedicated to closing gaps in educational outcomes are Conexiones & Connections and the College Discovery program. Support their commitment to raising the retention and graduation rates of all students. Make equity a reality. Give now, to CUNYTuesday at BMCC.

Alumni Now: Romario R. Ricketts
Romario R. Ricketts (Communication Studies, ’18), was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and National Society of Leadership and Society at BMCC, where he made the Dean’s List and garnered an NYC City Council Citation. In 2020, Mr. Ricketts graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in English Professional Writing through the Macaulay Honors College at Lehman College, CUNY. Today, he works as a media assistant, leading press outreach for census and redistricting at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.

Read more about Romario R. Ricketts and other inspiring BMCC alumni. If you know high-achieving BMCC alumni who have entered careers and could be candidates for Alumni Now, please let us know by emailing publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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