April 7, 2022 FacebookTwitterInstagram
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News

Town Hall

Faculty, Staff and Students Invited to Academic Momentum 2.0 Town Hall April 11
BMCC students, faculty and staff are invited to learn about Academic Momentum (AcMo) 2.0, the CUNY-wide endeavor to improve undergraduate graduation rates with a focus on supporting transfer opportunities for students. On Monday, April 11, at 11 a.m., Erwin J. Wong, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, will be leading a college-wide Town Hall scheduled at 199 Chambers Street, Room N-451. The BMCC community is invited to attend in-person or register online to participate virtually.

Social Justice Week

BMCC Kicks Off Social Justice Week with Conversation Between President Munroe and President’s Fund Team Representatives
The Race, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee (REI) at BMCC kicked off the College’s inaugural Social Justice Week with an opening program on Monday, April 4 in Theatre 1 at the college’s main campus, 199 Chambers Street. The in-person event, which was also live-streamed, featured an on-stage conversation between BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe and team leaders of seven projects supported through the President’s Fund for Excellence and Innovation.

Spring Break

Students Learn About BMCC Support Services at Spring Break Event on April 6
The BMCC Division of Student Affairs in collaboration with the Office of Academic Affairs hosted a special in-person event where students learned more about the college’s many support services. The event, which was held on April 6 in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street and also available on Zoom, featured live music, food and giveaways. Representatives from the Academic Advisement and Transfer Center, BMCC Achievers Program, Advocacy and Resource Center, BMCC DREAMers, BMCC Early Childhood Center, Inc., Library, Center for Career Development; Conexiones & Connections, Counseling Center, Federal Work-Study Career Access Program, Learning Resource Center and the Office of Accessibility were on hand to meet with students, provide information and answer questions.

Table Tennis

BMCC Hosts Inaugural Table Tennis (ping pong) Tournament
As part of Asian Heritage Month, more than 30 students, faculty and staff participated in the inaugural ping pong (table tennis) tournament on April 6 in the BMCC gymnasium at 199 Chambers Street. Table tennis experts were on hand to answer questions about the sport and offer tips. See the complete listing of upcoming Asian Heritage Month events here.

Faculty and Staff Deadline to Upload Vaccine Verification Extended to May 27
CUNY and the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY (PSC) have agreed to revise the date by which all full- and part-time faculty and non-teaching instructional staff —which includes among others NTAs, CLTs and those in the HEO-title series—will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to upload proof of vaccination into CUNYfirst. The deadline has been changed from April 1 to May 27, 2022. The deadline applies to ECPs, as well.  Please upload proof of vaccination on CUNYfirst.

Reimagining BMCC Website Offers COVID-19 Information
Visit the Reimagining BMCC website for updated information about wearing masks on campus, Random Testing Program for ALL BMCC community membersCUNY Access Pass Through Cleared4, and tips to help upload Vaccination and Booster Verification in CUNYfirst. Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and higher education safety guidelines issued by the New York State Department of Health and CUNY, BMCC is committed to creating the best possible learning and working experience for students, faculty and staff.

Announcements

Transitions and Transactions VI

April 9: Transitions and Transactions VI Explores Teaching in a Pandemic
BMCC, in collaboration with the New York College English Association, will present Transitions and Transactions VI: Teaching Literature in the Time of COVID, an all-day virtual conference set for Saturday, April 9. The conference will feature 20 panels and two featured panels with presenters from across CUNY as well as Europe, Canada and many regions of the United States. What this remarkable array of educators share is having grappled with remote learning across many diverse communities. For program details and more information, visit Transactions and Transactions VI or email transitionsandtransactionsconference@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Twelfth Night BMCC Theatre Department Presents William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night April 27-May 1 
The BMCC Theatre Department invites students, faculty, staff and the general public to enjoy a free, live theatre performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Theatre Arts Professor Diane Dowling. This in-person event will take place in BMCC’s Theatre II with several performances between April 27 and May 1. The famous line, If music be the food of love, play on,” sets the tone of the romantic comedy Twelfth Night. Interwoven plots involving gender, class and same-sex attraction make the play as relevant to current times as it was in the early 1600s when Shakespeare wrote it. For more information including safety requirements and uploading proof of COVID vaccines, click here. For questions, contact Demi Agapitos at dagapitos@bmcc.cuny.edu, Emma Ruopp at eruopp@bmcc.cuny.edu or Karl O’Brian Williams at kowilliams@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Nominate Senators to the BMCC Academic Senate by April 14 at 5 p.m.
Nominations will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 for Academic Senate at-large representatives. Senators serve a three-year term, through May 2025.

  • Eight senators are being elected to represent full-time faculty: Nominate here.
  • Two senators are being elected to represent full-time CLTS: Nominate here.
  • Four senators are being elected to represented adjunct faculty and CLTS: Nominate here.  

Eligible voters will receive an email with voting instructions and a link to the election site after the close of nominations on April 14. Representatives to the Academic Senate are automatically members of the BMCC College Council. If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact an Elections Committee co-chair: Christine Priano, cpriano@bmcc.cuny.edu or Cynthia Wiseman, cwiseman@bmcc.cuny.edu. Election Committee members also include Orlando Justo, Maureen Keena and Manita Pavel.

Nelson Submit Your Ballot for the 2021-2022 Employee Appreciation Awards by May 6
BMCC students, faculty and staff, show your appreciation for staff (non-faculty) who demonstrate outstanding achievement and creative contributions through their role at BMCC — beyond what is normally expected of employees. SUBMIT ONE BALLOT with a detailed nomination in any or all categories: Leadership, Inspiration, Innovation/Technology, Rookie of the Year and Team Achievement. 

CUNY-Wide Training and Resources for Using PeopleSoft 9.2
Computer Information Systems is planning to launch the CUNYfirst Campus Solutions upgrade to PeopleSoft 9.2 over spring break in April 2022. This second phase of the upgrade extends the new PeopleSoft 9.2 improvements across all of CUNYfirst, including the new tile-based CUNYfirst home page (also known as the “Interaction Hub”). The changes to CUNYfirst will be new for many in the BMCC college community. CISTraining has developed a sustainable and engaging training program to support the various and ever-changing needs of our learning community as we prepare for the launch of the 9.2 CUNYfirst Interaction Hub (IH), Campus Solutions, and Faculty/Advisor upgrade in mid-April. It has released a four-week training calendar of live webinars and is updating its CUNYfirst Sharepoint site on an ongoing basis with the latest recordings, video clips, user guides, and job aids. It is also updating and migrating over 500 CUNYfirst user guides into CUNYITHelp, which will improve your ability to find the information you need via keyword searches.  In addition to the user guides, students will find helpful videos on www.cuny.edu/cunyfirst closer to the launch date.

To help ensure a truly supportive foundation for the launch, the first set of live webinars will be delivered to our campus service desks and technicians. This will be followed by general sessions on Campus Solutions for administrative staff, along with sessions for the faculty and advisor communities. Please complete the Registration Form for Administrative Staff and/or the Registration Form for Faculty/Advisors to select and sign up for your desired 9.2 webinar session using your CUNY Login (Username: Firstname.Lastname##@login.cuny.edu).

Lactation Rooms Support the Transition Back for Students, Faculty and Staff 
Reflecting the culture of care at BMCC, support is available for students, faculty and staff transitioning back to school or work while nursing, chest feeding or pumping. Lactation Rooms provide a comfortable rocking chair, electrical outlets, hand sanitizer, paper towels and literature. There is no refrigeration available for expressed milk, so individuals need to provide their own travel bag. To reserve the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) lactation rooms at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-340; in the Murray Building, Room M-317 or in Fiterman Hall, Room F-910, call (212) 220-8166; email wrc@bmcc.cuny.edu or stop by the WRC. To reserve lactation space in the BMCC Health Services Offices at 199 Chambers Street, Room N-380, call (212) 220-8157. Visit the Lactations Rooms page on the BMCC website for more information.

BMCC Cafeteria at 199 Chambers Street Open for Spring 2022  
BMCC students, faculty and staff can enjoy a hot meal, healthy salad or delicious sandwich at a reasonable cost in the MBJ Food Services/BMCC Cafeteria on the second floor at 199 Chambers Street, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cafeteria BMCC Panther Pantry Assists Students Facing Food Insecurity  
BMCC students facing a food emergency are encouraged to visit the Panther Pantry and take home pre-packed bags of nutritious, non-perishable food. The pantry distributes bags of food, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hot meals are distributed Thursdays from 1 to 2 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-230. For more information, contact the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) at arc@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-8195.

Enrollment

Admissions

BMCC Represents at CUNY Virtual College Fair
On Wednesday, March 30th, BMCC faculty and staff participated in the citywide virtual college fair. BMCC’s Business and Criminal Justice Departments, ASAP, Financial Aid, College Discovery, CUNY Start, and CUNY in the Heights all participated in the event.

Admissions Is Back in the Swing with In-Person Events
The Admissions & Recruitment team is vamping up for Spring and reintegrating on-campus Tours and Information Sessions. Campus Tours will be offered Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. and the Information Sessions at 3 p.m. Be on the lookout for new and friendly faces around campus. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (212) 220-1265 or admissions@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Faculty Are Invited to Present at Academic Open House
The Admissions Office will host a virtual Academic Open House on Tuesdays and Thursdays in April for admitted students, prospective students and even current students to explore each Academic and Career Community, meet our dynamic faculty and learn about the robust academic offerings at BMCC. Faculty are invited to join our Admissions team and be as creative and involved in the content and delivery of these benefits as possible. Please take a look at the schedule below and let us know if you’d like to co-present, create a dynamic breakout room, bring along some of your current students or alumni, share a presentation and more. Let us know who will be representing your area and how you wish to participate by completing this form. Here is the April Academic Open House Schedule:

  • 4/7 at 6 p.m. – Arts and Humanities
  • 4/12 at 5 p.m. – Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • 4/14 at 6 p.m. – Communications and Media
  • 4/19 at 5 p.m. – Education
  • 4/21 at 6 p.m. – Health Professions
  • 4/26 at 5 p.m. – Government & Public Service
  • 4/28 at 6 p.m. – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Univision Fair Reaches Out to Spanish-Speaking Future Students, April 6–11
A 24/7 virtual college fair from April 6 through April 11 will enable admissions staff to engage non-traditional populations such as adult learners — particularly Spanish-speaking prospective students and families — who will learn about BMCC Success Programs, Academic programs and offerings at the College’s CUNY in the Heights location.

Making Headlines

BMCC Astronomy Professor K.E. Saavik Ford discusses the importance of finding out whether or not the Milky Way is home to swarms of Black Holes
April 5, 2022—Scientific American

Human Resources

CCA@YourService Presents Stress Awareness Month
They are a confidential, 24/7 employee assistance program provider. For additional information refer to the program flyer or visit their website. Call (800) 833-8707 or visit CCA online (Company Code: CUNY) CCA@YourService also presents stress awareness month.

Mandatory Full- and Part-Time Staff and Faculty Trainings Available on Zoom     
The Office of Human Resources will host virtual sessions for ESPARC (Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course) and WPV (Workplace Violence Prevention) trainings via Zoom during the Spring 2022 semester. For dates, times and to reserve a spot, please visit the Human Resources Training and Development page.

Human Resources Posts Monthly Healthy Recipes
Look for them under Healthy Tips (additional recipes are available in the WorkWell/WW section). WorkWell NYC will also be presenting April Programs and April-June Move More class schedules.

Donors and Alumni

$ Learn How to Open an Investment Account and More: Free MoneyWorks Seminars
BMCC, in collaboration with the Financial Planning Association of New York, provides MoneyWorks, a series of free virtual seminars for the BMCC community. Upcoming sessions include Starting Your Own Business, April 20 and Mind Over Money, May 4. BMCC is grateful to Santander Bank and Capital One Bank for supporting this series.

Calendar

Interview Informational Interview Workshop: Focus on Media Arts Majors, Other Majors Welcome
April 8

Healing Through Expressive Writing
April 11

Fit Mind Series: Verbal Self-Defense and Assertiveness
Apri 12

Online Internship Information Session
April 13

Understanding Behavioral Finance Through Storytelling With Joel Franks
April 13

Finding Balance: Managing Your Life as a Student
April 14

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