News

BMCC and Morehouse College Partner to Bring Educational Opportunity to BMCC’s Male Students
On May 18, BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe and Morehouse College President David A. Thomas signed an agreement to form a historic partnership between BMCC and Morehouse College, the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) for men, located in Atlanta and bringing educational opportunities to male students seeking a college degree from an HBCU. The BMCC/Morehouse College Partnership will support BMCC’s mission to advance equity, access and inclusion for all college students across every discipline.

Political Science Degree Prepares Students to Question and Transform Political Systems and More The Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice department at BMCC will offer an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree program in Political Science starting Fall 2022. “This major has been long in the making and I am thrilled that it has finally come to fruition,” says Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice Department Chair Sangeeta Bishop. “Professor Heather James has worked tirelessly to make this happen and I am very proud of the work that she has done. There is no better time for a Political Science major than our current politically charged environment.”

BMCC Student Film Festival Showcases 41 Films The BMCC Student Film Festival, presented by the Cinema Arts Club (formerly known as the Video Production Club), took place virtually on Sunday, May 15. The festival can be viewed here on YouTube. This year’s festival showcased 41 BMCC student films produced over the last two years that were selected from 63 submissions. The films represented a variety of genres including documentary, fiction, experimental, animation as well as Public Service Announcement (PSA)  and commercial and music videos.

Horrific Crime Fueled by Hate in Buffalo  In expressing his deepest condolences for the families of the 10 people who lost their lives on May 14, BMCC President Anthony Munroe said in an email to the College community, "We should also keep in our hearts, the grieving families, all those who were injured, and all those who were traumatized by the mass shooting that occurred in a Tops Supermarket in the city of Buffalo." Students who need to speak with someone can reach out to the BMCC Counseling Center. Faculty and staff can contact the Office of Human Resources for services. Read the President's full message here.

Graduates Pick up Gowns for June 9 Commencement
Hundreds of graduating BMCC students made their way to 199 Chambers Street from May 17 to May 19 to pick up caps and gowns for the College’s commencement ceremony set for June 9, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  Among them was Health Information Technology major Precia Kalam (pictured with Manny the Panther) who was especially grateful to Allied Health Professor Lynda Carlson, for her constant encouragement.  “It feels surreal to be picking up my gown today,” said Kalam. “The pandemic presented so many challenges but I able to push through. It’s such an honor and I thank BMCC for everything.

Announcements

NYC Mobile Vaccination Bus Coming to BMCC on May 23 and 24 BMCC students, faculty, staff and all New Yorkers can get FREE vaccinations (Pfizer), boosters and COVID-19 testing. The NYC Mobile Vaccination Bus will be parked at the BMCC campus in front of the Murray Building entrance at 70 Murray Street, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 24. The bus is offering the following services:

• Pfizer vaccines, boosters, and COVID-19 (PCR and rapid) tests are available for ages 12 and up
• Rapid and PCR tests are available for ages 4 and up

For more information call the Office of Public Affairs at (212) 346-8501 or email publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu. 

All BMCC Devices Are Due Back Friday, May 27
Please let students know that all devices, iPads, laptops, Chromebooks, hotspots and other borrowed devices are due back by May 27. In order to facilitate returns, Library staff will be in the lobby outside the Public Safety office at 199 Chambers to accept returns on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Friday, May 27, from 12 to 4 p.m.
• Monday, June 6, from 12 to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If a student needs a device for summer classes, they can renew their loan in person in the Library. Proof of registration will be required. For more information, call the Library staff at (212) 220-1451 or email loaner@bmcc.cuny.edu. 

Petrie and STEM Summer Tuition Waivers Help Students Complete Their Degrees
BMCC will offer two tuition waivers in Summer 2022: the Petrie Completion Waiver and the STEM Waiver. To be eligible, students must be degree-seeking at BMCC. Each waiver covers $210 per credit. Please note that only tuition will be waived and students will be responsible for all fees and materials, such as textbooks. To qualify, students must have registered no later than May 1 for classes starting May 31, and no later than June 15 for classes starting July 20. 

• Students eligible for the Petrie Completion waiver must have three or fewer courses left to complete their associate degree and use the waiver to complete those courses. They can apply one tuition waiver in the summer session beginning May 31 and one in the session starting July 20.
• Students eligible for the STEM waiver must be an NYC resident and U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time the waiver is applied. They must enroll in a credit-bearing math, science or computer science course that counts toward their degree and can apply the one waiver each for classes in the summer sessions starting May 31 and July 20. Other courses covered by the STEM waiver are: ANI 401, 402 and 260; any CIS, EMC 100 and 303; HIT 210, LIN 101, MEA 201 and 371; MMA 100, MMP 100, NUR 415, PHI 110, PSY 100 and RTT 210.

For more information, please contact the Academic Advisement and Transfer Center, aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC Students Can Receive Free Bag of Produce  Currently registered BMCC students can receive a free bag of fresh produce, thanks to a partnership between the New York City Council, CUNY and Grow NYC. The produce distribution will take place on Tuesdays through June 21 between 12 and 3 p.m. Students must sign up in advance by clicking the registration link and completing a brief survey.

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

Summer and Fall 2022 Advisement and Registration is Open
Faculty and staff, please encourage students to schedule a Zoom meeting with their advisor to discuss their academic progress and registration. Things to know: All students must meet with their advisor before registering. Students can register on CUNYfirst or meet with a Panther Station Specialists on Zoom. When choosing classes on CUNYfirst, students should pay close attention to the class meeting mode (in-person, online or hybrid), as well as the class session (15, 8 or 7 weeks). Students attending in-person or hybrid classes must upload proof of vaccination. For more information, visit the Registration page or contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Admissions is Back in the Swing with In-Person Events   
The Admissions and Recruitment team is 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.

Making Headlines

BMCC forms partnership with Morehouse College in Atlanta
May 18, 2022—WNBC 4, WOR Radio

Nursing alumna Sierra Flores featured with nurse who inspired her
May 13, 2022 — Today.com

Public Affairs Executive Director Manny Romero, who just earned an Ed.D., featured by his hometown media 
May 13, 2022 — Nogales International, Mesa Community College News

Human Resources

Summer Fridays: Send Forms by June 6 Hello three-day weekends!  Summer Fridays are back!  Please submit your form(s) to officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu no later than June 6 with the appropriate signatures.

CCA@YourService Provides Confidential Support
Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by the deadly shootings at a Tops Friendly Markets supermarket in Buffalo, NY, and at a church celebration in Laguna Woods, CA. Tragic incidents such as these can elicit a variety of reactions, emotions and concerns. Please know that you and your family members have free, confidential access to support, guidance and referrals for a variety of needs and concerns through CCA@YourService. Counselors are available 24/7 at (800) 833-8707, ready to confidentially assist you. You can also log on to www.myccaonline.com for more information and resources.

Mandatory Trainings for Full- and Part-Time Staff and Faculty
ESPARC (Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course) and WPV (Workplace Violence Prevention) trainings are mandatory for all BMCC part- and full-time faculty and staff. The deadline to complete the 2021-2022 mandatory ESPARC and WPV trainings are: part-time employees May 23; full-time employees, July 28.

BOTH Trainings can be completed via Blackboard and are located under My Organizations. For your convenience, HR will also be hosting two final Zoom training sessions:

• ESPARC: May 31 at 10:30 a.m. 
• WPV: June 2 at 10:30 a.m. 

To sign up for the Zoom sessions on May 31 and June 2, email Josefa Larios, jlarios@bmcc.cuny.edu, by Thursday, May 26 with your CUNYFirst ID number and the training you want to attend.

Mental Health Month: Find Support through CCA@YourService  
May is Mental Health Month, sponsored by Mental Health America (MHA), and highlights how important mental health is to personal success, positive relationships, physical health and overall well-being. You'll find a wealth of helpful information at CCA@YourService.com/login. Use Company Code: CUNY.

Relax, Be Creative, Build Wellness and More
Visit the WorkWell May Calendar for tips and activities to relax, be creative, build wellness and more. Also, WorkWell Digital provides Healthy Tips and recipes, as well as virtual yoga, stretching, cardio classes and more through June.

Filing Now Open for CUNY Office Assistant and Promotion to Supervisor Exams
The filing for Promotion to Supervisor, Exam #2068 is open with a fee of $68 now through June 8 (with testing June 27 through June 30) for employees who hold a permanent (not provisional) competitive appointment for the title of Maintenance Worker (90698). The filing for CUNY Office Assistant Open Competitive, Exam #2069 is also open, now through June 7 (with testing June 15 through June 29) with a fee of $47. Applications for these exams will not be accepted at the BMCC or any CUNY Human Resources office, or at 395 Hudson Street. Applicants are encouraged to apply via Exams Xpress.

Register Now for Free One-on-One TIAA Financial Advice
No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a free session with TIAA financial advisor Andrew Morales can help you create a plan for your goals, addressing these questions and more: 

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals? 
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need? 
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

Space is limited, so RSVP online today or call (800) 732-8353, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We look forward to working with you.

Donors and Alumni

Save the Date: BMCC "Invest in a Future" Gala, October 27
The BMCC Foundation is pleased to present the college's most important fundraising event — BMCC's "Invest in a Future" Gala, scheduled October 27, 2022 (6 p.m., cocktail hour; 7 p.m., program). This year's theme is "Empowering Student Success," and the event will raise funds for student scholarships. To learn more about the Gala, send an email to: advancementevents@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Swing into Spring – Invest Today!
When you invest in a BMCC student you are investing in a future leader. Your generosity will support student scholarships and enhance the college experience for our current and future scholars.  Spring into action with a gift and invest in our students, today.  Your gift, of any amount will enrich programming, bridge the academic gap, and boost the trajectory of our students’ futures.  As an BMCC friend or alumni you know the value of a BMCC education—helping students graduate and move on to fulfilling their potential of being future leaders. INVEST TODAY!

For more information on supporting BMCC and our students, please visit Ways to Give or email the Office of Institutional Advancement at advancement@bmcc.cuny.edu

BMCC Alumna, Cancer Survivor, Reunites With the Nurse Who Inspired Her Inspired by the care she received while battling cancer, BMCC alumna Sierra Flores became an oncology nurse at the same hospital where she underwent treatment. See Flores reunite with her inspiring nurse Karen Devries after 15 years on Today.

Calendar

Tribeca Performing Arts Center: International Affair Dance Company Presents "Silent Film"
May 21

Free Naturalization Clinic: Register Now
May 24

Grow With Google Labs: In-Person Sessions
May 25

Understanding Financial Aid: A Panther's Guide to Financial Success
May 25

Admissions Information Session: Thriving in Online College
May 26

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.