News

Renowned Artist Cristóbal Gabarrón Creates Artwork at 9/11 Event
On September 11, 2022, the renowned Spanish artist Cristóbal Gabarrón joined BMCC faculty musicians and student choir members in an improvised art-making experience, AMBIT. The performance was part of an overall event, Healing and Building through Education that also featured BMCC faculty-led spoken word and performance tributes to the memory of September 11, 2001.

NYC Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks Featured Speaker at “Gathering of Black Educators” Event at BMCC
New York City Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks was the featured speaker at the “Gathering of Black Educators” event in Theatre 2 at 199 Chambers Street on September 14. The event was in support of Black EdFluencers-United (BE-U) efforts to establish a K-12 Black Studies Curriculum in New York City public schools. The BMCC Black Faculty and Staff Association hosted the event. BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe delivered welcoming remarks and shared highlights about BMCC with an audience of New York education leaders, including public school principals, teachers and guidance counselors as well as other CUNY faculty. Additional featured speakers included BMCC Professor James Blake, NYC Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, My Brother’s Keeper Executive Director George Patterson and Shango Blake, President of BE-U. For more information about BE-U, click here. 

BMCC community members and Governor Hochul

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Signs Transformative Legislation in BMCC Gymnasium
New York Governor Kathy Hochul visited BMCC on September 15 to sign significant legislation that expands and simplifies access to the Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness program statewide. The new legislation establishes uniformity around what qualifies as full-time employment to access PSLF and allows public service employers to certify employment on behalf of workers, eliminating substantial barriers to applying for and accessing PSLF. A number of elected officials, CUNY and BMCC leaders as well as faculty, staff and students were on hand for the event. There are currently around 500,000 New Yorkers—among them, many BMCC employees—working in the public sector who carry significant student loan debt. For more information, click here.

Students Participate in 9/11 Wreath-Laying Ceremony
BMCC observed the events of 9/11/2001 with a wreath-laying ceremony on September 12 at 199 Chambers Street. BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe led the ceremony with opening remarks and a moment of silence to remember all those lost that day. Student Government Association President Carlene Hunte-Nelson and Video Arts Technology major Jordan Sutton, a member of the US Army National Guard, participated in the event. Sutton, who was only in the second grade on 9/11/2001, remembers the chaos and confusion of being rushed from a Bronx elementary school classroom into the school cafeteria, then waiting for anxious parents or relatives to come and take them home. “We had no idea what was happening, we just knew there was a sense of urgency,” said Sutton. Meanwhile, Hunte-Nelson was a young adult living in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. She remembers watching a plane crash into the World Trade Center on TV and kept watching as both towers fell. “My country stood still,” said Hunte-Nelson. “I knew the world had changed significantly,” she said. Both students plan to pursue careers in public service where they will work to make the world a better place.

Announcements

Women’s Volleyball Player Xheni Doci Named Player of the Week BMCC women’s volleyball player Xheni Doci has been named the Division Three NJCAA offensive player of the week. Doci, a liberal arts major, becomes the first player in the BMCC women’s volleyball program’s history to receive the award. To learn more about BMCC’s Athletics program, click here.

Free Immigration Information Session for Current Students on September 28 The BMCC Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) has partnered with City Bar Justice Center and Fragomen to offer a free immigration information session for currently enrolled students on September 28 from 12 to 2 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street in Room N-452. The event is designed to assist in finding answers to frequently asked immigration questions such as those related to DACA, Asylee, TPS, Naturalization and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. For more information, contact the ARC office at arc@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 220-8195.

Digital Education Center (formerly known as E-Learning Center) Boosts Student Success 
The BMCC Digital Education Center (formerly known as the E-Learning Center) at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-510A, supports faculty and students throughout their online teaching and learning experience, facilitating the use of transformative online pedagogies and technologies. Digital Education Center staff help students connect with the network of supports at BMCC that can boost their success in digital environments. Faculty find support at the Digital Education Center when they are seeking to implement instructional technologies across their teaching practice. Learn more about the Digital Education Center. (For technical support for email, CUNYfirst or BMCC logins, please contact the BMCC Service Desk, servicedesk@bmcc.cuny.edu.)

CCT Documents Student Participation in Approved Activities Outside Class
Faculty and staff can view a student's unofficial Co-Curricular Transcript (CCT), which documents their participation in approved activities outside the classroom. They can also suggest an activity or event to be considered for inclusion in the CCT by starting here: Visit www.bmcc.cuny.edu; Click on LOGIN in the top right corner; Click on BMCC Portal; Sign in with the same user name and password used to get onto a computer on campus, and Click on the CCT icon. Free free to contact the CCT administrators with any questions at CCT@bmcc.cuny.edu. 

BMCC Cafeteria Is Open for Fall The BMCC cafeteria (MBJ Food Services) at 199 Chambers Street serves hot meals, salads, healthy snacks, coffee and more. Fall 2022 hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Office of Public Safety Offers Resources and Services The Office of Public Safety ensures a safe and comfortable learning environment at BMCC through resources including free trainings for faculty, staff and students in C.P.R., A.E.D./First Aid, and Campus-Community Emergency Response. Public Safety also trains staff as campus fire wardens. Watch the video, Run. Hide. Fight.® to learn about surviving an active shooter event. To report a crime or emergency, call Public Safety at (212) 220-8080 or 911. Blue call boxes are located throughout campus. For more information, visit the Public Safety website.

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

Human Resources

Faculty and Staff: Get a Free Flu Shot on Campus
BMCC and WorkWell will offer flu vaccines to faculty and staff on Wednesday, October 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-343 (in the back of the faculty/staff lounge). Make an appointment for your worksite flu shot: username "nyc," password "welcome." Or schedule your worksite flu shot appointment over the phone at (866) 481-4391 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please print and complete your consent form and bring it with you to your appointment.

Join Monkeypox and COVID-19 Briefings 
Tune into the Department of Health's bi-weekly briefings, Immunization Justice, to stay updated on Monkeypox and COVID-19 news in NYC.

Do You Communicate Effectively During a Crisis? 
BMCC community members are invited to view the on-demand webinar Effective Communication During a Crisis, provided by CAA@yourservice. Learn to understand different cultural values as you practice coherent, empathetic communication — even in a crisis.

Enrollment

There’s Still Time to Register for Fall 2022 Express 8-week Session 
BMCC is offering an 8-week session from October 27 to December 21. The express session gives students the flexibility to take courses during a shorter time frame. Learn more.

• Please keep in mind that the Fall Express Sessions will have limited course offerings and some financial aid limitations. 
• Students are encouraged to speak with an advisor to determine whether the Express Sessions are the best option for them. 
• Students can register on CUNYfirst or meet with a PantherStation Specialist on Zoom, Monday, Thursday, and Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Academic Advisement at (212) 220-8315 or aatc@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Making Headlines

Gov. Hochul Signs Public Servant Student Loan Forgiveness Bill
Sept. 15, 2022—AM New York, CBS NY, The Saratogan

Spanish painter paints artwork at BMCC
Sept. 12, 2022‑EFE

Donors and Alumni

HBCU’s Come to BMCC Friday, September 16 
BMCC is hosting the first edition of HBCU NYC College Fair Friday, September 16, 2022, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. A number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities will be in attendance, all celebrating the tradition and pageantry of culturally rich HBCUs. While this event will inform prospective students of academic opportunities, the college fair will also promote the rich heritage and promising futures of historically black colleges and universities.

The college fair will be one of many featured events in the weeklong extravaganza and celebration of HBCU excellence and culture, with New York City as the backdrop. 

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND. SPACE IS LIMITED. 

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), at Tribeca 360 in lower Manhattan, 10 Desbrosses Street, NYC 10013. 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.

Calendar

HBCU College Fair September 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in BMCC Gym
September 16 

Pride Love Letter Writing
September 19

Voter Registration Drive
September 20

Coffee Startups and Innovation
September 21

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.