@BMCC

February 20, 2020

Strategic Planning Forum Explores How to Take What Works to Scale
On February 13, BMCC faculty and staff gathered to present committee updates as part of the BMCC Designing for Success Strategic Plan Phase II. Based on their research, each committee proposed ways to embed the services, programs, instructional strategies, policies and cultural qualities shown to increase student success, into the experience of all students at the college. BMCC community members who would like provide comments or have questions about “Designing for Success” email: President@bmcc.cuny.edu.

“History Takes Place” Features African-American Art from the Tom Burrell Collection
As part of BMCC’s celebration of African Heritage Month, BMCC Professor Horace Brockington has secured an outstanding collection of African-American paintings and sculptures, titled, “History Takes Place,” on display now through March 6 includes 10 pieces that have been generously loaned to BMCC from the private collection of Mr. Tom Burrell. The paintings and prints include works from: Charles Alston, Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, Gordon Parks, Sam Gilliam and Ed Clark. An opening reception is scheduled February 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the works. See the complete list of African Heritage Month events.

BMCC Virtual Tour Provides Perspective and Views of College
Enrollment Management and Public Affairs is pleased to announce the launch of the BMCC virtual tour! The BMCC campus comes alive with 360-degree panoramic images and videos highlighting academic and support service locations, as well as student and faculty success stories. The virtual tour provides prospective students, parents and general viewers with an immersive experience of the BMCC campus culture. Whether accessed by mobile phone, tablet or computer, viewers have interactive control to wayfinding features to navigate the streets of Tribeca to other campus buildings. An audio “tour guide” offers brief anecdotes about each location to build further interest. Students rely on social and digital content to inform their college decision-making. The tour provides immediate engagement and makes BMCC more appealing and accessible to prospects, local and abroad. It is also a great tool to help new students and staff acclimate to the college. The college will be looking to build out the tour in the near future to add additional locations. If you have any questions or suggestions about content that should be added or experience any tech glitches, please contact publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC’s Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development Welcomes High School Students from Denmark
BMCC’s Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development has a new global partnership with Aalborg Technical Gymnasium, a high school in Aalborg, Denmark. Launched in February 2020, the program provides an immersion study tour arranged by Experience America, and welcomes 32 twelfth-graders (it’s a 13-year system) to New York City to learn about entrepreneurship. Each of the students is tasked with creating an innovative business idea through workshops and visits with New York City start-up firms and companies including WeWork, SAP and Google. Guided by BMCC Professor Shane Snipes and Director of Language Immersion Programs Paul Shively, the students will also meet with John Lynn, co-founder of cela, and Georgie-Ann Getton-McKoy, an execution strategist. The program will conclude with a pitch competition held at Google. “International recruitment is one of our goals,” says Shively. “The Danish students will interact with BMCC students who are already engaged in entrepreneurship, and this fosters an international sense of possibility in regard to developing a business.” “BMCC’s engagement with international partners is a part of our institution’s commitment to building a global environment that connects our students, staff and faculty to the burgeoning global economy and exemplifies BMCC’s belief in making a positive and lasting impact on those we serve,” said Sunil Gupta, dean of the Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development.

BMCC Hosts Goldman Sachs Working Session
The Center for Career Development and Division of Student Affairs hosted a group working session for the 2020 Goldman Sachs collaborative on February 14 at Fiterman Hall. Students teams from BMCC, Hudson County Community College, New Jersey City University and St. Peter’s University attended the event. Each team works together to address a series of business case scenarios and challenges which they will present on April 24 at Goldman Sachs Inc. The BMCC team's case challenge involves the software-as-a-service-company (SAAS) Salesforce. BMCC team members include Lilah Beldner, Fabian Carchi, Lina Dannmeyer, Tsering Dolkar, Kaniz Fatema, Anna Gomez-Pereira, Nathaniel Malone, Anna Miller, Abdoul Sinare and Lewis Welt.

"Group Dynamic: BMCC Art Faculty Show" Opens
The Shirley Fiterman Art Center hosted a reception for the opening of the BMCC Faculty Art show. This year’s exhibit features works from 38 BMCC faculty members that highlight the breadth of works being produced in a broad range of mediums. The annual exhibition also highlights the college’s commitment to the growing Art Foundations program. BMCC confers an AA in Art History and Studio Art.

CUNY Votes Summit at BMCC: February 21
BMCC students are invited to join NYC Votes and CUNY student groups for an intensive summit on February 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street. The event will focus on student voter engagement and organizing. Student and campus leaders across CUNY will gather for speakers, workshops and breakout sessions on organizing skills, adaptive leadership, issues-based organizing, voter rights and more. The summit, which will kick off the NYC Votes x CUNY "Pledge to Vote" campaign, will also feature speakers from NYPIRG and the Roosevelt Institute, as well as attorney and CUNY professor Frank Deale, with more civic leaders to be announced. Students can RSVP directly here.

Joe Doctor Colloquium Features Django Paris, March 10
Faculty and staff are invited to attend the Joe Doctor colloquium, "Enacting Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies with Students and Communities," March 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street. Django Paris, the Cherry A. Banks Professor of Multicultural Education and director of the Banks Center for Educational Justice in the University of Washington College of Education, is the featured guest speaker and a Q&A will follow his talk. This event is sponsored by the faculty development committee of the BMCC Academic Senate. Seating is limited. Please RSVP here.

Randy Cohen’s Person Place Thing Podcast at BMCC TPAC Features André Bishop on March 16
The BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center is partnering with Randy Cohen for his Person Place Thing podcast and radio show for a third season. Cohen’s first BMCC TPAC guest will be Artistic Director of Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, on Monday, March 16 at 7p.m. Tickets to the recording are $10 and available online, at the door or by phone at 212-220-1460. For more information, visit the BMCC TPAC website.

Announcements

St. Patricks Day Lunch to Benefit Student Emergency Fund March 11
BMCC will host the 12th annual St. Patrick's Day Lunch benefiting the student emergency fund on March 11 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace. The event features Irish food, music and performances as well as door prizes. Tickets this year are $25 and can be purchased in person from Mitchelle Henriques (FH 1330) or via interoffice mail (by check only). Checks should be made payable to the BMCC Foundation. Tickets can also be purchased online here. For more information, email Michelle Henriques or call (212) 220-8020.

Singers Wanted: BMCC Creating CUNY's First Virtual Choir
BMCC is creating CUNY's first user-generated virtual choir. Singers from around the world can record and upload their individual performances onto the CUNY Virtual Choir Project website through March 31. Those performances will be synced and blended with a live BMCC choral performance and live-streamed in May. For instructions on how to record and upload onto the virtual choir website, click here.

BMCC/CUNY Monitors Coronavirus
BMCC and CUNY are monitoring an outbreak caused by the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), a respiratory tract illness that presents flu-like symptoms. The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. CUNY continues to provide updates, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York State Department of Health and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to proactively manage the risk. Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others. The CDC recommends cleaning hands in a specific way: Watch the video to learn more. Members of the BMCC community can contact Penny Jordan, nurse in Health Services, Room N-380 at 199 Chambers Street, (212) 220-8256. Visit BMCC Health Services to learn more about Resources on Coronavirus or read Frequently Asked Questions.

BMCC Offering Tuition Waivers in Summer 2020
BMCC is offering two tuition waivers this summer: the Petrie Completion Waiver and the STEM Waiver. To be eligible, students must be degree-seeking at BMCC. Both waivers cover $210 per credit. Please note that only the tuition for the courses will be waived and students will be responsible for all fees and materials, such as textbooks. For more information, visit the Academic Advisement and Transfer Center (Room S-108) or email advisementandtransfer@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Submit your BALLOT for the 2019-2020 Employee Appreciation Awards
BMCC students, faculty and staff, show your appreciation for staff (non-faculty) members who demonstrate outstanding achievement, performance and creative contributions through their role at BMCC, beyond what is normally expected of employees. SUBMIT ONE nomination in each category: Leadership, Inspiration, Innovation/ Technology, Rookie of the Year and Team Achievement. Employees have one chance to submit their ballot. Make it count by filling in a thoughtful, detailed nomination by no later than May 1.

Free Tax Preparation Available to BMCC Community
BMCC students, faculty and staff with a pre-tax household income at or below $64,000 can take advantage of FREE tax preparation at BMCC. Walk-in services are offered at 199 Chambers Street, Room S-230 now through April 15 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays; from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. This service is provided with support from Citigroup in collaboration with BMCC Single Stop. For more information visit online or call (212) 220-8195.

Fair Fares Program Provides MetroCard Discounts for Eligible New Yorkers
Eligible BMCC students are invited to apply for Fair Fares NYC for a 50 percent discount on their subway and bus fare. The program was created by Mayor Bill de Blasio and members of the City Council to assist low-income New Yorkers.

Transitions and Transactions V: Teaching Literature Among the Arts, April 24-25
BMCC will host the Transitions and Transactions V conference, “Teaching Literature Among the Arts” on April 24 and 25 at 199 Chambers Street. Register Now! This year’s keynote speakers are Dawn Lundy Martin; a poet, essayist, and conceptual video artist, and Will Alexander; a poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, aphorist, visual artist and pianist now writing his 40th book.

Students: Apply for NSF Research Opportunity by March 1
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at BMCC offers paid summer internships for qualified undergraduate students to conduct biology research projects with BMCC scientists. Funded by the NSF, BMCC and non-BMCC student researchers examine the bioactivity of natural products at different biological levels of organization; for example, the potential antioxidant capacity of natural plant products; the effects of natural extracts on growth and development of organisms; the regulation of genes involved in cellular differentiation; the potential protective effects on mammalian cells, and the use of plant polymers in the removal of heavy metals. Students will receive a $4,600 stipend, a housing allowance of $1,200, a MetroCard and daily meals. Spaces are limited. APPLY NOW!

CUNY in the Heights Expansion Improves Learning Environment
BMCC at CUNY in the Heights, 5030 Broadway between 213th and 214th Streets in Manhattan, has closed for renovations to improve classroom spaces, technology and accessibility for students while adding 15,000 square feet and doubling the number of classrooms. Also, new courses will be offered through BMCC, the Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center and BMCC’s Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development. Visit BMCC Off-site Programs to learn more or speak with an advisor, (212) 220-8315 or eadvisement@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Is Your Department Interested in Hiring a Work-Study Student?
Many BMCC students are employed part-time on campus through the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program. This helps cover their educational expenses, removes the cost of commuting for an off-campus job and provides experience in students' field of interest. If your department is interested in hiring FWS students, please complete and return the FWS Rights & Responsibilities form. For more information, contact Melissa Jardine, mjardine@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Workshop: Create or Update Your Faculty Page
A new BMCC website platform makes it easier for full- and part-time faculty to promote their publications, grant awards and current projects through their faculty home page. At this hands-on workshop facilitated by Cynthia Blayer, BMCC web content manager, faculty will learn to access and edit their page. Also, a photographer will be on hand so participants can update their profile photo. The workshop will be offered February 27 from 2 to 3 p.m., March 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. and April 21 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please sign up online. For more information, contact Cynthia Blayer, (212) 346-8531.

Campus Planning and Facilities

Reminder to Take Care of Facilities
BMCC has completed bathroom renovations in the 199 Chambers Street Building, as part of a critical capital project led by BMCC’s Office of Buildings and Grounds. All bathrooms at BMCC are now ADA compliant and reflect sustainability practices that are cost-effective and protect our environment. BMCC reminds students, faculty and staff not to flush: baby wipes, cleaning wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, tissues or trash of any kind in our toilets. Let’s take care of our facilities together!

Plaza Reconstruction Project Update
As part of BMCC's Plaza Reconstruction project, abatement of hazardous materials beneath existing pavers is underway. Notifications have been posted on building entrances and this activity is regulated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. For more information, contact Eric Lugo at elugo@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Report Non-Emergency Building Needs Through Archibus Work Order System
Individuals serving as their department's Archibus Work Order liaison can alert the BMCC Buildings and Grounds team to non-emergency building needs ranging from a light bulb that needs replacing to equipment malfunctions. To report an emergency, call (212) 220-8025, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After business hours, call Public Safety, (212) 220-8080. To report hazardous conditions after 5 p.m., call the engineer on duty, (212) 220-8034. For more information, contact b&g@bmcc.cuny.edu, subject line: “Archibus Work Order System.”

Faculty/Staff Lounge Opens at Murray Building
We are pleased to announce the opening of the Faculty/Staff Lounge (Room M-317A) at Murray Building. The room provides a comfortable environment with access to computers and connectivity to the Faculty Copier Room M-317B, next door.

Enrollment

Destination: BMCC Spring 2020 Open House on Saturday, March 21
Do you have family member or friend who is interested in going to college? Invite them to the BMCC Admissions Open House on Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street, to sit in on a class or interest, meet with current BMCC students, tour the campus, learn about financial aid options, student services, success programs and how/when to apply. Here’s 8 more reasons to attend. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (212) 220-1265.

Admissions and Financial Aid Info Sessions
Prospective students are invited to attend information sessions for an overview of BMCC and the admissions and financial aid process. They can also take part in a Q & A with admissions and financial aid specialists. For more information, contact the Admissions Office, (212) 220-1265.

Say Hello to the Admissions Office on Social Media
We appreciate your likes, follows and thumbs up. Facebook: @bmccadmissions Twitter: @bmccadmissions Instagram: @bmccadmissions Snapchat: @explorebmcc

A Few Important Dates
February 24: Last day to apply for Spring 2020 Graduation
February 26: "WA" Grades Assigned for Immunization non-compliance
March 15: Deadline for completion of INC grade from Fall and Winter

Making Headlines

Tribeca Film Festival Opens April 15 with Jimmy Carter documentary
February 18—Web Wire

BMCC Alumna featured in documentary film "Personal Statement"
February 15—The Washington Post

Borrowing costs depend on college
February 12—The Spokaine Review

Human Resources

Webinar – Banishing Burnout: How to Identify and Cope with Chronic Stress at Work
Burnout can be a serious threat to mental health. Join the BMCC Human Resources department on February 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for an interactive webinar on how to identify signs of burnout and manage chronic stress at work. Register here.

Civil Service Exam Open for Campus Peace Officer: Application Due Feb. 28
Job seekers can now file to take the Campus Peace Officer Exam No. 2060. The filing fee is $47 and the exam is open competitive. Applications and official documents must be received (not postmarked) by February 28 at 5 p.m. Applications are NOT accepted at any college HR department or at the 395 Hudson Street location. Applicants are encouraged to apply via Exams Xpress. Applicants may call CPS HR Consulting, (866) 864-1072, option 5, for more information.

Office of Payroll Administration of NYC Provides W-2 Information
The W-2 Quick Reference Guide helps CUNY employees better understand their W-2 statements, which report the federal, state and other taxes withheld from their salaries and wages.

CUNY Employees: Mandatory Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Training
New York State law requires full- and part-time faculty and staff to complete an annual online Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (E-SPARC). Please log into CUNY Blackboard and find the E-SPARC training module at the My Organizations tab. For more information, contact Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu or Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Transitioning to Retirement? Seminars and Videos Help Clarify Health Benefits
BMCC employees planning for retirement are invited to view Transitioning to Retiree Health Benefits videos, Part One and Part Two.

CUNY Employees: Mandatory Workplace Violence Training
New York State Law requires all full- and part-time faculty and staff to complete an annual online Workplace Violence Training by May 20, 2020. The course is available on CUNY Blackboard. Employees must also review the Campus Specific Information Supplement relating to each CUNY campus where they work. For help disabling pop-up blockers, contact Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu, (212) 220-1496 or Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu, (212) 776-7063.

Alumni and Donors

Support Memorial Funds
Last academic year, BMCC lost two beloved colleagues — Sadie Bragg, retired Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Scott Anderson, retired Vice President for Administration and Finance.

To commemorate their deep and passionate commitment to BMCC, we have established memorial funds to raise money in support of naming opportunities of areas located on the BMCC campus. Make a donation today online and select a memorial fund under the “Designation” option. THANK YOU for your support!

Gifts of Stocks and Mutual Funds Are an Extremely Tax-Efficient Gifting Option
A gift of highly-appreciated securities offers you tax savings by avoiding the capital gains tax you’d owe if you sold the stock and then made the gift. Making a gift of appreciated stock allows you to take an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock at the time of the gift, regardless of how much you paid for the shares when you bought them. (Stock should be owned for more than one year to qualify for the tax advantages.) Please contact Phillip Keefe, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, (212) 346-8650, or pkeefe@bmcc.cuny.edu, for more information about donating appreciated stock to the BMCC Foundation. Your gift is an investment toward a better tomorrow for BMCC students. We are deeply grateful for your consideration and friendship.

Alumni Invited to Connect and Network
BMCC Alumni Affairs provides alumni benefits and services, as well as involving alumni in the advancement and support of BMCC. Alumni are invited to special events, profiled in BMCC publications and welcomed into the vibrant community that is BMCC. For more information, contact Yaritza Gonzalez, Manager of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund, (212) 346-8455 or ygonzalez@bmcc.cuny.edu

Make a Difference in Students’ Lives: Faculty and Staff Campaign
The faculty and staff of BMCC support our students in countless ways, every single day. That support includes contributing to the BMCC Foundation Scholarship Fund. Your support of the Faculty and Staff Campaign makes a significant difference in our students’ lives. There are three easy ways to give: Make a donation online.

Text your donation to BMCC at (646) 876-2622.
Send your check, payable to the BMCC Foundation, via interoffice mail to the Office of College Development, F-1330. (Please note, you can designate your donation to your department).

Calendar

Composers Now Concert: Composition in Diverse Styles
February 23

Volunteer Fair
February 25

Moneyworks Workshop: Identity Theft–Don’t Get Hacked
February 26

Panther Pride