News

Dear BMCC Faculty, Staff and Students, The coronavirus is a pressing and increasing concern for our community. To share information about the outbreak and provide a supportive forum for students, faculty and staff, we are presenting two sessions to answer questions and share basic information. Wednesday, March 4 from 2 to 3 p.m., an open event for students, Community Speaking Out on the Coronavirus will be held at 199 Chambers Street, Room N-453. A safe space and opportunity for students to talk about any experiences of exclusion, harassment or discrimination they may have encountered as a result of the coronavirus. Wednesday, March 4, from 3 to 4 p.m. a Coronavirus Information Session will provide updates on how the City of New York, CUNY and BMCC are addressing the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. All are welcome to attend and share their questions, knowledge and observations. At BMCC, we are committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming community in which everyone feels a sense of belonging. We strongly condemn and will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in relation to the virus and encourage community members to participate in the sessions on March 4. Thank you for your commitment and contributions to creating a community in which all members can thrive. Karrin E. Wilks Interim President Borough of Manhattan Community College

$1.25 Million State Adult Literacy Education Grant Strengthens Bridge to Degrees and Careers
The BMCC Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development has received $1.25 million from the New York State Education Department’s Adult Literacy Education (ALE) program to fund its bridge programs — English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), High School Equivalency (HSE), and Adult Basic Education (ABE) — for another five years.

BMCC E-Learning Courses Earn Quality Mark Certification
Two BMCC online courses have received the Quality Matters Certification mark following a rigorous review by a global organization that measures online course success and digital learning environments. The certification comes as BMCC gears up to further expand its online degree offerings. In Fall 2020, an online Business Management degree program as well as an Entrepreneurship degree program will be available to BMCC students.

"History Takes Place" Reception Celebrates Art on Loan from Tom Burrell Collection
A reception on February 25 celebrated a special art exhibit as part of BMCC’s celebration of African Heritage Month: “Empowerment – Awakening the Strength that Lies Within.” With the help of BMCC Professor Horace Brockington, BMCC was loaned an outstanding collection of African-American paintings and sculptures titled, “History Takes Place,” currently on display in the newly renovated Breezeway, located on the 2nd floor of the 199 Chambers Street Building near Theatre I. The exhibit is open to the public and will be on display through March 6.

Women's Herstory Month Highlights Historical Achievement and Monumental Victories
From March 3 through March 30, BMCC and the BMCC Women’s Resource Center will present Women’s Herstory Month, “Looking Back, Moving Forward: Women and the Right to Vote.”The monthlong celebration of women’s leadership in the global fight for equal rights will kick off on March 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street. A  keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Ameena Ali, UN Women-Gambia Special Envoy to Maternal Health.

BMCC Presidential Search Updates Available The search firm Greenwood/Asher and Associates is conducting a national search for the next president of BMCC. The Job Posting and the Presidential Search Brochure are available on the BMCC Presidential Search website. Douglas Israel, Director of Government and Community Relations at BMCC, is the search liaison, who can be reached at disrael@bmcc.cuny.edu to answer questions.

BMCC Students Advocate in Albany for CUNY Funding
BMCC students in the Civic Leadership Program took a trip to Albany to meet with Assemblymember Deborah Glick and other state legislators to advocate for increased funding for CUNY. (L-R) Josiah Ramesar, Vanessa Capistran, Deborah Glick, Bogdan Koriakin, Doug Israel, BMCC Director of Government and Community Relations; Salimatou Doumbouya and Herdeveine Ngoundou Ngoma.

Students Network and Discover Opportunities at Volunteer Fair
Sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, the BMCC Volunteer Fair on February 25 in Richard Harris Terrace at 199 Chambers Street brought students together with volunteer coordinators at nonprofit organizations including the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Black Veterans for Social Justice, Food Bank for New York City and more. "The Volunteer Fair provides students with opportunities to meet with volunteer coordinators and find out how to give back to the NYC community," said BMCC Assistant Director of Student Activities and Civic Involvement Kayla Maryles. "Through volunteering, students gain experience, boost their resumes and make connections through the volunteer work."

Announcements

Help Students Create a Personalized Schedule with CUNYfirst Schedule Builder The CUNYfirst Registration Schedule Builder launches March 2. This real-time class scheduling tool — accessed via CUNYfirst — enables students to plan their class schedule and register in one place. They also get flexible course scheduling based on time, location, availability and other factors. Summer and Fall 2020 registration opens in March. Please encourage students to use the convenient Schedule Builder to plan and register for courses that fit their personal and academic life. Visit online for more information.

Designing for Success: Mission, Vision and Values We are on track to publish our 2020-2025 strategic plan by September 1, and we need to hear from the entire college community about our BMCC mission, vision and values! To vote on your preferred mission and values, please VOTE HERE by March 20, 2020. Also, please view the draft vision statement HERE and provide feedback at president@bmcc.cuny.edu by March 20, 2020. We look forward to sharing results at our State of the College address on April 7, 2020, 10 a.m., in Theatre II.

African Heritage Month Presents African Village Party and Talent Showcase
On February 26, African Heritage Month presented music, student performances and refreshments at a party at 199 Chambers Street. The month of events closes out on February 28 with an African Heritage Month Service Day, when students will walk to the Tribeca campus of the Bowery Mission to assist with meal preparation and serving.

XXIII Modern Languages Colloquium Screens Six Groundbreaking Films
The BMCC Modern Language Department invites the BMCC community to take part in its 2020 colloquium, Women's World, March 30 and March 31 in Theatre II at 199 Chambers Street. Three dynamic films will be screened each day, including the 2012 documentary Women Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines featuring Lynda Carter, Gloria Steinem and others; Wadjda, the first Muslim feminist film from Saudi Arabia that exposes that country's denial of women's rights, and Not One Less, a painful lesson in economics and sexist culture from Chinese director Zhang Yimou. For more information, contact the Department of Modern Languages at (212) 220-8105 or lan@bmcc.cuny.edu

Community Swimming Pool Open The state-of-the-art BMCC pool is open for community residents and BMCC students, faculty and staff. For registration and pool details, visit 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, director of the Banks Center for Educational Justice in the University of Washington College of Education, is the featured guest speaker. Please RSVP here.

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 at 199 Chambers Street. The event features Irish food, performances and door prizes. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or by checks made payable to the BMCC Foundation, and sent to Mitchelle Henriques, Fiterman Hall, Room1330. For more information, call (212) 220-8020 or email mhenriques@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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. 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. Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. 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
Two Summer 2020 tuition waivers, the Petrie Completion Waiver and the STEM Waiver, help eligible, degree-seeking students move closer to graduation. Each waiver covers $210 per credit; 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 at 199 Chambers Street, 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 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, created by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYC City Council, assists low-income New Yorkers in their day-to-day transportation costs.

Campus Planning and Facilities

Reminder to Take Care of Facilities BMCC has completed bathroom renovations at 199 Chambers Street, 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.”

Enrollment

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

BMCC Virtual Tour Provides Interactive Views of College
The BMCC virtual tour provides an immersive experience of BMCC. Whether using their mobile phone, tablet or computer, prospective students can view panoramic images and videos highlighting academic and support service locations, as well as student success stories. Wayfinding features enable viewers to navigate BMCC's 199 Chambers Street campus and the streets of Tribeca to other campus buildings. Please share this link. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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.

A Few Important Dates
March 15: Deadline for completion of INC grade from Fall and Winter
April 1: Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W" or to open for an "NC" grade
April 8-16: Spring break

Making Headlines

BMCC Early Childhood Center Director Cecilia Scott-Croff shares insight on college student parents
February 25, 2020 — The Hechinger Report

BMCC alumna and advertising executive Lisa Torres reflects on her career
February 24, 2020 — Forbes

Voter engagement summit hosted at BMCC
February 23, 2020 — Gotham Gazette

BMCC Professor J. C. Polanco gives view on Democratic candidate debate
February 21, 2020 — CBSN New York

Achieve the Dream project that BMCC joined in 2016 releases findings on OER
February 20, 2020 —Media Industry Today, Deer Park Tribune, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Mammoth Times, Long Beach Press Telegram

BMCC Professor Deborah Gambs discusses title shaming
Febrruary 2020 — Clarion

BMCC alumna Karoline Jimenez weighs in on admission scandals
February 15 — The Washington Post, reprinted from The Hechinger Report

Life of BMCC Business Management alumna Arlene Taylor-McBryde honored
February 14 — African American Golfer's Digest

Human Resources

BMCC Needs Campus Security Assistants: Civil Service Test Ongoing
Eligible job seekers are invited to take the ongoing, Open Competitive, Campus Security Assistant Civil Service Exam No. 2059. The filing fee is $40. Applications are NOT accepted at any college HR department or at the 395 Hudson Street location. Applicants are encouraged to apply via Exams Xpress. Please contact CPS HR Consulting, (866) 864-1072, option 5, for more information.

Free Professional Development for BMCC Employees
The CUNY Professional Development and Learning Management Office (PDLM) provides CUNY employees with opportunities to enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies. These include Professional Development Courses; for example, scroll down to page 3, "Manage Change or Change Will Manage You," (March 9). On page 4, see Managing Multiple Priorities (May 20) and MS Excel: An Introduction (June 9). For more information, contact the PDLM Office at (646) 664-3420 or University.Training@cuny.edu

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.

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, or 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

Spring 2020 Advisement Kickoff
March 2

Fit Mind Workshop: How to Get Back on Track When You're on Academic Probation
March 3

CareerFlix: Resume and Flow Workshop
March 5

Panther Pride

McBride and Bentinck Both Earn CUNYAC All-Star Honors

Adams-Edwards and Malcolm Selected as 2019-20 CUNYAC All-Stars, Preston Named Burt Beagle Sporsmanship Award Winner

BCC Ousts 2-Time Defending Champ BMCC in CUNYAC Semifinals

Men's Baseball, Upcoming Games
March 17: BMCC vs. Bronx Community College (Queens, NY, Padavan-Preller Complex)
March 20: BMCC vs. Bronx Community College (Queens, NY, Padavan-Preller Complex)
March 21: BMCC vs. Bronx Community College (Bronx, NY, Ohio Field)

Connect with BMCC

@BMCC is produced and published by the Office of Public Affairs.

Faculty and staff: Submit items for consideration in an upcoming @BMCC to publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu by 12 noon, Wednesday.