News

BMCC Continues to Monitor Coronavirus
BMCC continues to provide updates about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). CUNY officials are monitoring and following guidance from the US Department of Health and Human Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BMCC has created a Coronavirus: Information and Resources website to provide health and hygiene recommendations, responses to frequently asked questions, and updates from CUNY. As of today, there have been no identified cases in the CUNY community, and the risk for New Yorkers remains low. 

We ask that all faculty and staff plan for increasing the provision of instruction and services online, should the need arise because of a BMCC/CUNY approved disruption of face-to-face classroom instruction. We specifically encourage faculty to prepare by creating a Blackboard page for each of their courses. More information here.

BMCC is giving all facilities extra attention in terms of restocking hand sanitizers, soaps and other cleaning supplies and ensuring that there are plenty of locations throughout common areas where students, faculty and staff can wash or sanitize their hands. Clear signage regarding proper hygiene (washing hands and covering coughs, etc.) are displayed in restrooms and common areas. For assistance with related to refills and supplies, contact Building and Grounds at b&g@bmcc.cuny.edu.

On March 4, BMCC hosted a safe-space community event (pictured above) where students discussed issues they might have encountered due to recent events surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. The discussion was followed by a campus-wide information session that addressed health and science questions and concerns.

Liberal Arts Major Earns Spot on Prestigious All-USA Academic Team
BMCC Liberal Arts major Lilah Beldner is one of 20 community college students nationwide to be selected for the 2020 All-USA Academic Team. Beldner (shown above, congratulated by BMCC Interim President Karrin E. Wilks) will receive a $5,000 scholarship and recognition at the March 30 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) convention.

BMCC Students Encourage New Yorkers to Participate in the 2020 Census
Twelve BMCC students will spend part of their spring semester working to make sure New Yorkers understand why it is critical for everyone to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census. A full and accurate count of all New Yorkers is crucial to securing federal funds for schools, Pell Grants, hospitals, food stamps and numerous other programs and infrastructure projects.

BMCC Community Invited to Vote on Mission and Vision Statements BMCC's 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, set for publication by September 1, will reflect feedback from students, faculty and staff. As part of that process, the BMCC community is invited to view drafts of the mission and vision statements, VOTE on favorite versions and provide feedback at president@bmcc.cuny.edu — all by March 20. Results will be shared at the State of the College Address, April 7 at 10 a.m. in Theatre II.

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.

Announcements

Women Entrepreneurs Share Experiences as Part of Women’s Herstory Month
From March 3 through March 30, BMCC and the BMCC Women’s Resource Center presents Women’s Herstory Month, “Looking Back, Moving Forward: Women and the Right to Vote. The month-long celebration includes a variety of events, lectures, workshops and discussions. On March 5, women entrepreneurs shared their experiences of starting a business and acquiring funding. Speakers included: Emily Pan founder of Mindful Sense; Sandra Thelusmond, founder and CEO of Vibrate Higher and Executive Director of the non-profit Vibrate Higher Foundation; Yanti Amos, health and wellness business entrepreneur; and Bridgette Duncan, certified personal trainer.

BMCC Welcomes Financial Aid Director  Albina Khasidova, who has served as interim director of the Office of Financial Aid at BMCC since March 2019, has been appointed director of financial aid, providing leadership for administration of CUNY’s largest financial aid program.

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.

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.

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; Wadjda, the first Muslim feminist film from Saudi Arabia examining that country's denial of women's rights, and Not One Less, a 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

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.

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 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.

Celebrate National Women’s Herstory Month With Five Talented Comics
The BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (BMCC TPAC) presents on March 6 at 8 p.m., Rhonda Hansome & Friends, an Evening of Stand-Up. The BMCC community can be added to the comp list and get in FREE to this event by sending an email to marketing@tribecapack.org, no later than noon on Friday, March 6.

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. Remember not to flush baby wipes, cleaning wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, tissues or trash of any kind. 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

Help Students Create a Personalized Schedule with the CUNYfirst Schedule Builder
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.

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 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.

A Few Important Dates

Making Headlines

BMCC Professor Amy Sodaro moderates panel at The Museum of Jewish Heritage
March 2, 2020—The Island Now

Neda Hajiadeh named director of counseling at BMCC
March 1, 2020—Diverse Issues in Higher Education

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.

Webinar: Eat Your Way to Health
The BMCC community is invited to a lunchtime webinar about healthy eating on March 24 at 1 p.m. The webinar is presented by WorkWell NYC and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue’s Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program. If you have questions, you can submit them ahead of time here.

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!

BMCC Hosts Social Work Month Alumni Panel March 26
Students, faculty and staff are invited to celebrate Social Work month by attending an alumni panel discussion on Thursday, March 26 at 5:30 p.m. Hear about “Start here. Go Anywhere” journeys from BMCC alumni who currently work in the social work profession.  For more information and registration information, click here.

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 Relations 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

Careers in Post Production Panel Discussion
March 9

A discussion with Prof. Remi Alapo on Role of Culture on Women’s Leadership
March 10

Veterans Resource Center: Alma Realty Corp / FDNY Employment Opportunities / Vet Chat
March 11

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.