@BMCC

June 18, 2020

BMCC Ranks Third Among Community Colleges Nationwide in Lifting Low-Income Students into Middle Class
A new report from the Brookings Institution ranks BMCC third among all two-year colleges nationwide with the greatest success in lifting low-income students into the middle class. BMCC had the highest ranking among the six CUNY community colleges named in the top 10 for two-year colleges.

BMCC Virtual Fundraiser Raises Almost $450K, Donations Still Being Accepted
A virtual fundraiser at BMCC to support the college’s COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund and BMCC Student Scholarships Fund was debuted Thursday, June 11. So far, a total of $436,159 has been raised — and it’s not too late to make a donation: Click here, or donate through Text to Pledge at (646) 876-2622.

BMCC Respiratory Therapy Program Receives Special Award
BMCC’s Respiratory Therapy program has received the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award. The CoARC board used criteria based on key accreditation metrics documented in the 2019 Annual Report of Current Status to select award winners, according to CoARC.

The Power of Peer Mentoring Moves to a Virtual Format
When a global pandemic forced BMCC to move abruptly to a distance-learning format, students in the BMCC Inspires and Motivates People to Achieve in College Together (IMPACT) peer mentoring program were already engaged in a structure to support their studies. The question was, how to adapt that structure to a virtual format — something the mentors and staff worked together to figure out.

BMCC Closed June 19 in Observance of Juneteenth
CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez has announced that all CUNY campuses and offices will be closed Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. The Board of Trustees approved a resolution to observe June 19th as a CUNY-wide 2020 holiday. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when word of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln, finally reached enslaved persons in Texas. In a message to the CUNY community, Rodriguez said Juneteenth "is an observance that today carries the renewed weight of history as the country reckons with the anguish of racism and persistent racial injustice."

Honors Convocation Recognizes Outstanding Scholars in the Class of 2020
BMCC hosted its first virtual Honors Convocation on Friday, June 12. Despite a distance-learning format necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic — and alongside massive protests against police violence and racism that have consumed New York City and cities around the world — more than 40 graduates of the Class of 2020 maintained the highest possible standards of academic achievement at BMCC.

BMCC Celebrates Classified and Civil Service Employees for Their Decades of Service
On Wednesday, June 17 BMCC celebrated Classified and Civil Service employees who have reached 35, 30 and 20 milestone years of service to the college. You can view a video of the event online.

Announcements

BMCC Graduates: Congratulatory Messages Available for View, June 19.
As part of BMCC's Celebration of the Class of 2020, the college is re-launching its graduation website: https://bmccgraduation.com/ to give graduates an opportunity to view the congratulatory messages that were sent to each of them by family and friends. The re-launch is going LIVE at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 19. BMCC graduates will be able to view their updated student slides and the guestbook at: https://bmccgraduation.com/our-graduates/. Congratulations BMCC graduates! For information please send an email to studentaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC’s Premiere Virtual Advisement Conference Held
On June 18 and 19, the 2020 Fifth Annual Advisement Conference: Designing for Transfer is convening more than 130 attendees for sessions featuring Mercy College President Timothy Hall and a panel of SUNY transfer advisors and more. The conference was hosted by BMCC advising units and coordinated by Academic Advisement and Transfer Center Associate Director Karen D. Ehrlich, College Discovery Counselor Nelson Izquierdo, ASAP Associate Director of Advisement Keshia Johnson, CUNY EDGE Advisor Andy Pina and BMCC Learning Academy Senior Academic Advisor Christopher Rafinski.

BMCC Offers Resources on Racial Trauma, Anti-Racism and Social Justice
BMCC is committed to advancing equity, strengthening our culture of care, and advancing socioeconomic mobility and justice through education. The college offers resources and activities to engage the college community in thoughtful discussions to find solutions as we follow our mission to offer quality education to all students and provide a welcoming place to work for all faculty and staff.

STUDENTS: Virtual Learning Resource Center (LRC) Is Ready to Help
The LRC provides online tutoring, academic coaching and more. Students can meet virtually with certified tutors and academic coaches. Faculty can access the LRC's Online Services Orientation for an online demo of virtual LRC services for students.

Bursar Holds Removed for BMCC Students
While balances incurred before Spring 2020 must be paid in full to register for Summer and Fall 2020 semesters, there will be no bursar’s hold on balances up to $4,000 incurred during Spring 2020. For more information, please contact Bursar@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC Community Encouraged to Participate in Census2020 Social Media Challenge
BMCC community members are encouraged to help spread the word to their friends and followers on social media about the importance of completing the 2020 U.S. Census and be entered in a raffle to win one of ten $200 Amazon gift cards.

Compliance and Diversity Policies: Equity Is our Strength
BMCC policies protect equal educational and employment opportunity and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment. These policies may also apply to online and off-campus incidents. If you have experienced or witnessed unlawful discrimination and harassment, you can report it to the Office of Compliance and Diversity.

Campus Planning and Facilities

Limited Building Access
The Office of Campus Planning and Facilities is unable to accommodate individual requests for access to BMCC campus buildings. Thank you for your cooperation. Please follow the Governor’s directive to stay home and help us stop the spread of this deadly virus.

Enrollment

Summer 2020 Virtual Open House Welcomes Future Students on June 27
Is your family member or friend interested in attending college? Invite them to the BMCC Virtual Open House, Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. They will experience online learning options through virtual mini-sessions, speak with BMCC students and faculty, take a virtual campus tour, and learn about financial aid options, student services, success programs and how to apply. For more information, contact the Admissions Office at (212) 220-1265 or admissions@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Summer and Fall 2020 Registration Is Open
Please encourage students to continue on their path to success and register for the Summer and Fall 2020 semesters. Things to know: All students must meet virtually with their advisor before registering. Students can use Schedule Builder on CUNYfirst to create a schedule and register for classes. For more information, visit the Registration page, or contact Academic Advisement: eadvisement@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Weekly Virtual Information Sessions
Whether it’s a prospective student getting a jump start on the college selection process, or an admitted student with follow-up questions, students can tune in via Zoom on Thursdays at 6 p.m. to learn more about academic and success programs at BMCC.

STUDENTS: Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment Services Staff Are Ready to Assist You
Students can explore online the many admissions and enrollment resources BMCC has to offer. They can also reach out by email, phone or text, as well as talking to staff members listed online who can help them make their college dreams a reality.

Virtual Chat with a Campus Tour Guide
While COVID-19 might prevent our traditional on-campus tours, college tour guides are available virtually via Zoom on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. to engage students in a conversation about the BMCC experience.

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

Making Headlines

BMCC is finalist for prestigious Aspen Prize
June 17, 2020—Tribeca Tribune

Ed4Career Partners with Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development
June 17, 2020—Deck Biz

Executive Director Cecilia Scott-Croff shares insights from home schooling her child on the autism spectrum
June 11, 2020 — The Institute Blog: Teaching, Leading and Caring

Executive Director Cecilia Scott-Croff Outlines What "Culture of Care" means in an Early Childhood Campus Setting
June 2020 — ExchangePress.com

Human Resources

BMCC’s four-day summer workweek begins on Monday June 22
The College will be closed the following Fridays: June 26th, July 10th, July 17th, July 24th, July 31st, and August 7th. The Independence Day holiday will be observed on Friday, July 3. During this week, all employees will work four regular un-extended seven-hour days on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Celebrate Pride Month With NYCPride on June 26
BMCC is stronger for the diversity of its faculty, students and staff. Join NYC Pride to virtually celebrate and advocate for an inclusive future without discrimination. To register for the June 26 NYC Virtual Rally, click here. For information on LGBTQI services at BMCC, click here.

How to Receive Paychecks by Mail  
Employees without direct deposit can receive paychecks by mail if they mail several self-addressed, stamped envelopes to: Bursar-Payroll Distribution Unit, 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007.

How to Receive Paystubs by Mail  
Employees can receive pay stubs by mail if they mail several self-addressed, stamped envelopes to: HR Pay-stub Distribution, 199 Chambers Street, NY, NY 10007.

Claim Unclaimed Paychecks Before They Expire 
Employees who have not picked up paper paychecks issued from January through March can email officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu ASAP, and have the checks mailed to them before they expire.

Move NYC Digital 5K: A Virtual Race
Any BMCC employee who is a walker, runner or roller is welcome to join the five-kilometer challenge and virtual race, June 22 - June 29. Sign up here.

Sign up for Direct Deposit or Suspend Transit Benefit Deductions  
To sign up for Direct Deposit or suspend payroll-deducted transit benefits, complete the Direct Deposit form, Transit Benefit form or Park and Ride form and send it to officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Complete WPV and ESPARC Training by August 7  
In compliance with New York State law, full- and part-time CUNY employees must complete these online trainings by August 7: The Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) and the Workplace Violence Training (WPV). Please log into CUNY Blackboard to access each course. For help disabling pop-up blockers or other assistance, contact Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu or Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu.

New Employee Assistance Program
We are excited to introduce the CUNY Work/Life Program will now be presented by CCA@Your Service – our new confidential, 24/7 employee assistance program provider starting on June 15, 2020. The program flyer provides additional information regarding the new services. CCA@Your Service is offering several informational overview sessions to learn about the different emotional health and daily convenience services available to you and your family members through the program. We hope that you’ll take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the services they provide for you, and your family.

NYC Well Offers Free Counseling and Assistance
NYC Well offers free apps, counseling and referrals in more than 200 languages. BMCC faculty, staff and students can contact NYC Well’s confidential 24/7 helpline staffed by trained counselors at (888) 692-9355. They can also text "WELL" to 65173, or reach help via Chat.

COVID-related FAQs Provides Updates and Contact Information
A resource document, HR COVID-19 FAQs provides information on direct deposit, transit benefits, college assistants, full-time classified staff and more. For more HR-related pandemic information, visit the Human Resources website.

Alumni and Donors

Alumni Association Offers Virtual Toast to New Graduates
The BMCC Alumni Association hosted a virtual toast celebration on June 12 to celebrate the newly minted graduates of the BMCC Class of 2020. Over 30 new alumni participated in the celebration where they were officially welcomed into the BMCC Alumni Association by Interim President Karrin Wilks and Theresa Clark Messer, BMCC Foundation Board Member and Alumni Council Chair. BMCC alumni are encouraged to join 85,000 BMCC other graduates from around the nation at the BMCC Alumni Association. Contact BMCC Alumni Relations & Annual Fund manager Yaritza Gonzalez at ygonzalez@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 346-8455.

BMCC ALUMNI: Mid-morning Coffee Break with President Wilks Series
Forty-two alumni, staff and faculty joined for the first in a new monthly series of Mid-Morning Coffee Breaks with Interim President Karrin Wilks on June 17. The events are being hosted at the online platform Zoom. Alumni are invited to ask questions, share concerns and stories and connect with the BMCC community. Stay tuned for the next session in July. Visit the BMCC Alumni Relations page or contact BMCC Alumni Relations & Annual Fund manager Yaritza Gonzalez at ygonzalez@bmcc.cuny.edu or call (212) 346-8455.

An Easy Way to Make a Positive Impact
Interested in helping BMCC with our mission but feel overwhelmed and anxious about possibly outliving your current assets? A simple, flexible way to ensure we can continue our life-changing work for years to come is a gift in your will or living trust, known as a charitable bequest. A charitable bequest is a written declaration that a donation be made to BMCC Foundation. You may indicate the purpose and use of your bequest, such as scholarships, food insecurity or general needs. For additional information or for a confidential conversation, please contact Phillip Keefe, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at (212) 346-8650 or pkeefe@bmcc.cuny.edu. We are deeply grateful for your support.

Use your IRA-Qualified Charitable Distribution to Help During this Time of Student Need
The CARES Act of March 2020 waives the requirement for IRA owners to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) in 2020. However, the Qualified Charitable Distribution allowance (QCD), for donors 70½ or older is still in force, and the annual limit remains at $100,000. This means that at age 70½, you can still help students and use your IRA to make a QCD of up to $100,000 for the year.

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