@BMCC

August 6, 2020

BMCC COVID-19 Emergency Fund Receives $150,000 Grant from Robin Hood
BMCC has received a $150,000 grant from New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization Robin Hood to fund the college’s COVID-19 Student Emergency Fund. Established in April 2020, the BMCC COVID-19 emergency fund provides financial assistance to students so they can pay rent, utilities and other essential needs so their studies are not interrupted.

BMCC Partners with Google and Pathstream to Offer Google’s First Federally Registered Apprenticeship Program
BMCC is working with Google to train five apprentices as part of Google’s first Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program. Apprentices will complete two months of online coursework through BMCC to earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. Following the training, they will work for one year in Google’s Manhattan office, serving as IT Support Specialists. Google selected BMCC to serve as the program’s inaugural training provider in New York.

Announcements

Learn How BMCC Is Being Reimagined for Fall 2020
BMCC will follow CDC and New York State Department of Health guidelines in the opening of campus buildings. To protect the health of the college community, the majority of BMCC classes will be delivered from a distance for the Fall 2020 semester. Learn more about how BMCC is being reimagined.

Learn More About BMCC’s Academic and Career Communities
Academic and Career Communities provide students with information on career pathways related to their academic and social interests, as well as opportunities for engagement with faculty, staff and peers along their educational journey. Hundreds of faculty, staff and students provided feedback to create the communities as part of BMCC’s Designing for Success strategic planning process.

Now Available: Summer/Fall 2020 Course Catalogue
With all courses offered online — many of them free to qualifying students — opportunities abound in the BMCC Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development. The Center provides cutting-edge technology, hands-on experience, partnerships with local businesses and industry, and an engaging classroom experience.

Summer Blood Drives Scheduled August 12 and 19 at BMCC
BMCC will host blood drives at the BMCC Express Center, 255 Greenwich Street, from 12 to 6 p.m. on August 12 and August 19. For more information, email Health Services Director Penny Jordan at pjordan@bmcc.cuny.edu. To schedule an appointment, click here.

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 a 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.

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

There’s Still Time for Students to Register for Fall 2020
Please encourage students to register for the fall semester. After meeting virtually with their advisor, students can use Schedule Builder on CUNYfirst to select classes and register. For more information, visit the Registration page, or contact Academic Advisement at eadvisement@bmcc.cuny.edu.

STUDENTS: Virtual Admissions and Enrollment Services Can Assist You
To keep everyone safe and healthy, admissions and enrollment services have transitioned to an online-only format. Students can explore online the many resources BMCC has to offer, and they are welcome to reach out by email, phone or text. They can also join zoom sessions for more assistance:

ADMISSIONS. Students with questions including how to complete the BMCC application or apply as a readmit can zoom with an admissions specialist on Thursdays at 10 a.m. or Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
REGISTRATION. Students with questions including how to register for a class or change their class schedule can zoom with a registration specialist on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. or Wednesdays at 2 p.m.
FINANCIAL AID. Students with questions including how to file a FASFA, loans and TAP can zoom with a financial aid specialist on Mondays at 10 a.m., Wednesdays at 10 a.m. or Mondays at 2 p.m.

Virtual Chat with a Campus Tour Guide
While COVID-19 might prevent our traditional on-campus tours, college tour guides are available 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

Biography of Professor of Mathematics Nkechi Agwu included in math history resource site
August 3, 2020 — MacTutor

North Battery Park City flood protection plans impact BMCC
July 30, 2020 — The Tribeca Tribune

BMCC alumnus Xhosa Frazier reflects on growing up Jewish and Black
July 30, 2020 — Jewish Forward

Human Resources

BMCC Employees Required to Watch Return-to-Work Video
Before returning to the BMCC campus, all employees must view a training video on Blackboard and each day before their shift, complete a Daily Staff Screening. If the staff person answers "Yes" to any question in that screening, they must immediately inform their supervisor and HR via email and will not be permitted to enter BMCC.

BMCC’s Four-Day Summer Workweek Continues
BMCC will be closed for one last Summer Friday: August 7. For more information, visit the CUNY Employee Holidays.

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 Workplace Violence Training (WPV). Please log into CUNY Blackboard to access each course. For help disabling pop-ups or other assistance, contact Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu or Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu.

CUNY Work/Life Program Offers 24/7 Assistance
BMCC employees can find support at CCA@Your Service, a confidential, 24/7 employee assistance program provider. For more information, visit the program flyer and list of services. Call any time at (800) 833-8707 or log on at: www.myccaonline.com, Company Code: CUNY

How to Receive Paychecks or Pay Stubs by Mail
To receive paychecks by mail, send several self-addressed, stamped envelopes to: Bursar-Payroll Distribution Unit,199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007. To receive pay stubs by mail, send several self-addressed, stamped envelopes to: HR Pay-stub Distribution, 199 Chambers Street, NY, NY 10007.

Claim Paychecks Before They Expire
Employees who have not picked up paper paychecks issued from January through March are urged to email, as soon as possible, officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu, and have the checks mailed out before they expire.

Sign up for Direct Deposit or Suspend Transit Benefit Deductions
It's easy! Complete the Direct Deposit form or Transit Benefit form and send to: officeofhumanresources@bmcc.cuny.edu

WorkWell Summer Fitness Classes Available Through August 12
Register for fitness classes and more, using links in the calendar.

WW and Workwell Offer Private Virtual Workshops
WW (Weight Watchers) and WorkWell NYC offer Private Virtual Workshops for City of New York employees, their families and retirees. WW Coach Silmara Roman will host Private Virtual Workshops on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. To sign up for a workshop or join WW, reach out to Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Alumni and Donors

Webinar: Why You Need a Will and the Importance of Estate Planning August 11
BMCC alumni, faculty, staff and friends are invited to a webinar with Daniel A. Timins, Attorney of Law and Certified Financial Planner on August 11 from 1 until 2 p.m. The law offices of Daniel Timins specialize in Estate Planning, Probate and Medicaid Planning. Please join us for this unique learning opportunity. Register to receive webinar information. The event is sponsored by the BMCC Office of Institutional Advancement. For more information, contact Phillip A. Keefe at pkeefe@bmcc.cuny.edu.

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 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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