Welcome and Designing for Success Welcome to the new academic year! I wish everyone great success, both inside and outside the classroom, as we strive to make BMCC the very best it can be— a leading community college in realizing our vital social justice mission. Designing for Success, our strategic planning process, can lead us there.

The goals of BMCC Designing for Success are:

• improve retention to double degree completion rates, and increase successful transfer and baccalaureate attainment;

• improve learning through culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy and support;

• expand career development leading to meaningful work with family-sustaining wages;

• achieve equity in these outcomes in a college community in which all members can thrive.

BMCC Designing for Success: Strategic Planning Phase I was completed in 2018-2019 through the work of over 180 faculty and staff who participated in five Designing for Success working groups and three subcommittees of our Equity and Inclusion Task Force. Additionally, over 150 students participated in forums to provide feedback. Year-end reports were submitted by all working groups and are posted on the BMCC website. The results of the student focus groups and equity listening tour will be posted shortly.

We have spent considerable time deeply analyzing factors that affect retention and barriers to student success. Through these analyses as well as the recommendations of the 2018-2019 working groups, the next phase of strategic planning is about taking what works to scale. There is strong evidence in support of focusing our Phase II efforts, including additional fundraising, on the six strategic planning objectives listed below.

Designing for Success Strategic Planning Phase II 2019-2020: Taking What Works to Scale
Six planning groups will be established with co-chairs and cabinet liaisons identified as follows.

1. Redesign the New Student Enrollment Experience (co-chairs Vincent Cheng and Kristin Waters, cabinet liaison Diane Walleser)

2. Improve Learning and Engagement in the First Year (co-chairs Mahatapa Palit and Joe Ginese, cabinet liaison Erwin Wong)

3. Integrate Career Development throughout the Student Experience (co-chairs Lesley Rennis and Christopher Thunberg, cabinet liaison Michael Hutmaker)

4. Improve Completion and Transfer Rates through Integrated Support Services (co-chairs Eda Henao and Gregory Farrell, cabinet liaison Janice Zummo)

5. Strengthen Our Culture of Care for Students, Faculty and Staff (co-chairs Syreeta McFadden and Deborah Harte, cabinet liaison Marva Craig)

6. Strengthen BMCC’s Role in a Thriving NYC and as a leading Community College Nationally (co-chairs Michelle Rhonda and Jose Flores, cabinet liaison Sunil Gupta)

We are seeking volunteers to serve on the six planning groups listed above for the 2019-2020 academic year. If you are interested, please send an email to President@bmcc.cuny.edu with your name, title, email address, and the group you would like to join no later than September 12, 2019.

We will establish planning groups of 15-20 with membership from across departments and units, and recognizing the rich diversity of our faculty and staff. All faculty, staff, and students will have the opportunity to provide feedback through college-wide forums and an open feedback portal. The process will culminate with the publication of our 2020-2025 strategic plan.

We greatly appreciate your commitment and contributions. As always, thank you for making BMCC a wonderful place to teach, work and learn.

Karrin E. Wilks
Interim President
Borough of Manhattan Community College

BMCC Hosts Welcome Back Super Fair
Richard Harris Terrace at BMCC's 199 Chambers Street campus was filled with students on September 3 for the annual Welcome Back Super Fair, an event coordinated by the First-Year Student Program office, and geared towards new and first-year students. The fair is a one-stop shop where students can ask questions and gather information about the college's support services and programs. "We have programs represented here today such as peer mentoring, the women's resource center, the degree under three program and even the library," said Joseph Ginese, director of the program. "The goal of the fair is to help students along their journey to success. We want them to feel connected to BMCC." For more information on the numerous support services and programs the college offers contact New and First Year Student Programs, (212) 220-8121.

BMCC Welcomes Meryl Kaynard, Legal Counsel and Labor Designee Meryl Kaynard, who served as legal counsel for labor/management at Queens College, CUNY Central and College of Staten Island, is joining BMCC as legal counsel, ethics officer, records access officer and labor designee. Kaynard has also served as special counsel with the National Council for Research on Women; as director of diversity and special counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, and as senior vice president and associate general counsel at JPMorgan Chase. Please note: Questions on contractual matters related to the PSC/CUNY Collective Bargaining Agreement should be directed to Kaylard: mkaynard@bmcc.cuny.edu or Ext. 1237. Questions on the Blue Collar and White Collar Collective Bargaining Agreement should first be addressed to Maria Deckinger, associate director for civil service matters in the Office of Human Resources: mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu or Ext. 1496. All other human resources-related questions should be addressed to Gloria Chao, director of the office of human resources: gchao@bmcc.cuny.edu or Ext. 8304.

BMCC to Celebrate Life and Work of Scott Anderson September 9 The BMCC community is invited to celebrate the life and work of former vice president for administration and planning, Scott Anderson, on September 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Theater 1 at 199 Chambers Street. Anderson, who passed away in June 2019, had an enormously varied career within BMCC and CUNY. This event will include music performances by BMCC students and remarks from many of Anderson's former colleagues including Antonio Pérez, former BMCC president; Marcia Keizs, former president of York College; Phillip A. Berry, president of Philip Berry Associates, LLC, and former CUNY trustee; and Karrin E. Wilks, interim president of BMCC. It will also include video tributes featuring stories and memories shared by former and current members of the BMCC/CUNY family.

Double Exhibition Opens at Shirley Fiterman Art Center September 10 On September 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., all are welcome to attend an opening reception in the Shirley Fiterman Art Center to kick off two exhibitions: "A Trip to the Moon" features the work of Gaku Tsutaja, and "Inertia" features the work of Sherrill Roland. Also, on September 10 from 3 to 4 p.m., and October 2 from 5 to 7 p.m., the BMCC community is invited to an interactive performance from "The Jumpsuit Project" by Sherrill Roland. The Shirley Fiterman Art Center, 81 Barclay Street in Tribeca, is open to the public from Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. For more information, contact  shirleyfitermanartcenter@bmcc.cuny.edu or (212) 776-6237.

CUNY BMI Conference: Restorative Justice Education. We are ALL Justice Involved.
The CUNY Black Male Initiative (BMI) and the BMCC Urban Male Leadership Academy present The Fourteenth Annual CUNY BMI conference, “Restorative Justice Education: We Are ALL Justice Involved,” October 1 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 199 Chambers Street. The conference will address the historical context of issues facing the re-entry community, and higher education transitioning strategies for all ages.The morning keynote speaker is world-renowned activist and advocate, Mr. Shaun King, and the afternoon keynote speaker is world-famous hip-hop artist and activist, Mr. Talib Kweli. Registration is free for CUNY and Department of Education students and employees, and registration is $100 for the general public. Learn more here.

All BMCC Employees Required to Complete E-SPARC by October 9
In compliance with New York State law, all full- and part-time CUNY employees are required to complete an annual online Employee Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (E-SPARC). If you have not already done so, log into CUNY Blackboard to complete the course by October 9, 2019. This applies to all BMCC employees regardless of whether you have attended an in-person training. Please make sure to disable pop-up blockers and use either Firefox or Google Chrome as your web browser when taking the training. For more information, contact Maria Deckinger, mdeckinger@bmcc.cuny.edu or Loriann Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Free Courses Available to BMCC Community BMCC students, faculty and staff can access free courses through LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com. Through this online platform, industry experts provide courses on presentation skills, time management, QuickBooks for accountants, Adobe Creative Cloud and many other topics. For detailed instructions on how to sign in to LinkedIn Learning, contact Instructional Computer Services Manager Leticia Dinkins, (212) 220-1377, ldinkins@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Free Mindfulness Meditation Service The CUNY Office of Student Affairs has launched a partnership with The 10-Minute Mind, a free service that provides mindfulness meditation for students, faculty and staff. Research shows that taking a few minutes to pause, reflect and reset is an effective strategy to relieve stress, improve memory and provide other benefits. To try The 10-Minute Mind for a week, a month or the entire semester, click here.

Faculty, Students and Staff Invited to Audition for Free Performance Workshop The BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center is seeking writer/performers of all ages, ethnicities, styles and levels of experience to audition September 18 or 19 for a 12-week writing and performance workshop that will culminate in a public performance on December 6. Contact Mario Giacalone, mgiacalone@tribecapac.org, September 9-17 to make an appointment for your audition.

Faculty and Staff Now Have Access to Student CCTs
BMCC’s Co-Curricular Transcript (CCT) is a comprehensive official record of student’s participation and achievements outside of the classroom while enrolled at BMCC. These co-curricular activities foster students' holistic development, and encourage life-long learning and active citizenship. Faculty/Staff now have access to view students’ unofficial CCTs, review a list of current eligible activities as well as submit events/activities to be considered for placement on the CCT.  

Proposals for CUNY IT Conference Due September 25
Academics and administrators are invited to submit proposals for the 18th annual CUNY IT Conference, set for December 5 and 6 at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. This year’s conference, “Bridging Gaps,” will explore how technology can help overcome barriers to learning, and novel approaches using technology across CUNY. Presentation proposals are due by September 15 at 5 p.m. For more information, click here.

Learning Resource Center (LRC) Brings Out Students' Strengths Faculty and staff, let your students know they can sign up to meet with an academic coach who will provide time management, note-taking and test-taking strategies. Students can also ask staff at the LRC, in Room S-510 at 199 Chambers Street, to connect them with a certified BMCC tutor, in person or online. Visit the LRC website for more information and events.

BMCC Students, Faculty and Staff: Free 9/11 Information Seminar
A free informational seminar sponsored by the law firm Barasch & McGarry is scheduled on Monday, September 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Theater 1, 199 Chambers Street. Were you living, working, or a student in Lower Manhattan on 9/11, or any time during the eight months that followed? Congress has extended the free World Trade Center Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund for 72 years. We are advised that all downtown residents and office workers, as well as students, faculty and staff are eligible. You are welcome to attend the seminar to learn more about the benefits you are entitled to, whether or not you have been diagnosed with any serious illnesses, and to learn about how to protect your rights now. PLEASE NOTE: This free informational seminar is sponsored by the law firm of Barasch & McGarry. BMCC’s rental of this venue and communications concerning this event does not constitute an endorsement of the firm. All advice and representations made at the event are those of the speakers and not of CUNY or BMCC. To reserve free tickets, call (212) 220-1460 or download tickets online.

New Work Order System Implemented at BMCC
The Office of Campus Planning and Facilities has launched the Archibus Work Order system, which will allow designated individuals in each campus department to submit work orders and track the progress of the request. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Planning and Facilities by email and include “Archibus Work Order System” in the subject line.

Plaza Reconstruction Project Update
As part of the Plaza Reconstruction project at BMCC, abatement of hazardous materials identified in the underlayment of the existing pavers will be performed during phases of the construction project. This activity, which began January 21, is regulated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, which ensures the safe and proper removal and disposal of these materials. Abatement notifications posted on all building entrances are part of these requirements and are there to inform the occupants of these activities. The required notices are not meant to alarm building occupants, but to keep everyone informed that the work will be performed in a safe and regulated manner. We apologize for any inconvenience this construction may cause as we work to improve our facilities. For more information, contact Eric Lugo at elugo@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Bathroom Renovation Update: Phase 5
BMCC has undertaken a comprehensive 26-bathroom renovation project at the Chambers Street building. The project’s focus is to provide greater accessibility, ventilation and temperature control systems. Upgrades include new stalls, floors, fixtures, ceilings and lighting. Renovations have been completed in the north side bathrooms, and those in the south side will be finished in Fall 2019. BMCC has begun Phase 5 (final phase) of renovations, affecting the restrooms located on the far south end of 199 Chambers Street building, on all seven floors. For more information, contact Eric Lugo at elugo@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Major Source of Freshman Grants and Scholarships Is Federal Aid
The majority of the total grant and scholarship aid received by freshmen is federal aid. This pie graphs illustrates the proportion of grant and scholarship aid by source. More information can be found on the National Center for Educational Statistics BMCC page. The link can also be found on the Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics facts and statistics page under IPEDS data.

The Panther Station is Open for Student Service The Panther Station (One Stop Enrollment Center, Room S-225) is the central location for students to handle admissions, registrar and financial aid matters. The unit also serves as a referral center for other college services. Students who need to visit the Panther Station should queue up ahead of time on QLESS to join the line remotely.

A Few Important Dates 
September 3: CUNY Fall 2020 application opens
September 5: Classes follow a Monday schedule
September 15: Priority deadline for CUNY transfer application

Resources for Supporting Students: Two Updated Brochures The Office of Public Affairs has released the new Comprehensive Academic Programs brochure, which provides degree program information, and Student Support Programs brochure, which highlights offices and services such as financial aid and tutoring. Printed copies are available on campus and downloadable versions are on the BMCC website.

Share with students: 6 Sure-Fire Ways to Crush Your Fall Semester
Here are a few tips from the Admissions #FuturePanthers blog that you can share with students to foster a strong start this fall semester.

Admissions and Financial Aid Information 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, check the Admissions website, or contact the Admissions Office at (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

Photos and story highlight long-gone street sign post located at site of BMCC
September 3 — Splice Today

Upcoming Art Auction features work from family who donated Fiterman Hall to BMCC
September 3 — Barron's

Music Professor Roxy Cross profiled
August 23 — Glide

Register for the STEPtember Billion Step Challenge
BMCC faculty and staff are invited to join STEPtember—a month-long walking challenge in which thousands of NYC employees walk, run or roll toward a collective goal of a billion steps! Challenge dates are September 10–October 8.

BMCC Employees: Free Flu Shots Available September 12 BMCC faculty and staff can get their flu shot on campus September 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Make an appointment here (type in Username: nyc Password: flu), or call (866) 481-4391. Download your consent form and bring it to your appointment to save time. Free flu shots are also available at participating pharmacies and in-network medical offices. For more information, visit nyc.gov/workwellnyc or contact Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu, Ext. 7063.

Free Help Available to Quit Smoking CUNY employees and household members can enroll in the Employee Smoking Cessation Program (ESCAPE) for free, confidential counseling and smoking cessation medications. Download the NYC HelpMeQuit mobile app, another free resource. Learn more here. Call (347) 396-4403 to enroll.

Deer Oaks EAP Offers Phone and Video Counseling
As part of BMCC's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Deer Oaks offers organizational training, skills development, crisis management, wellness workshops and other services including video, structured telephonic and in-person counseling. Employees can schedule calls with a counselor in advance by calling (855) 492-3633 or emailing eap@deeroaks.com.

Fundraising Committees Established to Commemorate Contributions from Bragg and Anderson Last academic year, BMCC lost two beloved colleagues—Sadie Bragg, previously the provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, and Scott Anderson, former vice president for administration and planning. To commemorate their deep and passionate commitment to BMCC, we have established committees to raise funds to dedicate spaces on campus in their names. Marva Craig, vice president of student affairs will lead the effort to name the mathematics lab in Bragg’s honor (building on funds already donated for this purpose), and John Montanez, dean of the Office of Sponsored Programs, will lead the effort to name a room in Fiterman in Anderson’s honor. To help in these efforts, please contact VP Craig at mcraig@bmcc.cuny.edu or Ext. 8132; Dean Montanez at jmontanez@bmcc.cuny.edu or Ext. 8011 or the Development Office at Ext. 8020.

Charitable Giving Through an IRA
Donors at least 70½ years old can take advantage of a simple way to satisfy minimum required distribution and benefit BMCC students at the same time. Donate up to $100,000 from an IRA directly to the BMCC Foundation without having to pay federal income taxes. Please contact Phillip Keefe, Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, (212) 346-8650 or pkeefe@bmcc.cuny.edu for additional information.

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).

Information Session for Free IT Computer Network Training
September 9

Art Exhibit Opening at Shirley Fiterman Arts Center
September 10

The Mourning After: A Play Reading and Discussion September 10

Meetup: When Behavior Economics Backfires
September 12

Audition for BMCC Music Ensembles Through September 7

	BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center Listings		Center for Career Development Events
	Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship Events		Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development Events

Men's Basketball Tryouts September 27
Women's Basketball Tryouts, September 30 - October 1

Women's Volleyball Unveils 2019 Regular Season Schedule
Men's Soccer Reveals 2019 Regular Season Schedule

Community Swim Program Open The BMCC swimming pool welcomes community swimmers, ages 18 and up. Lockers are available. Bring your own lock and towel. Entrances are at 199 Chambers Street and 77 Harrison Street. For fees and registration, contact the BMCC Athletic Department, (212) 220-8260 or the BMCC Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, (212) 346-8410.

Summer 2019 Recreation Schedule
BMCC students, faculty and staff are eligible to enjoy the cardiovascular and strength equipment (treadmills, free weights and more) in the BMCC Fitness Center with current BMCC ID. BMCC alumni are eligible with an alumni ID. Volleyball and other activities are also available in the BMCC Athletic Facilities.

@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.