November 4, 2021
A group of political, community organization and educational leaders participated in an October 29 ribbon cutting ceremony that celebrated the newly renovated and expanded BMCC/CUNY in The Heights campus, located at 5030 Broadway, between 213th and 214th Streets in northern Manhattan.
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) President Anthony E. Munroe welcomed attendees and said BMCC/CUNY in The Heights would continue to bring resources and services to the community. The president also thanked other CUNY leaders including those from Hostos Community College (CUNY) and Bronx Community Colllege (CUNY).
“We are very proud and excited to bring educational and career opportunities to the residents of upper Manhattan,” said President Munroe. “As we celebrate safely and in person, let’s remember that today is a day of optimism.”
City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez introduced each of the elected officials and educational leaders who over the years have supported the facility and its mission.
“Today we’re going to tour a beautiful facility that has a history of being a great anchor for this community, “said Rodríguez. “This facility is an example of CUNY being responsive to the community.”
After the event, Anthony Watson, Executive Director at SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center which is located in Harlem, said the renovation of BMCC/CUNY in The Heights made the expanded facility even more conducive to learning.
“I am very excited about the reopening of CUNY in the Heights and the expansion,” said Anthony Watson, Executive Director, SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center in Harlem which is administered by BMCC. “We will offer more programs and services that are needed and wanted.”
Since 2013, BMCC/CUNY in The Heights has served as an educational, career, and personal development opportunity center. The facility was closed for renovations and an expansion during the 2020 Spring semester. The expansion added 15,000 square feet of space, doubling the number of classrooms and tripling the number of available classroom seats.
Upon its re-opening in summer 2020, BMCC/CUNY in the Heights rolled out new credit-bearing course offerings for an expanded range of associate degree programs, as well as professional development and advanced career certification through the BMCC Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development and the State University of New York (SUNY) Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center.
For the Spring 2021 semester, BMCC/CUNY in The Heights will offer at least 27 credit-bearing courses serving as many as 800 students. The campus will also offer nine non-credit-bearing courses serving around 525 students.
“My goal is for BMCC/CUNY in The Heights to become an educational hub that will bring more opportunities to Washington Heights, Inwood and the surrounding communities,” said Ingrid Renderos, Director at BMCC/CUNY in The Heights. “Specifically, I want to create multiple educational pathways, so that any resident could complete their associate degree.”
Renderos says residents can take advantage of workforce development training and certificate programs that can lead to career opportunities and open doors to educational aspirations.
The facility also features state-of-the-art computer labs and a quiet study area. BMCC/CUNY in The Heights is also home to the SUNY Advanced Technology Training And Information Networking (ATTAIN) center which offers academic, occupational and employability courses including computer literacy and language courses.
“BMCC/CUNY in The Heights is an excellent option for residents that live close to this location,” said Renderos. “For students who are attending college for the first time, BMCC/CUNY in The Heights offers courses that will help them complete important steps in their educational and career paths.”
Political leaders and other speakers at the event included BMCC student Danicia Marte, U.S. Congressmember Adriano Espaillat (NY 13th District), New York City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez, NY Assemblymember Carmen De La Rosa (District 72), Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Chief of Staff, Johanna Garcia, chief of staff for New York State Senator Robert Jackson, and Hostos Community College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis.
To watch more footage from the event, click here.
- Renovation and expansion adds 15K square feet of space to facility
- BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe calls ribbon cutting ceremony “a day of optimism”
- Facility offers college credit-bearing courses and workforce development
