Message from the Interim President to Students, Faculty and Staff (08/10/20)

Dear BMCC Community,

To protect the health and well-being of all members of our community, BMCC will deliver the vast majority of instruction and support services from a distance in fall 2020. Over 98 percent of class sections will be delivered online; and nearly all support services including admissions, advising, tutoring, counseling, career development, the library, and Single Stop will be delivered online. A limited number of services including the Panther Pantry, the Early Childhood Center and research labs will have reduced in-person hours.

Access to the campus will be strictly limited to essential staff on a rotating basis, faculty and students in designated in-person classes, faculty and staff to pick up needed materials on a limited basis by appointment only, and students to use computer labs or study areas with appropriate distancing by appointment only. 199 Chambers will be open with limited access for designated instruction and services. The second and third floors of Murray will be open to provide controlled access to computer labs and study areas by appointment. Fiterman will be closed except for extremely limited access by appointment only. Similar plans are in place for MEOC programs at 125th Street and ACE programs at 25 Broadway.

Anyone coming to campus must complete the Return to Work Training Video once, which is available on Blackboard. Anyone coming to campus must complete the Daily Staff Screening Form every time they come to campus, which is available on the BMCC portal. Our fall 2020 plan for safely reopening severely limits the number of faculty, staff and students who will be coming to campus.

BMCC’s Fall 2020 Reopening Plan was submitted Friday for approval from CUNY and the State as required. It provides comprehensive details about safety procedures related to people (including the requirement for face coverings and social distancing), places (including extensive and frequent cleaning and disinfection), and processes (including required daily screening and procedures related to any confirmed COVID case on campus). The plan also includes a governance structure with a Reopening Steering Committee and designated liaisons and teams related to particular aspects of the plan (for example health monitoring and vulnerable populations).

BMCC is committed to creating the best possible experience for students, faculty and staff— in-person and virtually— strengthening our culture of care, and creating the conditions under which all students can learn and all members of the community can thrive. I want to thank our Re-Opening Steering Committee and particularly Jorge Yafar, our Reopening Coordinator; and Maria Deckinger, Penny Jordan, Michael Spath, Michael Korn and Eric Lugo, our Reopening liaisons. Please check our Fall 2020 website for extensive information; resources; regular updates about protocols, services and hours; and a video illustrating what you can expect the BMCC campus to look and feel like this fall.

As always, please continue to take good care of yourselves and those around you. We wish everyone the very best as we continue this journey together, stronger on the other side. Thanks for everything you do to make BMCC a wonderful place to work, learn, and belong— and to stay safe.