BMCC VITA Volunteers Gear Up for 2017 Tax Season
More than 75 BMCC students attended their final IRS software certification training for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program on Thursday, January 19. An IRS representative from the Food Bank for New York City led the training session in a Fiterman Hall classroom. Students who successfully completed the program and passed the VITA/CTE Basic Certification Exam received IRS certification to provide free tax preparation at Food Bank for New York City locations throughout the metro area.

Student Completes Accounting Certificate Program and Lands Job at Big Four Firm
When BMCC student Christina Choi moved to New York City from Seoul South Korea in 2014, she was looking to change careers from research to accounting. To obtain an accounting license, she would first have to pass the rigorous Uniform Certified Public Accounting exam. But after completing BMCC’s Accounting Certificate Program, she not only passed the exam but also made an important career connection with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

BMCC Students Present at MAA-AMS
Several BMCC faculty and students traveled to Atlanta on January 7-8 for the 2017 MAA-AMS Joint Mathematics Meeting, the largest math gathering in the world, according to conference organizers. This was the first time BMCC students attended the conference. Math majors Karen Medlin, Papa Sylla, Jie Lan and Jieying Li presented research and posters at the conference. They were able to make the trip to Atlanta because of funding from the Minority Science Education Improvement and Retention and Improvements in STEM Education Program (MSEIP-RISE) project.

Leadership Fellows Examine Challenges Facing Community Colleges
Fourteen BMCC faculty members participated in the inaugural Faculty Leadership Fellows Program, January 9 -13, at BMCC. The program was funded by a grant from the American Express Foundation. The goal of the Leadership Program is to develop faculty leadership and strengthen the participants’ ability to contribute to BMCC’s vision of becoming a leading community college. Through a series of workshops and panel discussions, participants learned from nationally recognized experts and leaders about some of the major challenges facing community colleges across the country. Shown above (left to right): Judy Eng, Jim Berg, Doris Holz, Brenda Vollman, Francisca Campos, Richard Brown (American Express Foundation), Lesley Rennis, Abel Navarro, Leslie Craigo, Thaddeus Raddell, Kathleen Dreyer, Eva Kolbusz-Kijne, Margaret Barrow, Janet Esquirol, Karrin Wilks, Sangeeta Bishop, John Beaumont, Christopher Shults, Vincent Cheng.

Call for Proposals: CUNY CUE Conference 2017
All CUNY faculty and staff are invited to submit proposals no later than February 15, 2017 for the CUNY CUE Conference 2017, scheduled on May 5, 2017 at BMCC. This year’s focus, Accelerating Progress, Accelerating Equity: Improving Student Success in Developmental and Gateway Courses, serves as an opportunity to share evidence-based practice across CUNY aimed at improving student success, retention and graduation, and successful transfer. Visit the CUE Conference website to learn more: https://cue.commons.gc.cuny.edu

Study Abroad Expands to Include Four More Destinations The BMCC Study Abroad program is distinguished by its variety of destinations. These include Nanjing, China; Montreal, Quebec; Oviedo, Spain; Kasos, Greece and Tuscany, Italy. In Summer 2017, the program will expand to the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Southern Italy and Peru. Learn how BMCC students, like Naomi Mackliff (pictured), have benefited from their Study Abroad experiences.

Celebration of Artwork Donation by Siri Berg
A public event celebrating the donation of a recent, original artwork by internationally renown abstract artist Siri Berg will be held Thursday, February 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Shirley Fiterman Art Center, 81 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10007. For more information, call (212) 776-6237, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, or click HERE.

CUNY Cultural Corps Welcomes Applicants
BMCC students are invited to submit applications to participate in the 2017-2018 Academic Year program of the CUNY Cultural Corps, a pipeline into NYC arts and cultural institutions. For more information, go to www.cuny.edu/culturalcorps. You can also email culturalcorps@cuny.edu or experience@bmcc.cuny.edu, or visit the Office of Internships and Experiential Learning.

Free Tax Preparation Available to BMCC Community
Tax season runs from January 23 through April 13. This year’s free tax preparation for BMCC community members will be prepared virtually by certified tax preparers from the Food Bank For New York City. The new process will reduce wait times and expedite refunds. All tax documents will be sent electronically through secure encryption. Every person's data will be protected and all information will be erased from BMCC computers once sent to the tax preparers. This service is available to currently enrolled students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents of dependent students. Stop by BMCC Single Stop, Room S235, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to start the process of getting your 2016 taxes prepared.

Nominations Open for BMCC Distinguished Teaching Award
The BMCC Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes faculty who "incite intellectual curiosity in students, inspire colleagues both within and outside his or her department, and demonstrate effective and innovative pedagogy with clear evidence of student learning gains,” says Senior Vice President and Provost Karrin Wilks. To nominate full-time tenured professors, full-time lecturers with CCE, and adjunct faculty who have taught for 10 or more semesters at BMCC, contact Lisa St. Hill, lsthill@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC Students Encouraged to Apply for Opportunity
BMCC students are encouraged to Apply NOW for The DO School Innovate NYC 2017 Challenge! BMCC has teamed up with the DO School and 10 other NYC higher education institutions to create a new landmark program within New York City’s higher education landscape: Innovate NYC. This program offers students a unique opportunity to launch their careers as changemakers within their communities and learn invaluable entrepreneurial skills. The first 100 students to submit their application will automatically receive invitations to the first skills-building workshop, a day-long event focusing on enhancing your capacity for ideation. Deadline to apply is January 31. Questions can be directed to the Office of Internships and Experiential Learning at BMCC by emailing experience@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Asian Heritage Month Committee
BMCC community members of all backgrounds are invited to attend the 2017 Asian Heritage Month Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 11:00 a.m. at 199 Chambers Street in room S249. The Asian Heritage Month Committee is a multi-ethnic group of colleagues whose purpose is to increase awareness and appreciation of the Asian and Asian-American experience and to encourage understanding among all groups. For more information, contact Dean Erwin J. Wong, (212) 220-8322.

BMCC Promotes Environment Free of Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment BMCC is committed to ensuring an environment where all individuals are treated fairly and with respect. Complaints of unlawful discrimination or harassment should be reported to Odelia Levy, Chief Diversity Officer and Special Advisor to the President, at Olevy@bmcc.cuny.edu or (212) 220-1236. If you witness or experience unlawful discrimination or harassment after hours and need immediate assistance, contact BMCC Public Safety at (212) 220-7080. Click here to review CUNY Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy.

Two-Phase Renovation of Bathrooms in 199 Chambers Street Building Continues A two-phase capital project to renovate the bathrooms at 199 Chambers Street is creating greater accessibility as well as upgrades. While North Side bathrooms are renovated in the first phase, the BMCC community is encouraged to use bathrooms on the South Side.

BMCC student profiled in story about NYCID
Jan. 17, 2017—Staten Island Advance

BMCC English Professor Diane Simmons shares reading from her new book
Jan. 10, 2017—Blue Mountain Eagle (Oregon)

Former BMCC Student Julio Reyes Featured in “Becoming a Confident College Student, With the Help of an ‘Angel’” article
Jan. 10, 2017—The New York Times

BMCC Health Education Professors featured in fitness story
Jan. 6, 2017—Medical Xpress

Photograph of BMCC Library and students in story about free tuition proposal
Jan. 3, 2017—Wall Street Journal

PSC and Classified Employees: When and Where to Pick Up Retroactive Payment Check
If you have Direct Deposit you may disregard this notice.
Because we anticipate heavy traffic on 1/26 and 1/27/17 for check distribution, the time and location of check distribution has been changed as follows:

Room: S-612
Thursday, 1/26/17: 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, 1/27/17: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

You must bring a photo ID to pick up your check. No one will be permitted to pick up someone else’s check.

Weight Watchers Program Available
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight, BMCC and Workwell can help. To learn about joining Weight Watchers meetings at BMCC, contact Lori Mazzola, lmazzola@bmcc.cuny.edu

Reminder for New Wage Works Card Users
BMCC employees who have received a new Wage Works card and are prompted to provide their ID number to activate it, should use the last four digits of the reference number on their pay stub. For more information, contact the BMCC Office of Human Resources, (212) 220-8300.

BMCC Foundation 2017 Gala – Save the Date!
The College’s largest fundraising event, “Invest in a Future” Gala, hosted by the BMCC Foundation is scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at Cipriani, 25 Broadway. Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m. and dinner and program begins at 7:00 p.m. Funds raised from this event will support the BMCC Foundation Scholarship Fund. This year’s honorees are Jeffrey Gural, Chairman, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank; and Carol Britton, Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Services, BNY Mellon. For more information contact Kami Crary at (212) 220-8020 or kcrary@bmcc.cuny.edu.

BMCC Invites Alumni to Networking Event
BMCC alumni are invited to the Shirley Fiterman Art Center, located at 245 Greenwich Street, to enjoy the exhibit SIRI BERG, “In Color” and network with peers. BMCC Professor and alumnus Joel Barker `06 will be our featured speaker. The event is scheduled 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., January 30, 2017. Cost is $5. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP by January 23 at: http://gvgb.co/Jan30Mixer For more information email: alumni@bmcc.cuny.edu.

Help Make a Difference
The BMCC Faculty/Staff campaign provides scholarship and emergency support to BMCC students, 90% of whom need financial assistance to reach their educational goals. By donating just $25 to $100, you can help the college raise over $80,000 for students. Here are four 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, F1330. (Please note, you can designate your donation to your department.)
• Donate via a payroll deduction (click HERE) through the CUNY Campaign for Voluntary Charitable Giving.

Presidential Inauguration Will be Broadcast Live for BMCC Community
Jan. 20

Continuing Education Open House
Jan. 19

BMCC Faculty Convocation
Jan. 27

Internship Access: Non-Profit and Government
Feb. 7

BMCC Fafsathon
Feb. 9

	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
Red Hawks Offense Overpowers Panthers in Lopsided Defeat
BMCC vs. Rockland CC, Jan. 19
BMCC vs. Dutchess CC, Jan. 21

Women’s Basketball
Brooks Dominates as Lady Panthers Cruise to 71-54 Victory Over Red Hawks
BMCC vs. Rockland CC, Jan. 19
BMCC vs. Dutchess CC, Jan. 21

@BMCC is produced and published by the Office of Public Affairs. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for @BMCC can send them to publicaffairs@bmcc.cuny.edu