Friday, March 31, 2023 | Vol. 6, No. 11

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

My Dear Colleagues and Students,

We have had such a productive and enjoyable week. I am just delighted with the turnout for our Women’s History Month events, the Strategic Planning town halls, our students’ resilience celebrations, and the spectacular ribbon-cutting ceremony for our Hostos Research Center. Thank you all for your generous and meaningful support.

We enter the holiday weeks and spring break with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that so much has been envisioned as we plan for the future work of our institution.   Hostos is vibrant because of the intelligent and kind contributions of many. Once again, manos a la obra/all hands on deck as we continue together to aspire to become even better as a student-centered institution.

May you and yours celebrate the holidays, in our diversity, with peace and hope. May you rest during the spring break, and may it be restorative and encouraging. 

Mil gracias y bendiciones, 

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.

President



A POEM

MESSAGE FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ

Hello, Caimans!

I am here, on behalf of SGA, with some words of encouragement. As a student myself, I know that this point in the semester can feel overwhelming. But please remember that all your hard work and dedication is preparing you for a bright future. Don't let any doubts get in the way of your success!

And speaking of success, I'm excited to remind you that our school's clubs are open and ready for you to explore. With over 40 different options available, you're sure to find something that piques your interest. Plus, the events hosted by these clubs are great ways to unwind and destress.

Finally, please know that we value your thoughts and opinions. If you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions, please take a moment to participate in our SGA survey. Your input matters to us!

Sincerely,

José González



CAIMAN CLUES

Weekly Tips & Reminders to Navigate Life at Hostos

Hello Students,

Spring recess is around the corner! But before you go on break, below are a few activities taking place on campus this week. Also, make sure to meet with your advisor/success coach to get ready for registration. Keep in mind, offices will remain open and available to you during the break. Enjoy, be safe, and we will see you back in April!  

• Fall 2023 Registration opens April 4: Meet with your advisor or success coach and review your degree map to plan your next semester. You can utilize the schedule builder degreeworks audit to confirm the “still needed” class, then access your plan in the schedule builder to complete your summer/fall registration.  

• Honors Program Info Session: Learn about the Fall 2023 honors program benefits, such as mentorship, leadership training, and community service opportunities. The session will take place on March 30, 4 – 5 p .m. in B-501. Prizes, snacks and refreshments will be served!    

• 8th Annual Virtual Mathematics Day: Celebrating Post-Pandemic Teaching and Learning of Mathematics – Learn about the meaning of mathematics in all aspects of our lives. Wednesday, March 29, from 11 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. (five sessions). Register here to participate.  

• Hostos Career Expo: If you are looking for an internship or job opportunity, join us this Friday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Gym. RSVP here. Pick up your ticket at Career Services in D-210.



MS. MACKENZIE SCOTT’S GIFT: PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES

Submitted by Sofia Oviedo, Ph.D., Research Programs Director

Dear Students and Colleagues,

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the Hostos Research Center (HRC) yesterday. This was such a momentous occasion for the Hostos family and our South Bronx community. The event was extremely memorable thanks to the support and presence of CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, elected officials, community leaders, and, of course, our very own President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, faculty, students, and staff. The remarks and greetings shared by all who participated were inspiring. It was wonderful to see our community come together in this historic moment that will leave an indelible mark on the College’s legacy for generations to come.

As we conclude Women’s History Month, although I believe we should always continue to honor the amazing women in our lives that guide and support us, I want to acknowledge that the HRC would not have been possible if not for two trailblazing women that are extraordinary leaders in their fields: President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, who envisioned the HRC for scholarly growth and development for our faculty, students, and staff; and Ms. MacKenzie Scott, who gifted the College a most generous grant that, with the leadership and guidance of the President and the Hostos Advisory Corp, has been supporting several incredible initiatives that are benefitting our community.

I look forward to the great work that will continue to emanate from the HRC and to the many faculty, students, and staff that will benefit from the grant opportunities, research internships, capacity-building workshops, and special research presentations that we will offer. This is a special moment in the history of Hostos. I am very grateful that together we can continue to build the HRC to be an integral part of our community and support the College’s enduring impact in the South Bronx.



OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT (OIERA)

Submitted by Dean Babette Audant, Ph.D.

The 2023-2028 Strategic Planning Process: Mission-aligned and Radically Hostos (Part II)

This past week, the college community participated in three Strategic Plan open forums. The draft proposals developed by the six working groups and approved by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and Cabinet have been synthesized into a single draft document distributed this week. Students, staff, and faculty have had opportunities to discuss the strengths of our proposed commitments and vision; additional questions and comments are welcome.

The vision for the Strategic Plan positions Hostos as an agent of change. We take responsibility for opening doors, for guiding students during their time at Hostos. We take responsibility for welcoming students and their dreams, their identities, and the wealth of past experiences and knowledge they bring. And the draft plan addresses students’ financial needs head-on.

Goal 1, focused on equitable access to Hostos, commits us to ensuring students get every dollar of financial aid they qualify for and strengthen students’ ability to finance their education at Hostos (and beyond). Strategies to make good on this commitment include: helping students identify and decrease financial barriers to registration (e.g., removal of stops on registration for small balances). Also, increasing the percentage of students receiving emergency need-based grants and offering more financial literacy information to students and more financial aid literacy to faculty, who already play an important role in reminding students of the importance of applying for TAP (state aid) in addition to Pell (federal aid). This is a first step towards socio-economic mobility, another pillar of our mission, which is minimizing the cost of attending Hostos.  



POLICY OF THE WEEK

Highlighting CUNY Policies You Should Know

Submitted by Executive Counsel and Labor Designee Eugene Sohn, Esq.

CUNY Policy on Drugs and Alcohol

The City University of New York ("CUNY") is an institution committed to promoting the physical, intellectual, and social development of all individuals. As such, CUNY seeks to prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol, which can adversely impact performance and threaten the health and safety of students, employees, their families, and the general public.

Please take a look at the entire policy here.



OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Submitted by Director Eric Radezky, Ph.D.

Update on NYC Participatory Budgeting 

Last fall, I held a Zoom idea-generation session for the Hostos community on NYC Participatory Budgeting, or “PB,” a new citywide program run by the New York City Civic Engagement Commission. Event participants were able to make suggestions on how NYC should spend a certain amount of its annual budget in the coming fiscal year.

Eligible ideas included any project that would benefit the community, cost up to a maximum of $50,000 to implement, and could be run from start to finish in one year.

PB has proceeded since then and is currently in Phase 3, where ideas from Phase 1 have been researched and vetted and are now being translated into the top 30 spoken languages as defined under NYC Local Laws before Phase 4, the voting phase, begins.

A total of 39 borough-wide finalist projects were selected: 10 from Brooklyn, 9 from Queens, 8 each from the Bronx and Manhattan, and 4 from Staten Island. Out of those, 13 will be selected as winning projects, with a proportionate number of projects being delivered to each borough based on population and geographic size. In the Bronx, this means that the top 3 vote-getting projects out of 8 will be funded.

The 8 borough-wide proposals from the Bronx are:

1. Youth performing arts and screenwriting program
2. Trauma-informed child care workshops
3. Empowering migrant women
4. Workplace skills training for adults with autism
5. Creating digital equity by connecting Bronx youth and older adults
6. Youth life skills workshops
7. Summer camp for special needs youth
8. Financial literacy classes for youth

Several of these ideas resemble ideas that came out of the Hostos PB idea generation session, including those pertaining to youth performing arts, empowering migrant women, connecting younger and older Bronxites, and financial literacy classes for youths. The review process must have included combining similar ideas generated at other events. So, while none of these ideas is exactly what we in the Hostos community suggested, some of our ideas were nonetheless incorporated into the list of choices.

The NYC Civic Engagement Commission will release its full list of finalists for all 5 boroughs in mid-April, and voting will take place in May and June. I will keep the Hostos community updated when that happens. But remember, only the top 3 vote-getters in the Bronx will be funded, so if you have a favorite, you need to vote for it, and hopefully get some friends and family members to vote, too! There will be both online and paper ballot voting options. Stay tuned for more updates.

P.S. There will also be a separate list of neighborhood projects (i.e. smaller and more focused than the borough-wide ideas) that will come out in April as well. More details to follow.



NEWS FROM THE DIVISIONS

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS (OAA)

Submitted by Profesor Moise Koffi, Deputy Chair, Math Department

MACSS Scholars’ Celebration

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Mathematics and Computer Science Scholars (MACSS) program held its first in-person meeting and celebrated its first cohort of 15 scholars. The program team is composed of Professors Moise Koffi (PI), Nieves Angulo (Co-PI) and Reginald Dorcely, and Mrs. Diandra Jugmohan (Co-PI). Senior personnel had the opportunity to meet with their mentees. Students who completed the Data Structures and Algorithms workshop received certificates from Ms. Elayne Blancas, Hostos Alumna and Computer Engineering graduate from NYU. Dean Andrea Fabrizio and representatives from the College attended the celebration. 

To learn more about MACSS and its scholars, go here.

Submitted by Ebony Pulley, M.S., Senior Academic Advisor

Succeed@Hostos Series

Succeed@Hostos has been very helpful to me as an ASAP advisor. The appointment system is helpful as students are required to meet with their ASAP advisor on a monthly basis. We focus primarily on student engagement, and the Succeed@Hostos system allows us to track that. The centralized system helps us to work collaboratively as a College.



STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT (SDEM)

Submitted by VP La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

Admissions and Recruitment

The Office of Admissions and Recruitment is gearing up for CUNY Week, which will allow Hostos to highlight our academic programs and support services for prospective students. CUNY Week will occur from Monday, March 27, through Tuesday, April 4.  In addition, there will be in-person and virtual events throughout the week. Marcus Clindinin, Hostos Admission Advisor, will participate in a panel discussion on the value of attending a community college.

Children's Center

New CUNY Website for Childcare

This week, CUNY launched a campaign to promote child care across campuses. Click on this link for more details. 

On April 3 and 4, our Children’s Center will participate in CUNY Child care on Campus Day, along with all the other centers. We will promote our space and offer giveaways donated by Central.

CUNY EDGE

We have begun preparations for our CUNY EDGE Virtual Graduation, which will take place on May 24 at 2:30 p.m. We are reaching out to our graduates to confirm their measurements so that we can give them their caps and gowns as gifts. We will remind students during our graduation event that they can pick up their cap and gown from our office, to wear proudly at the Hostos 55th Anniversary Commencement Ceremonies on May 31 and June 1.

Office of Transfer Services

Have questions about transferring to a four-year school? Need help with your applications? Stop by our office or at one of our events below.

Transfer Talks

Join us and get help with your CUNY Transfer Applications. There are more details under Additional Events.

• Every Tuesday in C-512, from 12 - 1 p.m.

Walk-In Wednesdays

Come in and meet with a member of the Transfer Services Staff and get answers to your questions

• Every Wednesday in D-101-A, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday Transfer Tabling

Come and ask your Transfer questions

• Every Thursday in the A-Atrium, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Additional Events

Mark your calendars for the following events (some locations, times, and links pending):

• April 4: TREX Workshop, C-512, 12 - 1 p.m.
• April 18: CUNY Transfer Application workshop, C-512, 12 - 1 p.m.
• April 20: St. John’s University will be at Thursday's Transfer Tabling with Healthy CUNY.
• April 27: Mercy College will be at Thursday's Transfer Tabling with Healthy CUNY.
• April 28: Understanding Pathways and Transferring at CUNY, C-152, 12 - 1 p.m.



POEMS TO INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY

Submitted by VP La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

"Delta"

By Adrienne Rich

If you have taken this rubble for my past

raking through it for fragments you could sell

know that I long ago moved on

deeper into the heart of the matter.

If you think you can grasp me, think again:

my story flows in more than one direction

a delta springing from the riverbed

with its five fingers spread.



ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE (ADM)

Submitted by SVP Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne

Important Announcements

Campus Infrastructure Project Updates

As we pass the semester mid-point, it is time for another update on some of the infrastructure work taking place on campus.

With the arrival of spring temperatures, the contractors doing the façade work on the south wall of the A-building (adjacent to the park) will resume next week now that the weather is conducive to masonry work. As mentioned in February, the A-building (475 Grand Concourse) façade project work would begin again once temperatures are consistently above 40F. 

The 9 Air handler Project is progressing in the old wing of the A-building and has a target completion date of December 2023.

The 429 Grand Concourse space is undergoing repairs as a result of the December flood. The furniture vendors have evaluated the furniture and are submitting a report to CUNY.  

We will continue to provide other progress updates as they are received.



CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (CEWD)

Submitted by VP Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham, Ph.D., LCSW

Contract Renewed to Provide Microsoft Office Training Program to DC37 Union Members

DC37, New York City's largest public sector employee union, renewed its contract with CEWD to provide Microsoft Office training to its union members. CEWD will provide DC37’s members with 60 hours of training, including Basic Computer, Basic Keyboarding, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This is CEWD’s 10th contract with DC37. To date, over 500 union members have been awarded a Microsoft Office certification. To learn more about our Microsoft Office Certificate Program, click here.

Recurring Announcements

Spring 2023 Catalog is Available Online

Please click here to check it out.

Virtual Information Sessions

To learn more about CEWD’s Spring 2023 program offerings, please attend one of the following upcoming sessions:

• Wednesday, April 5 at 6 PM
• Saturday, April 15 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, April 19 at 6 PM
• Wednesday, May 10 at 6 PM
• Saturday, May 20 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, May 24 at 6 PM

To register for a session, click here.



INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT (DIA)

Submitted by VP Colette Atkins

Do You Need a Ride for the 55th Anniversary Gala?

To help our colleagues get to the event, we are coordinating a shuttle service and encouraging carpools.

Shuttles: The first shuttle will depart at 5 p.m., and a second will depart at 5:30 p.m. from the D (Savoy) Building. Please call Claudia Hernández at 718-518-4394 to reserve a space for yourself in one of the shuttles. Return shuttles from the Surf Club back to campus will run on the half-hour beginning at 9:30 p.m. Space is limited.

Carpools: Chief Bernabe has agreed to arrange additional parking spaces to accommodate potential carpools. If you would like to coordinate a carpool, please contact Claudia Hernández, chernandez@hostos.cuny.edu, about parking options by no later than Friday, April 21.

Also, please do not forget that our 55th Anniversary Gala is on Wednesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. We hope that you are able to join us for this celebration of Hostos. Faculty, staff, and alumni may purchase discounted tickets for $250. Contact Vice President Colette Atkins, catkins@hostos.cuny.edu, or Development Manager Idelsa Méndez, imendez@hostos.cuny.edu, if you have any questions.

Check out our updated event details on the Gala website. 

Recurrent Announcement

The Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships

For Hostos alumni, graduating with an associate degree was just the starting point of a greater academic and career journey. The Hostos Office of Alumni Relations has started a scholarship fund to help outstanding graduates to further their education. We hope our generous Hostos alumni network will consider supporting the Hostos Alumni Fund for Student Transfer Scholarships using this link. For more information, contact Felix Sánchez.

BRAVO NEWS

Celebrating the Accomplishments of the Hostos Community

CCSD Represented at CUNY Board of Trustees Meeting

This week, Ms. Lennyn Jacob and Mr. Isaiah Moore represented Hostos at the CUNY Board of Trustees Disability Sub-Committee meeting. Lennyn is a CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS) student and staff member at Hostos, and Mr. Isaiah Moore is a student. They spoke briefly about their student experience and engagement with the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD). In addition, Hostos student Isaiah Moore discussed his experience as a member of the Wheelchair Basketball Team that began here on our campus. He chose Hostos as the destination to start his college career because of the College's commitment to providing him with a world-class education and access to all programs and co-curricular activities, which are inclusive and accessible to all. Ms. Lennyn Jacob was recognized earlier this month as one of the 2023 Higher Education Power 100 administrators. She serves the community in many ways as a Disability Accommodation Specialist and Chair of the CCSD, organization that currently serves over 11,000 students. Bravi!

Hostos Offers Asynchronous Fully Online Degrees

Returning to campus after the pandemic lockdown has been difficult for many students. Some have had to work, raise a family, or deal with financial issues. In response to this, CUNY has focused on making its online degree offerings more visible to ensure access to higher education regardless of any difficulty. Hostos Community College is part of these efforts and has pioneered its first fully asynchronous online degrees starting in Fall 2023 under the Hostos Online initiative:

• Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences (AA-LAS)
• Community Health
• Teacher Education
• Psychology
• Latina/o American and Caribbean Studies
• Associate in Applied Sciences in Early Childhood Education (AAS-ECE)
• Certificate Community Health Worker (CHW)

One of the greatest bonuses of this project is that all materials will be available, 24/7, on Blackboard. Besides ongoing accessibility, every course offered will transfer to all 4-year CUNY colleges, and online students will have access to all the support services that in-person students get. 

Go here for the full release. 

Resilient Women Celebrated at Hostos

Six resilient women were honored at Hostos on Monday, March 27, in the Faculty Dining Room. Rommy Pennella, Sulma Arzu-Brown, Rosita Mercedes Romero, Zenaida Méndez, Melissa Quesada, and Fátima Rodríguez shared their success stories across the public and private sectors as Latina immigrant women in New York City. Before the panel, the event started with a musical performance by Magdalena Díaz, Hostos alumna and CUNY EDGE advisor. She was followed by President Cocco De Filippis, who shared some of her own resilience stories from an academic and administrative perspective. The well-attended event was hosted by the Office of the President and co-moderated by Dean Ana García Reyes and Sandra Harris, Associate Vice President for Government and Community Affairs at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Two of Our High School Students Prevail at Science Conference

Congratulations to five Hostos Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) students who presented at the 23rd Annual STEP Statewide Student Conference this past weekend! Two students, Erika Olvera and Lismary Pichardo, both in 10th grade, won the 2nd place trophy in the physical sciences category for their project titled “Design of a Mini Refrigerator with Plywood Cabinet.” They were mentored by Dr. Moise Koffi, Associate Professor and Deputy Chair of the Mathematics Department.

Students Isabella Nwokeji (10th grade), Ivanna Nwokei (12th grade), and Gilda Sarfo (12th grade) were also in attendance, and all presenters received medals for participating in the poster competition. Congratulations to them all!

Proyecto Access STEP engages middle and high school students from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to become scientists or engineers and provides them with academic enrichment in the pursuit of these fields.

Four Members of our Hostos Family Receive Doctorates

Congratulations to new doctorate recipients for completing the degree of Doctor of Education, Ed.D in Instructional Leadership:

Maria Cano (Director of College Discovery, SDEM)

Silvia Reyes (Director of Special Projects and Student Engagement, OAA)

Linda Ridley (Lecturer, Business Department, OAA)

Sheryce Woolery (SSCU Coach, SDEM)

Please join us in celebrating these outstanding colleagues!



HOSTOS FOR EVERYONE

Free Services for the Community

Hostos Offers Free Preventive Dental Hygiene Services to the Public

For more information and scheduling, call 718-319-7943.



The appointment schedule is as follows: 

Mondays: 9 AM - 1 PM and 2 - 6 PM

Wednesdays: 8 AM - 12 PM and 2:30 - 6:30 PM

Fridays: 9 AM - 1 PM and 2 - 6 PM

Location: Hostos Dental Hygiene Patient Care Facility

500 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY 10451

B-Building 

The Dental Hygiene Patient Care Facility at Hostos Community College is a teaching unit that provides high-quality dental care, primarily cleanings and dental x-rays to the community, while adhering to the most current sterilization techniques. Several appointments will be needed and each may last three hours at a time.

Note: The clinic does not provide restorative dental work such as fillings, implants, etc.



EVENTS

Title: Xiomara Fortuna – The Queen of Afro-Caribbean Fusion

Date | Time: Saturday, April 1 | 8 PM

Location: Main Theater

Description: Xiomara Fortuna is the Dominican Republic’s queen of Afro-Caribbean fusion with over 40 years of visionary artistic work - fusing ancestral Caribbean music with rock, hip-hop, jazz, merengue, bachata, funk, reggae…and so much more! Performing new songs from her 17th and most recent album, “Eta que tú ves,” she will showcase - live on stage with drums, percussion, bass & vocals - the cultural richness of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. Reserve tickets at the HCAC box office here.

Title: COUNSELING CENTER EVENT | Own Your Power Through Expression

Date | Time: Monday, April 3 | 3:30 - 5 PM 

Location: A-Building Atrium 

Description: An art gallery-style showcase reflecting the many ways individuals can choose and have chosen to "Own Your Power through Expression" to combat and bring awareness to all forms of sexual violence; featuring art displays, interactive stations, resources, and a performance by G!rl Be Heard as well as raffles and refreshments. In collaboration with ASAP, SDEM, SGA, SLA, OSA, Athletics, and the Bronx DA's Office - Enough is Enough.

Title: The History of Latin Music & Latin Jazz, Part XV – Hosted by Joe Conzo, Sr.

Date | Time: Every Saturday through April 22, 11 AM -1 PM

Location: Zoom

Description: Hosted by music historian Joe Conzo, Sr., “The History of Latin Music and Latin Jazz” is a free seminar series that highlights the diverse music pioneers and their impact on the history of Latin music and jazz. Learn about musicians and artists like Graciela, known as the First Lady of Latin Jazz, Celia Cruz, Olga Guillot, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Jorrín, Johnny Rodríquez, Julio Gutiérrez and many

others that helped create and influence the music of this time.

Title: “Black Resistance in the Workplace” featuring Chris Smalls

Date | Time: Tuesday, April 25 | 3:30 PM

Location: TBD

Title: 2023 Hostos Community College Foundation 55th Anniversary Gala

Date | Time: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 | Time: 6 PM

Location: Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle  

Title: COUNSELING CENTER EVENT | Vision Board

Date | Time: Tuesday, May 2 | 3 PM

Location: FDR Room

Description: This event will help students remember why they chose to pursue a college degree and thus increase and maintain their motivation as they push on toward finals.

Title: “The Racialized Politics of Education in 2023” featuring CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Affairs, Strategic Advancement and Special Counsel Glenda Grace

Date | Time: Monday, May 8 | 11 AM

Location: TBD



ABOUT EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO / THE HOSTOS WEEKLY

El Semanario Hostosiano / The Hostos Weekly is a communication vehicle designed to unite our multiple voices as we share news about members of the Hostos family, provide updates on our projects and upcoming events, and disseminate policy that impacts our work.  

Published on Fridays at 9 a.m.



NOTE: We will be observing the Spring Break holiday. El Semanario Hostosiano / The Hostos Weekly will return on April 21, 2023. Enjoy this season with family and friends!

For inclusion in The Hostos Weekly, please send your items to:

publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu at least two weeks ahead of publication.

Please keep submissions to no more than two paragraphs of written content and note,

we are unable to add attachments to our publication.

Find the Spring 2023 Publishing Schedule for El Semanario Hostosiano / The Hostos Weekly here.

Past issues can be found here.