Friday, May 12, 2023 | Vol. 6, No. 15

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

My Dear Colleagues and Students,

Let me begin by wishing you a restful and enjoyable weekend as we honor the mothers in our lives. There have been significant weeks of celebration at Hostos, marking the approaching end of the semester and upcoming commencement ceremonies.

I am delighted to share with you a summary of how we plan to celebrate one of the most important events of the year for us and the names of awardees and speakers.

Commencement 2023

Grand Marshal: Prof. Nieves Angulo, Math Department Chair

Master of Ceremonies: Prof. Charles Drago, Allied Health Sciences Department Chair

Commencement Speaker: Sarah Aponte of CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI)

Valedictorian: Yassine Gaye

Salutatorian: Subrena Williams

Honorary Degree Recipient: Mr. Bill Aguado

Representatives of the CUNY Board of Trustees: Fernando Ferrer and Herminia Palacio

Representative of the Chancellery: AVC and Chief of Staff Dolly Martinez

Presidential Medal Recipients 2023

Mr. Elias Alcántara, Chair of the CAC and Strategic Plan Steering Committee Member

Ms. Cira Angeles, Nasry Michelen Foundation Board Chair

Professor Sarah Aponte, Alumna and Chief Librarian of CUNY DSI

Dr. Babette Audant, Dean of OAA and OIERA

Chief Arnaldo Bernabe, Public Safety Director

Ms. Yassine Gaye, Valedictorian

Professor Linda Hirsch, English Department

Professor Thelma Ithier-Sterling, Humanities Department

Mr. Fabian Wander, Health and Wellness Services Director

Wednesday, May 31, at 2 p.m. in the Main Theater

Celebrating: HERO High, Hostos Lincoln Academy, Liberal Arts (AA), Liberal Arts and Sciences (AS), Criminal Justice (AA), Chemical Engineering Science (AS), Civil Engineering Science (AS), Computer Science (AS), Electrical Engineering Science (AS), Forensic Science (AS), Food Studies (AS), Paralegal Studies (AAS), Public Policy and Administration (AAS), Mathematics (AS), and Mechanical Engineering Science (AS).

Thursday, June 1, at 11 a.m. in the Main Theater

Celebrating: Accounting (AS), Accounting (AAS), Aging and Health Studies (AAS), Business Management (AS), Community Health (AS), Dental Hygiene (AAS), Digital Design & Animation (AAS), Digital Music (AAS), Early Childhood Education (AAS), Game Design (AAS), Nursing (AAS), Accounting for Forensic Accounting (AS), Office Technology (AAS), Radiologic Technology (AAS), Police Science (AS), and LPN (certificate).

I look forward to seeing you at commencement!  

Mil gracias y bendiciones,

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.

President



A POEM

MESSAGE FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ

Dear Hostos Students,

As the academic year draws to a close, we stand on the brink of an extraordinary milestone together. The last few days of classes are uniquely significant — a time of reflection, connection, and celebration. So, let us gather our thoughts and hearts to share a message that resonates with our collective journey.

Reflect: As you prepare to bid farewell to another transformative year, take a moment to reflect upon the experiences of this semester. Recall the late nights of studying, the classroom debates, and the friendships formed along the way. Recognize the challenges you overcame and the knowledge you gained inside and outside the classroom. Celebrate your growth, resilience, and the individuals you have become.

Connect: These final days, allow yourselves to strengthen the bonds you have formed throughout this time together. Reconnect with classmates, professors, and staff who have left a lasting impact on you. Engage in conversations that foster curiosity, empathy, and collaboration. Share your appreciation and gratitude for the relationships that have supported your personal and academic growth. Remember, the connections we build now can extend far beyond these campus walls.

Acknowledge: Finally, let us acknowledge the challenges we faced as a community during this academic year. We overcame adversity, adapted to change, and remained resilient throughout. Remember the strength and determination that brought us together and use it as a catalyst for the future.

For those preparing for graduation, let us honor the legacy we leave behind and the bright futures that lie ahead. Embrace this time to celebrate your accomplishments, forge lasting connections, and create memories that accompany you on your journey. Together, we have shaped our college experience, and now it's time to take our place in the world as ambassadors of Hostos.

Congratulations on reaching this milestone, dear students. Wishing you success, fulfillment, and boundless joy in all your future endeavors.

With heartfelt appreciation,

José González

CAIMAN CLUES

Weekly Tips & Reminders to Navigate Life at Hostos

Summer is almost here, but first, finals! Before the semester ends, make sure you take advantage of scholarship opportunities, check in with your class professors, and plan for the summer. Here are the Caiman Clues:

●    Don’t let Fs or WUs Happen to You: If you have not been attending class or submitting work and do not plan on finishing a particular class, it can seriously impact your GPA and financial aid. If you think you may get a WU or F grade, contact your Academic Advisor/Success Coach. The deadline to withdraw from a class is Tuesday, May 16.   

●    Scholarships still open: In need of additional financial support? It's not too late to apply for scholarships this semester. There are open applications. Peruse scholarship opportunities here.

●    Summer Job Opportunity: Be a CUNY Explorers Visit Guide and help new students find their way around the Hostos campus. Compensation starts at $20/hour. If interested, send your resume to jsnavely@hostos.cuny.edu.

●    Prepare for Finals: Hostos tutoring services are still available in-person or online. The Writing Center and Hostos Academic Learning Center (HALC) tutors are available and ready to help cross the finish line. Watch this video on how to request an HALC appointment and visit the Writing Center’s registration page.

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

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

Dear Students and Colleagues,

This past week we concluded our activities for the Hostos Campus Climate Initiative for this semester with the final Silent Agreements workshop and a special training on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility offered by the Accessibility Resource Center and the Office of Educational Technology. I am extremely grateful to all the students, faculty, and staff representing various departments across Hostos that participated in these activities. I hope that these learning opportunities provided increased knowledge and skills that can be applied in our daily work and relationship-building at Hostos and beyond. It has been a wonderful experience launching the Hostos Campus Climate Initiative with the support of the CUNY Transformation grant. I look forward to continuing these efforts in the upcoming academic year to further strengthen our Hostos community and promote the supportive campus climate that makes us unique.

We are only a few days away from the Shine Your Light Poetry Celebration Day to be held on May 16, 2023. This special culminating event, sponsored by Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives, will celebrate the College’s 55th anniversary and close out the semester with a wonderful gathering to showcase the beauty and transcendency of poetry shared by our very own students, faculty, and staff. If you are interested in reading your favorite poem, whether an original or one by your favorite poet, we are still accepting submissions until the end of today. We will include all the poetry submissions in the printed program to provide a commemorative keepsake for all participants and attendees.

All are welcome to attend and join in this festive afternoon as we come together to listen and share the poems that inspire us and bring meaning and beauty to our lives. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please note the event details below.

Event: Shine Your Light Poetry Celebration Day

Date: Tuesday, May 16, from 1 – 3 PM

Location: Savoy Multi-Purpose Room (120 East 149 Street, 2nd Floor)

To sign up to read your favorite poem, click here. Deadline extended to May 12 (today).

Recurring Announcements

As we near the end of the semester, I want to highlight other important deadlines:

●    We are inviting student applications for a new NextGen Public Health Scholars Program cohort! This program provides a pathway to careers in public health by providing full tuition coverage, stipends, and other supports, at Hostos and our partner Columbia University.

The application deadline is May 15, and I encourage all interested students to get started right away and access the application here. Use CUNYfirst login to access.

●    The Hostos Research Center and CSPG (Committee for Sponsored Programs and Grants) has issued a new Call for Proposals for the 2023 IDEAS Project Development Awards (Innovating, Developing, and Executing Actions with Success). Faculty and staff are invited to submit proposals addressing institutional needs and/or current research questions with potential to be translated and materialized into a full-fledged project eligible for external funding. Each HRC-CSPG – IDEAS Project will receive $1,000 or $2,000 as a summer 2023 stipend/start-up funding to develop a grant proposal to be submitted to an external funding opportunity.

Click here to access the Call for Proposals. Application deadline is May 31, 2023.

For more information about Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives, please email or call Sofia Oviedo at soviedo@hostos.cuny.edu | Tel: 718-518-4309



OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Submitted by Director Eric Radezky, Ph.D.

Passport Delays

The Office of Congressman Ritchie Torres reports that the U.S. State Department has announced increasing delays with passport applications, which means that many people who recently applied for a passport are experiencing longer than usual wait times.

If you or someone you know needs a passport, or yours is expiring, apply here!

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE AND DIVERSITY

Submitted by Chief Diversity Officer, Title IX Coordinator, and 504/ADA Coordinator Philip Oliveri, Esq.

The Office of Compliance and Diversity would like to celebrate that May has been designated as the following:

●   Haitian Heritage Month

●   Jewish American Heritage Month

●   Mental Health Awareness Month

●   National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

●   Older Americans Month

●   Personal History Awareness Month

●   South Asian Heritage Month

●   Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

●   Indian Heritage Month

Please note that this is not an all-encompassing list. We welcome all your suggestions to include celebrations we may not have recognized. Email us at OCD@hostos.cuny.edu with your thoughts.

NEWS FROM THE DIVISIONS

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS (OAA)

Hostos Participates in City Tech Conference

On Friday, May 5, CUNY New York City College of Technology (City Tech) held the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) conference, "Promoting Servingness Across CUNY HSIs." Hostos was incredibly well represented and recognized as having the most representation at the conference. Seven institutions were invited, and Hostos had 6 out of the 19 total poster presentations.

The poster presentations were:

“Promoting College Enrollment, Employability & Credit Accumulation Among Latinx Continuing Education Students at Hostos” by Samuel Byrd (Director of College Transition and Alternative Credit Programs

“Reclaiming the Connection Between Community & Senior Colleges Within CUNY” by Francisco Fernández (Natural Sciences), Amanda Bernal-Carlo (Natural Sciences), Inda Garcia (Natural Sciences)

“Supporting South Bronx’s Student Parents & the Next Generation in STEM Education” by Norberto Hernandez Valdes-Portela (Economics), Sarah Hoiland (Behavioral and Social Sciences), Biao Jiang (Natural Sciences), JungHang Lee (Mathematics), and Elys Vasquez-Iscan (Health Education)

 “Quality of Life Measure Before & After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation in a Latin Population” by Sofia Oviedo (Research Programs Director) and Elizabeth Soto (Community Health Student)

 “Enhancing Engineering Education at an HSI Through a Successful Combined Financial & Mentorship Program” Yoel Rodríguez (Natural Sciences), Antonios Varelas (Behavioral and Social Sciences), Nieves Angulo (Mathematics), Clara Nieto-Wire (Mathematics), Anthony L. DePass

 “Best Practices in the Latinx Classroom” by Natasha Lorca Yannacañedo (Humanities)

We also had a team give the oral presentation “Community & Servingness at Hostos Community College” consisting of Clara Nieto-Wire (Mathematics), Karin Lundberg (Language & Cognition), Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs Andrea Fabrizio (English), Anders Stachelek (Mathematics), Claude Fernández (Business & Accounting), Daliz Perez-Cabezas (Continuing Education and Workforce Development), Inmaculada Lara-Bonilla (Humanities), Silvia Reyes (CUNY Language Immersion Program), and Karina Guardiola (Student Success Coaching Unit).

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT (SDEM)

Submitted by VP La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

Admissions and Recruitment

●    The Office of Admissions and Recruitment is accepting applications for Fall 2023. All applicants are encouraged to visit our virtual office space to connect with an Admission Advisor. The Office offers in-person and online services during regular office hours to prospective and currently enrolled students Monday through Friday.

●    The Office of Admissions and Recruitment continues to push its boundaries by recruiting at Portchester High School. The college fair, held on Wednesday, April 19, hosted students from grades 10 through 12 and had parents, teachers, and counselors in attendance. Portchester High School, located in Rye Brook, New York, has a culturally diverse student body and is one of the few Westchester high schools authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. Currently, college-level courses are offered with the Westchester Community College Advanced College Experience Program and SUNY Oneonta.

●    The Office of Admissions and Recruitment hosts ongoing Information Sessions for prospective students. If you are interested in participating in our events, please contact Mr. Carlos Rivera, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, at carivera@hostos.cuny.edu.

Children’s Center

The Hostos Children’s Center has been proudly providing on-campus services for 40 years. During the COVID pandemic, the center was closed. We are happy to announce that the Center was able to reopen to provide for the educational and developmental needs of the children of Hostos student parents. At the time of reopening, Hostos students were just finding their way back to campus, as most were enrolled in online classes.

At the time, our enrollment was a total of 17 children. Today, one year later, the Children’s Center has close to 60 children enrolled and a robust waiting list for its Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 semesters. We are also able to offer opportunities (space permitting) to our faculty and staff using a sliding-fee scale.

We are well on our way to filling our space to capacity, thanks to the support of the College, CUNY, and of course, our wonderful student-parents who persevere every day! The Center now cares for infants, one-year-olds, twos, and pre-school-age children. This means as parents journey to meet their own educational goals, their children can stay at the Children’s Center all the way until kindergarten. The Center can also assist student-parents with applying for funding to cover our nominal tuition.

The Children’s Center is part of the Student Support Services of SDEM. Hours of Operation are Monday – Friday, from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please visit our website here to learn more about the great work and initiatives currently in place at the Children’s Center. Our staff is happy to answer any questions regarding enrollment or our programming.

Scholarships



Currently, there are 28 scholarships available, including two from SGA. The deadlines for the Spring semester are from April 15 through May 27. If you are interested in applying, go here.

CUNY EDGE

We received confirmation that our keynote speaker for our CUNY EDGE Virtual Graduation Event will be Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. We are very excited to have the Borough President attend our event on May 24 at 2:30 p.m. and deliver the keynote address to our CUNY EDGE Class of 2023.

Transfer Services

During the first weeks of April, Lehman College hosted our students on a campus tour. We had a dozen students interested in touring Lehman’s beautiful campus. One of the students who went on the tour said, “I am so happy I did this, I wasn’t sure between Lehman and John Jay – but I am definitely choosing Lehman.” It was a great experience for our students to be welcomed onto campus, to see the services Lehman offers, and to envision themselves at their next school. We are excited to add more CUNY schools to our tour list. Next up, we are traveling across the bridge to Harlem to visit the City College of New York!

Please do not forget we still offer one more orientation event:

Transfer Talks – May 16

Tuesday | C-512 | 12 - 1 PM

POEMS TO INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY

Submitted by VP La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

“Justice”

Langston Hughes

That Justice is a blind goddess

Is a thing to which we black are wise:

Her bandage hides two festering sores

That once perhaps were eyes



ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE (ADM)

Submitted by SVP Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne

Important Announcement

Introducing Robert Lev, our new Executive Director of Facilities Planning, Design, and Management

Robert Lev has been the newly appointed Executive Director of Facilities Planning, Design, and Management at Hostos, since Tuesday, April 18. Robert, a licensed architect, brings with him 30 years of experience in various architectural, construction, planning, and management roles.

He began his career in the private sector working at several NYC architectural firms, including Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, where he was a project architect in their Aviation and Transportation Focus Group. In 2005, he moved to the public sector and began working at the CUNY Department of Design, Construction & Management (CUNY DDCM). For the past seventeen years, he worked as a Senior Capital Project Manager supporting capital projects at several CUNY campuses, including City College, Brooklyn College, and… yes, Hostos as well! He is, therefore, well acquainted with the campus and its many ongoing and planned capital projects, including the renovation of the 3rd floor of the 500 Grand Concourse B-Building, several HVAC projects at the 475 Grand Concourse A-Building, and the completion of the much anticipated new Advisement Center in our newly-leased space at 429 Grand Concourse.

Through architecture and planning, Robert looks forward to working with faculty, staff, and students in helping create a better-built environment for the greater Hostos community.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and is a registered Architect in the State of New York.

Please welcome Executive Director Lev to the College!

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (CEWD)

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

CEWD Participates in the CUNY Strengthening Community College Career Expo Event

The second annual CUNY Strengthening Community College’s (SCC) Career Expo was held on Wednesday, April 19. Sixty (60) participants attended the virtual event. CEWD Senior Director of Operations, Dana Lennon, moderated a panel discussion with employers and prospective students seeking information about the healthcare sector. Panelists included representatives from Northwell Health, Montefiore’s Community Health Worker Institute, Senior Care EMS, and New York University Langone Health. This recruitment event gave prospective students the opportunity to learn from employers about the skills and training required to obtain employment in the healthcare sector. In addition, employers answered questions from participants about how to stand out in a competitive job market.

The SCC grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to a consortium of CUNY colleges led by Queensborough Community College. The US DOL SCC Grant will build the capacity of CUNY community colleges to collaborate with employers and the public workforce development system to meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce. As part of this four-year initiative, Hostos received $700,007.

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:

• Saturday, May 20 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, May 24 at 6 PM
• Wednesday, June 7 at 6 PM
• Saturday, June 24 at 11 AM
• Wednesday, June 28 at 6 PM

To register for a session, click here.



INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT (DIA)

Submitted by VP Colette Atkins

Help the Hostos Repertory Company Go to Scotland

Ten Hostos students of the Hostos Repertory Company will perform their play “What You Will” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August! To keep this unique opportunity available to all students, the Hostos Foundation is raising funds to defray the cost of the trip. Thanks to generous donors and available funds at the College, we are just $19,000 away from our goal. If you would like to make a gift to help students afford this transformative opportunity, click here.

BRAVO NEWS

Celebrating the Accomplishments of the Hostos Community

Congratulations and Thank You to Hostos Participants of Bronx Community College (BCC) “Run the Bronx” Race!

The Office of the President wishes to congratulate the Hostos team that represented us at the BCC “Run the Bronx” Race on Saturday, May 6! Thanks to CEWD College Assistant Melanie García, the family members that joined her, and CUNY EDGE Advisor Magdalena Díaz for being our magnificent ambassadors for this event!

Hostos Represented at Department of Transportation Partnership Meeting

Thanks to CEWD VP Evelyn Fernández-Ketcham and Dean of Community Relations Ana García Reyes, who represented Hostos at the Workforce Development Partnership Breakfast. The meeting was hosted by NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez, DOT Workforce Development Director Glennis Gómez, and CUNY community college leaders.

“The objective of the meeting is to work with CUNY students to promote NYC DOT initiatives focused on building pathways for internships and employment opportunities. We are grateful to the conveners for having us be part of this important conversation,” said García Reyes.

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: Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Ray De La Paz and Miguel Zenón

Date | Time: Saturday, May 13 | 8 PM

Location: Main Theater

Description: With three Grammy Awards and six Grammy nominations, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Oscar Hernández triumphantly returns to Hostos Center. Joining them are special guest artists Ray De La Paz and Miguel Zenón. Purchase tickets here.

Title: All College Meeting: End-of-Semester Gathering and Recognitions

Date | Time: Monday, May 15 | 3 PM

Location: Zoom

Description: All members of the College are invited to attend the end-of-semester All College Meeting that will celebrate the hard work put into moving forward together!

Title: 39th Annual Honors Convocation Ceremony

Date | Time: Wednesday, May 24 | 6 PM

Location: Main Theater

Description: All faculty and staff are cordially invited to celebrate academic excellence and student achievement in leadership at the 39th Annual Honors Convocation Ceremony.

Title: 55th Anniversary First Commencement Ceremony

Date | Time: Wednesday, May 31 | 2 PM

Location: Main Theater

Description: Please note that the graduating students and candidates are: HERO High, Hostos Lincoln Academy, Liberal Arts (AA), Liberal Arts and Sciences (AS), Criminal Justice (AA), Chemical Engineering Science (AS), Civil Engineering Science (AS), Computer Science (AS), Electrical Engineering Science (AS), Forensic Science (AS), Food Studies (AS), Paralegal Studies (AAS), Public Policy and Administration (AAS), Mathematics (AS), and Mechanical Engineering Science (AS). Find the information you need here.

Title: 55th Anniversary Second Commencement Ceremony

Date | Time: Thursday, June 1 | 11 AM

Location: Main Theater

Description: The graduating students and candidates for the second ceremony are: AAS, certificate programs and all other AS programs as follows: (Accounting (AS), Accounting (AAS), Business Management (AS), Aging and Health Studies (AAS), Dental Hygiene (AAS), Digital Design & Animation (AAS), Community Health (AS), Digital Music (AAS), Early Childhood Education (AAS), Game Design (AAS), Nursing (AAS), Accounting for Forensic Accounting (AS), Office Technology (AAS), Radiologic Technology (AAS), Police Science (AS), and LPN (certificate). Find the information you need here.                  

                                    

Title: ¡Merengueras Dominicanas!

Date | Time: Friday, June 2 | 8 PM

Location: Repertory Theater

Description: Merengueras Dominicanas celebrates outstanding women in merengue. Indira Rubiera, Ninoshka and Lidia de la Rosa will perform in an extraordinary evening of típico, modern and super-modern merengue live on stage. Get tickets here.

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.



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.