EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO/HOSTOS WEEKLY | December 17, 2021 | Vol. 3 No. 16

Friday, December 17, 2021 | Vol. 3 No. 16, Fall 2021 Semester

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

My Dear Colleagues and Students,

These are just a few brief words to thank you for a year of commitment, generosity and results. We have had significant moving forward together benchmarks.

I wish you and yours peace of mind, good health, some rest and much joy.

As always, I take this opportunity to remind all of us that we are all safe when we are all vaccinated or have received a booster. Please be sure not to let the semester end without being part of the solution. So very much appreciated.

Happy Holidays and Health and Prosperity in the New Year.

Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.

President

SHARING A POEM

Simple Gifts

Anonymous

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free,

‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain’d,

To bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d,

To turn, turn will be our delight

‘Till by turning, turning we come round right.

McCosker, K., & Albery, N. (Eds). Poem A Day (p. 459). Hanover: NH, Steerforth Press L.L.C. Copyright 1994 by The Natural Death Centre. American Edition Copyright 1999,1996 by The Natural Death Centre.

MIDDLE STATES SELF-STUDY UPDATE

Submitted by MSCHE Steering Committee Co-Chairs Professor Kate S. Wolfe and Professor Nelson Nuñez Rodríguez

Reflection and Analysis on Social Justice Scope of our Institution Mission

The Self-Study preliminary visit by our MSCHE Accreditation Team Chair Dr. Clayton Railey encouraged us to reflect and deepen the analysis of our institutional landscape. Indeed, Dr. Railey recommended creating a fertile inquiry arena to build our upcoming strategic plan. He suggested using this occasion to strengthen the Social Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion scope of our mission, and more importantly, to substantiate this scope with concrete actions and related effectiveness across all divisions. Regarding this point, the preliminary visit reinforced the need to disaggregate data to identify specific student populations in our institution needing tailored support.

During his visit, Dr. Railey pointed out that Hostos can do a lot more to leverage and highlight its social justice work of the past and present. We have a lot more opportunities there to explore as a community college. Dr. Railey also spoke about exploring creative ways to enhance Prior Learning Assessment and the bridge between non-credit and credit academic offerings.These two processes open avenues to increase enrollment, build student academic momentum, and galvanize students' sense of belonging to higher education settings. Overall, Dr. Railey strongly suggested taking advantage of the inquiry climate created by the Self-Study journey in order to strategize next steps for our institution. These coming actions should consider current and future student needs in the present and upcoming post-pandemic higher education landscape.

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, RESEARCH, AND ASSESSMENT

Submitted by Dean of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Assessment Babette Audant, Ph.D.

Aspen, Student Success and the Power of the Cohort (We don’t go it alone)

Every two years, the Aspen Institute selects 150 of the ~1,000 community colleges nationwide to apply for the Aspen Prize. Hostos is among those 150 for the third time (2017, and 2015, when we were a Top 10 Finalist). It’s an honor to be chosen. We’re among five other CUNY community colleges making our respective cases for what distinguishes us from the rest, as well as collectively indicating the awesome role we play in NYC as the most accessible points of entry to socio-economic mobility.

The Aspen application was submitted ahead of the December 13 deadline, thanks to the incredible coordination and responsiveness of individuals across Hostos and with an appreciation for the lessons learned through the process, as well as underscoring once again the deep love people across this campus feel for Hostos, and our shared mission.

Applying for Aspen after hosting the Middle States Team Chair visit in November highlights the value of the Self-Study report as an invitation to analyze process as well as outcomes, and “show the work” of arriving at conclusions about what we do next. It’s not always an intellectual exercise, but the Self-Study process does have space for integration of mission, and vision. Aspen, on the other hand, cares about the outcomes, and the application frames the Aspen Institute’s priorities: equity (as a quantifiable set of goals) and overall performance across all phases of students’ educational experiences from application to Gateway completion to retention to transfer and employment. We do okay and can do better from an equity perspective, with performance gaps that mirror those nationwide, and whose ubiquity doesn’t release us from the responsibility of responding. In short, our male-identifying students are not retained, nor do they graduate in 3 years, or transfer within 2 years, at the rate of female-identifying students. And, as a community college located in the South Bronx, we are committed to serving all our students and supporting better outcomes across racial/ethnic/gendered intersected lines.

What makes a difference? For male-identifying students and for all students?

An important predictor of positive outcomes is participation in a cohort program, whether it be College Discovery and ASAP, the network of STEM supports including CSTEP, Black Male Initiative at Hostos, and the joint dual degree program in Engineering, or the Allied Health clinical programs. There are numerous other cohorts at Hostos including the Honors Program that fosters intellectual engagement and mentoring opportunities, and the Family Empowerment Program that helps student parents make connections across the college and throughout the community, accessing resources that keep student parents in school. The power of cohort programs is that students have an opportunity to develop and exercise trust for an advisor, faculty, or staff member, and to lean into that trust. They also have an opportunity to collaborate with and support peers. At a college where most students race in and out on their way to work, in-between drop-offs and pickups, there isn’t always a lot of time for students to develop peer networks.

A recent Chronicle of Higher Education article suggests that we stop asking why students leave college and instead ask what keeps them in college. The author, Aaron Basko, cites a study that identified two things students need to feel like they belong: “they need to know someone on campus has their back, and they need a chance to do something really meaningful to them at least once a week.” There are many other things students need, and it’s simplistic to reduce complex and often competing needs to something that is hard to measure. And yet it’s foolish to overlook the power of relationships as essential glue to college. Learning from what we already do well, we can seed those opportunities more intentionally.

Happy holidays to all!!! May the new year bring light, joy, and health!

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Submitted by Director of Governmental and External Affairs Eric Radezky, Ph.D.

The following updates come from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Assemblymember Chantel Jackson, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York City Housing Authority, and the nonprofit organization Hunger Free NYC.

I. EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP BENEFITS

Due to new eligibility rules, more college students are now eligible to receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps) benefits. If you or anyone you know — whether they are a student or not — would like help finding out if you qualify, and to get application assistance, call Hunger Free NYC at 646-355-1475.

Also, for help locating emergency food programs, like food pantries and soup kitchens, in your neighborhood, call USDA National Hunger Hotline at 866-3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479) or 877-8-HAMBRE (877-842-6273).

II. HOUSING LOTTERY

The lottery application for JEROME AVENUE APARTMENTS is open until January 18, 2022. You can apply online or you can request an application by mail, by sending a self-addressed envelope to: Jerome Avenue Apartments c/o Bronx Pro Group, 1605 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Bronx, NY 10453.

III. NYC LANDLORDS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HEAT AND HOT WATER

By law, New York City has an eight-month-long “heat season” from October 1 to May 31 during which all residential building owners are required to maintain indoor temperatures at 68 degrees when outdoor temperatures fall below 55 degrees during the day. Indoor temperatures must also be a minimum of 62 degrees overnight, regardless of outdoor temperatures. Building owners are legally required to provide hot water at 120 degrees year-round.

If an apartment lacks appropriate heat and/or hot water, tenants should first attempt to notify the building owner, managing agent or superintendent. If service is not restored, the tenant should register an official complaint via 311. To file a complaint, tenants can call 311, visit 311 online or use the app 311Mobile (on Android and iOS devices) to file a complaint. Hearing-impaired tenants can register complaints via a Touchtone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 212-504-4115.

Low-income property owners having trouble maintaining heat in their homes should contact the Home Energy Assistance Program at 1-800-692-0557. Eligible households can learn more information about assistance in paying heating bills or repairing heating equipment.

For NYCHA Residents

NYCHA residents follow a different procedure. Those residents experiencing issues with heat or hot water should call the NYCHA Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or report the issue via the MyNYCHA mobile app or web version. They should also contact NYCHA when:

The apartment temperature is out of range.
They have hot pipes and cold radiators.
A window is not closing properly.
Steam is leaking into the apartment.
The building’s front entrance door does not fully close.

View the NYCHA Journal for a list of helpful tips to keep apartments warm during the winter season.

IV. FAFSA FOR STUDENTS WITH UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS

FAFSA applications are now open. If you’re a college student with undocumented parents, you can still apply for federal student aid. All you need to do is follow these instructions while completing your application:

If your parents do not have social security numbers, enter 000-00-0000 when the FAFSA application asks for their SSN (Do NOT enter a Taxpayer identification Number in the SSN field). Your parents won’t be able to create FSA IDs or sign your FAFSA form electronically. So, here’s what to do instead:

Print and fill out the FAFSA application (do not use the online form) and have your parents sign it.
FAFSA 2021-2022 form (Spanish version here)
FAFSA 2023-2023 form (Spanish version here)
Mail it to: FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAMS, P.O. Box 7650, London, KY 40742-7650.

Complete your FAFSA application before June 30th to meet the priority deadline for most schools in New York. If you need to check the status of your application, you can call 1-800-433-3243 or review your online application: http://fafsa.gov.

FAFSA is still open for the 2021–2022 academic year and there is still time to be considered for financial aid until the federal deadline of June 30, 2022. Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible if you have not done so already.

FAFSA opened for the 2022–2023 academic year on October 1, 2021. Apply as soon as possible and be sure to check priority deadlines for your school. CUNY’s Filing Date info can be found here.

If you have questions about your FAFSA application, please contact the Hostos Financial Aid Office at 718-518-6555 or at [email protected].

NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Submitted by Professor Hector López

Reflection on the Late General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired) United States Secretary of State (2001–2005), Chairman, The National Society of Pershing Rifles, The City College of New York

The late General Colin Powell was the Chairman of our fraternity, The National Society of Pershing Rifles. The century-old fraternal organization was initiated at The City College of New York (CCNY) in 1937. Based on a foundation of respect, hard work, discipline, and camaraderie, the fraternity still has a cadre of ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) cadets on campus – CUNY PRs.

The bond of fellowship and camaraderie among CUNY PRs continues to be a strong source of pride today, with approximately 210 members of the CCNY Pershing Rifles remaining in touch through periodic reunions and gatherings.

Such was the case of our summer “Reunion 2000” at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. It was a grand reunion, and many memories and personal stories of years passed were shared, especially with General Colin as the Keynote Speaker. It was during this period that Powell was being considered for United States Secretary of State (2001–2005) and would become the first African American Secretary of State.

He gave his best effort and skills to a range of undertakings to better the life of others. This is exemplified in his message: “…I hope each of you in your community can find a way to help kids. Be a Big Brother or Sister. Be a volunteer reader at school. There are lots of ways to help. This is a great way for us to continue to serve our country.”

For Colin, the students we serve today are just like some of us were so many years ago: immigrant, not a lot of money, diverse and wanting an education. He strongly felt that education was the Achilles heel of America, and therefore increasing the nation’s high school graduation rates, should be an essential goal.

Colin’s autobiography, “My American Journey” (1995), is the personification of the American dream and a memoir distinguished by a profound love of country and family, warm good humor, and a soldier’s directness strengthened throughout his career — in the military and in public life.

A product of Morris High School in the Bronx and a graduate of CCNY, Colin Powell was truly a “Modern-Day Renaissance Man,” genuinely competent in and with an understanding of multiple different fields, all of which complemented one another to make him a more talented and productive person. The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at The City College of New York (1997) is a testament to his vision of the greatness of America and the opportunities it offers.

Submitted by Office of Academic Affairs

Spotlight on Faculty Leadership

Professor Yoel Rodriguez — Principal Investigator of the HEAT grant and professor of physics in the Natural Sciences Department — and the HEAT grant team are celebrating the most recent HEAT student scholar awards. OAA is pleased to share the news and encourage your outreach and notes of congratulations to the students and to Professor Rodriguez.

Ndongo Njie has been selected as 2021–2022 Kaplan Scholar.
Scarlet Martínez Cardoze and Onyinyechi W Obineche have been awarded with ABRCMS 2021 Outstanding Presentation Award. Their research is on: In Silico Discovery of Neutralizing Agents Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. Their research mentor is Professor Yoel Rodríguez.
Sadia Nipa has been selected for a 12 Week Summer 2022 Internship at Merck Pharmaceutical Company in Pennsylvania.

CAIMAN CLUES

The “Caiman Clues” for the fall ’21 semester ran for 15 weeks.

The Clues return the last week of January 2022.

Students: Every week, for the academic year, read the Caiman Clues for helpful tips and reminders.

Caiman Clues —Your Hostos Helping Hand to Success

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

End of the Year Update December 17, 2021

The College will be closed for the following upcoming holidays:

Friday, December 24, 2021 – Christmas Eve
Monday, December 27, 2021 – in observance of Christmas Day
Friday, December 31, 2021 – New Year’s Eve

Accordingly, the vaccination and testing site will also be closed during those dates.

Submitted by Executive Director of Human Resources Christine Dias-Singh, Esq.

Vice President Searches

Dear Hostos Community,

We are pleased to announce the searches for three appointments of Vice President positions in the major divisions including the Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management (SDEM), the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, and the Vice President of Continuing Education and Workforce Development have concluded after an extensive national search — with active engagement and strong endorsement from faculty, staff, and students throughout the College.

Having completed the process with the entire Hostos community’s input, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all who made these selections possible. Because of the hard work of all the members of the Search Committee, and the capable leadership of the Committee Chairs, these appointments will be made pending approval from the CUNY Board of Trustees.

Note that each of the incoming Vice Presidents brings extensive expertise, accolades, and experience with them which will serve our College well. The detailed announcements for these three key executive appointments will be forthcoming in January as we welcome them to the College community.

CUNYfirst Update

The PeopleSoft 9.2 upgrade for CUNYfirst HR and Finance is planned to start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 16 and finish by 10:00 PM on Monday, December 20. During this time, the Human Capital Management (HCM) and Finance pillars and related functions will not be available.

Students and faculty will have access to the Campus Solution pillar and functions, including vaccination document entry and end of semester grading and reporting. Employee vaccination document entry will also not be impacted during this time. The CUNYfirst Campus Solutions upgrade to 9.2 is scheduled to occur in the spring 2022.

For more information on these upgrades, please view an introductory video available from the recently revamped CUNYfirs t web page as well as a student demo video.

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Taking a CEWD certificate or training? Want to go to college? Seems expensive?

Apply for a $1,000 scholarship from Hostos CEWD that helps cover the costs of getting started in college

The MacKenzie Scott Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Scholarship Fund at Hostos Community College in the Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CEWD) will award a scholarship of $1,000 to students wishing to transition from the continuing education program and matriculate at Hostos.

The ACE Scholarship Fund can be used for:

College Application fee
Books
Registering in a course
Transportation
Childcare

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be awarded to students who meet the following criteria:

Taking or has completed a certificate, training, or adult education program with Hostos CEWD.
Applied or is applying for admission into Hostos as a matriculated student.
Submit a short essay explaining how the scholarship funds will be used.

Apply here.

For more information contact Samuel K. Byrd, Ph.D. | 718-664-2735 | [email protected]

WATCH MISSION BX

MISSION BX is produced by Hostos Community College in partnership with BronxNet, and hosted by Eileen Newman, Executive Director of the Center for Bronx Nonprofits, an organization that examines the work of nonprofits in health, housing, environmental, arts, food, and other sectors.

Mission BX features interviews with nonprofit leaders, elected officials and community members. Guests will share stories of the meaningful work being carried out in neighborhoods throughout the borough.

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Hostos #CUNYTuesday Update and Final Reminder

The current total for Hostos’ #CUNYTuesday campaign is nearly $106,000! This record-smashing amount has been achieved through tremendous support from our Hostos family and the generosity of our community. The campaign officially ends on December 31, so there is still time to make a gift through the online platform. Make your year-end gift today to provide empowering opportunities for students to persist in the new year!

BRAVO NEWS

Hostos Alumnus Michael Cruz Selected a 2022 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program Graduate Fellow.

The Hostos Community College family and the Office of Alumni Relations extend our warmest congratulations to alumnus Michael Cruz, Class of 2012, on his selection as a 2022 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program Graduate Fellow.

Mr. Cruz was a proud member of our Hostos Leadership Academy, and shortly after his graduation from Hostos, he was selected for our first-ever Alma Matters Global Citizen Award. With this new opportunity, Mr. Cruz will embark on a career in diplomacy upon completion of his graduate studies.

The Hostos family is proud of you, Michael! Go Hostos Alumni!

You could read more about the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program here.

Hostos Joint Dual Degree Engineering Program Receives Commendation from Congressman Richie Torres

The efforts of Professor Yoel Rodríguez and the Joint Dual Degree Engineering program with The City College of New York’s Grove School of Engineering (GSE) have not gone unnoticed. The program’s recent recognition as a 2021 Examples of Excelencia Finalist from Excelencia in Education received a commendation from Congressman Ritchie Torres (15-District, New York) and encouraged Hostos to use this letter, included below in full, as we wish to promote our continued work in elevating Latino student success. Congratulations!

Read the letter here.

NuevaLuz Features Hostos Instructor Betty Cole

Hostos Liberty Partnership Instructor Betty "BP" Cole is featured in the centerfold essay of the latest photographic journal issue of Nueva Luz, produced and published by EnFoco. Byline by Hostos Director of Communications, Soldanela Rivera López.

"Entre Lideres TV" Honors Dean Ana I. Garcia Reyes

ENTRE LIDERES TV held its 14 Leadership and Excellence Dominican Diaspora Award ceremony on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at The Hudson in Upper Manhattan. Entre Lideres TV program producer José Alduey and Telemicro TV reporter and journalist Manuel Ruiz helped make this event for the Dominican community of New York City possible.

"I feel humbled and honored to be among so many distinguished leaders and professionals. Thank you to the ENTRE LIDERES TV selection committee for the vote of confidence bestowed on me,” said Dean Garcia Reyes of the recognition. “As Dean of Community Relations at Hostos Community College, I reiterate, como siempre, Hostos es su casa y siempre estamos a la orden en lo que podamos servir.”

Dean Garcia Reyes was celebrated in recognition of her historical commitment to higher education, her vocational mentorship, and for being an exemplary role model for our youth. Garcia Reyes has influenced the lives of a generation of Dominican and Latino students who have gone on to pursue higher education degrees in different universities across New York State.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

How Are You? Monthly Series: A Conversation with Dr. Judith Gil, DSW, LCSW-R, Deputy Director of Mental Health at Children's Aid

Friday, December 17, 2021 | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Many of you might remember Dr. Judith Gil from our Women's Resilience Conference or maybe you attended her workshop on Anticipatory Anxiety earlier this year. Due to popular demand, we have decided to hold these sessions on a monthly basis.

Register here: https://forms.gle/W4iJ3aHtbAEHEqcC6 | Join Zoom Meeting here | Meeting ID: 863 2987 6269 | Passcode: 3SAkZk

Citizenship Now!: Become a Citizen Event

Saturday, December 18, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Appointment required. For a detailed list of what to bring, call 646-664-9400 or text 929-334-3784. | Let Citizenship Now! lawyers and immigration professionals help you with your application. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE- Hostos Community College | 450 Grand Concourse | C-Building | Bronx, NY 10451

Evening 2021 Nursing Pinning Ceremony

The event streams on December 20, 2021

Hostos Community College recognizes our newest frontline heroes. Our Fall 2021 graduates of the Associate Degree in Nursing program will be celebrated during a contemporary virtual pinning ceremony. The challenges faced during this time are unprecedented for our students, and this special online ceremony highlights their achievements and dedication.

Hosted by the Nursing Unit

ABOUT EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO/THE HOSTOS WEEKLY

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

Published on Fridays at 9 a.m.