EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO/HOSTOS WEEKLY | March 18, 2022 | Vol. 4 No. 8, Spring 2022 Semester

Friday, March 18, 2022 | Vol. 4 No. 8, Spring 2022 Semester

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS

My Dear Colleagues and Students,

This has been such a splendid week in terms of a break in the weather and continued growth in a student and faculty presence at the College. As faculty return to their offices, I am approached about meeting in person, something my office is facilitating with as much agility as possible, given how extraordinarily busy we all are.

I am encouraged and eternally grateful by the number of colleagues who are participating in multiple preparation meetings for the upcoming Middle States evaluation visit from April 3-6, 2022. It will be conducted virtually with concurrent meetings to allow for all of our voices to be heard. I offer once again my eternal gratitude to our dear professors and co-chairs Wolfe and Nuñez Rodríguez for their indefatigable work and generous leadership of the Steering Committee of the Hostos Self-Study accreditation team.

Last week at a meeting with colleagues, one of our community college presidents shared an important article on The New “R” in Enrollment Management. The new “R” is reengagement of students who have stopped out and other critical realities as we face a decline in enrollment in the high schools in the coming years. Please make time to read the article and to share your thoughts with your colleagues and supervisors. Here is the link.

I conclude these brief remarks by encouraging all to follow the many promising initiatives being piloted this semester by many of you, with the support of The Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives. Dr. Oviedo is about to share information on two new opportunities as well. Stay tuned.

I wish you a productive end of the work week and a restful and enjoyable weekend.

Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.

President

A POEM IN HONOR OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Eagle

By Joy Harjo

To pray you open your whole self

To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon

To one whole voice that is you.

And know there is more

That you can’t see, can’t hear;

Can’t know except in moments

Steadily growing, and in languages

That aren’t always sound but other

Circles of motion.

Like eagle that Sunday morning

Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky

In wind, swept our hearts clean

With sacred wings.

We see you, see ourselves and know

That we must take the utmost care

And kindness in all things.

Breathe in, knowing we are made of

All this, and breathe, knowing

We are truly blessed because we

Were born, and die soon within a

True circle of motion,

Like eagle rounding out the morning

Inside us.

We pray that it will be done

In beauty.

MESSAGE FROM SGA PRESIDENT BRIAN CARTER

Good morning to the student body and Hostos colleagues,

As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, let us congratulate the Hostos Women’s Basketball Team!! Go Caimans!!!

This reminds me that we must continue to become the best version of ourselves. If you can encourage others to continue to push through during these unfortunate times, do it. If you see someone struggling on or off-campus, reach out if you can, it won’t hurt to ask them if they are okay. Our world is so engaged in warfare, many people in our society have become numb. We must continue to show empathy and compassion for each other, especially now. With that being said, we’re halfway through the semester and I know the grind is real. I commend you all for maintaining the focus necessary to complete this semester successfully.

I want to invite you to two important virtual workshops events hosted by the remarkable Brian Rashid and Saddique Mohamed. I have co-hosted workshops with these amazing leaders and their workshops highlight the importance of financial literacy. The effort continues because we basically want to help our community understand the importance of saving and choosing to make wise investments. We want our students to learn the difference between wants and needs. So, stay tuned to your email inbox for details.

The SGA is in talks with the College Senate about considering transforming our current Hostos C.U.N.Y. ID card into a multi-purpose ID card. Currently, our cards allow us entrance into campus facilities and every student has a $50 balance for printing in the library and computer lab. We made a survey in the form of one simple question: Have you ever had the opportunity to max out your card during the semester? The unanimous answer was “No.” The majority of student balances have been basically untouched, and the balances do not roll over from semester to semester. The SGA would like for Hostos to employ a change to our existing ID card and look at what currently occurs on other CUNY campuses with the multi-use ID card. Current technology allows students to access items from a vending machine or the Hostos Café. This will be a unique way to help students afford the cost of meals or beverages that they can purchase on campus. I know this might not sound like much but a little goes a long way during these harsh times.

The SGA is also actively looking for two current Hostos students to be featured in an ad campaign to promote Hostos. If you are interested, reach out to me at BCART3477@stu.hostos.edu for details. You will have an opportunity to be featured in a campaign!

Last but not least, we are looking for new leaders for next semester’s Student Government. If you are a current student with political aspirations this should definitely be your next move. You can reach out to Jerry Rosa and Rhonda Smith in the Student Activities office, Jason Libfeld over at the Student Leadership Academy, and myself, Brian Carter, at the SGA booth right off the Hostos bridge.

MIDDLE STATES SELF-STUDY UPDATE

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

Campus Preparation for the Remote Team Visit (A spotlight on Standards II and VII)

Hostos appears to follow Standards II and VII. These compliance requirements evaluate if Ethics and integrity are central, indispensable, and defining hallmarks of effective higher education institutions, and the institution is governed and administered in a manner that allows it to realize its stated mission and goals in a way that effectively benefits the institution, its students, and the other constituencies it serves. The strengths found in the Self-Study indicate clear ethics and integrity-related policies and procedures which relate to Standard II compliance. Regarding Standard VII, Hostos has a tested leadership team and a resilient shared governance. This governance structure has helped the college remain steady even throughout the pandemic. Especially on curricular matters, the College-Wide Senate has ensured that it operates without interruption, approving matters presented in a timely way. All findings together provide further opportunities to both directly interrogate how to strengthen justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDEI) across the curriculum and within operations as part of 2023–2028 strategic planning (Standard 2) and to emphasize planning and assessment functions in faculty and staff job descriptions and as part of hiring, tenure, and promotion decision-making (Standard 7). Moving forward, the self-study also opens an additional line of inquiry to question how we can be more proactive in educating students about financial literacy, which ultimately contributes to their successful navigation of college life.

PRESIDENT’S INITIATIVES

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

Dear Students and Colleagues,

As we begin a new spring season, always the harbinger of new hope and possibilities, I am pleased to announce the development of two new initiatives under the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives guided by the vision of Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.

Jobs on Campus is a new program that aims to provide Hostos students with professional work experiences and mentoring that will improve their job skills, career readiness, and support their academic progress. Each semester, $50,000 will be allocated through Jobs on Campus to support student employment across Hostos departments and administrative offices. Throughout their work experience students will need to be supervised by a faculty/staff member who will ensure that students maintain good academic standing and are making progress toward graduation. The supervisor/mentor will also help students develop a mindset and habits consistent with professional conduct in an office setting. Selected students will be expected to work a minimum of 10 hours a week at a $20 hourly rate. All students will be eligible to apply for Jobs on Campus positions regardless of immigration and/or financial aid status. Students will also be connected to the Career Services Office so they can access available career development opportunities and resources. Additionally, group meetings will be coordinated to promote bonding and provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences together.

We are accepting Jobs on Campus applications for Spring and Summer 2022.

Spring Deadline is April 1. Summer Deadline is April 29.

To access the Jobs on Campus application, click here.

The Ms. MacKenzie Scott Academic Department Scholarships are being established this year as a special scholarship fund that will provide $2,000 to each academic department to award scholarships to graduating students that have been selected based on academic merit and great potential for making meaningful contributions in their chosen career. All students will need to be selected by department faculty in consultation with the department chair. Selected students must be graduating in Spring 2022 with a cumulative GPA of 3.5. The scholarship recipients will be honored at the Annual Honors Convocation. Each academic department will need to complete a student selection form providing the names of students, scholarship award amount, and a summary description detailing each student’s merits and reasons for selection. In future years, the scholarship awards may be increased through each academic department’s fundraising efforts that will be matched by the Ms. MacKenzie Scott’s Gift: President’s Initiatives.

Deadline for departments to submit student selections is April 29.

To request the Academic Department Scholarships form, please email Sofia Oviedo at soviedo@hostos.cuny.edu.

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, RESEARCH, AND ASSESSMENT

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

Closing the Loops When We Do Assessment and Planning

Preparing for the MSCHE Self-Study team visit is getting done through a series of conversations shaped by questions about what we do at Hostos, and how we can do it better in the future (kudos to Self-Study co-chairs Professors Kate Wolfe and Nelson Nuñez-Rodríguez for facilitating such rich discussions). These reflective, collaborative opportunities are a practice that I hope will be sustained after the Self-Study team is long gone. And, since the topic comes up, it’s a useful way of checking in on how assessment and planning are perceived across various constituents, and how we can make it better (aka what gaps we need to bridge).

During one of these conversations, a colleague pointed out that their annual planning and assessment reporting template (A-PART) doesn’t get any feedback. While unit staff complete the A-PART together (a best practice), once completed, there is no further action. No meeting to review findings or respond to recommendations. The staff is beginning to approach the A-PART as another compliance exercise. The system is being sustained, but the intent is being questioned.

There is no blame here. And this is far from ideal. The intent of the A-PART, and of all assessment and planning, is that it creates a sustained momentum of loops being closed. Among these loops: assessment results are analyzed by unit/program/department staff and faculty and inform planning next steps. These next steps are implemented, assessed, and — once again — inform planning. This integration of planning and assessment is based on closing the loop in support of continuous improvement.

Another loop that needs to be sustained, and in some cases strengthened, is that between the unit/program/department staff and faculty and division leaders: after the A-PART is completed, division leaders use the report as the framework for a conversation with the unit/program/department to review findings and discuss recommendations before they get implemented as next steps. Beyond providing staff and faculty an opportunity to discuss the results of their annual efforts, it is also an opportunity for division leaders to engage staff and faculty in a concrete discussion about college priorities, and how recommendations for next steps are shaped in light of these college priorities. And, having reviewed A-PARTs across their respective divisions, leadership develops a holistic view of what is working and what efforts need tweaking, which in turn helps inform collaboration and coordination across and within units/programs/departments.

This sounds easy, and it is very difficult to put into practice. We all need practice in using evidence (aka assessment results) to inform next steps, and not leap directly to the next activities we want to take on, or asking for resources without presenting an evidence-informed rationale. We also need practice in using A-PARTs as foundations for conversation, highlighting the great work, and not shying away from less-than-stellar results, but instead lean into the recognition that improvement takes time. Planning for the short-, mid- and long-term is not second-nature, but rather a practice we need to take on consciously. It may feel awkward and imperfect. The seams will show. And that’s okay — with the seams exposed, it's a lot easier to make alterations. Together.

POLICY OF THE WEEK

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

The City University of New York Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

I. Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

The City University of New York (“University” or “CUNY”), located in a historically diverse municipality, is committed to a policy of equal employment and equal access in its educational programs and activities. Diversity, inclusion, and an environment free from discrimination are central to the mission of the University.

Read the rest of the Equal Opportunity and Non-discrimination policy here.

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE AND DIVERSITY

Submitted by Chief Diversity Officer, Title IX Coordinator and 504/ADA Coordinator Latoya S. Jeffers, Esq.

Are you a Responsible Employee?

According CUNY’s Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Responsible Employees are required to report allegations of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator but will protect an individual’s privacy to the greatest extent possible and share information with other staff only on a need-to-know basis.

Individuals designated as responsible employees have a duty to report allegations of sexual misconduct, including all relevant details, to the Title IX Coordinator.

These employees are not permitted to maintain a complainant’s confidentiality, but will maintain a complainant’s privacy to the greatest extent possible, and information reported to them will be shared only with the Title IX Coordinator and other people responsible for handling the college’s response to the report.

To the extent possible, before a complainant reveals any information to a responsible employee, the employee should advise the complainant of the employee’s reporting obligations — and if the complainant wants to maintain confidentiality, direct the complainant to confidential resources. CUNY has designated the following individuals as responsible employees:

a. University Title IX Director

b. College Title IX Coordinator and staff

c. Office of Public Safety employees

d. Vice President for Student Affairs or Dean of Students and all staff housed in those offices (other than staff that are designated as confidential employees)

e. Residence Life staff in CUNY owned or operated housing, including Resident Assistants

f. Directors and Deputy Directors of Human Resources

g. College President, Vice Presidents and Deans

h. Athletics staff

i. Department Chairpersons/Executive Officers

j. CUNY Office of the General Counsel attorneys and College/unit attorneys

k. College/unit labor designee

l. Faculty and staff members at times when they are leading or supervising students on offcampus trips

m. International Education Liaisons/Study Abroad Campus Directors and Field Directors n. All employees at Hunter College Campus Schools

o. College Childcare Center staff

p. Managers or supervisors, regarding alleged Sexual Misconduct involving people who report to them

i. Managers are employees who have authority to make tangible employment decisions with regard to other employees, including the authority to hire, fire, promote, compensate or assign significantly different responsibilities.
ii. Supervisors are employees who are not managers, but have a sufficient degree of control over the working conditions of one or more employees, which might include evaluating their performance and making recommendations for changes in employment status that are given particular weight.

CUNY’s complete Policy on Sexual Misconduct can be found here.

For more information about the Office of Compliance and Diversity please visit our webpage here.

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

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

Office of Assemblymember Chantel Jackson and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Housing Connect program

Social Security Offices

Does a family member need help with Social Security? Social Security offices are currently operating with limited in-person capacity. Masks are required and you must make an appointment ahead of time. That is why the Social Security Administration is encouraging people to first check their website for answers to Social Security questions. If you do not have web access you may call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance.

Medicare Savings Program

Medicare Savings Programs can help pay an eligible beneficiary’s Medicare premiums, including in some cases Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance) deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Details about eligibility and applications are available on the Medicare website.

Affordable Housing Lotteries

There are two affordable housing lotteries with deadlines coming up in April. Click on the links below to see application details for each listing.

April 11, 2022 – 425 GRAND CONCOURSE APARTMENTS

April 19, 2022 – New Roads Plaza

For questions about affordable housing opportunities in the Bronx, NYC Housing Connect can be reached at 212-863-7990 or nychousingconnect@hdp.nyc.gov.

NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Submitted by Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Shiang-Kwei Wang, Ph.D.

CUNY’s Lecture Hiring Initiative allocated five faculty to Hostos Community College. After reviewing metrics on full-time faculty teaching, student success rates, and growth in enrollment and majors, five lines are allocated to the following disciplines: Mathematics, English, Natural Sciences, Humanities (Game Design), and Allied Health Sciences (Licensed Practical Nurses Certificate Program). To fill positions in time for the fall, searches will be conducted quickly. Departments are encouraged to solicit applications from the current pool of adjuncts.

OAA Welcomes Mrs. Jacinta Patrice-George as the Associate Director of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to welcome Mrs. Jacinta Patrice-George to the Hostos family. She is serving as the Associate Director of Academic Affairs.

Mrs. Patrice-George is a proud Brooklyn native. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College, Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from Queens College, and graduate certificate in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.

Mrs. Patrice-George has a diverse background in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining Hostos Community College, she has worked at higher education institutions, city agencies, and community-based organizations, including the NYC Department of Youth and Development — where she served as the agency liaison for the Mayor’s HealthStat initiative, the Children’s Aid Society, and Queensborough Community College.

With most of her career being in contract development, compliance, program management and evaluation, she has managed the development of review and workflow processes that effectively serve both the client and the institution.

Mrs. Patrice-George is committed to making a quality education accessible to all students, and has an interest in the success of community colleges and early college initiatives. She has dedicated many years of community service engaging youth and young adults in social, community development, leadership, and faith-based activities.

“When I was growing up, I was taught that you cannot impart what you do not possess. I believe that student success is secured in moments of genuine connection. Therefore, we have to bring our authentic selves and our light to our work. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of Hostos Community College.”

Please help us give a warm Hostos welcome to Jacinta Patrice-George.

CAIMAN CLUES

The “Caiman Clues” for the Spring ’22 semester

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

Caiman Clues —Your Hostos Helping Hand to Success

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Submitted by Vice President of Student Development & Enrollment Management La Toro Yates, Ph.D.

Welcome to the Office of Financial Aid at Hostos Community College. Our mission is to empower the community by eliminating financial barriers for access to higher education. Through service is the means by which we aim to afford all eligible students the opportunities to reach their education and career goals. We are committed to delivering a transparent understanding of financial aid programs, options, and solutions with strict adherence to city, state, and federal student aid regulations.

Financial Aid counseling is available on a walk-in basis during business hours or via appointment by request. We also provide access to computers and assistance with filing financial aid applications online, in support of timely processing and disbursing of educational funds.

As we start planning for the summer and fall 2022 semesters…

As of March 7, financial aid packaging has begun for the 2022–23 award year and financial aid offer letters are being sent to students via email.
Fin Aid Office is preparing communication plans to rollout to students/staff/faculty:

CUNY Student Forms, new process for student/parents to securely submit financial aid documents electronically — including Verification.
HireCaimans (Simplicity), new online platform for supervisors to post Federal Work-Study jobs to allow students to search and apply.

Spring 2022 Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (Fed ARPA Student Grant Spring) will be awarded to eligible students during the first week of April 2022.
As of March 7th, financial aid packaging has begun for the 2022–23 award year and financial aid offer letters are being sent to students via email.
Fin Aid Office is preparing communication plans to rollout to students/staff/faculty:

CUNY Student Forms, new process for student/parents to securely submit financial aid documents electronically — including Verification
HireCaimans (Simplicity), a new online platform for supervisors to post Federal Work-Study jobs to allow students to search and apply

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Opening up of more Hostos Spaces and Resources

During the past two years, college spaces were either closed for gatherings or were open by appointment only to limit the number of people on campus. As we move forward into the spring semester with high vaccination and booster rates, low numbers of COVID-19 cases, a reversal of the mask mandate, and as a greater number of people return to the campus, we are happy to inform the Hostos community that many of our Hostos spaces and resources are now available for use by students, faculty, and staff. Some spaces/resources may still require appointments but many have reopened fully to the community. We encourage the community to enjoy these campus spaces and resources!

Cafeteria: The cafeteria space is open for use by students, faculty, and staff. Grab and go food service will be offered in the near future, pending vendor equipment installation. The cafeteria space is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Library: Effective Monday, March 14, reservations are no longer required for use of the library space and resources. You can visit the Hostos Library during the open library hours. These hours are in effect through March 25: Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. The Hostos Library Online Chat is available for help: Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Monday and Thursday, 1-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1-3 p.m.

Effective Saturday, March 26, the Hostos Library will also be open on weekends. These hours are in effect beginning March 26: Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. The Hostos Library Online Chat will be available on weekdays: Monday and Thursday, 1-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1-3 p.m.

The Fitness Center and Gymnasium are open on weekdays for student, faculty, and staff use. The Fitness Center is open Monday–Thursday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Gymnasium is open Monday–Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Swimming Pool will open tentatively on Thursday, March 24 pending lifeguard staffing, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Student Computing Center (SCC): For access to the computer lab or printing/copying services, the Student Computing Center at C-595 is available to students for 30-minute intervals at a time. Students can sign up for an appointment through Succeed@Hostos. The Open Computer Lab is located in rooms C-595 and C-598.

Open Computer lab hours and Student Help Desk hours are Monday–Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Remote support hours are Monday–Friday: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Additionally, students, faculty, and staff can log in to Service@Hostos to create and manage IT requests and find information. IT Service Desk hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. The IT Service Desk contact information can be found here.

Memorial Garden (between B and C buildings): The Memorial Garden remains closed due to the pending B building facade repair. However, the Evelina Antonetty Playground, located next to the A building, is open to the public and we encourage the community to enjoy this green space. The playground includes a play area for kids, spray showers, fitness equipment, table tennis, and elevated lawn space.

Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture: The Hostos Center is reopening this spring with over 22 performances scheduled through June! Please see the Hostos Center’s web page for more information.

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

CEWD Presents The History of Latin Music & Jazz Part XVI Spring 2022

The History of Latin Music & Jazz Part XVI Spring 2022 is a free seminar series that will cover the diversity of Latin music pioneers and artists who were influential in creating it by highlighting their impact on the history of Latin music and jazz. Special guests will periodically attend throughout the seminar series.

Learn about musicians and artists like Graciela, known as the First Lady of Latin Jazz, Celia Cruz, Olga Guiott, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Jorrin, Johnny Rodríguez, Julio Gutiérrez, and many others that helped create and influence the music of this time.

The series is hosted by noted music historian, producer, and author of “Mambo Diablo: My Journey with Tito Puente,” Joe Conzo Sr.

These seminars will broaden your knowledge of the genres and enlighten you as you hear and learn about the music and how it evolved from the 1930s to now.

The Tito Puente Exhibit is housed at Hostos and is available for viewing.

Remaining Seminar Dates:

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 | 4 sessions 8 hrs.

Attend via zoom at the following times:

March 19, 2022 11 a.m.

March 26, 2022 11 a.m.

April 2,2022 11 a.m.

April 9, 2022 11 a.m.

Join the Zoom Meeting here.

Career Services

New Partner Launch Event: CUNY Upskilling & Skillful.ly

We’re excited to invite you to learn about a new Upskilling offering - Skillful.ly!

Skillful.ly is free of charge for CUNY Upskillers and allows you to:

Unpack your unique strengths to align with career choices.

Earn skill badges that highlight your high-demand skills.

Get coaching and feedback from industry mentors.

Get introduced to top employers seeking your skills.

Watch how it works!

Skillful.ly and CUNY Upskilling here.

Once you’re ready to dive in, create your Skillful.ly account to discover your strengths using specialized personal assessments!

Please share the Hostos CEWD Spring 2022 catalog

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Save the Date for the 2022 Annual Scholarship Benefit

The Division of Institutional Advancement is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the 2022 Annual Scholarship Benefit in-person at the scenic Glen Island Harbor Club. Please mark your calendars for May 18, 2022 to celebrate the much-anticipated in-person return of this wonderful event. The Benefit is the premier fundraising event for the Hostos Community College Foundation, and it supports student scholarship opportunities. Please stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks and be on the lookout for the official Save the Date in your inbox soon.

Let’s Keep the Hostos 20.22 Class Campaign Momentum Going!

The 20.22 Class Campaign is underway! Make a gift toward our transformational student support funds and help future Hostos alumni to persist.

New Scholarship Opportunity – Open Borders Scholarship

Thanks to a generous gift from Hostos Professor Henry Lesnick, the Hostos Community College Foundation is pleased to announce the new Open Borders Scholarship, which will be available to students for the Spring 2022 semester. Two students with compelling application materials will receive a $1,000 scholarship award. Eligible students are matriculated, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrate a financial need. To qualify for this award, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Currently enrolled and taking ESL classes.
Classified as one of the following: Student without status, international student, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or benefitting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Not eligible to receive other forms of financial aid or scholarships.
Applicants must submit a short (roughly 500 words) essay detailing:

How they intend to use their scholarship.
Their goals after receiving their degree.

For questions and assistance in the application process contact the scholarship office at mesquilin@hostos.cuny.edu or at 718-518-4166 / 929-314-4754.

The Foundation extends Its sincere gratitude to Professor Lesnick for his commitment to the success of all students.

Upcoming Office of Alumni Relations Events

Please mark your calendars to save the date for the following upcoming alumni events. More details to follow.

3/24/2022 – Virtual – Career Services and OAR Alumni Mixer

4/28/2022 – In-person – Alumni Laugh-A-ThON*

4/21/2022 – In-person – Hostos Alumni Mixer

4/22/2022 – Engineering Alumni Awards (Location TBD)

*The previously communicated date for this event has changed.

Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture

March 2022

The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture is ready to welcome you back to in-person programming! Please see upcoming performances below and visit the website to check out the full spring calendar.

Upcoming In-Person Events

OG Burn, A Tribute to un Homenaje a Eddie Bobé

Friday, March 18 | 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 19 | 8 p.m.

Grammy Award-winning Arturo O’Farrill and the 18-piece Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra perform an exhilarating program to commemorate the life and music of master percussionist Eddie Bobè.