Friday, April 9, 2021 | Vol. 2 No. 11, Spring 2021 Semester
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MESSAGE FROM INTERIM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS
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My Dear Colleagues and Students,
These are just a few words to welcome you all back after what I hope was a relaxing and enjoyable spring break, generously interrupted, perhaps, by work on behalf of teaching and learning, as needed.
This is the second and final stretch of the academic journey this year. Our journey may be characterized as the commitment to staying the course, despite uncertainty and ambiguity, on behalf of our students and our mission, putting front and center our values as an academic community of purpose. I know there will be much care put in place to ensure guidance and support of our students, as they work hard to bring about a successful end of semester.
This is also the first week of summer and fall registration. I urge you all to take time to emphasize the importance of early registration in successful degree completion. Additionally, and as part of our own personal responsibility and our community responsibility, it is important to bring up the fact that now everyone sixteen years of age and older are eligible to be vaccinated in New York. This is promising for us all and an occasion to celebrate this significant development in our progress to combat this cruel pandemic.
Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy
Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Interim President
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, CUNY
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A POEM TO WELCOME POETRY MONTH THIS BEAUTIFUL APRIL IN NEW YORK |
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Pablo Neruda
La Poesía
Y fue a esa edad... Llegó la poesía
a buscarme. No sé, no sé de dónde
salió, de invierno o río.
No sé cómo ni cuándo,
no, no eran voces, no eran
palabras, ni silencio,
pero desde una calle me llamaba,
desde las ramas de la noche,
de pronto entre los otros,
entre fuegos violentos
o regresando solo,
allí estaba sin rostro
y me tocaba.
Yo no sabía qué decir, mi boca
no sabía
nombrar,
mis ojos eran ciegos,
y algo golpeaba en mi alma,
fiebre o alas perdidas,
y me fui haciendo solo,
descifrando
aquella quemadura,
y escribí la primera línea vaga,
vaga, sin cuerpo, pura
tontería,
pura sabiduría
del que no sabe nada,
y vi de pronto
el cielo
desgranado
y abierto,
planetas,
plantaciones palpitantes,
la sombra perforada,
acribillada
por flechas, fuego y flores,
la noche arrolladora, el universo.
Y yo, mínimo ser,
ebrio del gran vacío
constelado,
a semejanza, a imagen
del misterio,
me sentí parte pura
del abismo,
rodé con las estrellas,
mi corazón se desató en el viento.
Poetry
And it was at that time...Poetry came
to find me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no, they weren't voices, they weren't
words, or silence,
but from a street, it called me,
from the boughs of the night,
suddenly amongst the others,
between violent fires
or returning alone,
it was there faceless
and it touched me.
I didn't know what to say, my mouth
didn't know what
to call it,
my eyes were blind,
and something was beating in my soul,
a fever or lost wings,
I just kept going,
analyzing
that burning,
and I wrote my first vague line,
vague, no substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
from which one knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the sky
uncovered
and open,
planets,
throbbing plantations,
the pierced darkness,
riddled by arrows, fire and flowers,
the overpowering night, the universe.
And me, a tiny being,
inebriated by the great void
filled with stars,
in the image and likeness
of the mystery,
I felt I was a part of the pure
abyss,
I wandered with the stars,
my heart was unleashed in the wind.
Neruda, Pablo, Poemas humanos/Human Poems, translated by Clayton Eschelman, Grove (New York, NY), 1969.
About Pablo Neruda: Born Ricardo Eliezer Neftali Reyes y Basoalto, Neruda adopted the pseudonym under which he would become famous while still in his early teens. He grew up in Temuco in the backwoods of southern Chile. Neruda’s literary development received assistance from unexpected sources. Among his teachers “was the poet Gabriela Mistral who would be a Nobel laureate years before Neruda,” reported Manuel Duran and Margery Safir in Earth Tones: The Poetry of Pablo Neruda. “It is almost inconceivable that two such gifted poets should find each other in such an unlikely spot. Mistral recognized the young Neftali’s talent and encouraged it by giving the boy books and the support he lacked at home.”
By the time he finished high school, Neruda had published in local papers and Santiago magazines, and had won several literary competitions. In 1921 he left southern Chile for Santiago to attend school, with the intention of becoming a French teacher but was an indifferent student. While in Santiago, Neruda completed one of his most critically acclaimed and original works, the cycle of love poems titled Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada—published in English translation as Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. This work quickly marked Neruda as an important Chilean poet. More here.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION BRIAN CARTER |
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Hello to my fellow colleagues and students of Hostos Community College! As your President, I am here to give my weekly encouragement and inspiration as we continue to embrace the challenges that we have faced throughout this semester and recently concluded with Women’s History Month. I would like to highlight the wonderful women in this world that make it possible for us to live and exist in this beautiful world. We embrace the matriarchs of our family with this special acknowledgement of them. Well, the reason I am in this world and at this college is because of my mom. She is the proud mother of three and also a former student of Hostos Community College, and an entrepreneur as well. She, unfortunately, was diagnosed with diabetes and then cancer, which is why she was no longer able to continue her studies. I chose to spotlight my mom because she still continues to fight despite her ailments and managed to have an incredible twenty-plus year career at Macy’s Herald Square, all while raising three amazing children. Till this day, my mom continues her treatment through therapy, and with God’s grace, her condition has improved with every amazing day that the good Lord continues to provide.
I also am blessed to be among some amazing women as well within the Hostos community. One would be the amazing Rhonda Smith, who I currently have the pleasure to work alongside and who has also been a mother figure to all who know her. Within her capacity in the Office of Student Activities, she continues to emerge and provide students with opportunities and direction, and she has been a staple in the Hostos community. Two other women who have embraced me with open arms are the wonderful Ruby Calle and Jennifer Williams from the CUNY EDGE office, where they have helped strategize and prioritize their students and directed them towards their services. They do a phenomenal job in addressing students’ academic issues and evaluating based on assessing students needs. They have done a remarkable job at the CUNY EDGE office, which I would advise students to visit if they haven’t done so as of yet.
Another wonderful woman that I would like to take the opportunity to thank, who has helped me navigate my journey at Hostos is the amazing Toya Pigford from the Financial Aid Office. She has played a significant role in my life and the lives of countless others who have come across her involving their financial obligations, needs and concerns. She has always been reliable and consistent and has helped me and other students by encouraging us to overcome adversity one day at a time. Additionally, two other remarkable women who have played a significant role in not only my life, but the entire student body are the one and only Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis and the amazing Diana Kreymer from the President’s Office, where they form the conglomerate that is responsible for a handful of business decisions that are imperative and affect the Community of Hostos on a daily basis. So when you have an opportunity to meet any of the aforementioned women, just know that you are in the presence of greatness and they should be treated as royalty, as they are the Queens of Hostos Community College.
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Submitted by Coronavirus Campus Coordinator, Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne, Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance and Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management
Fall 2021 Planning
On April 5, 2021, the class schedule was opened to our continuing students for Fall 2021 registration. All course sections listed in CUNYfirst indicate whether the class will be taught through online, hybrid (traditional hybrid or hyflex), or in-person sessions.
We want our continuing students to know now what their options are for the fall, and give them ample time to plan. We also hope that opening registration for continuing students will help us better gauge demand for in-person courses as we begin Fall 2021 recruitment for freshmen, transfer students, and readmitted students.
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Vaccine Eligibility
- are age 16 years and older;
- live in New York State;
- work in New York State; or
- go to school in New York State.
To find a vaccine appointment or get more information, you can use these tools:
Online:
By phone:
- State COVID-19 hotline: 833-NYS-4-VAX (833-697-4829)
- New York City: 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692)
If you can’t find an appointment, don’t despair! Look frequently, because availability changes quickly.
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MIDDLE STATES SELF-STUDY UPDATE |
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Submitted by MSCHE Steering Committee Co-Chairs Professor Kate S. Wolfe and Professor Nelson Nuñez-Rodríguez
The Professor Magda Vasillov Center for Teaching and Learning as an Incubator of Hostos Faculty Identities
The yearlong New Faculty Orientation devised by the Hostos Center for Teaching and Learning, the guidelines for tenure and promotion, including annual evaluations, a third-year meeting with the Provost, as well as, a systematic series of professional development opportunities for untenured, tenured and adjunct faculty members encompass the Hostos process of nurturing faculty professional development. Altogether these processes will allow our institution to demonstrate support mechanisms for professional growth, innovation and scholarly inquiry. Ultimately, Middle States hopes to find a cadre of faculty members who can bring students into new areas of intellectual experience, expanding their global awareness and cultural sensitivity, and preparing them to make well-reasoned judgments outside, as well as within, their academic field.
Faculty members bring to the institution a plethora of scholarly interests and variety of teaching repertoires. They henceforth build a Hostos professional identity. This process includes deconstructing themselves to meet the rainbow of student academic needs, embracing a Liberal Arts institutional climate, fulfilling service expectations and documenting student academic progress while remaining active in their scholarly fields. Faculty members need to find creative ways to develop their research interests while engaging students in undergraduate research opportunities. All these practices forge a Hostos professional identity and represent a fertile arena to explore new lines of inquiry.
The Middle States Accreditation Standard 3 narrative gives an opportunity to celebrate the maturity of our Center for Teaching and Learning fostering a sustained culture of discussion and intellectual growth. The accreditation team members aim to see the accomplishments and the engineering processes behind it. The mission of the Professor Magda Vasillov Center for Teaching and Learning includes fostering excellence in teaching, research, service and leadership. Overall, the center’s vision, embracing all faculty voices, perspectives and scholarly interests, represents our best power station to show compliance for this standard’s criteria and provoke intellectual electricity moments among faculty members.
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INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS |
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Submitted by Babette Audant, Assistant Dean for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Assessment
Operational Plan - March Progress Updates Submitted
Hostos’ Operational Plan is an annual plan comprised of actions we commit to college-wide to advance the Strategic Plan’s institutional goals. For AY 20-21, in addition to Strategic Plan goals, there are actions aligned with the ongoing Middle States self-study efforts, and the college’s response to the pandemic.
Interim President Cocco De Filippis instituted a cycle of three progress updates on the operational plan progress: December, March and May. As of the end of March, the progress updates submitted by division leadership were compiled, and reviewed by Cabinet. It reflects the focused, strategic, and sustained work across the college’s offices, units and departments to support student success.
The following is a summary of the AY Operational Plan March Progress Updates, which will soon be available online for review.
A technical overview: a significant number of activities are completed. A number of new systems have been put in place in offices including HR, the Registrar and the IT department. Overall, there is consistent progress that suggests that the vast majority of what we set out to do will be accomplished this year. This speaks to the focus and ongoing dedication of staff, faculty and leadership across the college. It also reflects the accelerated pace at which systems were adapted to digital platforms, changing how we do our work, support our students, and shift towards new definitions of accessibility.
An observation: Activities that were originally described as being cross-divisional are not as well advanced as activities for which a single division, department or unit is accountable. There is at least one example of efforts being initiated by two units independently of one another.
This is less a criticism than a reminder that cross-divisional activities require the identification of a project manager as a first step, early in the process, and the development of a workplan. As we remind students assigned a (usually dreaded) group project, the project manager is not responsible for doing all the work, and does the work of managing the workflow. I’m also bringing this up because two years ago at a mid-year President’s retreat, a number of attendees recommended that training and support be provided on the topic of group facilitation and project management. Again, I see this more as an opportunity than a failing and something to integrate into future operational plans.
KPIs in relation to the Operational Plan: When we look at where we are regarding some key KPIs, we are not where we want to be at the end of Year 4 of the five-year Strategic Plan. For example, we aimed to increase FTFTF retention to 85% by the end of next AY. The Fa19 cohort was retained at a rate slightly above 60%; the Fa20 cohort has a one-term retention rate of ~75%. And yet – the sustained and coordinated efforts across SDEM and OAA to ensure students are able to continue despite the devastating impacts of Covid suggests we’re moving in the right direction (not there yet!) even as the numbers suggest otherwise. Also, there are measures that speak to the power of clear communication and effective advisement: the majority of new students are enrolling in Gateway English and Math in their first year. The completion rates are also edging up in both disciplines.
The final OP progress report will be completed in May, before graduation.
We are in our fourth year of our five-year Strategic Plan. As we head into the final year, it’s an opportunity to assess where we met (or exceeded) our goals, what got dropped along the way, and what’s left to do in the last year of “tying it up.”
In many cases, the KPIs have trended, and continue to trend, in the right direction – success that can be attributed to actions documented in the past years’ operational plans. A number of the Strategic Priorities are quantifiable, and have been tracked over the life of the Strategic Plan. And these successes, too, can be attributed to OP actions. There are also priorities that can’t be quantified – so part of the work will be defining what success looks like.
Through the weekly bulletin, you’ll be kept up to date regarding progress on the Operational Plan, and the priorities guiding our efforts in the coming year.
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GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS |
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Submitted by Director of Governmental and External Affairs Eric Radezky, Ph.D.
I am pleased to have two announcements this week, greetings from New York State Senator José M. Serrano and summer job opportunities through the Summer Youth Employment Program, a division of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.
I. Senator José M. Serrano recently met with Hostos Interim President Cocco De Filippis for an update on the state of the college. The Senator asked that we share his contact information because Hostos is in his district and he wants his constituents to always feel free to contact his office with any questions or concerns, or if you are in need of PPE.
Senator Serrano’s office is located at 335 E. 100th St. NY, NY 10029, and he and his staff can be reached at (212) 828-5829 or at serrano@nysenate.gov. You may also join the Senator’s mailing list for the latest updates on COVID-19, re-openings, vaccines, and New York State legislative news.
II. Summer Youth Employment Program Applications Now Open! Deadline April 23..
Participants in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) have the opportunity to explore their interests and career pathways, develop workplace skills and engage in learning experiences that help to develop social, civic and leadership skills, all while earning money. Learn more here or by calling (800) 246-4646. Applications due by April 23, 2021.
There are also a number of SYEP opportunities at NYCHA developments. Click here for more information on those opportunities.
General eligibility requirements: SYEP is open to residents of the five boroughs ages 14 to 21 who are legally allowed to work in the US. Young adults ages 22 to 24 who face employment barriers or reside in certain NYCHA developments may be eligible for special programming. Please visit nyc.gov/SYEP to learn more.
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Submitted by Chief Diversity Officer Lauren Gretina
In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and during these challenging times, the Office of Compliance and Diversity wants to remind you of resources that are available for victims of sexual misconduct both on and off campus.
During April, OCD will collaborate with Scarlett Thompson, College Campus Sexual Assault Coordinator, to present workshops for Hostos students on sexual harassment and how to navigate online relationships and stay safe in the digital age. How do we practice consent when swiping through Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, or Hinge? How do we intervene in harm we may see on social media? We'll cover these topics and more through skill-building activities and group discussions.
Additionally, the Office of Compliance and Diversity (OCD)’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Sexual Harassment (aka EEO 101) training sessions have been moving forward. We just trained Campus Operations/Facilities and staff from SDEM, and training for Public Safety are upcoming. These trainings help ensure employees understand their rights and obligations under the CUNY Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination. For more information about the training sessions or if you have any questions about training and prevention please contact us at OCD@hostos.cuny.edu.
As a reminder, OCD is here to answer your questions and provide you with information, resources, and options regarding discrimination and harassment. The College is committed to responding to any incidents of bias, sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination and preventing such incidents through education and training. If you would like to file a discrimination complaint with our office please complete the Online Complaint Form.
For further information please read here.
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS |
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We are excited to be one of 19 virtual exchange programs awarded new grants by the Stevens Initiative. With our fellow grantees, we will reach nearly 19,000 youth participants through virtual exchange. Together, our programs cover 25 topics, including engineering innovation, history, public health, and social entrepreneurship.
You can read the full announcement here.
And, read our partner news announcement - “Hostos Community College Partners with La Guardia Community College On Program To Virtually Connect Young People Around the World—Funded By Stevens Initiative
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Student Retention is Priority – Call for Authors
All faculty and staff are invited to share any retention strategy that is working well. OAA would like to compile and distribute (with permission) these strategies to the larger campus community. Authors may leave anonymous entries but must give permission for the strategy to be shared. Click here to share a retention strategy that works in your program or course.
OAA extends a grand thank you to all members of the campus professionals who continue to connect with students. Calling, emailing, and responding to students helps them feel more connected with the college. Students who are more connected to the college are more likely to complete the semester and re-enroll for the next one.
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Succeed@Hostos
If a student is doing really great in your course, raise a kudo in Succeed@Hostos. This shows the student that you are paying attention to them!
On the other hand, the last day for students to withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” is May 17. If you know that a student is in danger of failing your course, connect with the student's advisor or Success Coach as soon as possible.
Succeed@Hostos is a valuable resource! It can: show you the last time your students logged into your Blackboard course; track your communications, flags, and kudos; allow you to post your office hours and make appointments with students and show the name and contact information of your student’s advisor or success coach.
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NEWS FROM THE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
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Hostos Community College To Celebrate 2021 Graduating Class With Digital Commencement Ceremony (Recurring notice)
Graduation Information
All are welcome to join the Hostos Community College 2021 digital commencement ceremony on Friday, May 28, 2021. at 2 p.m. on Hostos’ YouTube.
Caps and gowns orders are accepted through May 1 using this link.
Graduation candidates are encouraged to email one photo, one 280-character quote or message, Empl ID, and degree/major to commencementRSVP@hostos.cuny.edu for inclusion in the digital ceremony by April 26, 2021.
We invite Hostos faculty and students to help nominate the Spring 2021 commencement speaker. Simply complete the “Speaker Nomination Form” using your Hostos user ID and password to submit your nominee for consideration.
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT |
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The Hostos Community College Foundation’s 2021 Virtual Annual Scholarship Benefit (Recurring Notice)
Save the Date: Thursday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m.
The Virtual Annual Scholarship Benefit—Hostos' premier fundraising event—strengthens the institutional mission of the College: furthering student success. Net proceeds support students along their road to degree completion, helping to create positive trajectories for themselves and their families.
The 2021 Virtual Annual Scholarship Benefit honorees are:
- Continental Food and Beverage, Inc., Inca Kola USA - Community Impact Award
- Mr. and Mrs. Stuart and Randi P. Feiner - Philanthropic Impact Award
- The Honorable José E. Serrano - Lifetime Community Service Award
Please mark your calendars and join us online on April 29. Details regarding registration and viewing information will be included in the forthcoming invitation.
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Office of Educational Technology (Recurring Notice)
EdTech has developed a series of workshops which offer resources to help students familiarize themselves with Blackboard and other technologies used for online learning. To enroll for an instructor-led online workshops, click here.
BLM Summit Kickoff | What Now? What Next?
LaGuardia Community College | April 12, 2021 | 10:30 a.m.
Featuring Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate. Join us for the 6th Annual Black Lives Matter Summit kickoff event! All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to login with their CUNYfirst credentials.
Guests and visitors can login with a personal zoom account.
We Too Sing America: From Experimentation to Participation
Office of the President | Wednesday, April 14 | 3 to 5 p.m.
This town hall is focused on a most timely and critical issue— race, medicine, and healthcare in the United States. Detailing the country's long and reprehensible history of medical experimentation on Black Americans, we'll discuss the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and what it means for historically marginalized communities.
Queering the Curriculum: How to Integrate LGBTQ Information Into Coursework
CTL | Wednesday, April 14 | 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
This panel and workshop addresses practical concerns, and offers opportunities to share techniques for including LGBTQ information into coursework in classes that are not LGBTQ+ specific. From integrating diverse texts, to navigating gender bias in math problems, to guides for finding LGBTQ+ information for research projects and more.
Care for You with Sound Bath Meditation to Reduce Stress
Counseling Center | Wednesday, April 14 at 6 p.m.
“HOPE IN COM-POSITIONS: Josefina Báez, Norma Cantú, Margarita Drago”
Latin American Writers Institute | Saturday, April 17 at 3 p.m.
Curated by Professor Inmaculada Lara-Bonilla, the Hostos Latin American Writers to appear in Carnegie Hall’s Voices of Hope Festival
Dr. Nasry Michelen Allied Health Lecture Series: COVID and Seniors
Office of the President | Tuesday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m.
Presentation by Dr. Walid Michelen
Candid Conversations Part 5: Money Matters
Counseling Center and Health and Wellness | Tuesday, April 20 at 3 p.m.
Conversation about money management, entrepreneurship, financial wellness and effects on mental health
Music Is...Family Feud Edition
Counseling Center with SGA | Wednesday, April 21 at 4 p.m.
Join us as students and staff go head-to-head in some friendly competition.
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV): Make Your Vote Count!
Faculty and the Office of Government Relations | Friday, April 23, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Learn about New York City’s new Ranked Choice Voting system and how it gives New Yorkers more vote choice and encourages more candidates of all backgrounds to run for office. For event details read here.
Velada Hostosiana: A Tribute to Poet Norberto James Rawlings
Office of the President | Tuesday, April 27 at 2:30 p.m.
Own Your Power by Increasing Awareness and Your Actions to Fight Against Sexual Violence
Counseling Center collaborative event in observance of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month | Tuesday, April 27 at 3 p.m.
The Hostos Community College Foundation’s 2021 Virtual Annual Scholarship Benefit
Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m.
All College Meeting: Academic Year End Gathering
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
Spring 2021 Commencement Ceremony
Office of the President | Friday, May 28 | 2 p.m.
Live streamed on via the Hostos YouTube channel
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ABOUT EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO/THE HOSTOS WEEKLY
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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.
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For inclusion in the Hostos Weekly, please send your items to:
Please keep submissions to no more than two paragraphs of written content and note,
we are unable to add attachments to our publication.
Look for the Hostos Weekly each Friday.
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