Friday, March 26, 2021 | Vol. 2 No. 10, Spring 2021 Semester
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MESSAGE FROM INTERIM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS
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My Dear Colleagues and Students,
I am happy to write these few words as we welcome spring and our 2021 Spring Break. After a tough winter, it is just so comforting to bask in the sun and in the knowledge that our good work takes a brief pause to celebrate accomplishments, catch up if we need to with our work and studies, and spend time honoring our traditions and praying if we do, in whatever form we do.
Women’s History Month will also come to a close as we enjoy our break. This year has seen the swearing in of the first African-American woman, of Asian and Caribbean immigrant parents, as the Vice President of the United States. It has also seen the senseless and hateful killing of several women of Asian descent in Georgia. How do we come to terms with so much that is to be praised and so much to be despised, condemned and rejected in our nation?
We at Hostos will continue to call out injustices, to speak out and to behave ourselves in ways that contribute to our moving forward as educated members of an academic community of purpose, ever vigilant about rejecting racism and ever welcoming of all. It was comforting for many of us to hear the words of the College Senate Chair this past Thursday, many of our voices are encouraged and do continue to be heard. Today, March 26, 2021 we raise our voices against hatred as we speak up in solidarity and sorrow as we also grieve for the ten lives lost in Colorado earlier this week.
The month of March brought us joyful and insightful celebrations of community and of the power of women in our communities to emerge as leaders to create much-needed change. Our own Dr. Nydia Edgecombe chose for her dissertation topic the life and work of Evelina L. Antonetty and the transformative power of activism from the grass roots and the impact in our communities of her caring, timely and much-needed work. The discussion was smart and loving as Nydia was joined in the discussion by our own Doña Elba Cabrera, Antonetty’s sister and a member of the Hostos Foundation, and her daughter and grass-roots activist, Anita Antonetty.
Our Preparing for the Real World Velada Hostosiana/Hostos Culture Talk, was moderated by Félix O. Sánchez, Alumni Relations Manager, and featured a conversation between two talented Hostos alumnae Lina Cruz, Multicultural Affairs Manager with the NY Yankees and an Hostos graduate in 2011, and Idelsa Méndez, Development Officer at Hostos and a graduate of 2006. What an amazing trajectory they have had—one that would have made activist Evelina Antonetty proud of the work being done by faculty and staff, and the power of education to transform lives and communities.
If you did not have a chance to attend these two powerful Veladas Hostosianas/Hostos Culture Talks this month, I encourage you to visit our YouTube page to see the recordings.
One more Velada/Culture Talk will be held while we are on spring break. On Wednesday, March 31, Associate Dean Ana I. García Reyes will moderate a panel of women legislators from Congress, City Council and State Government. They are as follows: Hon. Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Congress Member; Hon. Amanda Septimo, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Nathalia Fernandez, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Karines Reyes, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Chantel Jackson, NY State Assembly Member; Vanessa L. Gibson, New York City Council Member; and, Hon. Diana Ayala, New York City Council Member. The link for the event is here:https://hostos-cuny-edu.zoom.us/j/85750701761
El Semanario Hostosiano/The Hostos Weekly will be taking a spring break next week, resuming on Friday, April 9. Until then, be safe, be kind, and practice physical distancing, hand-wash frequently, use masks as required and vaccinate as soon as your turn comes up.
Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy
Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Interim President
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, CUNY
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POEMS TO REFLECT ON OUR COMMON HUMANITY
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Passover
By Primo Levi
Tell me: how is this night different, from all other nights?
How, tell me, is this Passover, different from other Passovers?
Light the lamp, open the door wide, so the pilgrim can come in,
Gentile or Jew; under the rags perhaps the prophet is concealed.
Let him enter and sit down with us; let him listen, drink, sing and celebrate Passover;
Let him consume the bread of affliction, the Paschal Lamb, sweet mortar and bitter herbs.
This is the night of differences, in which you lean your elbow on the table,
Since the forbidden becomes prescribed, evil is translated into good.
We will spend the night recounting, far-off events full of wonder,
And because of all the wine, the mountains will skip like rams.
Tonight they exchange questions: the wise, the godless, the simple-minded and the child.
And time reverses its course, today flowing back into yesterday,
Like a river enclosed at its mouth. Each of us has been a slave in Egypt,
Soaked straw and clay with sweat, and crossed the sea dry-footed.
You too, stranger. this year in fear and shame,
Next year in virtue and in justice.
About Primo Levi: (born July 31, 1919, Turin, Italy—died April 11, 1987, Turin), Italian-Jewish writer and chemist, noted for his restrained and moving autobiographical account of and reflections on survival in the Nazi concentration camps. While there, Levi worked as a slave labourer for an I.G. Farbenindustrie synthetic-rubber factory. Upon the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviets in 1945, Levi returned to Turin, where in 1961 he became the general manager of a factory producing paints, enamels, and synthetic resins; the association was to last some 30 years. “Il sistema periodico” (1975; The Periodic Table) is a collection of 21 meditations, each named for a chemical element, on the analogies between the physical, chemical, and moral spheres; of all of Levi’s works, it is probably his greatest critical and popular success. He also wrote poetry, novels, and short stories. A court in Turin ruled his death in 1987 a suicide, a verdict broadly accepted but debated by some. | Read more at Britannica.
Prayer
By St. Francis of Assisi
Lord make me an instrument
Of thy peace, where there is hatred, Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that
I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we
Are pardoned, and it is in dying
That we are born to eternal life.
“The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,” by Sogyal Rinpoche, Rider, 2007
About St. Francis of Assisi: Born in Italy circa 1181, Saint Francis of Assisi was renowned for drinking and partying in his youth. After fighting in a battle between Assisi and Perugia, Francis was captured and imprisoned for ransom. He spent nearly a year in prison — awaiting his father's payment — and, according to legend, began receiving visions from God. After his release from prison, Francis heard the voice of Christ, who told him to repair the Christian Church and live a life of poverty. Consequently, he abandoned his life of luxury and became a devotee of the faith, his reputation spreading all over the Christian world. | Read more from Biography.
Can Any Beauty Match This?
By Hafiz, c.1320-1389
When the sun within speaks, when love
reaches out its hand and places it upon
another,
any power the stars and planets might
have upon us,
any fears you can muster can become so
rightfully insignificant.
What one heart can do for another heart,
is there any beauty in the world that can
match this?
Brotherhood, sisterhood, humanity becomes
the joy and the emancipation.
¿Hay alguna belleza que se le pueda comparar?
Cuando el sol en nosotros nos ilumina, cuando el amor
extiende la mano y la coloca en otra,
cualquier poder que las estrellas y los planetas ejerzan
en nosotros
cualquier miedo que nos abrume puede volverse
tan obviamente insignificante.
Lo que un corazón puede ofrecer a otro,
¿hay alguna belleza en el mundo que se le
pueda comparar?
La hermandad en los hombres y las mujeres, la humanidad
se convierte en alegría y en emancipación.
"Can Any Beauty Match This?" in A Year with Hafiz: Daily Contemplations, edited and adapted by Daniel James Ladinsky. New York: Penguin, 2010. 5. Print. Used by permission of Mr. Ladinsky.
Spanish translation by Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
About Hafiz: from BCC Culture: Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz (c. 1320-1389) is one of the most beloved poets of the Persians, and is considered by many – from different cultures – to be one of the seven literary wonders of the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe both agreed. As Emerson said of Hafiz: "He fears nothing. He sees too far, he sees throughout; such is the only man I wish to see or be." And Emerson gave Hafiz that grand and famous compliment, "Hafiz is a poet for poets."
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION BRIAN CARTER |
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To all my colleagues and fellow students alike, I’m here where we all can take solace and refuge from the daily hustle and bustle. The place that still feels normal. As home is where the heart is and Hostos is our home away from home, I feel so proud of you all as midterms approach and the midpoint of the semester is upon us. Let us reflect on this semester, on a positive note, as we gather our thoughts and begin the process of following through. Although even the challenges that we continue to face may seem bleak at times, remember that we have resources at Hostos that will continue to give us a helping hand,, including CUNY EDGE, the Counseling Center, and the Student Leadership Academy.
Please join us Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. as the SGA and Counseling Center continue to embark on numerous issues that spark important conversations concerning everyday situations, where we provide a safe space for students to join in conversation and share experiences in confidence. Want to know more about what the Counseling Center does? Check out this video. Want to get in contact to ask a question or schedule an appointment? Call 718-518-4461 or email them. Have Instagram and want to see what they’ve got going on? Check out their IG and follow them.
This pandemic is far from over, so please continue to practice social distancing, especially as we approach the spring and summer months, when more people plan to engage in larger gatherings with chances that we could possibly see an additional spike if social distancing is not enforced. Use your best judgment and continue to use masks, and get vaccinated when you are eligible to do so. We are almost approaching better times. Keep the faith, God is good. Continue to love one another and encourage others to do the same. We only have one life, so we must make the best of it. Stay focused. We will continue to rise amidst all adversity that may present a challenge to us. We are Hostos.
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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
Facilities Reopening Town Hall
On Tuesday, March 16, a Facilities Reopening Town Hall took place as an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to hear about the work done on campus to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
After opening remarks from President Cocco De Filippis and our Coronavirus Campus Coordinator, SVP Rodriguez-Chardavoyne, recent graduate Luis Caraballo described his work as one of the student nurses doing health screenings for everyone coming on campus.
Frank Virone and Zack Korenstein then spoke at length about the changes made on campus. Sharing their knowledge as the Chief Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds (Mr. Virone) and as an independent Environmental Health and Safety consultant (Mr. Korenstein), they were able to provide attendees with details about the modifications to processes and the facilities—particularly the HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) systems—and answer audience questions.
The Facilities Reopening Town Hall was recorded for members of our community who could not attend. The video can be found here.
Updates: Planning a Return to Campus in Fall 2021
Since February, the focus for Hostos’s reopening has been for academic departments to determine which classes can have an on-campus component this fall. This planning has continued as we approach the start of Fall 2021 registration on April 5.
Recognizing the need for rooms that can safely accommodate a full class section on campus, we are currently evaluating meeting rooms and other spaces outside of our classroom inventory. When completed, this additional information will be provided to the Registrar’s Office for scheduling.
As we continue to move forward in our preparations for Fall 2021—including planning for academic and student support services—the Provost will be holding further discussions with academic chairs and directors.
Hostos Reopening Committee
The Hostos Reopening Committee met most recently on March 17. At that meeting, the committee was presented with a summary of the March 16 Facilities Reopening Town Hall and an update on the planning process for Fall 2021.
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A REFLECTION AS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH COMES TO A CLOSE |
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Submitted by Diana Kreymer, Assistant to the President and Director of the President’s Office
In Sunday’s New York Times, Dr. Judy Batalion wrote an opinion piece titled, “The Nazi-Fighting Women of the Jewish Resistance.”* I have been invited to share my reflections with the Hostos family. As the author states in her opening lines, stories of Jewish women who resisted the Nazis, and even fought back on occasion, were rarely shared in the Jewish community. I myself was surprised to learn of this courageous group of women and admire their sly tactics during a time of such severe injustice. As women, we are often made to feel that we cannot be outspoken, opinionated or tenacious. Margaret Atwood’s words come to mind, as when she said, “We still think of a powerful man as a born leader and a powerful woman as an anomaly.”
Attending the Velada Hostosiana in honor of Evelina Antonetty earlier this week and reading Dr. Edgecombe’s work made me think of all the warrior and fighter monikers that women take on when they do the unthinkable or unimaginable for their gender’s norms. Notably, in her presentation during the Velada, Dr. Edgecombe explained why Evelina was labelled as the “Hell Lady of the Bronx” - you’ll have to watch the event recording to find out why. In preparing for our futures as well as the futures of the next generations, it is important that we share these stories and reflect on the impact these powerful women have had on our societies. As offered by Dr Batalion, perhaps the Jewish women who fought back during the war preferred to keep an image that was free from masculine affiliations when they returned home postwar, which is why they did not share their stories in the decades that followed. Or maybe it was the survivor’s guilt, which has impacted so many who were impacted by this senseless tragedy. Nevertheless, we must honor them and continue to celebrate their memories. For it is due to their cunning and bravery that we gather at our seder tables this coming Passover. Chag Pesach Sameach and may we gather next year in Jerusalem!
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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 Nuñez-Rodríguez
Evaluation Team Chairperson Appointment and Team Visit Dates.
President Daisy Cocco De Filippis announced that Dr. Clayton Railey will serve as Team Chair of Hostos’ Middle States peer evaluation team. The evaluation process consists of two interrelated phases: a self-study, conducted by the institution, and a peer review phase, conducted by an Evaluation Team. As a Middle States team chair, Dr. Railey will bring expertise in urban community college student success. He serves as Executive Vice President and Provost of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success at Prince George’s Community College, providing leadership, direction, and oversight to programs and initiatives that work to improve student success. He also has experience integrating credit and non-credit health professions programs and strengthening workforce development programs. He has served as MSCHE evaluator for other CUNY community colleges. Thus, he will also bring understanding of the CUNY system. Dr. Railey’s preliminary visit to our institution is scheduled for Thursday November 18, 2021. He expects to receive our final report draft three weeks before this visit.
This initial visit will introduce Dr. Railey to our institution, its people and environment. In doing so, Dr. Railey will appraise our institution’s readiness to host the visit, address practical preparation and ensure that the self-study process and document will support and inform a meaningful on-site evaluation visit. Dr. Railey will meet with the President, Steering Committee, governing board representatives, students, staff and faculty representatives. Dr. Railey’s feedback will be incorporated into the final self-study report version. The team on-site evaluation visit is scheduled for April 3-6, 2022.
The evaluation team members are expected to contribute to a thoughtful assessment of the institution and evaluate the analysis in the Self-Study Report during this on-site visit. Prior to this visit and during, the team members can request additional evidence pieces. During the visit, the evaluation team assesses the institution in the context of the Self-Study Report by meeting with faculty, students, staff, administrators, trustees, and other members of the campus community in order to confirm and clarify the information provided in the report and to gather additional perspectives.
Overall, the peer-review phase represents an opportunity to share our hopes and gather perspectives by thoughtful colleagues in the higher education field focused on community college success. The Hostos Self-Study co-Chairs, with consideration of input from college leadership, requested evaluators with experience in urban community college realities. As we move forward to hosting this visit, the writing process uncovers our institutional growth and maturity in navigating a daily reality of efforts, challenges and successes. The self-study will surely bring the institution to an invigorating place, providing additional tools to understand student realities and the actions required to achieve their intellectual growth and socio-economic mobility.
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INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS |
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Submitted by Babette Audant, Assistant Dean for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Assessment
Considering Institutional Effectiveness and Institutional Intentions
“Effective” typically describes things—such as policies, treatments, arguments, and techniques—that do what they are intended to do. People can also be described as “effective” when they accomplish what they set out to accomplish, but the word is far more often applied to things, according to Merriam-Webster.
Institutional effectiveness, then, is the degree to which Hostos, in its entirety, accomplishes what we set out to accomplish, what the college set forth as its intention.
At Hostos, like many institutions of higher education, we have two separate and aligned statements of intention: the Mission and the Strategic Plan. Both speak clearly to our commitment to students’ success, and go on to detail what comprises that success. The Mission’s themes—Access to Higher Education, Diversity & Multiculturalism, English & Math Skills Development, Intellectual Growth/Lifelong Learning, Socio-economic Mobility and Community Resources—speak to the skills and knowledge students will gain at Hostos, and speak to the impact of education on, and the shared attributes of, Hostos students.
The Strategic Plan, soon to enter its last year, is unrelentingly focused on student success. The implication of the Plan’s design is that all of our work supports students’ success. Our combined and coordinated work—no matter whether the work directly impacts students, or is several degrees of separation away from direct impact. The plan requires us to bridge the unwritten, the unarticulated distance between the Priorities and what we do. Bridging these distances is the work of annual Operational Planning, which is often focused on particular SP priorities, zooming in on aspects of the student experience that have the potential to create momentum, or maximize an opportunity in favor of students’ success. The Operational Plan is an implementation plan, developed annually, to manage and document effort towards the institutional strategic planning goals. It is concrete, identifying activities to be undertaken by specific divisions, or units, often working together, or in tandem. It provides a series of milestone measures by which to assess effectiveness.
I’m careful not to say “measure effectiveness,” although measurement—in the form of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)—is part of how we represent and speak about institutional effectiveness. This measurement is meaningful, valid, and useful. Many of the SP priorities are also measurable, and reflect categories of student outcomes tracked by Hostos, and/or by CUNY through the still-relevant and evolving Performance Management Process, or PMP. There are also priorities such as Communication, or Systems Alignment (two of the five Cross-Cutting Commitments) that invite storytelling, a multi-voiced narrative that itself may well lead to its own conclusion about whether we were effective.
Why bring this up now? This last year of the AY21-22 Operational Plan represents an opportunity to wrap up the work we’ve done collectively by defining what it means to be “done.” And, to quote Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, “plans are made, and then life happens.” As we assess institutional effectiveness over the life of the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan, there will be key performance indicators we did not achieve. There will be targets that are no longer relevant. And, there will be stories of an institution that has held strong through one of the more dramatic “life happens” experiences. Effectiveness, we might argue, will be judged not only by how well we realized our Strategic Plan priorities, but how well we lived our Mission, particularly during the last twelve months, and the next twelve to come.
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Submitted by Executive Counsel & Labor Designee Eugene Sohn
New Categories in Vaccine Eligibility
Vaccine Eligibility in NYS/NYC now to Include the Following New Categories
- 50 years old or more (effective 3/23/21)
- Public-facing government and public employees (this would apply to Hostos faculty and staff working on campus in contact with other individuals--eff. 3/17/21)
- Essential in-person public-facing building service workers (this would apply to all Custodians, Laborers, Facilities Staff, eff. 3/17/21)
To sign up, please see links below and select the option that you are a “public-facing government and public employee.” We recommend that you take your CUNY ID with you when you go to get vaccinated.
vaccination sites include larger locations such as the Javitz Center.
Many individuals have had luck getting appointments on the SOMOS link below. NYC residents can use it (but you can try to use it if you live outside NYC), and if you are a Bronx resident, one of the vaccination sites that you can choose is Yankee Stadium. If you are an employee working on campus, when signing up, answer “yes” to the question: Are you one of the following: An employee of the City of NY and your role is covered by phases 1a and 1b?”
Paid Time Off to Get the Vaccine
Note that if and when you are able to get an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccination, and you are a full time employee who has a vaccination appointment during your workday, you are permitted 4 hours of paid time off per dose. As 2 doses are currently required, a total of 8 hours of paid time is permitted. You must include the information on your timesheet and provide a copy of your vaccination record.
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GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS |
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Submitted by Director of Governmental and External Affairs Eric Radezky, Ph.D.
File Your Taxes With NYC Free Tax Prep—Income Limits Apply
The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs offers free tax prep options and providers for individuals and families below certain income thresholds. Income limits may vary depending on which service provider you choose. Services offered include self-prep with help, virtual tax prep, drop-off service, and in-person tax prep.
Who can use NYC Free Tax Prep?
Anyone who lives or works in New York City can use an NYC Free Tax Prep site. Some providers have income limits and other eligibility requirements. In general, individuals must have earned $48,000 or less and families with dependents must have earned $68,000 or less in 2020 to file in person at an NYC Free Tax Prep site. Learn more at nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance. See other frequently asked questions on the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs website.
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS |
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Academic Support Program of the Week
Submitted by Travaras Geter, Associate Director College Now and CUNY Explorer’s, Office of School College Partnerships.
Hostos Launches CUNY Explorer Program under the Auspices of College Now (Office of School-College Partnerships)
This spring, Hostos is launching CUNY Explorers (CE) under the auspices of College Now, within the Office of School-College Partnerships. CE supports the Hostos mission to serve the community and provide transformative educational experiences to students in the South Bronx and New York metropolitan area. CE provides every NYC DOE 6th, 7th, and 8th graders with the opportunity to visit a CUNY campus, exposing them to college earlier in their academic careers and fostering a college-going mindset that helps students better prepare for their futures. Like College Now, and Early College Initiative, CE is a collaboration of the New York City Department of Education and CUNY.
Launching CUNY Explorers at Hostos provides access to this unique program for New York City middle school students. CUNY Explorers will expose students to exciting and successful majors available at Hostos, such as Allied Health and Media programs. During the pandemic when many students’ worlds are shrinking, CE supports academic momentum and positive mindset from middle school into college.
Hostos CE will hire and train college students as visit guides to deliver an interactive and meaningful campus experience (virtual for the moment) for the visiting middle school students. Through age-appropriate and customized visits, CE reinforces the message that all students can go to college, college is affordable, and students can take steps now to achieve their college goals.
For more information, contact Courtney Dawson, CUNY Explorers Field Coordinator, cdawson@hostos.cuny.edu. Courtney previously worked at CE at York College – we extend a warm Hostos welcome to Courtney!
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Faculty Spotlight of the Week
Professor Ann Genzele Celebrates the Release of a New Book
The Office of Academic Affairs extends a hearty congratulations to Assistant Professor in the English Department Ann Genzele for her most recent book publication, “Nationhood and Improvised Belief in American Fiction” (2021: Lexington Books). A virtual book release celebration has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom. All those interested in celebrating with Professor Genzele can register using this link.
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Submitted by Silvia Reyes, Chair of Caiman Clues
Student Engagement Practice: A brief outcome
Caiman Clues was implemented in Fall 2019 to help students make informed decisions about their academic goals, and to enhance their experiences and learning. The weekly “‘Clues”’ get shared via Hobson, email distribution, Blackboard, Hostos’ Website and Instagram channel and dispatch news to keep students, faculty and staff informed of upcoming events, important deadlines, resources, and connected with the college community.
Decades of research on student engagement demonstrate that students' development is a cumulative process influenced by students' experiences inside and outside the classroom (Astin, 1984; Terenzini, 2005; Kuh, 2009). As an outside-the-classroom engagement experience, Caiman Clues support students’ learning experiences by informing and involving students in activities that orient them to their academic studies, educational goals, and learning needs. In emphasizing Caiman Clues as a weekly engagement practice, we are constructing an intentional and purposeful pathway in which students see the value of information and its relationship to their learning and their lives, particularly its connection to their academic goals and career paths.
The Value of Caiman Clues
To show the extent to which students connect with the Caiman Clues, we examined the frequency and time students spent reviewing Caiman Clues communication. Demographics, majors, and GPA data were also analyzed and assessed in terms of academic advisement and Spring 2021 registration.
The effectiveness of the Clues was assessed using data collected for Weeks 1-10 for fall 2020.
The Clues were sent to 5,627 students, of which 3,688 were continuing students, 949 first-time-freshmen, 438 readmits, and 552 transfer students. The large majority of students who participated majored in Paralegal, Police Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Liberal Arts A.S.
Results showed that students who engaged with our weekly Caiman Clues, at least four times or more, were first-time freshmen (88.72%) and transfer students (88.4%). The least engaged were part-time students (36.66%). These involved students (66%) were also more likely to seek academic advisement, which demonstrates that students are making a connection between the information they are receiving and the guidance and support advisors provide to make choices and decisions about their plans of study. Another significant finding revealed that 17% of the students who regularly connected with the Clues were twice as likely to have enrolled for the Spring 2021 semester. It is also noteworthy to point out that continuing and readmit students with GPAs lower than 3.1 were more receptive to the Clues, indicating that these students generally found the Caiman Clues informative and helpful. Engaged students were also more likely to be female when compared with males.
The benefits associated with the Caiman Clues show that students are not only engaging with the information they are receiving but are being proactive in finding the help they need to persist during the semester. Perhaps most significant, students experience some success—getting advised and registered early—that shape their experiences during their first year. And these positive experiences increase the likelihood of persistence and success.
The Caiman Clues Team: Silvia Reyes, Chair, Allison Baptiste, David dos Santos, José R. García, Zussy López, Tanisha Ramírez, Rocio Rayo, Eric Rinklin, and Soldanela Rivera López.
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NEWS FROM THE STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
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Save the Date | 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. Students may apply here for graduation by the April 5 deadline. Caps and gowns orders accepted through May 1 using this link.Graduation candidates are encouraged to email one photo, one quote, 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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DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
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The Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development completed our Spring virtual Open House events showcasing course portfolios in the areas of Professional Development Certificate, Allied Health and Adult Learning Center programs. Held over three dates spanning late February and concluding on March 6th, the events attracted 168 prospective students, of which 42 have completed registration and enrollment so far. |
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CUNY Explorers, Now Hiring!
We are looking to hire Visit Guides (CA’s) who will facilitate virtual campus tours and engaging presentations to middle school students. These presentations will be focused on the individual’s major and their involvement and experiences at Hostos.
This is a very limited opportunity for innovative students with exceptional oral communication skills. Please see the job description at the following link CUNY-EXPLORERS for more details.
CUNY Explorers ensures that every middle-school student has the opportunity to visit a college campus to promote high school, college, and life success. Through age-appropriate and customized visits, CUNY reinforces the message that all students CAN GO to college, college is AFFORDABLE, and students can take steps NOW to achieve their college goals. You can learn more about CUNY Explorers here: https://k16.cuny.edu/explorers/.
NYC Vaccine Corps for all. Now Hiring!
We are excited to announce that hiring for the first of these positions is now live at nyc.gov/vaccinejobs!
Recruitment for Vaccine for All Corps jobs is led by the Workforce1 Career Center System operated by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), targeting candidates from the communities hit hardest by COVID-19. No healthcare experience is required for many of these positions, which include roles in site management, operations, and client services, in addition to clinical roles. Interested job seekers should visit nyc.gov/vaccinejobs to fill out an interest form to begin the screening process with SBS Workforce1 staff.
The Vaccine for All Corps will bring much needed job opportunities to our hardest-hit communities, while also ensuring that there are familiar, friendly faces greeting New Yorkers at their local vaccination site—and in their languages—driving trust and combating hesitancy. Again, no healthcare experience is required for many Vaccine for All Corps roles and all jobseekers with operations, customer service, and management experience should apply at nyc.gov/vaccinejobs, including those from hard-hit sectors such as restaurant and hospitality workers.
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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 Academic Affairs Unsung Hero of The Week
Professor Flor Henderson has been nominated as OAA Unsung Hero of the Week for her steadfast commitment to the success of the Food Studies degree program. During the pandemic, Professor Henderson worked with a College Lab Technician each week on campus to maintain the hydroponic towers and plants depending on that environment for their survival. The availability of the hydroponic plants provides students the opportunity to apply theory to practice, immediately, giving authentic and practical experiences. Professor Henderson has been an agent of change by developing a food studies curriculum that expands opportunities for our students to explore new topics in food studies and pathways to further study. This work represents Professor Flor Henderson’s unwavering participation in student success and preservation of the college mission. For this, OAA recognizes Professor Flor Henderson of the Natural Sciences Department as the OAA Unsung Hero of the Week.
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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.
LinkedIn 101
Office Of Career Services | Friday, March 26 | 1-1:45 p.m.
Learn how to navigate Linkedin for your Job Search.
Educating for Change: Womens’ Stories (Part II of IV)
Friday, March 26 | 7 p.m. (entry at 6:45 p.m.)
30-min watch of PBS "College Behind Bars" episode followed by a 60-minute panel
Panelists: Film Producer Salimah El-Amin; Bard Prison Initiative alumna Shawnta Montgomery; Hostos Professor Sandy Figueroa; SUNY Purchase Professor Ragnhild Utheim; Director of Programs College & Community Fellowship Maria Santangelo. Moderated by Marsha Milan-Bethel
Socio-Political Achievements of Women and Amplifying Their Leadership Voices
Office of the President | Wednesday, March 31 | 3:30 p.m.
Join the Office of the President for a Women’s History Month presentation with distinguished elected official trailblazers: Hon. Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Congress Member; Hon. Amanda Septimo, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Nathalia Fernandez, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Karines Reyes, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Chantel Jackson, NY State Assembly Member; Hon. Vanessa L. Gibson, New York City Council Member; and, Hon. Diana Ayala, New York City Council Member. With greetings and remarks from Hostos Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., and moderated by Associate Dean Ana I. García Reyes.
We Too Sing America: From Experimentation to Participation
Office of the President | Wednesday, Apr. 14 | 3-5 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 CTL Workshop
Tuesday, April 14 | 3:30-4:30pm
Queering The Curriculum: How to Integrate LGBTQ Information Into Coursework
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.
Spring 2021 Commencement Ceremony
Office of the President | Friday, May 28 | 2 p.m
Live streamed on YouTube
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ABOUT EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO/THE HOSTOS WEEKLY
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We will be observing the Spring Break holiday next week and will return with our next publication on Friday, April 9, 2021. Happy Holidays! |
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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:
Look for the Hostos Weekly each Friday.
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