Friday, January 22, 2021 | Vol. 2 No. 1, Spring 2021 Semester
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MESSAGE FROM INTERIM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS
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My Dear Colleagues and Students,
As I open the pages to our Spring 2021 Semanario Hostosiano/Hostos Weekly, I am moved by many thoughts about our grief shared as a nation for the COVID losses and uncertainty. Yet there is power in hope and in knowing the value of generosity, determination, persistence and belief in the future. The seasons teach us that spring is just around the corner and life regenerates with beauty, grace and predictability in this the most hopeful of seasons. Let that thought be with us even as we work harder than ever to reach out to our returning students to ensure that they are registered and ready to engage in a semester of learning and hope for a better future for us all.
I had a very good meeting with our SGA students recently where transition of power, the outgoing President Muiz Agbaje could not have been more supportive and eloquent about incoming President Brian Carter. I told them that they model behavior for others, elsewhere and welcomed newly elected President Brian Carter in his new role.
A few weeks ago, our students in the Digital Animation Class provided a talented and generous display of short animations; their visions of moving forward in the pandemic: A great tribute to their talent, hope and faith, and to the generous, dedicated and professional education they receive from very caring professors.
I breathe with relief as I consider the powerful display of order and democracy this past Wednesday. We are looking forward to the possibility of a more engaged, equitable, diverse and better future for all of us, including our DACA students and our immigrant populations. We also concentrate and place our expectations on the distribution of vaccines, and on the possibility of having a safe and joyous gradual return to normalcy next academic year.
Our colleagues in Behavioral and Social Sciences shared some very powerful reflections on inauguration day which you will find proudly included in the Semanario.
I wish you a successful and enjoyable semester. Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy.
Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Interim President
WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE REMARKS ON THE JANUARY 6, 2021 INSURRECTION DISTRIBUTED ON JANUARY 11, FOR OUR REFLECTION:
January 6, 2021 was a day marked by historic extremes.
Democrat candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were declared the winners of Georgia’s run-off elections, signaling a powerful and major shift in political thought and demographics in the Peach State, the greater South and the composition and power structure in the U.S. Senate.
And, in Washington, D.C., homegrown terrorists— empowered by the President’s baseless claims of election fraud— stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt and invalidate the Electoral College’s certification of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States. Such rampant and illegal activity is a grave insult to the democratic process, which must reflect the will of the people and not the misguided wishes of an entitled subgroup.
The world was shocked and appalled by the spectacle of such lawlessness. Shocking as well was the lack of response on the part of local and federal law enforcement. The hypocrisy is staggering: peaceful protests by Black Lives Matters advocates have been treated with unnecessary force and unjustified violence, but a mob bent on subverting the will of the American people was, in many instances, given a free pass to do as they pleased.
The destruction wrought upon the Capitol Building and the threat to the safety and well-being of the members of Congress did not come out of nowhere. The nation has no choice but to address the divisive and destructive elements that have long existed in our society. Systemic racism, economic and social inequality, a degraded level of political discourse: these and other issues must be dealt with. These attitudes are the product of fear, greed, and ignorance.
The task facing America’s educators is clear, and I believe community colleges provide an example and serve as a vehicle for the kind of thought and action required in this troubled day and age.
On any given day on a community college campus, a marvelously diverse student body gathers to learn through dialogue and interaction with their instructors and fellow students. People of all ages, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and genders are included— and all welcome. Ideas are exchanged, projects are collaborated upon, means of solving problems are tried and tested. Preconceived assumptions and misconceptions fall by the wayside in the light of knowledge.
Hostos’ dedication to justice on all levels, in every sphere, is as strong as it was when the College was founded in 1968. The institution is committed, as part of its goal of equal access for all, to providing the communities it serves with a forum to examine the critical issues we face.
While acknowledging the gravity of the riot and insurgence at the Capitol, I am impelled to point out the fact that the attempt to derail Biden and Harris’ certification failed. They will assume office later this month and initiate what we all hope will be a newer and brighter era in the nation’s political life.
Let us all strive to play a part in continuing to foster the civil, respectful, diverse, inclusive society we wish to live in. Change is never easy. But it is inevitable. And it is happening now.
WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE WITH YOU REFLECTIONS ON INAUGURATION DAY BY COLLEAGUES IN THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT:
Kristopher Burrell, Ph.D.
The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden is taking place in the midst of numerous social, economic, and public health crises. There will be much to contend with as a country during Biden’s term in office. Coming just two days after the federal birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is necessary to utilize the prophetic wisdom of Dr. King in developing a democratic legislative vision for our country in the next four years and beyond. In 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, responding to criticisms over the direct-action protests of Black residents in opposition to Jim Crow segregation, King argued that social tension was necessary for societal growth. The tension certainly exists in our country. We cannot be afraid of this tension. Neither can the incoming Biden administration. Our country can no longer prefer “order” over justice. Breaking down systemic racism, eradicating poverty, and reversing environmental degradation are extremely uncomfortable. However, it will be necessary for the new administration and us all as Americans to do the necessary work to address these issues in constructive ways.
Helen Chang, Ph.D.
Political scientist Maurice Duverger (1984) believed that “electoral mechanisms are strange devices—simultaneously cameras and projectors. They register images which they have partly created themselves.” As we learn from the last four years and look to the next four years, we must remember that our democratic institutions are not immutable. American voters and our elected leaders are not simply constrained by the rules governing our political system, but together, we also have the ability to shape these rules and expand on who they work for.
Sarah Hoiland, Ph.D.
Dr. Jill Biden will make history by keeping her faculty position at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) while serving as First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS), which mirrors her decision to teach at NOVA while serving as Second Lady from 2008-2017. With these choices, she is modernizing the role of First Lady, asserting the importance of her profession, our profession, and maintaining her commitment to debt-free community college. In August, she tweeted from @DrBiden, "Teaching is not what I do. It's who I am."
Her use of "Dr." has ruffled feathers; most notably in Joseph Epstein's December 11th, 2020 WSJ Opinion in which he questioned her use of "Dr." saying it "sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic." Thousands have since critiqued Epstein's paternalistic and sexist tone as well as the basis for his argument while others supported the attempt to reduce her status and earned doctorate. Women and people of color constantly fight to be afforded the same respect white men are given with or without a title inside and outside academia.
I have many hopes for the next four years, but what I will demand is debt-free community college and full investment in our community college students, staff, and faculty as restitution for disinvestment from the communities in which we teach, and a commitment to a more just and equitable society. For inspiration, we don't have to look any farther than the Hostos giants who fought to keep our College open 50 years ago.
Ernest Ialongo, Ph.D.
My only thought on the inauguration is that it cannot come soon enough.
What these past four years have shown us, and what January 6, 2021 made abundantly clear, is that the democratic form of government is a fragile thing. Ours is a government of laws, but it is also a commitment to adhere to those laws, and not to give in to the desire to foment change through violence. The storming of the capitol reminded us that all the processes we have in place for a democratic election can be overturned in an instant when a determined group of people seek to impose might over right. The insurrection was the culmination of 4 years of civil discord which had been enflamed by President Trump in an attempt at undermining faith in democratic institutions and focusing the attentions of the frustrated minority onto him as the savior of a purportedly failed system.
Allusions to Trump’s fascistic tendencies have been legion since he came to office: the press as the enemy of the people, the identification of the cult leader as the state itself, a demand for unswerving loyalty by the leader, a hyper-masculine ethos that seeks to humiliate and obliterate the political opposition, a pronounced nationalism and militarism, xenophobia, and a far too comfortable tendency to encourage violence against one’s enemies. Scholars of fascism pointed to these connections between Trump and Hitler and Mussolini early on. They were not taken seriously. Yet, as the years passed, and rhetoric became political action and legislation, and the violence at the heart of this rhetoric led to actual violence on January 6, 2021, such scholars are now being taken very seriously.
The inauguration of President-elect Biden and Vice-President-elect Harris will bring the country back to its best ideals, will put us back on the course where we continue to form ‘a more perfect union’, and where we confidently face the challenges that lay ahead.
CUNY Scholars Weigh in on a Historic Inauguration
We Asked CUNY Experts What This Moment Means to Them, Our Country, and How We Move Forward. Read more.
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A POEM ON THE POWER OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, AS WE WELCOME ANOTHER ACADEMIC SEMESTER: |
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LOVE IN THE CLASSROOM
— for my students
Afternoon. Across the garden, in Green Hall,
someone begins playing the old piano —
a spontaneous piece, amateurish and alive,
full of a simple, joyful melody.
The music floats among us in the classroom.
I stand in front of my students
telling them about sentence fragments.
I ask them to find the ten fragments
in the twenty-one-sentence paragraph on page forty-five.
They’ve come from all parts
of the world — Iran, Micronesia, Africa,
Japan, China, even Los Angeles — and they’re still
eager to please me. It’s less than half
way through the quarter.
They bend over their books and begin.
Hamid’s lips move as he follows
the tortuous labyrinth of English syntax.
Yoshie sits erect, perfect in her pale make-up,
legs crossed, quick pulse minutely
jerking her right foot. Tony,
from an island in the South Pacific, sprawls
limp and relaxed in his desk.
The melody floats around and through us
in the room, broken here and there, fragmented,
re-started. It feels Mideastern, but
it could be jazz, or the blues — it could be
anything from anywhere.
I sit down on my desk to wait,
and it hits me from nowhere — a sudden,
sweet, almost painful love for my students.
“Nevermind,” I want to cry out.
“It doesn’t matter about fragments.
Finding them or not. Everything’s
a fragment and everything’s not a fragment.
Listen to the music, how fragmented,
how whole, how we can’t separate the music
from the sun falling on its knees on all the greenness,
from this moment, how this moment
contains all the fragments of yesterday
and everything we’ll ever know of tomorrow!”
Instead, I keep a coward’s silence.
The music stops abruptly;
they finish their work,
and we go through the right answers,
which is to say
we separate the fragments from the whole.
By Al Zolynas From Teaching with Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach, Intrator, Sam and Megan Scribner, eds. 2003 |
About the Poet
Al Zolynas was born in Austria of Lithuanian parents in 1945. After growing up in Sydney, Australia and Chicago, he lived in Salt Lake City, and in Marshall and St.Paul, Minnesota. At various times, he has been a kitchen helper, lifeguard, worker in a felt factory, cab driver, road construction worker, poetry editor, resident poet in the schools. He teaches writing and literature at Alliant International University, San Diego, holds a Ph.D., and resides with his wife in Escondido, California. Poems of his have been widely published in books and translated into Lithuanian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Polish.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION MUIZ AGBAJE |
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Happy new year to you all. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and got to spend time with your families and loved ones. 2020 was a very challenging year, but thankfully we are alive to witness the beginning of a new year. For all the lives and souls lost in 2020, may their souls rest in perfect peace and for all of you that lost a loved one over the last year, you have my warmest condolences and my encouragement to kick into the new year with a positive mindset. This year I pray for our wealth and success in everything you pursue and most importantly mental stability.
As of December 2020, I officially graduated from Hostos Community College while serving as the President of the Student Government Association. It has been both an honor and a privilege to uphold the standards and serve this prestigious organization. There are a lot of emotions to be set and a lot of words to write but I am not able to express how much joy and sadness I feel at the same time leaving the school. In my time as President, a lot of work has been done, but I want to take this time to acknowledge and thank everyone that helped me to this point. My senators have been an amazing group of individuals that kept pushing throughout the semester. As you know, we had to run an organization for the first time virtually due to the pandemic and it wasn’t an easy task but the SGA came flying high. I’ve done everything possible to represent the students of the college and for that I am grateful. I am grateful for all the support that I got from faculty members, staff and the administration, without you all, this wouldn’t have been a success.
It is now time for me to move on to the next phase of my life, it is time for me to find who I am and to continue my academic success. This college continues to be a huge part of my life and a family, a home where I am always welcome. There will be a new administration, one that I am confident will continue to serve the students of the college and provide opportunities that benefit the students. The new administration is focused on the progress of the college and advocacy for the students with the help of the college administration. It’ll be an honor to introduce you to the leader of this new administration, Mr. Brian Carter. Brian is a friend, colleague and most importantly a brother that’ll help the Hostos family. He has displayed strong leadership over the years that I have known him and I am more confident to hand over the Presidency to him. He’s friendly, very outspoken and most importantly he has the first of the students’ interest at heart. Here are a few words from Mr. Brian Carter;
“Thank you for acknowledging me as the incoming President. I would like to also thank the previous administration for all of their hard work and effort in these trying times we have experienced thus far. I completely understand and fully accept responsibility going forward. I am excited about the responsibility and opportunity for this upcoming semester in which I plan to follow tradition and continue to lead by example through my experiences as being a diligent student leader going forward”.
Now that you have heard from Mr. Carter, I encourage you all to be supportive, to help guide and provide him with all the necessary help that you have provided for me to succeed. I am confident Brian will do well with the support of the college, the administration and the students.
This is the hard part; the part when I say goodbye, as this will be my last communication with the college as the President of the SGA. I will forever remain a student of the college and a part of the family. I am terrible at goodbyes so I would say to the students, faculty and staff instead, see you soon!
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The first day of classes for the Spring ‘21 semester is Friday, January 29.
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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 | Middle States Self-Study Update: Maestro Eugenio María de Hostos’ ideas illuminate the crafting of the self-study report’s chapter on the Institution’s Mission and Goals (Standard 1)
Eugenio María de Hostos’ birthday celebration on January 11th reminded us of his commitment to social change, equal opportunity for all and the undeniable role of education in fostering true democracy, progress and social justice. Coincidentally, the body of evidence to support our institution’s mission fulfillment shows an increased graduation rate, the institution’s effort to increase the number of debt-free students at each commencement ceremony, the development of new educational programs, the increasing collaboration between Academic Affairs and Workforce Development, the evolution of processes to address student developmental needs and the herculean efforts of staff and faculty to preserve academic continuity during the pandemic. The crafting of the self-study report’s section about mission fulfillment is informed by, and sustains Maestro Hostos’ legacy.
Middle States expects institutional goals that are realistic, appropriate to higher education, and mission-consistent. President Daisy Cocco De Filippis’s recently released a statement addressing the role of a community college in this time when equal access to education remains THE path to create a more socially just world. As the country celebrates democracy with President Biden’s inauguration, the College’s open-door policy reinforces our commitment to a student population seeking an opportunity to develop their cognitive skills and acquire the tools to navigate other academic opportunities and enter into the workforce. In this regard, the work of Professor EmeritusOrlando Hernández’s translation of Maestro Hostos’s ideas offers a compass for our daily efforts to expand the human and academic horizons of our students, who bring a plethora of personal narratives and varied academic backgrounds when they walk through our institution’s doors. It is our mission to empower them with knowledge and ideas, to teach how to reason* as Maestro Hostos envisioned in the 19th century. Middle States asks us to demonstrate how we manifest our mission as an institution of higher education, in relation to the students we serve and the goals we seek to accomplish. Maestro Hostos’ lifelong advocacy for progress and dignity serve as a roadmap for our institution.
*It is not enough to impart knowledge; you must teach how to acquire it; it is not enough to teach constructed science; you must teach how to construct it; it is not enough to submit yourself and your teaching to a method; you must teach how to use it. In a word, it is not enough to teach knowledge; you must teach how to reason.
“Crítica a la crítica,” F.P.A.-II, O.C.-39, 52.
Translated by Dr. Orlando Hernández, Professor Emeritus/Hostos Scholar
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INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS |
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Submitted by Assistant Dean for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Assessment | OIERA, Babette Audant, Ph.D | Drafting Institutional Advisement Outcomes
“The best way of doing things is doing things”*
The role of advisement services at Hostos, as it is across higher education, is multi-vectored. By engaging with advisement services, students gain information, they are provided with guidance, and they develop self-efficacy— all of this in a supportive, safe/brave space between student and advisor.
There are numerous ways of assessing the outcome of advisement services. For example, we can measure the link between a certain number of interactions between student and advisor and student outcomes such as retention and graduation— always acknowledging the limitations of the research. Another approach to assessing advisement outcomes is focusing on student learning outcomes, or SLOs.
Through interactions with advisement services, Hostos students learn about college policies, they learn about degree programs, and how to navigate resources such as Degree Audit. They learn how to ask for assistance, and how to contact faculty about their concerns. Students learn how to advocate for themselves. Assessing a common set of student learning outcomes across all advisement services is a national best practice, and one the AES Assessment Committee (AESAC) and the Cross-Divisional Advisement Committee (CDAC) will implement at Hostos this spring.
The first step is identifying student learning outcomes that reflect the goals of advisement services at Hostos. On December 11th, a group of more than twenty representatives of CDAC, AESAC and Hostos’ advisement units (including SSCU, ASAP, CD and CUNY Start/Math Start) participated in a workshop led by Dr. Meredith Reitman, assessment consultant. After introductions, participants worked in small groups to identify what they, as frontline staff, managers and directors, do every day, and what students will be able to do as a result of these daily activities. After a break, we reviewed the collective efforts as a large group and sorted the responses, using the CAS (the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education) Standards for Advisement as a framework.
The CAS framework has six domains, or categories of academic advisement outcomes including ”knowledge acquisition, integration, construction, and application” and “intrapersonal development.” These outcomes resonated with workshop participants who are familiar with the CAS framework, and whose work is already informed by these national standards. Aligning ground level input with the CAS domains was a way of adding local dimension to a nationally recognized framework. The resulting advisement student learning outcomes, or Institutional Advisement Outcomes (IAOs), is currently in draft form. Once it is reviewed by CDAC members, and the workshop participants, the IAOs will be shared with the Hostos community. Echoing Maestro Hostos’ apt aphorism that the “best way of doing things is doing things,” we will implement systematic assessment of the IAOs this spring. While premature (the IAOs have not been finalized), the energy and enthusiasm exhibited during the workshop warranted a public celebration of participants’ optimism, and readiness to take on the next phases of this work.
Advisors know students learn through their interactions with advisement services. Assessing whether that learning is achieved well, or whether it is not, will inform continuous improvement. By acknowledging that advisement is a college-wide service provided at multiple sites, having shared Institutional Advisement Outcomes provides a platform for talking together about how to ensure our students are getting what we promise them. Without erasing the qualities that make our multiple advisement units distinct, the IAOs provide a common ground, and statement of shared commitment.
*January 11th marked the birthday of our college’s namesake, Eugenio María de Hostos. In addition to be in an impassioned and unwavering advocate for social justice, women’s right, access to education and democracy, he was also a practical man. A collection of his aphorisms, translated by Professor Orlando Jose Hernández, can be found here: Eugenio María de Hostos 50 Aphorisms-50 Aforismos including the ones cited above.
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GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDENT RECORDS ACCESS POLICY AND THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
The Student Records Access Policy of the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York (CUNY) provides that the University and its colleges shall be in full compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S. §1232g, and its implementing regulations, 34 CRF Part 99. Read more.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ERIC RADEZKY, Ph.D. |
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The New York City Health Department has released new resources on the COVID-19 vaccine: https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ and 1-877-VAX-4NYC (1-877-829-4692). The website and phone number can be used to check vaccine availability at local providers and do schedule appointments for those who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. Below is some of the information you will find on the website, and more information about COVID-19 vaccinations can be found on the NYC Department of Health website here— look for the Frequently Asked Questions PDF titled, “What New Yorkers Need to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines.”
What is the Vaccine Finder?
The Vaccine Finder is a one-stop site for New Yorkers to find their nearest COVID-19 vaccination location. The Vaccine Finder can also provide New Yorkers with information to schedule vaccination appointments. To get started, type in an address, ZIP code, or click “near me” to find a list of nearby provider locations. You will also see links and phone numbers to schedule an appointment. Each site manages its own schedules and appointments. This tool is intended to help make site information— including scheduling options— easily accessible to New Yorkers.
Who can get vaccinated right now?
Currently, the vaccine is being provided to people 65 and older, teachers and education workers, first responders, public safety workers, public transit workers, grocery store workers, healthcare providers and staff with direct patient contact, emergency responders, staff at COVID-19 testing and vaccination locations, home health aides, and long-term care staff and residents among others. Click here for more details on the groups currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID Rent Relief Extension Program
Hostos students and faculty should also be aware of the New York State COVID Rent Relief Extension Program administered by the NYS Department of Homes and Community Renewal. The program is open to renters whose primary residence is in New York State; who lost income in the months from April 2020 to July 2020 and who were rent burdened during those months; and who meet certain income criteria. From the DHCR website:
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“The COVID Rent Relief Extension Program will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance. The Covid Rent Relief Extension Program is not first come, first served. Applications will be accepted throughout the application period. HCR will prioritize eligible households with ‘greatest economic and social need.’”
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Anyone who thinks they might be eligible should consult the website for more details about eligibility and the application process. For those who qualify, this is an excellent opportunity to make up for some of the rent owed for April to July of last year. The Deadline is February 1st.
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS |
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Congratulations to the Nursing Unit and the English Department
The Office of Academic Affairs led by Acting Provost and Vice President Charles I. Drago is pleased to congratulate the English Department and the Nursing Unit of the Allied Health Sciences Department on the glowing reviews each has received by external evaluators. External evaluation is part of the Academic Program Review (APR) process by which faculty periodically reflect on the teaching, learning, achievements, challenges, and opportunities within the academic departments/units.
The chairpersons from the Allied Health Sciences Department, Professor Joyce Dais, and the English Department, Professor Andrea Fabrizio shared their reflections on the process and outcomes from the APR.
Reflection on the Nursing Review by Professor Joyce Dais, chair
The Nursing Unit has implemented a comprehensive review of curriculum and instructional methods so that standardized testing results as well as the RN and PN NCLEX Licensing Exams will exceed the National Mean on a consistent basis. These results are being achieved despite the students facing economic hardship during the current COVID-19 Pandemic. These results are possible because of the cooperation from the College Administration working with the Nursing Faculty to meet the student's educational on-line needs.
Nursing Unit Goals:
The Nursing Unit is presently working with OAA's Acting Assistant Dean Olen Dias as well as the unit coordinators, Professor Elyse Vasquez-Iscan of Community Health and Professor Eunice Flemister of Aging and Health Studies to incorporate the LPN (licensed practical nurse) certificate into their degree programs so a full-time student can graduate with an associate’s degree and an LPN certificate in four semesters.
The Nursing Unit is working with OAA's Dean Olen Dias finalizing a dual degree with CUNY's School of Professional Studies for RN students seeking a baccalaureate degree as well as exploring an articulation agreement with Concordia College in Westchester County.
Reflection on the English Department Review By Professor Andrea Fabrizio, Chair
As part of the Academic Program Review process, in the fall of 2020 the English Department underwent an external review. Prof David Humphries, former English Department Chair and Dean at Queensborough Community College, conducted the review through Zoom. He met various cohorts of faculty and leadership over the course of the fall semester. At the conclusion of his review Prof. Humphries was impressed with the Department as a whole and especially with the Department’s commitment to curricular innovation. He reflects, “I can say with confidence that the English Department at Hostos Community College, City University of New York, is a department that has grown and evolved in interesting and effective ways over the past ten years, and it is currently a well-functioning and talented department with a demonstrated and effective commitment to fulfilling the mission of the college.” Having the opportunity to share the Department’s work with an outside evaluator was a valuable process that gave us a different perspective on our departmental structure and priorities. In light of Prof. Humphries recommendations, the English Department will be paying particular attention to assessing our newest Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) course (ENG 10) and to ensuring course managers are adequately supported.
Zoom Instruction for Students
The Office of Academic Affairs is responding to concerns raised by the Student Government that indicate students are uncertain about using the Zoom online platform. As a result, and under the leadership of Mr. Carlos Guevara, the Office of Educational Technology has designed and will offer several student-centered workshops on how to use Zoom. Mr. Iber Poma will provide the instruction for students which will cover topics including: Getting Started with Zoom, Joining Zoom, Configuring Video and Audio settings, How to Share Screen, Tips and Tricks. More information about Zoom and other technology workshops for students can be found at: https://edtech.hostos.cuny.edu/Workshops/Home/Server?serverId=2.
New Policy for Mass Email Distribution Requests
Effective immediately, the Office of Academic Affairs is implementing a new policy for members of the campus community requesting to send emails to any of the campus-wide or division-wide mass email distribution lists such as the Hostos Distribution List. With any questions or concerns about this new policy, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs by sending your contact information and concern to oaa@hostos.cuny.edu. Please allow up to 2 business days to receive a response.
Policy
Any member of the campus community who wishes to broadcast an announcement from the Office of Academic Affairs email box, using a mass email distribution list, must make the request using the Mass Email Distribution Request Form.
Mass Email Distribution Lists include, but are not limited to,
- Hostos Distribution List (HDL),
- Higher Education Officers List (HEOL)
- List of Teaching Faculty (LoTF)
- Adjunct Faculty List (AL)
- Student Distribution List (SDL)
About the Form
The form is powered by Microsoft Office 365. All Hostos/CUNY members are entitled to a free account. Members of the campus community can claim an account by going to office.com and signing in using CUNYFirst credentials. Anyone with trouble claiming an account should contact IT helpdesk for assistance (IThlepdesk@hostos.cuny.edu). More FAQs can be found on the request form website.
Center for Teaching and Learning
Call-for-Submissions | Examples of Creative Works
Last year the World Health Organization presented evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being. "What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review" assures us that the arts can positively impact both mental and physical health. Creative works are an excellent way to alleviate stress and keep ourselves connected to our creative side. Do you engage in creative works as a way of maintaining your wellbeing?
We will be collecting examples of your creative works, whether it's a poem, a piece of artwork, a sketch, a song or a knitted sweater! By sharing our creative works, we're strengthening our community and, perhaps, inspiring others as well.
You can upload the file to this Dropbox folder. Go to Folder.
Virtual Day Zero: Grounding Ourselves Thursday, January 28, 2021 via Zoom
Starting the semester with energy and enthusiasm is the motivation we all love to see in our students and faculty. Day Zero was created by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Center for Teaching and Learning to offer the additional boost to setting the stage for a successful semester.
Join us for a day of conversations about engagement, collaboration, well-being, community building and more. The day will offer a discussion panel about how virtual learning has impacted us on a personal and professional level and quick but effective sessions about practical tips and best practices to create a great start of the semester. Register at: https://edtech.hostos.cuny.edu/Workshops/Home/WorkshopInstance?workshopInstanceId=45480
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
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Public Safety
Three Mandatory Steps are required by all staff and faculty PRIOR to coming onsite. If you plan on visiting the Hostos campus, you’ll be obliged to follow requirements and behavior designed to protect the health and safety of all.
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DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT |
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Alumni Spotlight Series
The Office of Alumni Relations recently launched its Alumni Spotlight Series, which illuminates the remarkable impact our graduates have in our communities. These stories illustrate personal triumphs through challenging circumstances, but also share resonating messages about the boundless potential of motivated individuals equipped with the tools for success. These evocative, personal insights from alumni affirm to our students that with the transformational power of education and the supportive environment provided by Hostos, they, too, will succeed in making their dreams come true.
We invite you to enjoy the inaugural edition of the Alumni Spotlight Series, featuring John Meche, Class of 2005. Read more.
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Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis Recognized Among Power Women in the Bronx
On Thursday, January 14, Hostos Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., was honored as one of the Power Women of the Bronx in a virtual ceremony. Read more.
First Velada Hostosiana of 2021 Honors Eugenio María de Hostos
The first Velada Hostosiana | Hostos Culture Talk of 2021, marked the birthday and legacy of Don Eugenio María de Hostos with a presentation by Professor Emeritus Orlando J. Hernández and poet and critic David Cortés Cabán (’76). Doubling on the College’s namesake, the Hostos Culture Talks validate the importance of community engagement and learning. Read more.
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The Office of the President is delighted to share that one of our very own staff, Ms. Desiree Whitworth, College Assistant, has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lehman College. We extend our hearty congratulations and send our best wishes on this achievement. You have reached an important goal with your hard work and perseverance. Blessings on your continued success!
The Office of the President is proud to acknowledge a new accomplishment of Mr. Jose R. Garcia, Brand and Communications Associate in the Hostos Office of Communications, advancing his marketing credentials. Mr. Garcia recently graduated from the City College of New York with a Master’s degree in Branding and Integrated Communications. We salute Mr. García on this new achievement. Congratulations!
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Two-Part Grant Writing Workshop
Friday, January 22 and Friday, January 29 from 9:30-11 a.m.
The fundamentals of writing an effective, persuasive grant proposal are covered in this two-part course.
Sustainable Budgeting & Contingency Planning During Covid
Friday, February 5 from 9:30-11 a.m.
Participants will learn strategies to help manage finances during these challenging times.
Zoom Link: Forthcoming closer to date
All College Meeting: Welcoming the New Semester
Tuesday, February 9 at 3 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://hostos-cuny-edu.zoom.us/j/81343425863#success
The Stories We Tell: Race in America
Wednesday, February 17 from 3-5 p.m.
A town hall discussion where we ponder, "Who is an American?", "Who gets to decide?" and "What factors shape that definition?" We will cover three distinct periods in history – the Constitutional Convention, the Reconstruction Era, and the Civil Rights Era. Participants will be asked to define Americanism, citizenship, and who gets to claim the American Dream.
Executive Management Certificate Program (Eighth Cohort)
Thursday, February 25 through Thursday, November 18 from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
A nine-month training program to help emerging leaders address present organizational and leadership challenges.
Zoom Link: Forthcoming closer to date
Becoming Jim Crow: A Long, Legal History
Tuesday, March 9 from 3-5 p.m.
In this town hall, we'll explore the long history of anti-black racism and its codification in the laws of the United States. Taking a visual journey through America's history, we'll explore the question, "Despite all of this, how do we continually survive and thrive?"
Save the Date - Third Annual Women’s Resilience Conference
Friday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The Center for Bronx Nonprofit’s annual conference celebrates women and their place as leaders in their communities.
Zoom Link: Forthcoming closer to date
We Too Sing America: From Experimentation to Participation
Wednesday, April 14 from 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.
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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:
Look for the Hostos Weekly each Friday.
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