OAA THIS WEEK | Nov 18, 2021
A news update and community connection for the Office of Academic Affairs of The City University of New York
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CUNY awards record number of degrees despite COVID-19 challenges
CUNY has announced that the University awarded a record number of degrees in 2021, a benchmark of academic success amidst the extraordinary challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. As reported by Campus News in a story titled “Despite pandemic, CUNY students earn record number of degrees,” and on the CUNY website, the total of 59,295 degrees awarded surpassed the previous record set before the pandemic, and is the largest number of degrees awarded in CUNY’s nearly 175-year history.
_____The record-setting number marks an increase of 3.8 percent over the 2018-2019 academic year when CUNY awarded a then-record 57,139 degrees. The number dipped slightly to 56,527 degrees in 2019-2020, during the pandemic’s onset and initial surge, before this year’s increase of 5 percent.
_____The new milestone was achieved during a year of almost entirely remote learning and in the face of formidable obstacles, making it more noteworthy. The new graduates bring the total number of degrees conferred by CUNY over the past decade to more than half a million.
_____“The members of CUNY’s class of 2021 will forever be associated with the words ‘determined,’ and ‘resilient,’ and that is with good reason,” said Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “No matter the challenges or hardships, the class of 2021 remained focused and kept their eyes on the prize. And make no mistake: This cohort of CUNY grads won’t stop with this historic achievement. They will bring that same commitment to excellence to help power New York’s economic recovery and drive the city’s workforce into a bright future.”
_____Campus News also highlighted the range of support CUNY provided to help maintain academic momentum during the pandemic, including timely distribution of two rounds of federal emergency relief funds totaling $236 million, along with an array of support services including distributing 30,000 laptop devices to students during the transition to remote learning, expanding Wi-Fi access through the allocation of 4,000 hotspots, adapting more than 95 percent of its approximately 50,000 class sections to digital platforms, and applying federal relief funds to bolster mental health services.
Student-focused seminar series set to launch in December
The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost will formally launch its student-focused seminar series on December 10 (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.). Titled “The CUNY Seminar Series on Innovation and Integrated Strategies for Undergraduates,” this first-of-its-kind series at CUNY will focus on the University’s wide range of efforts to help students advance their education and continue on to successful post-graduation steps.
_____The December 10 kickoff event will set the stage for a series of virtual and in-person seminars to take place during Academic Year 2021-22 and will showcase innovative work happening inside and outside of the classroom to improve student academic progress.
_____The kickoff will be fully virtual and will feature the following opening remarks from Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodriguez and framing remarks from Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost Daniel E. Lemons. There will also be two moderated panel discussions that will highlight a variety of CUNY programs and initiatives centered on improving academic and post-graduate outcomes.
_____A full calendar of the seminar series is forthcoming, as is a website that will feature a strategy “playbook” and video repository that celebrates CUNY efforts to improve academic and post-graduate outcomes for undergraduate students.
_____Those interested in attending the December 10 kickoff are asked to RSVP using this link by December 3.
CUNY launches random COVID-19 testing program
As part of the University’s multi-pronged strategy to monitor and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, CUNY is launching a random testing program for vaccinated employees and students accessing CUNY facilities.
_____Starting this week, a number of randomly selected, vaccinated individuals across the University will be contacted each week to be tested for COVID-19. The random testing program complements CUNY’s mandatory weekly testing for employees who have not disclosed their vaccination status and students who obtained a vaccination exemption.
____IIf an employee is selected in any given week, they will receive an email from no-reply@cleared4.org with instructions to complete your registration and will have to test at a CUNY test site within 7 days (no appointment necessary). The test result will be available within 48 hours and the tested employee will maintain your Access Pass to CUNY facilities while the results are pending. If the test result comes back positive, the employee's Access Pass will be removed and they will be contacted by a Coronavirus Task Force Liaison for guidance.
_____If a selected employee do not show up to be tested within the required 7-day period, they will be contacted by a campus or program representative on next steps. Being tested when you are notified is not optional.
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CITY, STATE & NATIONAL NEWS
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SPH survey reveals NYC desire for child vaccination
A majority of parents in New York City and the metropolitan area are ready to have their children vaccinated for the coronavirus, according to a survey by the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (SPH) and the New York Vaccine Literacy Campaign. The New York Post highlighted the survey findings in an article titled Majority of NYC parents ready to get COVID shots their 5- to 11-year-olds: poll. “Parental support of the vaccine for children will prove to be a giant leap forward in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said SPH Dean Ayman El-Mohandes, a lead author of the survey.
______The article noted that while the survey, of 1,000 New Yorkers from the City, Long Island and Westchester, indicated 56 percent were ready to vaccinate their children ages 5-11, it was conducted between August 30 and September 1, two months before the Centers for Disease Control’s November 2 approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11. At that time, 35 percent of parents said they were unlikely and the rest said they were unsure.
_____El-Mohandes said he expects the percentage of parents willing to get their young children vaccinated for COVID-19 will surge now that public health officials have given the green light to do so. “The numbers will go up. People have a wait-and-see attitude when something is hypothetical. When something becomes a practical reality the numbers rise,” El-Mohandes said. “We must protect every precious child. With every family member immunized there is a significantly lowered risk of exposure to the virus and its variants, which is especially heartening as we look forward to family gatherings around the upcoming holidays.”
Medgar Evers College one of 10 mass vaccination sites across the state vaccinating children under 12
Last Saturday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 10 mass vaccination sites across the state, including one at Medgar Evers, are beginning to provide the Pfizer vaccine to children under 12, according to local media reports. NBC 4 New York’s report, New York Opens Mass Vaccination Sites to Kids Under 12, (also reported by PIX 11 New York and ABC 7 New York.) noted that more than 50,000 children across New York State have already received their first shot of the 2-dose vaccine, which has been available at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and other locations. According to the announcement, while only 10 of New York State's mass vaccination sites are now offering the vaccine to children, the rest of the locations will come online for them "in the days ahead." Federal officials gave final approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for kids in November.
_____"Since this 5 to 11-year-old age group became eligible, we have been encouraging parents to reach out to their pediatricians and local health providers to set up vaccine appointments and now I'm directing our state mass vaccination sites to open their doors to the youngest and most recently eligible New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement.
_____Parents and guardians can schedule an appointment here. The New York State Department of Health has launched a website dedicated to helping parents navigate the system called ny.gov/Vaxforkids.
CUNY experts note early childhood lessons learned during COVID
Cecilia Scott-Croff, executive director of the Early Childhood Center at BMCC, was one of a group of experts highlighting lessons for early childhood education emerging from the pandemic at a virtual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. A K-12 DIVE article titled “Lessons learned: How early education programs stepped up during COVID-19” featured some of their observations. Scott-Croff said her center took many precautions to keep students and staff safe, for instance purchasing extra personal protective equipment and also increasing its social media presence to keep connected to families. "I think for our families, they just really needed to know that we were here for them and our staff needed to know that we were there for them, and that at the end of the day we were going to do it as a collective," Scott-Croff said.
_____The pandemic forced early education centers to make critical operational decisions even before official guidance became available and to do whatever it took to keep students and staff safe, center leaders said. One positive outcome, the report observed, was that some pandemic-forced practices were so effective they plan to continue them as part of their operations.
View NYC from a different perspective
If you’re staying here for Thanksgiving, this might be an opportune time to revisit our city as it reopens. And, if you’re hosting guests from out-of-town, skip the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. You can see those attractions, as well as the rest of the city, from a totally different perspective (literally), atop one or more of NYC’s newest observation decks.
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Just three blocks from CUNY’s 42nd Street office building lies NYC’s newest and most thrilling indoor observation deck. Atop the city’s fourth-tallest building, SUMMIT offers not just another exquisite view, but also an awesome (in the true sense of the word) immersive experience. Among its main attractions are “Air,” a mirrored infinity room by Kenzo Digital; “Levitation,” a series of transparent glass sky-boxes that jut out from the building at 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue; and “Ascent,” two all-glass elevators that travel outside the building up to 1,210 feet, which is taller than the Edge at Hudson Yards. There is also an art gallery where Kusama fans can see her exhibit, aptly called “Clouds.” If your habitual, daily go-to food source in the area has become “Pret" (or even if not), please treat yourself to some light fare and cocktails at Après on the terrace!
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This one has been around for a while, and yes, it’s a tourist attraction, but we see our city differently than tourists do. Being built upon the ashes of the Twin Towers, a visit to One World in 2021 is powerful when put in the context of NYC rebuilding, first from 9-11 and now from being one of the hardest-hit places during the early stages of the pandemic. One World, the tallest building in NYC and the U.S., offers stunning, 360° views, which includes the entirety of Manhattan as well as the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, Governor’s Island, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and more. Besides the observation deck, attractions include “Horizon Grid,” a 145-screen multimedia presentation; “Sky Pod” elevators that climb 102 floors in 47 seconds while showing 500 years of New York City’s history; and the “Sky Portal,” a 14-foot wide circular glass platform covered with a projection of real-time, high-definition footage of the streets more than 1,000 feet below. When you’ve worked up an appetite, the observatory offers three dining options. However, we suggest you check out the many more affordable eateries in the nearby Oculus/Westfield Mall.
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Before SUMMIT opened on October 21, Edge was the highest observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. This deck is outdoors, suspended in mid-air, and has a partial glass floor along with angled, frameless glass walls to add to the thrill (or vertigo, perhaps). Like One World, Edge offers 360° views, but from a different perspective than the other locations described above. Here, you get a great view of the Hudson River, New Jersey, Midtown Manhattan, and Central Park. Die-hard daredevils can brave “City Climb,” a 45-minute course consisting of a series of open-air platforms and stairs. You’ll be secured by a harness and cables so you can safely lean out over the edge and take in the view without barriers. It goes with saying that Hudson Yards offers many dining and shopping establishments to round out your excursion.
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In each edition, OAA This Week asks our colleagues about the work their unit is doing in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, and how they’re personally faring in the era of remote work. If you would like to be featured as a Colleague Connection, please contact Duffie Cohen at Duffie.Cohen@cuny.edu.
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Maxine Henry, Associate Director, CUNY EDGE
What does your work as associate director for CUNY EDGE involve? CUNY EDGE in partnership with HRA works with matriculated CUNY undergraduate students to provide services such as advisement sessions, tutoring, and tutoring referrals, job readiness seminars, as well as limited financial assistance in the form of tuition assistance and incentives. The program currently operates at each of the CUNY senior and community colleges. CUNY EDGE aims to increase retention, improve on-time graduation rates, and equip students with the tools needed to be competitive in the job market.
_____As the associate director of CUNY EDGE, I am the first point of contact for all 18 CUNY EDGE offices. Along with a committee I plan and host a “transfer day” for CUNY EDGE students. I am the liaison between CUNY EDGE staff and HRA. I ensure that the CUNY EDGE staff have access to essential networks. In addition, I work with Math Start to enroll our students in their Summer program. I also ensure that the campuses have the resources they need for themselves and their students. I am responsible for communicating any new policy/procedure to the campuses. I form a committee to manage, review and award three Mitsui scholarships.
How has your work evolved during the COVID-19 crisis? What are some of the challenges you've faced and accomplishments you're proudest of? During the COVID-19 crisis, there was more communication between myself and the campuses. Increased resources were needed for both staff and students. Campuses needed to be aware of any new changes by CUNY and or HRA. My challenges were getting an updated laptop and better Wi-Fi. The accomplishments that I am proudest of are helping staff to obtain what they needed to support their students, being a sounding board for campus staff, and knowing I played a part in assisting our students.
What's your daily routine lately? Do you have any self-care practices that have helped you deal with the pandemic? I start my day with a prayer and then at 8:00 am I start work by checking emails. My day is spent on the phone and the laptop. I check in with the campuses. I reach out to various agencies and departments to find the resources that the campuses need. I remind myself to take time off every now and then. I text and speak to my family and friends every day. I increased my leisure reading time on the weekend. Reading helps me to escape the reality of life for a while. I am trying to learn to take a break during the workday. It is easy to forget the time when you are trying to get someone the help they need.
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OAA This Week is published every Thursday. OAA This Week's editorial staff is comprised of Jason Brooks, Duffie Cohen, and Karen Rostron. For comments, questions, suggestions, or news and event tips, contact the professional communications writer for the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost, at Jason.Brooks@cuny.edu.
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