Friday, September 10, 2021 | Vol. 3 No. 3, Fall 2021 Semester
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MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS |
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My Dear Colleagues and Students,
This has been a week for reflection on so many fronts. As we recover from the aftermath of Ida, mourn for those that were lost, and reflect on the many signs that global warming is here with us, and that we must address it as a nation, we also need to consider moving forward together this academic year 2021-2022.
Enrollments are down. Attention to how schedules are put together for this coming spring semester is a matter that is taking up a great deal of time and care on the part of OAA. For the sake of our students, for the future of our programs, we must also study different approaches to class schedules, taking into consideration opportunities needed by our students to begin our programs, be retained to graduation, as timely completion of our degree and certificate programs is our goal.
We take time this week to remember and honor the memory of those lost twenty years ago on 9/11, and those who lost their lives as a consequence of illness brought about by this unforgettable event. We honored their memories on Thursday afternoon, September 9th, as the 11th falls on a Saturday this year. Nevertheless, I urge all to dedicate to their memory one minute of silence on Saturday morning, as we pray, in whatever form we do, for world peace.
Thank you for your good work, as we engage our students in the teaching and learning process, intentionally supporting their retention and progression in our programs.
Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy
Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
President
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A POEM TO INVITE REFLECTION |
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“No Man Is An Island”
By John Donne
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
Read about the poet here.
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION |
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Submitted by SGA President Brian Carter
Welcome Back Address
Hello and Good Morning. Today my heart is saddened to announce that our city is yet again dealing with a disaster: the remnants of Hurricane Ida. As announced Monday morning, New York is in a State of Emergency, as if we weren’t already in one. God bless all those who have been affected or have lost loved ones. Services have now become available through the Red Cross and FEMA.
Please do not hesitate to reach out and utilize these agencies for those who may be in need, and reach out to your loved ones who may not be as tech-savvy as you or me.
In times like these New Yorkers become the most resilient people. With that said, as we continue to endure the pain and suffering of this pandemic, we are also called to remember the tragic events of 9/11 and all those that were lost but not forgotten. An entire laundry list of national disasters engulfs our country, including the continued suffering of minorities despite the continued efforts of the BLM movement. Chaotic times like these have been characterized as epic moments in history, which have a way of bringing people together. Our darkest moments can define the humanity in ourselves by being giving. Give heartfelt acts of kindness as our city and neighboring communities continue the healing and seemingly endless recovery process.
With the semester still fresh upon us, the SGA is still actively seeking responsible members to serve as Senators. We are here to represent and serve our student body to the best of our ability, so join us!
We are also actively seeking members for the women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Our Caimans women’s basketball team is one of the top teams in the NJCAA, formerly led by Coach Dominique Winstead and now by Coach Dwight Shaw, who formerly served on the men’s basketball team. The women’s basketball team is returning to defend their championship title along with the men’s basketball team, led by coach Marquee Poole, Coach James “Speedy” Williams, Coach Kenneth Stevens, and Athletic Director Erik Smiles. God willing, once we are allowed to attend games, we are looking forward to all of your support.
Our SGA-sponsored workshops via Zoom will begin soon. These forums will be hosted by the Counseling Center’s Tovah Thompson and Michael Martinez to serve the purpose of bringing our Hostos family even closer together. Life is constantly evolving. Change is necessary. Life begins to get better once you concentrate on having a positive outlook on life despite how bleak it may appear to be. In life, there is a constant battle between you and your consciousness. No matter where you are from in this world, if you continue to cling to negativity, it will impact your well-being, and you will only succumb to having a negative outlook on life. The more you increase your level of positivity, which is a challenging feat, the better you will be. You are a reflection of the output of your consciousness. When properly activated, the body helps produce serotonin. This chemical is necessary for your nerve cells and brain to function properly. Caring and embracing your mental health is the inspiration for these workshop events.
Finally, if you have not done so, you will have until September 27 to get fully vaccinated, otherwise, you will be automatically unenrolled from this semester. Speak with your advisor or professors if you have questions. You can also reach out to me or the SGA.
Thank you for your time. Enjoy this early fall and I look forward to collaborating with you.
Brian
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MIDDLE STATES SELF-STUDY UPDATE |
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Submitted by MSCHE Steering Committee Co-Chairs Professor Kate S. Wolfe, Professor Nelson Nuñez-Rodríguez
The formative assessment role of the upcoming MSCHE Chair’s Preliminary Visit
The Self-Study Accreditation Preliminary visit by the evaluation team chair Dr. Clay Railey will take place on November 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This formative assessment point of the process will aim to enhance institution stakeholders’ understanding of the accreditation process while preparing the institution for a successful final visit scheduled for April 3-6, 2022.
The Team Chair will receive the narrative two weeks prior to the visit and send his comments in advance. This will allow Self-Study Steering Committee members and the college President to review these comments in preparation for the visit. The team chair will meet students, staff, faculty members and the Hostos extended cabinet during this visit. He has suggested a second half-day on November 20 to wrap up visit outcomes with college President Daisy Cocco de Filippis and Self-Study co-chairs Dr. Nelson Nuñez-Rodríguez and Dr. Kate Wolfe.
The institution will have an additional three month-period to address Dr. Railey’s suggestions, finalize evidence review and upload it in the MSCHE portal with the final revised self-study report. Once the Steering Committee members upload all documentation, the evaluation team members have six weeks to review it prior to the final visit and eventually request further documentation to ensure a successful summative assessment process during the final visit in April 2022. Certainly, the overall self-study process will nourish an evaluation culture in the institution and pave the way for future strategic planning.
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INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH & ASSESSMENT
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Submitted by Dean of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Assessment Babette Audant, Ph.D.
The new year is an uncertain one. As Covid continues to evolve, our students have returned to Hostos, whether in-person or remotely; they are energized, determined, curious, committed. And, uncertain or not, our mission remains constant, a reminder of our commitment to our students — to provide access to and support intellectual growth, skills development, and socio-economic mobility. It is an awesome commitment that requires a sustained integration of what can seem to be contradictory purposes, and are necessarily intertwined.
This integration is seen in the design of Hostos’ Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees that provide students with the opportunity to develop specialized knowledge and skills that prepares them for specific career pathways, and — increasingly — articulation to Baccalaureate-granting institutions. I mention this because of the dual nature of these industry-aligned programs that intentionally integrate real-time information from the field while preparing students for successful transfer and further education. I also mention this in the context of acknowledging the responsibility of institutions like Hostos to ensure that career pathways yield the socio-economic mobility enshrined in our mission.
The following is an excerpt from the self-study report:
When Hostos is considered alongside its peer institutions nationally, it has consistently been found to help students achieve economic mobility for themselves and their families.
This data, when compared with living wage data, tells a more nuanced story. The living wage for Bronx County (according to the MIT Living Wage calculator https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/36005) is $21.77/hour, or $45,282 for a single adult, and three-quarters of Hostos students live in households reporting wage earnings of less than $30K annually. According to the Wage Dashboard, Hostos graduates earn a median of $45,629 five years after completing their degree, with some graduates, such as those in health professions, boasting higher wage earnings (median of $73,381), and some, such as liberal arts graduates, earning less (median of $40,626). While Hostos is clearly an engine of socio-economic mobility, and for many students, that means steady incomes and growth opportunities that propel them and their families out of poverty, the imperative remains that Hostos identify more opportunities that position students to join the middle class and narrow the gap in intergenerational wealth transfer.
How do we do this? Among next steps: advocating on behalf of students, addressing biases head on that make it harder for CUNY students in general and community college graduates specifically to be seen/heard/valued when they apply for jobs in certain fields, and growing and supporting programs that position students for careers and advanced degrees that allow them to redress generations of economic inequity.
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Submitted by Executive Counsel & Labor Designee Eugene Sohn, Esq.
Jury Duty Policy
Employees summoned to jury duty must notify their immediate supervisor and the Human Resources Office that they have been summoned and must submit a copy of the jury duty summons. While serving jury duty, employees must keep their supervisors updated on a daily basis regarding the expected duration of service. When returning from jury duty, employees are required to submit a copy of the completed jury duty certificate to their supervisor and the Human Resources Office.
A completed jury duty certificate will include the employee’s name, dates of jury duty service, and the signature or stamp of the appropriate court clerk. If all of the above requirements are met, full-time employees except for certain skilled trade titles will be paid for their time serving jury duty without charge to leave credits. For federal and out of state jury service (as opposed to local or New York state jury service) the same procedure applies, but employees who received pay while performing jury service must reimburse the college if they receive a per diem jury service allowance from the federal or out of state governmental jurisdiction. Reimbursement may be done through the Human Resources payroll unit.
Certain skilled trade titles not entitled to be paid for their jury duty may at their discretion request the use of annual leave instead of receiving the per diem allowance from the court. Part-time employees including college assistants, adjuncts, and other hourly employees will be paid either $40 for each of the first three days of jury service or their regular pay if less if such employees perform jury service during their regularly scheduled hours of work.
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GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS |
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Submitted by Eric Radezky, Ph.D., Director of Governmental and External Affairs
New York State Extends Eviction Moratorium Through January 15, 2022; Expands Emergency Rental Assistance Program and NYC Department of Emergency Management Post-Storm Resources
Last week, the New York State Legislature passed bill A40001 into law, an extension of critical COVID-19 related housing protections for all New Yorkers through January 15, 2022. The following information comes from Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz who sponsored the bill in the State Assembly.
This legislation builds on previously enacted laws including the Tenant Safe Harbor Act (TSHA) and COVID-19 Emergency Eviction & Foreclosure Prevention Act (CEEFPA), and it also addresses the Supreme Court decision that blocked the previous New York State eviction moratorium.
Summary of the new eviction moratorium provisions:
- Extends COVID-19 Emergency Eviction & Foreclosure Act protections through January 15, 2022;
- Extends Tenant Safe Harbor Act COVID covered period for permanent protections against non-payment eviction proceedings through January 15, 2022;
- Extends the small business commercial eviction moratorium through January 15, 2022;
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Adds the ability for landlords to challenge tenant hardship declarations, in accordance with the August 12 Chrysafis v. Marks Supreme Court decision;
- Clarifies that tenants are protected from non-payment eviction proceedings while an ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) application is being reviewed, even if the eviction proceeding was filed before the pandemic;
- Clarifies that property owners are still permitted to seek an eviction where the tenant “intentionally causes significant damage to the property or is persistently and unreasonably engaging in behavior that substantially infringes on the use and enjoyment of other tenants or occupants or causes a substantial safety hazard to others,” as was previously in place;
- Allows state and local government entities to meet remotely in accordance with open meetings law, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen and that the meetings are recorded and transcribed.
Additionally, this legislation was passed in conjunction with bill A40002 which expands outreach and eligibility components of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, allowing applications first for tenants earning 80-120% AMI (area median income) and subsequently for landlords of vacated residences and those where tenants refused to pay rent. The second bill also allocates $300 million in additional federal funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to support these efforts.
NYC Department of Emergency Management Post-Storm Resources
The City of New York has developed a list of resources for those who were affected by Hurricane Ida. Services include:
- Get disaster assistance and report damage to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Find a service center near you.
- Transportation to service centers.
- Cleaning after a flood.
- How to prevent mold growth.
- And more.
A full list is available here.
The most important resource is the contact information to apply for assistance from FEMA. President Biden has approved an expedited Major Disaster Declaration that will help provide federal financial relief for New Yorkers recovering from the flooding damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The counties covered by the declaration include Bronx, Queens, Kings (Brooklyn), and Richmond (Staten Island).
Apply for disaster assistance and report damage to your property:
1-800-621-3362 (711 or VRS available)
TTY: 1-800-462-7585
If you use a relay service (a videophone, InnoCaption, CapTel, etc.), please provide your number assigned to that service. FEMA must be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from an unidentified number.
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HOSTOS REOPENING UPDATE: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 |
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Submitted by Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne, Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance and Interim Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management
2021- Keeping up-to-date on campus guidelines
Let’s be honest: there’s a lot to know about COVID-19, and campus guidelines are no exception. Having accurate information is crucial, but keeping up-to-date can get overwhelming!
However, protecting public health requires an informed community. That’s why we continue to share COVID-19 readiness updates on our website, by campuswide emails, and here in El Semanario Hostosiano/The Hostos Weekly.
We’re also available through email at covid19@hostos.cuny.edu. Reach out to ask questions or offer feedback; both help shape future messages.
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Knowing when it’s safest to stay home
When your risk for spreading COVID-19 is high, staying off-campus is the best way to protect our community.
So, before you step out each day, ask yourself a few questions:
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Did you have close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or had COVID-19 symptoms in the last ten (10) days?
- A “yes” answer to any of these questions means your risk for spreading COVID-19 is high. You must stay away from the campus and our testing site if you could infect others.
Instead, stay home and do the following:
Once you contact her, Nurse Vasquez will provide up-to-date instructions based on current CUNY guidance. That may include any actions you need to take before you’re cleared to return to campus.
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NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
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Submitted by the Office of Academic Affairs
Pathways Syllabus Collection, Review, and Verification
All academic departments teaching Pathways approved courses must review Pathways syllabi being used in Fall 2021. The impacted departments will review all course-section syllabi to verify if the following are present:
(a) all required and optional program learning outcomes (PLOs)
(b) assignments aligned with the PLOs
Each department determined its own method for syllabus verification. The department review will be completed by Friday, September 24. Please check with your department leaders for more details.
Faculty Office Hours in Succeed@Hostos Initiative
All full and part-time faculty are asked to input Fall 2021 office hours in their Succeed@Hostos profiles. Faculty can indicate the days and hours during the week when office hours will be held. Succeed@Hostos allows faculty to indicate the modality in which office hours will be offered and faculty can allow students to make appointments with them using Succeed@Hostos. The faculty’s Succeed@Hostos calendar can be synced with the Outlook calendar so both calendar views can be seen in Outlook. Faculty can elect to receive emails in Outlook when students schedule a meeting using Succeed@Hostos. More information regarding training for inputting office hours will be released soon.
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Submitted by Unit Coordinator of Radiologic Technology Professor Jarek Stelmark
Hostos’ Radiologic Technology Program Accreditation Extended through 2029
The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), and its directors and staff awarded reaccreditation to Hostos’ Radiologic Technology program on June 28, 2021, the maintenance of the accreditation for a period of eight years, through 2029. Specialized accreditation awarded by the JRCERT offers institutions significant value by providing peer evaluation and by assuring the public of the caliber quality professional education in the radiologic sciences. The program was evaluated according to the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program in Radiography. “During this challenging time, radiologic technology faculty and staff showed the true character of our college community. They rose to the occasion — with decisive action, inspiring innovation, and remarkable determination that resulted in the maintenance of the maximum length of the accreditation.” Professor Jarek Stelmark
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Submitted by Chairperson of the Education Department Professor Jacqueline DiSanto
Integrating Computing in Teacher Education Faculty Workshop and Co-Design Support
The City University of New York in partnership with Michigan State University held a two-month workshop this summer titled Integrating Computing in Teacher Education Faculty Workshop and Co-Design Support. The objective of this event was to prepare computationally educated teachers who use computational thinking (CT) and computing to support culturally relevant and accessible disciplinary learning.
Among the participants were 12 faculty members from Hostos who will continue their work this fall to 1) identify mechanisms for computational thinking integration within the Math Education and Early-Childhood Education courses, and 2) prepare computationally educated pre-service K-12 teachers who use CT and computing to support culturally relevant and accessible disciplinary learning:
Miguel Balbuena (Education)
John Burke (Education)
Denise Cummings-Clay (Education)
Jacqueline DiSanto (Education)
Mamadou Doumbia (Mathematics)
Marcella Mandracchia (Mathematics)
David Marnes (Mathematics)
Gustavo Pelaez (Mathematics)
Manuel Pimentel (Mathematics)
Tanvir Prince (Mathematics)
Amrit Singh (Mathematics)
Ruben Worrell (Mathematics)
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Submitted by the CTL and EdTech
Fall 2021 | 25 Professional Development Workshops (Recurring entry)
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the office of Educational Technology (EdTech) continue working together to bring the latest trends, topics and solutions in the teaching and learning process, offering faculty and staff pedagogically and technologically professional development workshops.
This coming fall semester, the CTL and EdTech will offer 25 professional development workshops — CTL covering pedagogical discussions, EdTech covering existing and emerging digital tools, showcasing best practices, reviewing the user experience, to optimize the educational learning tool.
The CTL and EdTech faculty-led professional development workshop calendars can be found here.
“Are You Ready?” | EdTech Student Course (Recurring entry)
Currently, all registered students are automatically enrolled in this course.
“Are You Ready?” is an online, self-paced course available on Blackboard consisting of a self-assessment survey, a few brief videos, quizzes, a practice assignment, and a certificate of completion. “Are You Ready?” takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. It assesses a student’s readiness for online coursework and covers topics such as working remotely and hybrid, on-campus services, and support, using content management systems and environments like Blackboard, Netiquette, CUNYFirst, Zoom, ePortfolios, Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Link to the EdTech Student workshop calendar here. Additional resources can be found at the student section of the EdTech website.
As a course, ”Are You Ready?” was adopted and adapted by Bronx Community College, Guttman, Kingsborough, Lehman, and York College.
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Students: Every week, for the academic year, read the Caiman Clues for helpful tips and reminders.
Caiman Clues —Your Hostos Helping Hand to Success
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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CEWD Student Spotlight
Abijah Knight: A Little Luck and Lots of Passion
At 29, Abijah Knight decided to leave his construction job and the only place he called home in the Virgin Islands to venture to the United States. Upon his arrival in New York, he found a job at the Hunts Point Market loading and delivering produce. Knowing he was scheduled to deliver to New Jersey the following day, Abijah switched his TV over to the local news for a weather update. As luck would have it, instead of the weather, an advertisement was airing at that moment that would literally change his life.
The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) in collaboration with the Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CEWD) at Hostos in conjunction with the Food and Beverage Industry Partnership were recruiting for the First Course NYC program. SBS was advertising locally to promote the free, 14-week hands-on culinary training program that would create a career path to a future in the restaurant industry for eligible New Yorkers. Having always enjoyed cooking, Abijah called the number, and after attending an orientation where he was interviewed along with hundreds of other applicants, Abijah was selected as 1 of 25 individuals to begin the First Course NYC program on November 8, 2019.
The initial 8 weeks of classes consisted of culinary training and the NYC Food Protection certification, taking place between the Hostos campus and the training kitchen in midtown. Students received a stipend and weekly MetroCards. Upon successful completion, students were then placed in a 6-week paid apprenticeship at partnership restaurants. Abijah was placed at THE GRILL, run by acclaimed chef Mario Carbone and located at the former iconic Four Seasons Restaurant. After successfully completing his internship, Abijah was asked to stay on at THE GRILL as a Garmache (cold station) cook. Unfortunately, his employment was cut short when the restaurant was forced to temporarily shut down at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to his exhibited skill and work ethic, Abijah was immediately offered a position at Parm Mulberry Street, a sister restaurant located in NYC’s Little Italy, which continued offering take-out during the pandemic. Fifteen months later, Abijah is still happily employed at Parm as a line cook and has nothing but great things to say about his experience with First Course NYC. Abijah lives in the Bronx with his family which includes his 6-month old daughter. He now looks forward to cultivating his culinary skills and progressing in his new profession.
“I highly recommend the First Course NYC program to anyone interested in culinary arts. For me, it has been a dream come true. I enjoyed the program and classes with Hostos. I had amazing teachers who refined my skills, and I learned the right way to do things and be well prepared for the ins and outs of the restaurant world. I am so appreciative to SBS and Hostos CEWD for the opportunity to pursue my passion.”
—Abijah Knight
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
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Hostos Community College Foundation (Recurring notice)
15th Annual Scholarship Fund Golf Outing Classic
The Hostos Community College Foundation will host its 15th Annual Scholarship Fund Golf Outing Classic on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses in the Bronx. Please visit hostosgolfouting.com. to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and to register for the much-anticipated in-person return of this beloved event.
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Alumni Relations
4th Annual Alma Matters Awards
Please mark your calendars for Thursday, November 11, 2021, when the Office of Alumni Relations will host its 4th Annual Alma Matters Awards. This year, we will honor the Hostos alumni who serve as faculty and staff at the College. Start thinking about the incredible Hostos alums in your division who deserve recognition and stay tuned for information regarding the nomination process!
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Dominican Studies Association part of the 17th La Biennale di Venezia 2021
DSA board members accepted LiLeón Foundation’s invitation to collaborate with CONEXION, to participate in the 17th La Biennale di Venezia 2021 to answer the question “How will we live together?” (¿Cómo viviremos juntos?), the question presented by the Biennial’s curator, Hashim Sarkis.
Reflected on their personal and professional experiences as first and second-generation Dominican immigrants in the United States, García-Reyes, Fernández-Ketcham, and García engaged in a dialogue about inclusion and exclusion in spaces on the island or their host-home country and how these might be expanded.
Visit this YouTube link to view the audiovisual series that comprises the CONEXION project.
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Office of Academic Affairs | Memorial for Professor Isabel Li
Monday, September 13, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture | Conversatorio: Diaspora Communities Claiming and Re (Creating) Space Through Bomba and Plena
Sunday, September 19, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.
Open to all
Office of the President | Stated Meeting of the College
Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
Office of the President | Dr. Nasry Michelen Allied Health Lecture Series #3
Dr. Juan Tapia Mendoza and Dr. Rocio Hernández: COVID impact on Children
Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
Office of the President | Middle States Self-Study College-Wide Open Forum
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
Office of the President | Hispanic Heritage Month
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
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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.
Published on Fridays at 9 a.m.
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For inclusion in The Hostos Weekly, please send your items to:
Please keep submissions to no more than two paragraphs of written content and note,
we are unable to add attachments to our publication.
Find the Fall 2021 Publishing Schedule for El Semanario Hostosiano here.
Past issues of El Semanario Hostosiano/The Hostos Weekly can be found here.
Look for The Hostos Weekly each Friday.
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