A banner with Hostos Community College Logo and the following message: El Semanario Hostosiano/The Hostos Weekly. A campus-wide Weekly Bulletin from Interim President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Friday, January 28, 2021 | Vol. 2 No. 2, Spring 2021 Semester 

MESSAGE FROM INTERIM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS
My Dear Colleagues and Students,

On this our first day of classes for Spring 2021 semester, I write a few words to thank you for your engagement, hope and faith as we embark in this new academic semester and in a promising year of teaching and learning, of working together to heal and to move forward as this dark cloud begins to dissipate.

As a community of purpose and learning, we have been intentional about affirming the ethos of inclusion of all, of celebration of humanity in all its beautiful manifestations and in the creation of support structures that enhance our course offerings, academic and student support services.

We will continue to create opportunities to engage honestly as we address difficult societal challenges, elevate knowledge and celebrate our humanity with all of your contributions. Our “manos a la obra” (“all hands on deck”) determination will once again prove the most effective tool in moving us forward.

I am happy to share the link to my communication to students and faculty to welcome a new academic semester: link here.

Mil gracias y bendiciones, Daisy

Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Interim President
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College
A POEM TO WELCOME AND CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
 By Langston Hughes
 
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
 
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
 
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
 
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
 
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
 
About the Poet
Langston Hughes, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes. Copyright © 2002 by Langston Hughes. Reprinted by permission of Harold Ober Associates, Inc
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION BRIAN CARTER
I would humbly like to thank the community of Hostos for accepting me as the incoming SGA President for this semester. My journey started in August of 2017, in which I applied to study Radiologic Technology after unfortunately losing my job as a maintenance porter. Along with half of my staff at the time, I had to reinvent myself and chose to indulge in enrolling at Hostos, which has been a phenomenal opportunity to strive for excellence alongside my colleagues. 

Hostos, which is a community college, is an understatement for its true role. I feel that it’s surplus of resources and family atmosphere make it a home away from home. Along the way I’ve been embraced by Rhonda Smith and Jerry Rosa, who I’ve been working hand in hand with as part of Student Activities, in which it has been a pleasure to be a part of thus far. Jason Libfeld is another part of my support system, who I’ve also established a great relationship with, in addition to the Student Leadership Academy where most people know me. I am also indebted to the CUNY EDGE office, where I was embraced by Ruby Calle and Jennifer Williams, who have in addition to those aforementioned, have helped me strategize my path to success by supporting me in my journey.
 
As your new President, I will continue to work alongside the students as we continue to experience unique circumstances dealing with this unfortunate pandemic. Unlike any other semester, students still have to push through and be conscious to know that they are special enough to make a difference, despite this lifestyle being non-traditional. We all have to continue to encourage each other to stay connected and positive and encouraging in these unforeseen times. 

As you may know, and those who are unfamiliar with me, I will definitely continue to encourage the student body to embrace challenges and accept change, for this is the standard of life which has impacted the ability for the future generations to continue to blossom. I will continue to work diligently alongside my colleagues in the President’s Office, and numerous other entities within the Hostos community, to provide support and assist with issues regarding any and all needs that students may have. I have an open door policy, and no issue will go without being addressed. 

With that being said, we are approaching Black History Month. It is my honor to invite you all to attend the first Candid Conversations event on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. I will be moderating this event and will be addressing current issues such as: How can you make self-care work for your life as a student; How does stigma towards mental health affect the lives and success of students of color in the college setting; Student Stress/Anxiety—what causes it, why is it so hard to talk about?; And counseling—what types of services and campus access. Students will learn about positive thinking and ways to use positive statements as part of their daily routine. Each student will create three affirmations to assist them with being successful during the spring semester. Each student who attends will be entered in a raffle for gift cards courtesy of the SGA. 

What Black History means to me is that it should not just be celebrated in one month of a calendar year, but more so throughout the year since we are all children of color, and there should be no barrier to display this. We make history each day when we appreciate each other and encourage one another to strive for greatness in a world full of boundaries. Let us continue to work towards ending social injustices going forward. It should be considered Black Excellence Month, because the “history” is part of the education that they would like us to forget but if we keep the conversation going, it will be impossible for us to eradicate this thought. Let us recognize the importance and impactful things that we accomplish on a daily basis and put forward our best to continue to encourage ourselves and others along the way to believe that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to and nothing is impossible.
SPRING 2021 BEGINS
The first day of classes for the Spring ‘21 semester is Friday, January 29.

MIDDLE STATES SELF-STUDY UPDATE
Submitted by MSCHE Steering Committee Co-Chairs Professor Kate S. Wolfe and Professor Nelson Nuñez-Rodríguez | Middle States Self-Study Update:

The Learning Experiences created by the Title V Capstone Faculty Community of Practice support institutional fulfillment of expectations for Standard 3 Design and Delivery of Student Experience.

The 2014-2019 Title V grant awarded to the Office of Academic Affairs created student peer-tutoring opportunities, fostered undergraduate research, and developed a faculty community of practice for designing capstone assignments. The community of practice brought together 35 faculty members over the duration of the grant, some of whom, in addition to designing a capstone assignment, also oversaw the revision of a previously created capstone course and/or participated in the creation of a new capstone course. Overall, this practice impacted 26 courses across all academic programs. The self-study report documents student learning experiences that demonstrate rigor, coherence and consistency with mission and higher education standards. The Title V funded faculty engagement is an exemplary effort to design, deliver and assess learning experiences intended to develop our students’ General Education competencies. This effort also speaks to academic efforts supporting our mission fulfillment.

The institution is committed to providing access to higher education that leads to intellectual growth and socio-economic mobility to underserved and otherwise disadvantaged students. Indeed, this Title V effort expanded capstone-learning experiences for upper-level students across all degrees. As a result, the majority of Hostos students can now access a capstone experience before they graduate. Silvia Reyes and Sarah Brennan, as program directors, created a safe and collegial space for brainstorming, discussing, and designing capstone assignments that reflect an integrative approach to learning and employed active-learning teaching pedagogies. From 2015 to 2019, seven faculty cohorts engaged in (a) identifying measurable student-learning objectives; (b) developing assignment guidelines and modifying other course content; (c) embedding opportunities for critical reflection and; (d) identifying assessment measures or tools.

Middle States asks us for examples of learning opportunities that open our students’ intellectual horizons and engage them in big questions that transcend specific course outcomes. As Maestro Hostos pointed out,* a holistic approach to education opens a path for freedom and social justice. For our institution, this commitment is the ultimate effort to achieving our mission.

The Title V Faculty community of practice also built faculty understanding for different disciplinary identities and ways to define rigor and document student progress. Definitely, these cross-pollinating opportunities enhanced their pedagogical skills and boosted their understanding of other disciplines, which is critical for community colleges and other Liberal Arts institutions. The Title V legacy also has an imprint on current departmental work related to ways of assessing student learning, including program-learning, outcomes while opening student learning opportunities to synthesize and integrate knowledge.

*If anything in this world is in need of radical revolution, it is the educational system. It is elitist, as it is only accessible to part of society; it is incomplete, as it is based on the particular development of certain faculties, or the training of specialists for specific individual goals. In both cases, it is faulty; in both cases, harmful to freedom and civilization; in both cases, contrary to human nature.
 
Si algo necesita una revolución radical en este mundo, es el Sistema de educación. Privilegiada, cuando solo es accesible a una parte de la sociedad; incompleta, cuando toma por base el desarrollo peculiar de algunas facultades o la formación de especialistas para determinados fines de la vida individual, en ambos casos es viciosa, en ambos perniciosa para la libertad y la civilización, en ambos contraria a la naturaleza humana.
 
“El problema cubano,” T.C., O.C.-39, 222, Eugenio Maria de Hostos 50 Aphorisms-50 Aforismos.
Translated by Dr. Orlando Hernández, Professor emeritus and Hostos Scholar
 
INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Submitted by Assistant Dean for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Assessment (OIERA), Babette Audant, Ph.D | Drafting Institutional Advisement Outcomes

Hostos’ Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs): A lens by which we assess student learning in relation to our mission

Background & Context
Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) are the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with all aspects of the institution, including courses, programs, and student support services. ILOs acknowledge and help measure learning that takes place across students’ experiences in addition to the classroom: completing financial aid applications, exploring career options, engaging in service-learning opportunities, serving as a student government leader, training as a member of a sports team, learning to advocate for, and use, assistive technologies, etc.

ILOs are mission-derived, meaning they are student learning outcomes informed by the college-mission. Hostos’ ILOs, then, are specific to us and reflect the Hostos Mission. There are nine ILOs derived from the six Mission themes. Together they represent a framework for assessing how well we deliver on our commitment to develop the skills and attributes that define a Hostos student.

The Hostos ILOs were developed at two college-wide, open-call workshops in November 2019 led by Meredith Reitman. In all, ~105 faculty, students and staff participated. Participants seated themselves at tables, and were randomly assigned a Mission-derived ILO. As a catalyst, the worksheet included examples of ILO-related language from national higher-ed and discipline-specific organizations. Some groups opted to use existing language, and others drafted their own. The results of the two workshops were compiled, and reviewed by Cabinet, and by the Steering Committee. A college-wide announcement (via Presidential memo) was drafted, by never distributed when the pandemic re-organized priorities for the weeks to come. 

Assessing ILOs
The Institutional Effectiveness Committee (IEC) oversees and supports a systematic and comprehensive assessment of Hostos’ academic and AES units in fulfilling its mission and ensuring student success. An important aspect of this work is ensuring the assessment of Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILO) college-wide.

Institutional Learning Outcomes assessment takes place college-wide. All student learning—academic program learning outcomes, AES unit student learning outcomes, General Education Pathways outcomes—can be aligned with the ILO domains, or “buckets.” The IEC will review and analyze assessment data and results of ILO-aligned learning across the college. The resulting report, following a template to be developed by the IEC in Spr21, will be shared college-wide. The report will be informed in part by feedback provided by faculty and staff involved in the delivery of learning related to the ILO being assessed.

ILO Alignment
ILOs will be aligned with learning outcomes college-wide. In general, there is no change in the how learning outcomes—be they Gen Ed Pathways outcomes, or academic program learning outcomes, or AES unit student learning outcomes—are assessed. Rather, the alignments define how the IEC compiles data when it assesses ILOs college-wide.

ILO Assessment Calendar
ILOs will be assessed according to a five-year cycle, with one or two outcomes assessed each academic year. AY20-21 (Spr) ILO is Quantitative Reasoning. AY21-22 will be (Fa) Written Communication OR Critical Thinking and (Fa/Spr) Community/Civic Engagement.
A chart about Hostos Institutional Learning Outcomes
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ERIC RADEZKY, Ph.D.
COVID Rent Relief Extension Program (Recurring Notice)
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:

“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.’”
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.

NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the following accolades of the Hostos faculty.

Professor Denise Cummings-Clay
OAA is delighted to recognize and congratulate Denise Cummings-Clay, assistant professor in the Education Department-Early Childhood Education Unit, for a newly published, first single-author, article based on her research on open educational resources (OERs) compared with traditional textbooks. Dr. Jaqueline DiSanto, professor and chair of the Education Department, commented that Professor Cummings-Clay has been a vital contributor to the OER project at Hostos and that the Division of Academic Affairs owes much of the success of the Hostos OER initiative to Professor Cummings-Clay for her reformation of the required educational materials from traditional textbooks to open educational resources in numerous courses that proved more difficult to transform.
 
The OER project at Hostos, a CUNY-wide initiative, began with a grant entitled “Achieving the Dream” which was co-chaired by Professors Jacqueline DiSanto and Madeline Ford. The work of OER continues at Hostos under the leadership of Madeline Ford, chief librarian in the Hostos Library.

Here is the link to Professor Cummings-Clay article

Associate Professor Iris Mercado
OAA is pleased to acknowledge Iris Mercado, associate professor from the Education Department - Community Health Unit, for her service to the field of nutrition by providing expertise for the article, “Is Coquito Healthier Than Eggnog? These two traditional holiday drinks are similar—but different” written by Rachel Meltzer Warren and published in Consumer Reports in December 2020. She is also quoted in the article which can be accessed by clicking here.

Professor Humberto Ballesteros
The Office of Academic Affairs brings awareness and accolades to Professor Humberto Ballesteros from the Humanities Department, Modern Languages Unit, for his service to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) as a National Screening Committee member. In the thank you letter to Dr. Ballesteros, Fulbright acknowledged his extensive efforts in reviewing applications as a critical component to the quality and sustainability of the Fulbright programs. Additionally, his service has been called upon by Fulbright to continue advocating and sharing his insights about the program with campus colleagues. 

Ms. Silvia Reyes
OAA is proud to share the work of the Office of Special Projects and Student Engagement led by Ms. Silvia Reyes, Higher Education Officer, in the Office of Academic Affairs. Under her leadership, the First Year Experience committee revised the Student Orientation video released for the first-time last semester. When asked to describe the video, Ms. Reyes wrote:
 
Hostos Community College’s interactive virtual orientation guide introduces students to the wide array of resources, support services, and student engagement opportunities available at the College. This self-directed tool allows students to interact with the text and content at their own pace as they learn how to access the different technologies available to them, where to go for advisement, how to register for classes, engage with clubs, etc. This semester the newest version of the orientation video will be released for faculty and staff to promote with students.
 
Additionally, OAA is grateful to FYE coordinator Gregory Marks, professor in the English Department, for including the use of Student Orientation video in the first-year seminar courses and encourages all faculty to add the video to their Blackboard courses and program directors and staff to promote the use of the video with students. 
NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE 
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. 
 
Please visit the Be Ready page of the Hostos website for additional information on our Reopening Plan and how to safely visit the campus. Be sure to learn about mandatory health screening via Everbridge and COVID-19 Blackboard training.

Human Resources

No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a session with Andrew Morales can help you create a plan for your goal. It is at no additional cost as part of your retirement plan.
 
TIAA will be available virtually these dates and times for one-on-one sessions:
 
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.                
Thursday, January 28, 2021 |9 a.m. - 5 p.m.               
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.                
Thursday, February 25, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.                 
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.                 
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.                
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.                 
 
RSVP today, as space is limited. Register for sessions at www.TIAA.org/schedulenow or by calling 800-732-8353, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).
BRAVO
Professor Azizi A. Seixas Named Among the ‘1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America’

The Hostos Behavioral and Social Sciences Department continues to excel both on and off campus. Adjunct Professor Azizi A. Seixas was recently named one of the "1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America.” The list was compiled by Cell Press, a blog and online resource for researchers, and showcases the contributions Black scientists make to the scientific community. Born in Jamaica, Dr. Seixas is also biomedical researcher, health-tech innovator, and consultant to organizations that run the gamut from NBC Health News to the Department of Defense. In addition to his duties at Hostos, Dr. Seixas teaches at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. He holds a Ph.D. from Fordham University, and has pursued post-graduate training at NYU’s Department of Population Health. Congratulations to Professor Seixas for his marvelous achievements!

VIRTUAL EVENTS
Candid Conversations Part 3: Student Mental Health
SGA & Carlos L. González Counseling Center | Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m.
 
Sustainable Budgeting & Contingency Planning During Covid 
Center for Bronx Nonprofits | Friday, Feb. 5 from 9:30-11 a.m.
Participants will learn strategies to help manage finances during these challenging times.
 
All College Meeting: Welcoming the New Semester
Office of the President | Tuesday, February 9 at 3 p.m.
 
The Stories We Tell: Race in America 
Office of the President | Wednesday, Feb. 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)
Center for Bronx Nonprofits | Thursday, Feb. 25 - Thurs., Nov. 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, Mar. 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
Center for Bronx Nonprofits | Friday, Mar. 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
Office of the President | Wednesday, Apr. 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.
ABOUT EL SEMANARIO HOSTOSIANO/THE HOSTOS WEEKLY
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.
For inclusion in the Hostos Weekly, please send your items to:
publicrelations@hostos.cuny.edu at least two weeks ahead of publication.
 
Look for the Hostos Weekly each Friday.

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