Friday, September 24, 2021 | Vol. 3 No. 5, Fall 2021 Semester
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MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DAISY COCCO DE FILIPPIS |
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My Dear Colleagues and Students,
As another week comes to a close, I am happy to share my remarks from Tuesday’s Stated Meeting of the College:
Moving Forward Together: Hostos Community College, Cultivating Community to Build Strong Futures, September 21, 2021
Stated Meeting of the College
Remarks by President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, CUNY
Thank you, Diana Kreymer, newly minted Interim Executive Chief of Staff, for your coordination of our Stated Meeting. Special thank you to my fellow presenters, Professor Ialongo, Brian Carter, Acting Provost Drago, SVP Rodríguez Chardavoyne, Interim Dean Mertens, and Dean Babette Audant.
I celebrate with gratitude the excellent work being done by our Middle States Steering Committee ably and generously chaired by Professor Nelson Núñez Rodríguez and Professor Kate Wolfe. The Semanarios these past weeks have featured significant achievements by many colleagues: a big bravo to our engineering programs, Professor Yoel Rodríguez, and our caring faculty, and quite considerable sharing of information; a big bravo to SVP Rodríguez-Chardavoyne and Chief Bernabe for the presence of FEMA responding to the community’s aftermath to Ida, and pop up vaccination clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today is a day to give thanks for all that has come before and all that is yet to come.
On a personal level, I stand here today feeling so blessed by the support and care of so many of our students and the work that brings us together. As I consider the journey that brought me to the presidency of Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, I note that it has not been lonely. It has been a journey of the heart and intellect. Multiple areas have come together to assist and guide me in the work I embrace on behalf of so many who come to a public higher education institution just as I did decades ago looking for access and support in their journey to the American dream.
A little more than a year ago, the campus received me as its Interim President during the dark days of a raging and growing pandemic devastating humanity. At that time, I reflected on Pablo Neruda’s Nobel laureate speech “Toward the Splendid City.” Neruda spoke of life’s journey and the times when he had been forced to cross borders, looking for refuge. This passage sometimes led him to wade in the dark waters of rivers or to cross the mountains and valleys of the Andes. Each time to be reminded that he was not alone; that there were others behind him to assist him; that there were signs pointing to the fact that others had crossed there before him. Neruda’s words about the meaning of life and life’s journeys have deep resonance for me, an immigrant who has had to cross multiple linguistic, educational, and cultural borders and whose trust in the kindness of others is seldom betrayed. As I look back on my journey as a young immigrant, who received so generously and was educated so thoughtfully by CUNY faculty, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, I am reassured that there is beauty in humanity, that I will never be alone. I can trust and take comfort in the fact that there are others who were here before me, some others who will stand behind me now, and so many others who will join hands with me as we move this venerable and significant institution to its next moment in history until we hand it over to the next generation.
Since I arrived, I have shared my life-long vision of what a community college should be — a place where the word community is central; a place where students are considered our most sacred trust and our finest asset; and where collaboration within and outside the confines of our immediate surroundings defines our actions. Community college students provide us with an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of our society and to feel that we will share in a future which will not be ours and where we may not go, but whose rich harvest will have been ensured by the seeds that we plant today. Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is our very own academic community of purpose, an institution where we can place our highest aspirations and a place where we cultivate lives for a better tomorrow.
As we look to our work together in years to come, I know that we will strive to create an environment rich with intellectual, educational, cultural, and civic-minded experiences. In this regard, we will be forever indebted to the generosity of MacKenzie Scott’s gift of $15 million to the College, an anchor, and enrichment of opportunities we offer our students. As diligent members of the Hostos family, our cultivation begins with engaging in careful curricular planning and reviewing to ensure that we are abreast of changing workforce trends and needs, and can be nimble enough to adjust and change in support of a stronger economy and a greener planet. We are also looking to create additional opportunities on campus for intellectual, social, and cultural development outside of what has been traditionally called “the classroom.” It affirms the College’s commitment to blending rigorous academic study with hands-on service learning.
To that end, we will come together to work with constituent groups this academic year and in the coming years to firm up a number of strategies, including but not limited to the following:
- Putting intentionality at the forefront when it comes to students’ onboarding, evaluation of prior learning for credit, and continued programming-from orientation to advisement.
- Growing stackable workforce non-credit and credit certificates.
- Establishing or strengthening community advisory boards that link programs to jobs, and increase career educational opportunities tied to employment.
- Partnering with the Hostos Community Advisory Council (CAC) to build the academic year 2020-2021 five roundtables to create opportunities to benefit students, beginning implementation this Fall 2021 semester.
- Creating support to encourage faculty and staff research and foster and increase a culture of grant writing at the College by means of the engagement of the Committee on Sponsored Programs and Grants (established March 2021).
- Regularizing assessment, particularly academic program reviews and other means of assessing how effectively our degree programs and support services help students learn and achieve career and transfer success.
- Mapping out all component elements that contribute to student transfer with special emphasis on frequent touchpoints and assessment of student’s progress.
- Use environmental scanning to assist us in determining what academic programs need more revisions and what programs need to be created to ensure that access is closely tied to career and transfer opportunities.
In his seminal study “Walden,” Henry Thoreau explains that “students should not plan life, or study it merely…but earnestly live it from beginning to end” (56-57). These concepts, very nineteenth century and so relevant in the twenty-first, translate into a philosophy of teaching that focuses on hands-on learning, beginning precisely where the student is, as Don Eugenio María de Hostos often affirmed, creating agents of change and well-being who are an integral part of the vitality and health of their respective communities. I believe that the definition of what a classroom is should include an understanding that learning happens in the cities themselves as we work on-site and with multiple partners in business, industry, and education on solving some of the workforce challenges facing our communities. Internships and service learning are pillars upon which we will create a community that cultivates learning, leaders, and lives.
The College is poised to continue to embrace the word community in a collaborative manner and to share in the work that must be done to ensure a brighter future for the South Bronx, New York State, the nation, and the world. This past year, we worked hard to reach out, to include, and to embrace as partners multiple constituencies in our society. This spirit of inclusion and collaboration defines who we are at Hostos.
As we look to the future and the challenges facing us, including the current budget crisis, I remain optimistic and confident in our ability to advocate for The City University of New York and to plan carefully in preparation for difficult budget years ahead. We at Hostos understand that it is more important than ever to make judicious decisions in support of our student’s need to be educated. Responding to the imperative to be a partner in the revitalization of the economies of the communities we serve will also guide the steps we take. As we move forward together, I am grateful for the generosity of spirit and the talent of the Hostos family.
As I look to the next five years, I see the transformation of the College through the continued strength of viable academic programs, strong teaching, and learning leading to retention of students to graduation. This process will be supported by the full utilization of all common spaces, as classrooms to enhance the intellectual, educational and cultural opportunities. I also see new opportunities for the exploration of classrooms without walls, supported by technology and by the multiple learning venues provided by our partners in education, business, and industry in various locations in the areas served. I see an institution that takes pride in its role as a catalyst for change, and in the teaching and learning provided to students whose retention to graduation becomes a passionately embraced goal. I see above all, an institution where hope and optimism are embraced in every action. In his Nobel laureate speech, Pablo Neruda affirms: “All paths lead to the same goal; to convey to others what we are…but in this dance or in this song there are fulfilled the most ancient rites of our conscience in the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny.” I believe that our common destiny is that of a caring community of purpose, an academic community that partners with multiple stakeholders and works closely together in harmony and in concert, to ensure that Eugenio María de Hostos Community College will live to the promise made in our mission to embrace diversity and opportunity as the birthright of all.
Thank you for your support. I am deeply moved by our role in the South Bronx and New York, in particular, at this moment in time, and look to your continued support this academic year and in the future.
Mil gracias y bendiciones.
Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Stated Meeting of the College Address
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, CUNY
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La Poesía
By Pablo Neruda
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La Poesía
Y fue a esa edad... Llegó la poesía
a buscarme. No sé, no sé de dónde
salió, de invierno o río.
No sé cómo ni cuándo,
no, no eran voces, no eran
palabras, ni silencio,
pero desde una calle me llamaba,
desde las ramas de la noche,
de pronto entre los otros,
entre fuegos violentos
o regresando solo,
allí estaba sin rostro
y me tocaba.
Yo no sabía qué decir, mi boca
no sabía
nombrar,
mis ojos eran ciegos,
y algo golpeaba en mi alma,
fiebre o alas perdidas,
y me fui haciendo solo,
descifrando
aquella quemadura,
y escribí la primera línea vaga,
vaga, sin cuerpo, pura
tontería,
pura sabiduría
del que no sabe nada,
y vi de pronto
el cielo
desgranado
y abierto,
planetas,
plantaciones palpitantes,
la sombra perforada,
acribillada
por flechas, fuego y flores,
la noche arrolladora, el universo.
Y yo, mínimo ser,
ebrio del gran vacío
constelado,
a semejanza, a imagen
del misterio,
me sentí parte pura
del abismo,
rodé con las estrellas,
mi corazón se desató en el viento.
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Poetry
And it was at that time... Poetry came
to find me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no, they weren't voices, they weren't
words, or silence,
but from a street, it called me,
from the boughs of the night,
suddenly amongst the others,
between violent fires
or returning alone,
it was there faceless
and it touched me.
I didn't know what to say, my mouth
didn't know what
to call it,
my eyes were blind,
and something was beating in my soul,
a fever or lost wings,
I just kept going,
analyzing
that burning,
and I wrote my first vague line,
vague, no substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
from which one knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the sky
uncovered
and open,
planets,
throbbing plantations,
the pierced darkness,
riddled
by arrows, fire and flowers,
the overpowering night, the universe.
And me, a tiny being,
inebriated by the great void
filled with stars,
in the image and likeness
of the mystery,
I felt I was a part of the pure
abyss,
I wandered with the stars,
my heart was unleashed in the wind.
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Nobel prize-winning author Pablo Neruda | English translation Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalt
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION |
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Submitted by SGA President Brian Carter
Hello and good morning to my fellow students.
I am here to inspire, motivate, encourage and enlighten, per request in my weekly address. As we continue to accept the challenges that come our way, keep in mind that God is good all the time and that help is on the way. Despite the nature of this pandemic, we will continue to thrive, blossom, and flourish academically, because as life-long learners, we know no boundaries. Take advantage of the opportunities that Hostos has to offer. You have the opportunity of a lifetime to represent the student body by joining our Student Government Association (SGA). We are looking for senators to join us. Please stop by the Office of Student Activities, located in the C-Building. Reach out to the amazing Rhonda Smith or Jerry Rosa, or visit the Student Leadership Academy and reach out to Jason Libfeld for an application to be eligible to become a member of the SGA. This experience can play an important role in your academic journey. You can become a staple in our community, serve a purpose, and make a difference, not only in your life, but the lives of your fellow students.
Also, I continue to highlight the offerings of the Counseling Center, since mental health is wealth. During the rise of the pandemic, the only way we were able to keep the students engaged was because of this unique platform. Since we are still in a pandemic, the Counseling Center is pivotal. Join our Candid Conversations event on Zoom on October 29 at 3:30 p.m. See you there! This is a collaborative effort with the Counseling Center and the SGA.
In conclusion, I want to point out how important it is to take advantage of the various support services that Hostos offers throughout your academic career at the College. We encourage you to reach for the stars because we all are amazing in our own right. So stay focused, stay innovative, and stay positive. Failure is not an option and hope is not a strategy.
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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
The Self-Study Process as a Scholarship of Assessment and Service Opportunity
Prof. Kate Wolfe, Prof. Nelson Nuñez Rodríguez (Self-Study Co-chairs), and Sarah Brennan (Working Group 1 Co-chair) shared the Hostos Self-Study organization, design, process, and implementation at the Annual Drexel University Conference on Teaching and Learning Assessment. The 60-minute workshop “Building and Institutionalizing Sustainable Self-Study Practices during A Pandemic” showed the value of the Self-Study process organization. The organizational model used to design benchmarks and expectations for each term considering Self-Study main deadlines allowed the institution to preserve the process integrity and timeline during the critical pandemic periods.
The workshop facilitators discussed the use of the college website, periodic open forums, and Semanario updates to inform the community, as well as, the internal processes related to evidence evaluation that included the creation of templates, rubrics and examples to guide the working group members with the evidence evaluation process. This evaluation framework also aimed at creating sustained assessment skills among working group members beyond the reaccreditation period. The workshop participants also learned about the clever role of the librarian, Prof. Catherine Lyons as a writer, who also brings her expertise regarding evidence formatting and tagging to the writing process. These discussion points also highlighted the sustained support of the Instructional Technology Department creating solutions to the evolving needs of a three-year process, and how the Self-Study creates togetherness among all institution members working toward a common goal focused on reaccreditation.
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Submitted by Executive Counsel & Labor Designee Eugene Sohn, Esq.
- Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Office for Student Affairs at the College or unit in which they are enrolled. The Chief Student Affairs Officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.
- Consistent with New York State Education Law § 224-a, students who are absent from school because of a religious belief will be given the equivalent opportunity, without any additional fee charged, to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements missed because of such absence on any particular day or days.
- Employees and applicants requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Office of Human Resources at the College or unit where they are employed or applying. The Director of Human Resources, or a designee, and the employee/applicant will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation. Classified civil service candidates who are required to take an exam or attend a hiring pool and are seeking accommodation should follow the written instructions provided on the exam application, hiring pool instructions, or contact the HR Advisory Services unit in the Office of Human Resources Management in the Central Office.
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GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS |
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Submitted by Eric Radezky, Ph.D., Director of Governmental and External Affairs
Simplified Process for NYCHA Residents to Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance from New York State
This week’s update comes from the New York City Housing Authority’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations. They bring the following news about the NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program that might be of interest to NYCHA residents:
It’s now much easier for NYCHA residents to apply for New York State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). ERAP provides rental assistance for eligible New Yorkers who are behind in rent and have suffered financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NYCHA worked with the State to set up a process that ensures public housing residents no longer have to fill out the State’s full online ERAP application — instead, they can simply provide NYCHA with a consent form to share their information with the State so NYCHA can apply for ERAP on their behalf.
For NYCHA residents who meet the eligibility requirements, the State may pay up to 12 months of a resident’s unpaid rent accrued on or after March 13, 2020. The State of New York will make the final determination as to whether residents are eligible for ERAP once an application has been submitted. Funds are limited, so NYCHA residents should act soon!
NYCHA residents who have not yet applied for ERAP can provide NYCHA with consent to apply on their behalf via the NYCHA Self-Service Portal. Residents who need assistance with completing the consent form on the Self-Service Portal can contact their property management office. Click here for more detailed instructions on how NYCHA residents can apply for ERAP.
NYCHA residents who have already submitted an ERAP application should send their ERAP application number, along with their first name, last name, date of birth, development name, and their nine-digit account number, to erap.fin@nycha.nyc.gov so NYCHA can complete the application with the State.
More information about ERAP, including eligibility requirements, is available at otda.ny.gov/ERAP or by calling the ERAP hotline at 1-844-691-7368.
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HOSTOS REOPENING UPDATE: WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 20, 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
Hostos’s Ventilation Systems and Windows
At Hostos, we have modern, full-building HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). These exceed the parameters of most NYC buildings and have had upgrades that meet all CDC recommendations for COVID-19 safety improvements.
Opening windows for ventilation, however, is the last resort for old buildings with insufficient mechanical systems. Therefore, windows should remain closed to allow our HVAC systems to operate as designed.
HVAC improvements for COVID-19 include the following:
- All Hostos buildings operate with 100% outside air, which is moved through MERV-13 or MERV-15 rated filters. These filters are an upgrade to the MERV-8 filters used during pre-pandemic operations. (MERV refers to "minimum efficiency reporting value," and larger values can filter smaller particles.)
- Supplied air passes through UV-C (ultra violet-C) disinfecting lighting systems installed in our HVAC systems. UV-C lighting is a method of disinfection used in hospitals that breaks the molecular bond of SARS-CoV-2, effectively killing this virus that causes COVID-19.
- Air exchanges occur at least every 15 minutes within our buildings. Exhausting air out of facilities at this high rate is an additional layer of safety.
Few buildings at CUNY — or in NYC — have taken all these steps to ensure optimal air quality. We appreciate your confidence in the measures we've taken to protect everyone's health at this time, and ask for your cooperation in leaving windows closed.
Reminder: Student Vaccination Policy
- Take a class on campus (marked as “hybrid” or “in-person” in CUNYfirst).
- Do in-person clinical work or fieldwork, including nursing clinicals and student teaching.
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Come on campus, even if you’re only taking classes online.
Important Dates:
Until October 7, you can come on campus before you’re fully vaccinated (15 days after your final dose) and before your documents are approved.
However, you’ll need to have a valid negative COVID-19 test result until you meet those two requirements.
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Only COVID-19 PCR tests done through CUNY’s testing program are accepted. Enroll with Cleared4 to get started and find a CUNY testing location.
- Your negative PCR test result must be from within the last seven (7) days.
Starting October 7, you will only be allowed on campus if you’re fully vaccinated (or granted an exception/exemption) with documents approved in CUNYfirst.
Additional Details:
Taking in-person/hybrid classes? If you fail to meet the September 27 deadline, you could face administrative withdrawal and lose financial aid.
Only taking online classes? Your classes aren’t directly affected, but you’ll lose access to on-campus resources like the Library or Open Computer Lab. You’ll be able to use resources again once you’re fully vaccinated and have your documents approved.
You may be able to come on campus for certain emergency services if you’re still unvaccinated after October 7. If you need assistance, contact Fabian Wander (Director of Health & Wellness).
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Post-Storm Resources at Hostos
A Bronx Service Center for New Yorkers affected by the September 1 flash flood emergency is now open on the Hostos campus.
Operated by NYC and FEMA, this center is here to support affected individuals and families with in-person support and information on resources and services available.
New York City government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations are on-site to help connect families and individuals to critical services, including enrollment in public benefits and health insurance, housing, food assistance, and mental health counseling. Services will be available to all visitors. Visitors to the sites will not be asked about their immigration status.
The Bronx location is in the C Building (450 Grand Concourse). Services have been available since Friday, September 10.
The center is currently open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Services provided at the center include but are not limited to the following:
- The Department of Social Services will assist with enrollment in SNAP benefits, cash assistance, and public health insurance, and help connect people with emergency food assistance. English and Spanish speakers will be available to assist with enrollment.
- Housing Preservation and Development be providing information about resources to homeowners and advise tenants how to proceed with getting an inspection if there was a lot of damage and they believe they cannot return.
- The Department for the Aging will assist in case management and senior employment.
- The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs will assist with language and immigrant issues.
- Small Business Services will assist small business owners who were impacted by the storm.
- Referrals and information for pump-out assistance for residents who still have standing water in their homes.
- The Department of Buildings will be able to answer questions from the public related to damaged structures, conducting repairs or renovations, and provide guidance regarding the filing of construction projects with DOB.
- The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide mental health counseling.
- The American Red Cross in Greater New York will assist in disaster relief management — including referrals, distribution of emergency supplies, and applying for assistance — and mental health counseling.
New Yorkers can visit their local service center, call 311, or access city services online by visiting NYC.gov/ida.
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NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
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Submitted by Acting Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Charles I. Drago
SPOTLIGHT ON FACULTY ACHIEVEMENT
The Office of Academic Affairs is delighted to share the list of faculty most recently promoted to full professor. The work and dedication involved in teaching, publishing, and serving the college are significant. A grand congratulations to all of Hostos’ newest professors!
NEW FULL PROFESSORS
Congratulations to All New Full Professors
Provost Drago is delighted to introduce the newest full professors at Hostos Community College. Reaching full professor status is not an easy journey, though our newest full professors make it look easy. These members of our campus family not only teach but serve in various leadership roles and have published disciplinary works and presented locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The Office of Academic Affairs is proud to welcome our four new full professors.
Vyacheslav Dushenkov, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences.
He is Co-chair of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Self-Study Standard VI Working Group. Professor Dushenkov is a long-time member of the Senate Grants Committee and the Senate Budget and Finance Committee. He was recently appointed to the Hostos Academic Integrity Committee for his active designing and implementation of hybrid, synchronous, and asynchronous courses for distance learning modality. Dr. Dushenkov’s professional expertise and experience were recognized by appointing him as Chair of the Biology & Earth Sciences Panel for PSC-CUNY Research Awards at RF CUNY. His extensive research activities are supported by multiple grants including the current major NIH award. During his 10-year tenure at Hostos, he has published 15 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals including groundbreaking publications in Scientific Reports (2020), PloS ONE (2018), and HAPS Educator (2017). He frequently presents at local, national, and international conferences, most recently implementing the workshop “Revamping A&P Labs in a Post-COVID World” at the Annual Human Anatomy and Physiology Society Conference (2021).
Dr. Andrea Fabrizio is a Professor and Chair of the English Department.
She has a B.A. in English from Fordham University and a Ph.D. in English and a Certificate in Women’s Studies from The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. She is the Co-Coordinator of the Hostos Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) Initiative. She is the Co-PI of Core Books at CUNY, a 36-month Teagle Foundation-sponsored project that originated at Hostos Community College and is now extended to three other CUNY campuses: The Borough of Manhattan Community College, LaGuardia Community College, and New York City College of Technology. She is also the Co-Chair of the English Discipline Council and a Board member of the Great Questions Foundation. She has published and presented on early modern British women’s writing, WAC pedagogy, and the role of the Humanities in community colleges.
Dr. Sonia Maldonado, Professor in the Education Department.
Professor Maldonado studied at the University of Puerto Rico and moved to New York City in 1996 where she began working as an academic counselor at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College. After fifteen years working as a counselor, she completed her doctorate in Education and began working as a teacher in the Early Childhood Department. In her 25 years of service at Hostos, Dr. Maldonado has actively participated in different Senate Committees. She was a part of the Senate Executive Committee and served as Chair of the Affirmative Action Committee. Dr. Maldonado has also published in prestigious national and international peer-review journals. Her scholarship focuses on multiculturalism, bilingualism, learning preferences, and teaching strategies. She likes to engage her students in her investigations and has published in collaboration with them in two different peer-reviewed journals in English and Spanish. She is an active member of the American Educational Research Association and is currently working on pre-service teachers and action research project.
Sherese A. Mitchell, Ed.D., Professor in the Education Department.
Professor Mitchell specializes in Teacher Education. She has grown through a myriad of educational settings and is a certified Learning-Style trainer. Dr. Mitchell has contributed her experience to the courses that she has taught and developed here at Hostos. Her love of curriculum has prompted her direct involvement with OER curriculum development and continued at Hostos with the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the ExPand Ed grant. She chaired the Instructional Evaluation, where she served as the principal investigator for studies on the perceptions of students and faculty and their attitudes toward student evaluations of teachers. She currently serves as chair of the College-Wide Curriculum. Her love of students and accountability encouraged her to mentor students and provide leadership at an urban school on online learning and three-year olds during the pandemic. Dr. Mitchell is known as a firm but fair professor and encourages students to meet their highest potential. She has a national presence on the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs and has served their board in several roles for many years. She recently worked as an invited member of The One Hundred Black Men’s Educational committee. On a state level, she has represented Hostos and is a voice for our students at the New York State Teacher Examination table. Dr. Mitchell has published on classroom practices and presents internationally, nationally, and locally.
NEW DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP
Professor Carl Grindley Appointed Chairperson of the Language and Cognition Department
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce that Professor Carl James Grindley, Ph.D. has been appointed Chairperson of the Language and Cognition Department. Professor Grindley has been with Hostos Community College since 2004, is a full professor in the English Department, and a Fellow in General Education at the CUNY School of Professional Studies. Professor Grindley completed graduate work in English Language Learning, but his academic specialty is Medieval and Renaissance literature. He was the founding co-editor of the Hostos literary magazine “Touchstone,” served as the Director of the Honors Program and Educational Technology, and was founding director of the Liberal Studies program at Hostos. Grindley also served as the director of the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media program at CUNY SPS.
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Submitted by Program Coordinator, Hostos Lincoln Academy, Rocio Rayo
The Year of Return
Colleges have seasons. Seasons for advisement, registration, finals, grading, and every year we have a season for returning. Last year, our return will forever be italicized in history as something we had never seen before — but this year — for the first time in 18 months we finally returned (no italics, but still a footnote) to campus. We call that a success!
It was a success that could not have happened without Ms. Toribio’s original idea in our Hostos Lincoln Academy (HLA) steering committee meeting last Spring, without the meetings with our office and Senior Vice President Rodriguez-Chardavoyne, without the support and leadership of our President, Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis and her office, and the tireless guidance from OAA, led by Provost Drago. Thank you all for your part in making this happen for our students.
I also want to take a second to thank the tremendous efforts of our Public Safety office and Nurse Vasquez. They have fielded questions, sent emails, greeted nervous high schoolers, pointed them to the elevators and correct floors, and helped navigate vaccination documents – all while we are trying to figure out our own best practices in this ever-shifting landscape. Public Safety is there before I get in, even on my earliest mornings and long after I leave on my longest days. Grateful is not enough, but it is absolutely what I am filled with as I start my Monday.
I wanted to share some photos from our Welcome Back event (a thinly veiled way to get students to come and collect science textbooks). I am always reminded of the hope and humanity that our future holds after one of these events — our future is bright with these young people leading the way.
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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 STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
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Submitted by Financial Aid Director and SDEM Interim Dean Leslie King
CUNY Comeback Program @Hostos
In July 2021, the CUNY Comeback Program was launched by Chancellor Matos Rodríguez and the Governor of New York, to forgive as much as $125 million in unpaid tuition and fees for as many as 50,000 CUNY students who were enrolled at CUNY schools during the pandemic (between March 13, 2020, and the Spring 2021 semester) — through the utilization of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
In August 2021, just over 1,500 eligible Hostos students had $2.3 million of debt forgiven and processed via their CUNYfirst accounts.
Additionally, another 550 potentially eligible Hostos students received email notifications on how to apply for the remaining CUNY Comeback Program funds at Hostos. They need to complete and submit a financial hardship application via their CUNYfirst accounts by no later than the deadline of November 1, 2021.
Financial hardships suffered due to the pandemic may include, but are not limited to:
- The need to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses.
- Increased childcare costs.
- Being homeless or a dislocated worker.
- Changes in the student’s family income, including recent unemployment of a family member on whom the student depends for support.
- Food or housing insecurity.
- Other changes in the family’s income or assets that rendered them unable to pay off their balance to CUNY.
This debt relief will empower Hostos students to persevere and successfully reach their education and career goals.
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NEWS FROM THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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CEWD Student Spotlight
Petrena Lewis-Goldberg
Petrena Lewis-Goldberg’s family always labeled her “the cook.” When she lost her job in 2015, she decided to do something she loves and enrolled in our Culinary Arts Certificate Program. She is currently a prep cook at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine and a budding entrepreneur laying the groundwork for her own organic granola cereal company called Wise-UP! Foods LLC.
“The program provided me the opportunity to work with professional chefs and learn foundational and basic skills that I needed to gain confidence and inspiration to pursue and excel in something I am passionate about.”
Learn more about the Culinary Arts program here.
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CEWD Virtual Open Houses
Saturday, October 2, 2021 | 11 a.m. to noon & noon to 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. & 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 23, 2021 | 11 a.m. to noon & noon to 1 p.m.
The CEWD Fall 2021 course brochure can be found here.
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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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Submitted by President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D.
Appointment of Diana Kreymer as Interim Executive Chief of Staff
I am happy to share that Ms. Diana Kreymer will continue to serve my administration as the Interim Executive Chief of Staff. Diana’s generosity of spirit, intelligence, and work ethic have been pillars to ensure the President’s Office serves the College with care and professionalism. I look forward to our continued work together and am proud of the good work done thus far. I know Diana will work hard to promote the mission of the College and continue to serve our students with the care and attention she has demonstrated over the last decade.
Ms. Kreymer will be assuming her new role after serving for over a year as the Assistant to the President and Director of the President’s Office. Prior to serving in the administration, Ms. Kreymer was the Director of Events Management. She received her bachelor’s degree from Monmouth University, majoring in International Business and Spanish and earned a master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College. Outside of her professional positions, Mrs. Kreymer serves her community in various volunteer organizations.
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Submitted by Program Coordinator, Hostos Lincoln Academy Early College Initiative CUNY, Rocio Rayo
Francis Catalino is a member of the HERO/Hostos Early College Partnership - and an incredible reminder of just how transformative the early college partnership is in young people’s lives.
Francis Catalino started as an Early College student in 2016 as a freshman in high school. Initially, Francis chose HERO because of the 2-year access to a free college education. She knew she found the right place when she went to the first open house. “We played the board game Operation, against each other's family, it was great.” At the open house, she learned more about the Hostos HERO High program and she instantly “fell in love with it” but was worried it was too good to be true. It was free, an easy commute from her house to both schools, a flexible schedule, and most importantly to Francis, the chance afforded the internship opportunities that later allowed her to contribute financially to her family.
Taking her first college class was daunting. She took Public Speaking (now Communications) the summer before her sophomore year in high school. She described it as “really intense” but she was determined to succeed. Francis and her classmates would go to the library right after class to work on the public speaking homework, which was hard by itself but “extra hard for me because it was my first time having a serious presentation in front of my peers.” However, through laborious work and persistence, she was able to earn an A in the class.
“I felt prepared to take college classes,” she said. “Beginning in the 9th grade, Ms. Smith and Ms. Gorla always reminded me that my high school grades had to be up to par to get into the college program, and they had to stay that way to be able to keep taking college classes. There were a lot of workshops available to me and I took all of them. The HERO staff guided and prepared me to take the classes by encouraging me through difficult times. When I felt overwhelmed, they kept me grounded so that I stayed on track.”
She went on to share: “HERO advised me to take all the classes that were offered in the early college program because even though it was hard and stressful in the end Ms. Smith said it would be worth it — and she was right. I graduated high school with 49 college credits. I took every single class offered to me no matter if it was in the morning or the afternoon. And the best part was, it was free.”
Thanks to that experience, Francis now finds it easier to cope when things become stressful. Since 2016, she has gone back and forth between two campuses, staying up late, going to class, doing extracurriculars, and working at internships all in preparation for real life. Now that she is only working and taking college classes, her life feels “simpler.” At HERO, Francis learned to be responsible for her actions, and she takes those lessons with her wherever she goes. “In the last five years, I realized that being early is on time, and being on time is late,” she said. “I learned email etiquette — something important to know in life, especially in times like now where most people are communicating online.”
Francis graduated from high school in 2020. She said that even though the last semester was hard, she succeeded and checked off a very long list of goals that she had set for herself. With that, she is the first person in her family to graduate from high school and continue in college.“Even though it was on zoom, even in the pandemic, I graduated!” Francis said, her pride radiating through her voice. “I did that! With Honors! With My Friends!”
Francis is most looking forward to discovering her true, authentic self. She also looks forward to financial freedom for herself and her family. She wants to be able to pay for her mom’s trip to the Dominican Republic, where she hasn’t been in over ten years, because of her dedication to raising her family.
Through her life experiences, Francis learned that she wants to develop meaningful relationships and is in charge of her destiny. “Nothing is nobler than helping others and serving as a role model, not just to my nephews and nieces, but to everyone from the Bronx,” she said. “I believe the Bronx is full of untapped potential, and it continues to be overlooked. With perseverance and higher education, I believe that I can make a positive impact, not just for my own life, but for my community.”
Francis also had some advice for new HERO students:
“First, don't be afraid to ask for help. There are more people than you think who want to see you succeed. Seeking support or guidance from others is also a skill that must be owned and carried on. Second, you will often need to knock on 20 doors before one will open. But when it does, it can be transformative. Many of us, especially those who are the first in our families to go to college, are often taught not to bother people when we get to school. But we have to do the opposite for our voices to be heard. Third, take advice from HERO staff, especially Ms. Smith, Ms. Nosek, and high school advisors. If you are in HERO, you have people who have got your back. Talk with them and keep them updated, whatever it is. Communicating with your advisors at HERO is important for your future. Fourth, you will make mistakes, and that is when you will find that connection with your advisor and teachers especially valuable. Fifth, learn how to network with the right people. Find your group of friends or family members who will not just be there for you but will push you. Time management is key. If your friends are your friends, they will let you do your thing in school, and they will make time for you, and you will make time for each other. Finally, don’t take anything for granted. Take every opportunity that HERO gives you because nothing comes easy. You will sacrifice a lot, but it is worth it in the long run.”
When Francis talks about HERO and the staff, her entire face lights up. She sits up straighter, and she radiates with pride. Even though she’s on track to graduate in 2022 with an Associates in Science in Community Health, Francis says she will remain a part of the HERO/Hostos program after graduation. She declared that in the next ten years, HERO will be ranked one of the best high schools of the City. She wanted to make sure I wrote that so that people know she called it. “I can’t wait to say I went to one of the top ten schools in New York.”
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Evelina Antonetty Centennial Celebration Kick-Off Event
A celebration of the life and times of Dr. Evelina Antonetty, one of the most important figures of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Evelina Antonetty Park
(Grand Concourse between E 144 St. and E 149 St.)
Open to Students, Faculty, and Staff
Hostos Community College Foundation | 15th Annual Scholarship Fund Golf Outing Classic
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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Velada Hostosiana-Hostos Culture Talks:
An Afternoon with YA Author and Poet Steven Parlato
Office of the President
Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
Middle States Self-Study College-Wide Open Forum
Office of the President
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.
For Students, Faculty and Staff
Hispanic Heritage Month
Office of the President
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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