President's Report for April 2024

Center for Excellence in Teaching and learning (CETL)

The Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) continues to offer professional development opportunities and individual consultations regarding instructional practices. CETL's upcoming webinar- "Introduction to Manifold and Pressbooks: Platforms for publishing OER material"- on Mon, April 8 at 11:00 AM will provide an overview of the publishing platforms, list of resources, and project examples. Please register to participate. Presentations on HIPs and OER projects will be featured during the Spring Student Symposium on Fri, May 3 at 11:00 AM-12:30 PM in M 134. All faculty are invited to participate at this event. 

All Faculty are encouraged to visit the CETL and OET homepages to see a complete listing of all upcoming events and professional development opportunities. 

Enrollment Management Update

The Office of Academy Advisement is preparing for the opening of registration for new and continuing students in early April. Advisement traffic has increased with students expressing interest in summer and fall registration. They plan to host an in-person Schedule Builder workshop on Tuesday, April 2, to provide students with a walk-through on how to register after they have met with an adviser. This will follow their robust “March is Advising” month campaign. In addition, they will implement a call campaign to all first semester students who must meet with an adviser before registering for classes. These students will be assisted with booking an appointment with their adviser early on and promote early registration. In collaboration with the Office of Student Success, Academy Advisement will co-host three (3) workshops on April 10, April 17, and May 1 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm which are designed to help students on academic probation get back on track and work on improving their GPA. Upon each workshop's conclusion, walk-in advisement hours will be blocked off to support students who want to meet with an adviser right after each session. Lastly, advisers are participating in a financial aid training session to better understand the financial aid information available to them in CUNYfirst.

 

Student Honors/Awards

QCC students Elijah Bernard and Yen Yi Shak have been named to the 2024 Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team, in recognition of their scholarly achievements while enrolled in a New York Community College. Mr. Bernard was inducted into the Lambda Sigma Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Hoor Society in fall 2022, while Ms. Shak was inducted in fall 2023. I am also happy to share that both exemplary students meet the academic requirements for consideration as class of 2024 candidates for graduation. I extend my thanks to Dr. Emily Tai and Dr. Regina Sullivan for their tireless work as faculty advisers for the honor society. 

In more amazing news for our student members of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, QCC students Anna Liu, Yen Yi Shak, Shantal Edwards, and Melanie Jerez de Rodriguez have been selected as the four (4) semifinalists for the 2024 offering of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The JKCF Scholarship provides up to $40,000 per year to each of approximately 45 deserving students selected annually, making it the largest private scholarship for two-year and community college transfer students in the country. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student's educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees – for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor's degree. We are equally excited to announce that each of these students are class of 2024 candidates for graduation.

 

 Queensborough’s 63rd Annual Commencement Ceremony

ECP, faculty and HEO-series employees who wish to participate in QCC’s 63rd Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 31 must order their commencement regalia online by the deadline date of Thursday, May 2 by 11:59 pm EST. To order, click HERE. If you have your own attire, please notify Ms. Annette Lazaro at [email protected] so she can ensure you are included in the seating count. For more information about this year’s ceremony, visit www.qcc.cuny.edu/commencement.

Outreach to all fall 2023 graduates and the first round of spring 2024 graduation candidates is underway. Outreach to self-identified summer 2024 candidates for graduation will take place shortly afterwards. If you know of any candidates for graduation who have not received an invitation for this year’s ceremony, instruct them to email [email protected] (include their full-name and EMPL ID#) and someone will respond accordingly. The deadline for graduates to RSVP for this year’s ceremony is Thursday, May 30 at 12:00 pm EST. 

 

Student Support Resources

• Faculty and staff are asked to encourage students to avail themselves of the valuable and free resources through the Advocacy Resource Center. Services provided include public benefits screening, financial coaching, legal assistance, tax preparation services, housing assistance, food pantry referrals, and more.

• Representatives from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance will help students and their family members prepare and e-file their income tax return both virtually and in-person for free. Virtual sessions will be held every Wednesday beginning January 31, 2024, and ending on April 10, 2024. In-person sessions will be held every Friday beginning February 2,2024 and ending on April 12,2024. Pre-registration is required. As such, students should call the Advocacy Resource Center at (718) 631-6347 or email [email protected]. Session days and times are as follows:
  • Wednesdays (Zoom) 11:00 am- 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  • Fridays 9:30 am- 12:30 pm and Fridays 1:30 pm– 4:30 pm.

• Emergency funding is available to students who face a financial crisis that puts at risk their continued enrollment toward their QCC degree. Supported through a grant from The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, the funds provide one-time, emergency grants to students in good standing with short-term financial emergencies to enable them to remain in school, rather than being forced to leave or drop out. Students with short-term financial emergencies should be referred to Ms. Amawati Gonesh, Advocacy Resource Center Program Manager, via email at [email protected]. Additional information can be found online at QCC Scholarships. 

• The Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity is not a traditional scholarship focused on rewarding academic achievement and financial need. Its specific goal is to reward and encourage innovative and creative problem solving. The scholarship aims to honor students who excel as creative problem solvers and to help make their higher education goals more accessible. The award amount is $5,000 per year and the deadline to apply is May 15, 2024. Learn more about the Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity by visiting their website. 

• The 2024 Abbey Duncan Brownfield Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. The program provides financial support to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in the brownfield industry in New York City. The deadline to apply is April 24, 2024. 

• The Finch College Alumni Community College Transfer Scholarship application period is now open for all eligible female students. The scholarships, worth $5000, are awarded to second-year female community college students who will graduate from QCC at the conclusion of spring 2024 and transfer to a four-year university for fall 2024. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2024. 

Upcoming Events

• The Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) at QCC is working to fight food insecurity on campus on Tuesdays beginning March 19, and ending on May 21, (except for April 23 and April 30) due to spring break. ARC will be distributing free fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items as part of CUNY's Fresh Food Bag Program in the Administration Building, 1st Floor (in front of QCC food Pantry) from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

• Students with questions about this year’s ceremony are invited to register for the Commencement Webinar for Class of 2024 Graduates, taking place on Wednesday, May 1. During the webinar, students will receive information about the ceremony, completing the remainder of their degree requirements during the summer 2024 session, applying for transfer to a 4-year college/university for fall 2024, and more. Space is limited to only 300 students.

• Class of 2024 graduates are invited to take sit for their Graduation Portrait. Portraits will be taken on campus beginning Monday, May 6 through Thursday, May 9 from 10:00 am – 5:00 PM in the Student Union Building – Lower Level. There is a $5 sitting fee, payable by cash or check and graduates are asked to dress professionally as this will be their portrait pose in the 2024 Aurora Yearbook. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Office of Student Activities at (718) 631-6233, or email Ms. Cha Huang at [email protected], or walk-in to the Office of Student Activities, located in the Student Union, Lower Level.

• The CUNY Queens Lavender Graduation Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 24 at 2:00 pm in The Atrium at York College. LGBTQIA+ and ally graduates from Queens-based CUNY institutions (Queens College, York College, Queensborough Community College, LaGuardia Community College, and CUNY School of Law) will be honored. A lavender honor chord and certificate will be distributed on stage to all graduates in attendance and, during the reception, framed photos and free rainbow tassels will be available. Registration for this event is required, and the deadline is Friday, May 17, 2024. Graduates with questions about the event should email [email protected]. 

• QCC’s 2nd Annual Sankofa Celebration will take place on Tuesday, May 28 at 12:10 pm in the Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC). The ceremony will acknowledge and celebrate the class of 2024 graduates who identify as Black (from the diaspora) or African American (from the United States). Graduates interested in attending must RSVP online by the deadline of Monday, May 13, 2024. Graduates with questions about the event should email [email protected].

• The Queensborough Male Resource Center (QMRC) will host a Short Film Discussion on Wednesday, April 10 at 12:00 pm in the Student Union Building – Upper Level Room 107. Open to all students, faculty and staff, attendees will have the opportunity to watch two short independent films "Fauve" and "Portrait of a Black Man." Following each film, everyone will discuss the different elements of the film and themes behind it. For anyone interested in filmmaking, media production, and or just interested in watching some interesting films then you do not want to miss this event. 

• The Queensborough Male Resource Center (QMRC) will conduct a Professional Headshot Day on Wednesday, April 10 at 2:00 pm in the Student Union Building – Upper Level Room 107. All students, faculty, and staff are invited to have a professional head shot taken that can be used for professional platforms such as LinkedIn and Handshake. We ask that, if possible, you come dressed professionally to have your photo taken. 

• The Queensborough Male Resource Center (QMRC) will conduct a workshop on Wednesday, April 17 at 12:00 pm titled Building Generational Wealth Pt. 2 in the Student Union Building – Upper Level Room 107. The event will speak to the various ways that an individual can build generational wealth. Individuals will learn the importance of having multiple income streams, learning what is considered an asset, and how you can make your money work for you. 

• The QCC Spring 2024 Fashion and Talent Show will take place on Wednesday, May 1 at 12:00 pm in the Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC). Sponsored by the Queensborough Male Resource Center (QMRC), Student Government Association (SGA), Caribbean Student Coalition (CSC), and Black Student Union (BSU), students will have the opportunity to model clothing from upstart clothing companies that feature live performances from QCC students showcasing their special talents.

Events Report – April 9, 2024

Celebration of Service:

The Celebration of Service ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. on the Great Lawn. The rain date will be Monday, May 6^th. 

This year, 27 faculty, staff, and adjuncts will be inducted into the 20-year association.

4 faculty & staff members will be recognized for their 30 years of service to the College.

4 faculty and staff members will be recognized for their 40 years of service to the College, and Dr. Phil Pecorino will be recognized for his 50 years of service.

 

                                          The 2024 Partners for Progress Gala is on Wednesday, May 15^th

                                                                        at Terrace on the Park

 PURCHASE GALA TICKETS

 Early Bird discount for Queensborough Faculty + Staff is $200 per Gala ticket (regularly $350).

For faculty and staff who wish to be seated together, please email your request to  [email protected].

For those who wish to purchase ads in our Gala Journal, please submit your requests by Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

 

                                                                 2024 PARTNERS OF THE YEAR

Community Partner of the Year:

Talya Schwartz, M.D., is the President and C.E.O. of MetroPlusHealth. MetroPlusHealth boasts a record 750,000 members - its Essential Plans provide access to affordable, quality healthcare for New York's most vulnerable communities, those who do not qualify for Medicaid. Dr. Schwartz's ongoing commitment to addressing the social determinants of health among New York's most vulnerable communities is the pinnacle of her leadership, especially around supportive housing, and food insecurity. 

Healthcare Partner of the Year:

Ash Tewari, MBBS, is System Chair, Department of Urology, at Mount Sinai Health System, and the Surgeon-in-Chief at the Tisch Cancer Hospital at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Tewari is a renowned urologist whose achievements include launching the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, screening over 5,000 patients in underserved communities! His work has placed him in prestigious lists like America’s Top Doctors and New York Magazine’s Best Doctors.

Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Tewari have requested that all funds raised in their honor at the 2024 Partners for Progress Gala support the QCC Fund Promise Scholarship which provides the vital tuition assistance our students need to keep them in school and on track to graduate. 

Art Gallery Partner:

Shining Sung is the representative in the United States for the ChiMei Museum in Taiwan, a renowned institution of European Art in Tainan. Over the years, Shining has played a pivotal role in expanding the museum's collection, diligently acquiring significant pieces from auction houses and private collectors worldwide. A fervent advocate for cultural exchange, the Chin-Chih Yang exhibition at the QCC Art Gallery was thanks to her efforts.

 NOTE: Gala tickets purchased after Wednesday, April 10^th will be at the regular price of $350 per ticket.

 PURCHASE GALA TICKETS

We look forward to seeing you at Terrace on Wednesday, May 15^th! Art Gallery.

 

                                                                                                 Art Gallery 

April 10 to June 7, 2024, the Gallery will host the “Juried Student Exhibition” in collaboration with the Art Department. 

In the spring semester, the Gallery will have two students from Flushing International High School, one from Bayside High School, and 5 interns from the QCC Art and Design Department.

  

                                                                                        Kupferberg Holocaust Center 

PROGRAMMING:

For a list of all public programming offered in the Spring 2024 semester, visit: https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/events-2/

 

KHC-NEH Lecture:

Genetic Discrimination: Exploring the Echoes between Nazi and American Eugenic Histories

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. EDT

Virtual Event

Tiarra Maznick, Ph.D. Candidate and Teaching Associate at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst

 

 KHC-NEH Workshop: 

Pedagogical Strategies: Making History Visible in the Classroom

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. EDT

Virtual Event

Nicole McClam, Assistant Professor of Dance, QCC-CUNY

Alison Cimino, Lecturer of English, QCC-CUNY 

 

Holocaust Memory/Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Nathan Hilu: Art as Memory After the Holocaust

Monday, May 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. EDT

Virtual Event
Elon Golod, Director of “Nathan-ism” Documentary

Recordings for any virtual or hybrid programs will be available on the KHC website: https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/recordings/

 

                                                                         *New Playlist Centering LGBTQIA+ Voices*

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwmRg1lh50qxFYw3I19i3P3It5isjeRCb

EDUCATION:

• QCC class visits are returning to pre-pandemic numbers with 14 classes coming in February and March 2024 for exhibit tours or presentations.
• Visits so far have been from 6 academic departments, including: English, Philosophy, History, Art & Design, Psychology, and Communication, Theatre, & Media Production.

Email the Center at [email protected] to schedule a tour of the Camps exhibition or a presentation.

 

                                                                Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC)

 Sunday, April 14, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.

The Suits

Four gentlemen. Four genres. Four decades. The Suits are comprised of four dynamic gentlemen performing four genres of hit music from the 50’s through the 80’s - Motown, Doo Wop, Pop, and Rock. Fusing smooth choreography and tight harmonies with exciting showmanship and fun audience interaction, this production will give you a night to remember! Backed by a live band, the group performs hit songs that include Oh, What a Night by The Four Seasons, My Girl by The Temptations, Can’t Buy Me Love by The Beatles, Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder, Uptown Girl by Billy Joel, and Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. Join us for a thrilling and engaging afternoon with The Suits! $35 - $60 

 

Friday, April 19, 2024 – 8:00 p.m.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is an all-male ballet troupe that parodies the convention of the classical ballet. The professional company performs faithful renditions from the classical genre with the male dancers portraying both male and female roles. And it is not just about the laughs the performers bring to the ballets. Part of what makes the troupe so funny is that every bit of physical humor, ridiculous staging, or arched eyebrow the “Trocks” execute is done while dancing pristine ballet. In some cases, much of the original choreography from a classic work is kept, but it is the more nuanced notes in the performances that make it look suddenly funny. The fact that men dance all the parts – heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, romantic princesses, or angst-ridden Victorian ladies – enhance, rather than mock, the spirit of dance as an art form. Even the most loyal ballet enthusiasts will find themselves amused and amazed by the Trocks. $35 - $60 

 

Sunday, April 21, 2024 – 3:00 p.m. 

The Tamburitzans: A New Dawn

Currently, the longest-running multicultural song and dance company in the United States. Artistically representing the dances, music, and songs of East European and neighboring cultures, The Tamburitzans present a wonderful two-hour journey through the towns, back roads, and villages of the “Old Country.” If you have ever been to a Tamburitzans’ event, you know to expect live music on authentic instruments, singing, dancing, and high energy. The Tamburitzans’ dazzling program is performed by 36 performers with hundreds of colorful costumes. This show will take you on a musical tour traveling through such countries as Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Greece, Russia, and others. Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times hails the ensemble as “…a joyous explosion of spirited music and dance.” $35 - $60 

 

Sunday, April 28, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.

The Doo Wop Project

Featuring stars of Broadway’s smash hits Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical, The Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate some of the greatest music in American pop and rock history! In their high-energy show, The Doo Wop Project takes their audiences on a journey beginning with classic songs performed by groups like the Crests, Belmont, and Flamingos through and including the music of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons. The group also performs “DooWopified” versions of today’s pop favorites recorded by Michael Jackson, Adele, and Maroon 5. Back by popular demand, the boys first appeared at QPAC in 2015, on our park stage in 2021 and back now in 2024 for the inaugural season of QPAC’s new theater.  $40 - $65 

 

Sunday, May 5, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.

Divas of Soul featuring CeCe Teneal

Take a ride on the Midnight Train to Georgia over River Deep, Mountain High while award-winning vocalist CeCe Teneal delivers you the R-E-S-P-E-C-T you deserve in DIVAS OF SOUL, a one-of-a-kind concert event! This spectacular celebration covers thirty years of chart-topping music from artists including Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, and others.

 Whether it is Disco you love (Ring My Bell) Broadway (And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going), or Motown music (Dancing in The Streets), the hits just keep on coming! CeCe is an award-winning singer in her own right, winning three independent Music Awards over her 20+ year career. Her groundbreaking music is recognized world-wide, and her high-energy concerts are exhilarating. This is the only concert where you can experience the powerhouse vocals of all your favorite divas. $35 - $60 

 

Children’s Book Club and Performance Series Events: 

3/15/24	Harriet Tubman
3/18/24	Peter Pan
3/19/24	Chinese Acrobats
3/21/24	The Paper Bag Players
3/25/24	Cat in the Hat
3/26/24	Cat in the Hat
3/28/24	Theatreworks
4/4/24	Chamber Theater
4/5/24	Chamber Theater
4/9/24	The Paper Bag Players
4/11/24	Jungle Book
4/12/24	Alexander Horrible
5/14/24	Science/Juggling
5/15/24	African Hip Hop
5/19/24	Ballet Hispanico
5/21/24	African Hip Hop
6/3/24	Rock N Roll
6/4/24	Michael Jackson
6/5/24	Michael Jackson

 

Other Activities:

April 10, 2024 - Music Department Concert

April 12, 2024 - QPAC Rental

April 13, 2024 - QPAC Rental

April 17, 2024 - Music Dept. in Theater

April 18, 2024 - Music Dept. in Theater

May 1, 2024 - Male Resource Talent Show in Theater

May 4, 2024 - QPAC Rental

May 6 – May 10 - Dance Dept. in Theater

Gotta Dance Kids:

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Saturday, April 13, 2024