President's Report for March 2023

Enrollment Management Update

The Office of Academy Advisement is preparing for another enrollment cycle.  As caseloads have been finalized, students are receiving personalized welcome letters from their advisors, as well as messages from the Office of Marketing and Communications to kick of March as “Advising Month.”  On Wednesday, March 8th at 1:00 pm, academy advisement will host an Instagram Live session to inform students of the benefits of seeking advisement and registering early and answering any questions they may have. Lastly, academy advisement is prepared to offer virtual and in-person services, as well as on-campus walk-in services five days a week to ensure their services are flexible for our students.

 

Student Support Resources

• All currently enrolled students wishing to receive financial aid for the Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024 semesters were advised to complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the Priority Filing Date of April 19, 2023. Students who miss this date are encouraged to complete the FAFSA immediately. For more information and zoom appointments for assistance, please visit the QCC Financial Aid Website.

 

• Student Government Elections will take place online from Wednesday, April 19^th through Wednesday, April 26^th. Students elected to serve on Student Government represent the entire Queensborough Community College student body. Student Government members work closely with the college administration, faculty, staff, and student body to ensure the best interests of students are always considered. Interested students must have completed 12 college credits and/or equated credits, possess minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25, and be a registered QCC student for the fall 2023 semester. The benefits of serving on Student Government range from networking/leadership development opportunities, a monthly stipend, letters of recommendation, and leadership experience to put on your resumé. Applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, February 28^th through – Monday, March 27^th. For more information, please email Mr. Raymond Volel, Student Life Specialist, at [email protected], call the Office of Student Activities at (718) 631-6233, or visit the Office of Student Activities (located in the Student Union Building – Lower Level).

 

• Faculty and staff are asked to encourage our students to avail themselves of the valuable and free resources through the QCC Advocacy Resource Center. Services provided include (but are not limited to) 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 prepare and e-file their income tax return.  Pre-registration is required.  As such, students should call the Advocacy Resource Center at (718) 631-6347 or e-mail [email protected].  Tax sessions will be offered both virtually and In-person as follows:
  • Virtual sessions will be held every Wednesday from 11AM-2PM and 3PM-6PM beginning February 1st, 2023, and ending on April 14, 2023 
  • In-person sessions (Library Building, LAB Room 117) - will be held every Friday from 9:30AM-12:20PM and 1:30PM-4PM beginning February 3, 2023 and ending on April 14, 2023.
• 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 e-mail at [email protected].  Additional information can be found online at QCC Scholarships.

 

• The 2023 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 18, 2023.

 

• The New York State Transfer and Articulation Association (NYSTAA) Scholarship is now accepting applications from eligible students who anticipate they will complete their degree by August 2023 and enroll in a NYSTAA member four-year institution for Fall 2023.  For full scholarship details, visit the NYSTAA website.  The deadline to apply is March 24, 2023.

 

• 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 2023 and transfer to a four-year university for fall 2023.  For additional information, including eligibility requirements, visit their website. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2023.
• 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 5, 2023. Learn more about the Milton Fisher Scholarship for Innovation and Creativity by visiting their website.

 

Upcoming Events

• All students are invited to an information session on the America Needs You Fellowship on Tuesday, March 7^th at 1:00 pm.  This information session will focus on a two-year fellows program that empowers low-income, first-generation college students with the tools they need to graduate college, succeed in their careers, and compete at the highest level by providing one-on-one mentorship, intensive career development, robust networks, and holistic support.  Registration is required for this event!

 

• Are you looking for a job or internship opportunity?  If so, a NYCDAS  Internship & Job Information Session will take place on Wednesday, March 8^th at 12:00 pm.  At this virtual event, a representative from the New York City Department of Administrative Services will present tips and tools for students to take advantage of job and internship opportunities.  Registration is required for this event!

 

• The Office of Health Services will host the Annual Spring Blood Drive on Wednesday, March 8^th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the Student Union – Upper Level, which all students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.  There is an ongoing blood supply shortage that strains the ability of our community to meet the critical health needs of its people. As a member of the Queensborough community you can make a difference. Every drop counts.

 

• Have you been feeling stressed lately?  If so, the QCC Counseling Center will be offering a Stress Reflection Workshop on Wednesday, March 8^th at 2:00 pm.  Led by Dr. Jannette Urciuoli, this interactive workshop will discuss how our mind and body responds to stress, what causes stress, how we react to stress, and how we cope with stress.  At the end of the workshop, participants will create an action plan for managing stress.  Registration is required for this event.

 

• The QCC XL, BMI and NYC Men Teach Programs will be holding a "How to Build Your Resumé” online/virtual workshop Tuesday, March 21^st at 1:00 pm.  The workshop will be run by Ms. Sandra Strauss, Student Career Program Manager, in the Office of Career Services and it will focus on providing students with tips, structure, and specific language necessary to use when building your resume for job vacancies.  Registration is required for this event!

 

• As part of their Spring Workshop Counseling Series, the QCC Counseling Center will offer a “Obsessed with your Cellphone?” workshop on Wednesday, March 22^nd at 2:00 pm.  Led by Dr. Jannette Urciuoli, all students are invited to this reflective workshop where they will take an assessment to see if they are addicted to the internet while discussing ways of managing online use.  Registration is required for this event.

 

• The QCC Commencement Team will host a Commencement Webinar for Class of 2023 QCC Graduates on Wednesday, March 29^th at 12:10 pm via Zoom (a second session will be held on Wednesday, April 19^th).  During the Zoom meeting, graduation candidates will receive information about the ceremony itself, completing the remainder of their degree requirements during the summer 2023 semester if necessary, how to apply for transfer to a 4-year college/university for the summer/fall 2023 semester if they haven't already applied, and much more. Representatives from the Office of Academy Advisement, Office of Graduation Audit, and the Transfer Resource Center will be present to answer any questions candidates may have.  Registration is required for this event!

 

• On Wednesday, April 5^th at 2:00 pm, Dr. Jannette Urciuoli of the QCC Counseling Center will offer a “Am I Studying Correctly?” interactive workshop, which focuses on the benefits of studying while looking at effective study strategies and identifying distractors that need to be minimized.  Registration is required for this event!

 

• All students are invited to a reflective workshop offered by the QCC Counseling Center, “Anxious When Taking A Test?” on Wednesday, April 19^th at 2:00 pm.  This will be a reflective workshop where we uncover what makes college students anxious. Time will be given to understand what makes you anxious and then work on identifying healthy anxiety reducing techniques.  Registration is required for this event!

 

 

Student Athletics Update

 

• As of January 27, 2023, the QCC Men's Basketball Team record is 11-6 overall, ranked in second place in the CUNY Athletic Conference, and ranked third place in Region XV.  The team is led by freshman student Mr. Anthony Walters, who is currently leading the country in points per game (25.5).
  
• The Women’s Basketball Team record is 6-9 overall as of January 27, 2023, in their first season back playing intercollegiate sports since the 2019-2020 season.

Personnel Announcement

The Division of Student Affairs is happy to announce the appointment of Mr. Jamal Biggs as the Acting Program Manager of the Queensborough Male Resource Center (QMRC).  Funded with a $450,000 grant from the Robin Hood Foundation, the Queensborough Male Resource Center is an initiative dedicated to increasing the retention and graduation rates of male students, with a particular focus on self-identified Black and Latino males who are disproportionately impacted by equity gaps in student outcomes.  As Program Manager, chief among his duties, Mr. Biggs will develop and implement a systemic strategic outreach and engagement plan that fulfills program enrollment targets and improves the retention of students engaged in the program.  Jamal’s educational credentials include a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University and a Master of Arts Degree in Urban Affairs from CUNY Queens College.  Please join me in welcoming Mr. Jamal Biggs to this role!

 

Student Support Resources

• Faculty and staff are asked to encourage our students to avail themselves of the valuable and free resources through the QCC Advocacy Resource Center. Services provided include (but are not limited to) 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 prepare and e-file their income tax return.  Pre-registration is required.  As such, students should call the Advocacy Resource Center at (718) 631-6347 or e-mail [email protected].  Tax sessions will be offered both virtually and In-person as follows:
  • Virtual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day  - Friday January 27, 2023 from 11AM-2PM
  • Virtual sessions will be held every Wednesday from 11AM-2PM and 3PM-6PM beginning February 1st, 2023 and ending on April 14, 2023 
  • In-person sessions (Library Building, LAB Room 117)  - will be held every Friday from 9:30AM-12:20PM and 1:30PM-4PM beginning February 3, 2023 and ending on April 14, 2023.
• 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 e-mail at [email protected].  Additional information can be found online at QCC Scholarships.

 

• The Community College Global Affairs Fellowship (CCGAF) is a new paid summer enrichment and mentorship program that seeks to expand access to global education opportunities and international affairs careers to community college, transfer, and non-traditional students.  Participants must be U.S. citizens who are community college, transfer, or non-traditional students from historically underrepresented groups, such as first-generation and low-income, as well as overlooked regions of the country. Applicants must have or will be receiving an Associate’s Degree by August 2023 AND/OR plan to be starting at a 4-year university by Fall 2023.  The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

 

• The Center for International Affairs, Immigration & Study Abroad will be offering the Spring 2023 Global Leaders Program (GLP), which is a 6-week certificate training program designed to build student career readiness competencies in career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity & inclusion, leadership, professionalism, and teamwork. These competencies have been identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers as necessary for success in today’s global workplace (NACE, 2022).Students from all academic majors can gain global knowledge and develop marketable skills in cross-cultural communication, public speaking, and collaboration integral to job placement and professional advancement.  The program will meet on Wednesdays from 1-2pm in The Kupferberg Holocaust Center classroom on the following dates:

 

• • 2/15/2023 Week 1 Meet & Greet
  • 2/22/2023 Week 2 Transformational Empathy (onsite): Presenter/Facilitator Tony Monahan with PowerPoint, Quiz, Group Activity
  • 3/1/2023 Week 3 Intercultural Communication: (onsite): Presenter/Facilitator with PowerPoint, Video, Group Activity   
  • 3/8/2023 Week 4 Active Listening (onsite): Presenter/Facilitator Franca Ferrari with PowerPoint, Group Activity
  • 3/15/2023 Week 5 Globalization (onsite): Presenter/Facilitator Peter Bales lecture with Group Activity
  • 3/22/2023 Week 6 Group Presentations on Future of Globalization after COVID (onsite)
  • 3/29/2023 Week 7 (if needed) Extra time for Group Presentations on Future of Globalization after COVID (onsite)

 

Students must actively participate in all sessions and group presentations to receive a GLP certificate from The Center of International Affairs, Immigration, and Study Abroad.

 

• TheDream.US Scholarship program provides college scholarships to highly motivated students who entered the United States as minors under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protect Status (TPS), and who, without financial assistance, cannot afford a college education. All funding is provided by private donations to The Dream.US organization.  Full details, including eligibility requirements, can be found HERE.  The application opened on November 1, 2022 and closes February 28, 2023.

 

• The Women's Forum Education Award provides a scholarship of $10,000. The awards will be given to women aged 35 and over who have faced and overcome adversity and now, after an interruption in their education, have resumed the pursuit of their first Associate or Bachelor degree. Applicants must demonstrate noteworthy promise and resilience in the face of challenges and must also demonstrate a commitment to helping others and to making a difference in their community, large or small, when their own career goals are achieved. Financial need and academic excellence are not the primary determining factors in the selection of recipients, although true financial need should be evident and the candidate should be in good academic standing. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2023.

 

• The Belle Zeller Scholarship Trust Fund is now available for eligible students to apply. The award shall consist of the yearly undergraduate tuition for in-state students as set by the university. For additional information, including eligibility requirements and deadline date, please visit their website.  The deadline to apply is March 3, 2023.
• The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program awards renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields, such as environmental science, toxicology and chemical technology. High school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors are eligible to apply.  The ACS Scholars Program was established in 1994 to attract African American, Hispanic and American Indian students considered underrepresented in the chemical sciences by the National Science Foundation to pursue careers in the field.  The program also aims to help build awareness of the value and rewards associated with careers in chemistry and assist students in acquiring skills and credentials needed for success.  The deadline to apply is March 1, 2023.

 

Upcoming Events

• The Queensborough Student Government Association (SGA) invites all students to their “Breaking The Ice” Skating Event on Wednesday, February 1 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm in the Humanities Quadrangle.  This fun event will feature an Iceless Skating Rink for students to try.  Ice skates in various size will be provided.

 Hot chocolate and croissants will be served (while supply last). This is a FREE event brought to you by your Student Government Association (SGA)

 

• The Office of Student Activities will host the Spring 2023 Club Fair on Wednesday, February 8 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm in the Student Union Building Lounge for students interested in joining a student club/organization.  At this event, you will learn about the more than 40 student clubs and organizations on campus. The event will feature fun giveaways, music and refreshments!

 

• Students who anticipate graduating at the conclusion of the Spring or Summer 2023 semester are invited to take their 2023 Aurora Yearbook Portraits on Wednesday, February 8 or Thursday, February 9 from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm in the Student Union – Lower Level.  For additional information, visit https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/studentActivities/yearbookPortraits.html.

 

• February 23, 2023: “Either You’re In Or Out: Understanding the Power of Belonging”.  In this 1-hour workshop, participants will explore how belongingness impacts them and learn ways to change the status quo.

 

• March 1, 2023: “Creating A Winning Professional Profile”.  This workshop will address the networking tools that can be used to successfully build a winning profile that meets your personal, professional, and career goals. The following tools will be discussed: LinkedIn, digital contact cards, and soft skills.

 

• March 7, 2023:  “America Needs You: Info Session”.  This is an information session about a two-year program that empowers low-income, first-generation college students with the tools they need to graduate college, succeed in their careers, and compete at the highest level by providing one-on-one mentorship, intensive career development, robust networks, and holistic support.

 

• March 8, 2023: “NYCDAS: Info Session on Job Opportunities & Internships”.  A representative from the New York City Department of Administrative Services will present tips and tools for students to take advantage of job and internship opportunities.

 

Center for Excellence in Teaching and learning (CETL) and the Office of Educational Technology (OET)

 

The Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) will be hosting a series of Common Read events from March 20-24. These events are based on the memoir The Beauty in Breaking by Dr. Michele Harper, an emergency room physician who has worked in hospitals in the Bronx, Philadelphia, and Trenton, NJ. Harper’s memoir explores trauma, care, and healing as she recounts her experiences of personal trauma and loss, as well as the stories of the individuals she cares for in multiple hospital settings. This text speaks powerfully to our cultural moment. In a time when we continue to endure collective traumas as the result of the pandemic, violence, and racism, Harper’s memoir provides multiple entries for discussing these issues, as well as how to cultivate care and healing as we face them. Common Read is a high impact practice that promotes integrative learning across the curriculum through multi-disciplinary approaches to a common text. The events provide an opportunity for increased social and academic engagement while supporting the learning that takes place in the classroom. More information about Common Read is available here​.​ 

 

Please visit CETL and OET homepages to see a complete listing of all upcoming events and professional development opportunities.

 

The Office of Educational Technology offered ten webinars on Distance Learning Technology during the first three weeks of spring 2023. The webinars were designed to help faculty identify ways to adapt their preferred teaching methods to the online environment. Faculty were also introduced to a wide variety of Educational Technology tools and third-party applications available through the CUNY’s Learning Management System. Twenty-eight faculty signed up for these webinars. We strongly recommend our faculty to visit the OET web site to see a complete listing of all upcoming Distance Learning Webinars and Professional Development Opportunities. 
Office of Educational Technology: https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/oet/ 

 

The “Spring 2023- Are you Ready? Student Learning Readiness Course” is currently available under "My Organizations" module on the Blackboard Home page for all students. While the course is likely to be most useful to first-time freshman who have the least familiarity with Blackboard, the course material could also be beneficial to any student who might need a refresher. The Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 report shows that 800 students have completed this orientation course.  

 

Currently, the Office of Educational Technology is offering Drop-in Virtual Office Hours through Blackboard Collaborate. Faculty can join the OET Virtual Office to speak with an IT Academic Specialist, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  and 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  

 

 

Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

 

Grants Awarded – January 24 – February 23, 2023

 

 

Table

Business Department
	Blackstone Launchpad: $5,000, Palmer, Sandra, Mooney, Christine, Ulrich, Mark; “Blackstone Launchpad Ideas Competition”

 

Table

Foreign Languages and Literature
	Columbia University (US Department of Education Funds): $7,690, Lai, Wei; “National Resource Center Grant: Podcast contest for pre-service and in-service Teaching Chinese as a Foreign/Second language teachers.”

 

 

STEM Tuition Waiver for the Winter 2023 Session

 

Over the Winter 2023 session, 326 STEM Tuition Waivers were offered, and 295 STEM courses were taken and completed.  The STEM Waiver was able to support a total tuition cost of $177,195 to students for the Winter session.  Of those who completed their courses, 65% received an A, 21% received a B, and 10% received a C, with the remaining 4% receiving grades of D or F.

 

Funding will be available for summer 2023, which normally has even higher participation.

Events Report – March 14, 2023

 

 

Office of Institutional Advancement

 

2023 Partners for Progress Gala

Wednesday, May 24^th 

Terrace on the Park

Please save the date and stay tuned for more exciting details!

 

Art Gallery

 

OPENING RECEPTION: APRIL 19, 2023 – 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

 

Juried Student Exhibition: Department of Art & Design

 

https://artgallery.qcc.cuny.edu/exhibits/juried-student-exhibition-2023/

 

The Juried Student Exhibition displays a broad range of talent from the students currently pursuing their artistic aspirations here at Queensborough Community College. This is the fifteenth annual student exhibition held in the QCC Art Gallery.

 

The Art of the Yaka and Suku opened on November 17, 2022 and will be on display until March 30, 2022. 

 

CUNYTV filmed a segment for the show Arts in the City featuring the exhibition, including an interview with the curator, Ur Scott Rodolitz. The segment begins at the 13:18 mark: Arts in the City – CUNY TV

 

 

The exhibition features a wide collection of objects produced by the Yaka and Suku people who reside in the Kwango region, the southwestern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The exhibition presents some of the finest examples from a major donation by the Dr. Arthur P. Bourgeois estate with contributions from international private lenders. 

An appreciation for the works will be enhanced by the inclusion of Dr. Bourgeios' archival documents including field notes from (then) Zaire, films, photographs, letters which informed his dissertation, as well his many monographs and articles published throughout his career. Scott Rodolitz curates this exhibition.

 

Tours can be scheduled by visiting our website:

 

https://artgallery.qcc.cuny.edu/education/class-and-group-visit-request/

 

 

Purple Sins also opened on November 17 in the Community Gallery.

 

The Purple Sins exhibition features 20 photographs by Eleanor M. Imperato, a writer, poet, and photographer. A hint of mystery, and even danger, suffuses these photographs: tall trees hiding secrets behind their slim trunks, their crowns splashed with sunlight; mushrooms growing strong and glowing in the darkness. 

 

 

Viewers are invited to delve deeper into these mysteries through Imperato’s poetry book of the same name, Purple Sins, which accompanies this exhibition. The poetic images conjured by the poems, as well as the poetry evinced by the photographs that illustrate them, arouse our own sentiments and beliefs. 

 

 

A publication is available for this exhibition. In her second collection of poetry, Purple Sins, Eleanor M. Imperato melds both her poetry and her photography into one splendid, impressive creation. 

 

QCC Art Gallery Press - Purple Sins, 2022 - ISBN:  978-1936658527 

 

Softcover: 138 pages  - Purchase Purple Sins on Amazon

 

 

Kupferberg Holocaust Center

 

 

KHC ORIGINAL EXHIBITION:

 

The Concentration Camps: Inside the Nazi System of Incarceration and Genocide

On View and Online

https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/camps/

 

This year, the KHC will be offering self-guided audio tours of its original exhibition which surveys the scope and brutality of the Nazi system of incarceration and genocide, underscoring the horrific

consequences of antisemitism, racism, and authoritarianism. In addition to the exhibit’s text, images, and artifacts, personal testimonies from local Holocaust survivors offer painful insights into these excruciating landscapes of degradation and dehumanization. This exhibit is curated by Dr. Cary Lane, KHC 2020-21 Curator-in-Residence and Associate Professor of English at QCC.

Email the Center at [email protected] to schedule a class tour.

 

PROGRAMMING:

For a list of all public programming offered in the Spring 2023 semester, visit:

https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/events-2/

 

KHC-NEH Lecture

Dramatic Engagement: The Arts and Holocaust Education

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. EDT

Dr. Janet Rubin, Eastern Florida State College

 

KHC-Common Read Collaborative Event

Narrative in Medicine

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. EDT

 

 

 

Dr. Rita Charon, Chair, Medical Humanities & Ethics, Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons

 

Holocaust Commemoration/Yom HaShoah 2023

Preserving Jewish History: Exploring Centropa’s Library of Rescued Memories

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. EDT

Dr. Lauren Granite, Director of Education in North America, Centropa

 

PLEASE NOTE:

Event recordings will be available on the KHC website: https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/recordings/

Visit the Education page of the KHC website at https://khc.qcc.cuny.edu/education/ for a complete listing of our comprehensive library guides and to view recordings from past NEH colloquia.

 

Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC)

 

CASA (Cultural After School Arts Initiative) – March 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30, 2023

PS 139Q (Sponsored by Councilmember Schulman)

As part of its efforts to provide cultural and artistic opportunities to students for which a lack of arts programming is evident, QPAC provides performance workshops in which participants learn acting, dance and musical theater techniques from degreed professionals and Broadway performers. The workshops are designed to connect professional artists with young audiences throughout the year in the hopes of developing a life-long appreciation of the arts. Our workshops are shaped to the interests and level of each group. Students receive individual coaching and feedback from the instructor.  Teaching artists hired reflect New York City's multi-ethnic communities.

 

QCC Enrichment – March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, 2023

As part of its efforts to provide cultural and artistic opportunities to students who are currently attending Queensborough Community College, QPAC produces a series of workshops in which participants study dance and/or singing from degreed professionals and Broadway performers.  QPAC strives to ensure that all students have access to a comprehensive and high-quality education and to encourage students to go beyond the boundaries of the classroom.  Our workshops are designed to serve the unique needs of the education and theatre communities by connecting professional artists with emerging artists throughout the year in the hopes of developing a lifelong appreciation for the arts.  Our workshops are shaped to the interests and level of each group. Participants receive individual coaching and feedback from the instructor.  Teaching artists hired reflect New York City's multi-ethnic communities.

 

Gotta Dance – March 18, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15, 2023
This program is sponsored by Council Members James F. Gennaro, Linda Lee, and Sandra Ung to assist in providing affordable, cultural & artistic programs in the community. QPAC invites children, ages 8-14, to participate in a new dance workout offered on Saturdays. Much like the popular adult version of this program, choreography as seen on Broadway, is re-created to provide a fun way of working out. Students learn from Broadway performers who reflect the diversity of the borough.

 

Sunday, March 19, 2023 - 3:00 p.m. 

 

Melissa Manchester with special guest Billy Stritch

Grammy Award winning artist Melissa Manchester graduated from the High School of Performing Arts, entered New York University, and studied songwriting from none other than Paul Simon. While working as a solo singer/pianist in NY, she met Barry Manilow and Bette Midler. She became one of Bette Midler's backup singers and six months later had a recording contract. Her smash hit singles include Midnight Blue, Through the Eyes of Love and Don't Cry Out Loud, to name a few. Her songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Cleo Laine, and Barbara Cook, among many others. Melissa Manchester starred in Andrew Lloyd Weber's Song and Dance and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeny Todd, co-starred with Bette Midler in the film For The Boys, had a recurring role in the hit television series Blossom, composed for Disney and so much more.

 

Joining Melissa is award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist, and jazz pianist of extraordinary range Billy Stritch. With a resume that reads like a who's who in show business, Billy has accompanied Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett on the piano, arranged for Liza Minnelli, won a Grammy for the country song Does He Love You recorded by Reba McEntire, and appeared on Broadway in 42^nd Street. Be present for this special event when friends Melissa Manchester and Billy Stritch perform their hits and dazzle us with classics from the Great American Songbook! 

 

Saturday, March 25, 2023 - 8:00 p.m. 

 

Scott Bradlees’s Post-Modern Jukebox: Life in The Past Lane Tour

Times change and trends come and go, but -- like a 1961 Jaguar XK-E -- the classic sounds of the past only appreciate with age. Postmodern Jukebox's Life in The Past Lane Concert Tour is a celebration of the greatest 20th century musical genres, fused with the recognizable hits of our own modern era, for the perfect patina of "vintage" and "modern." As always, we will be bringing the PMJ Universe to life with a cast full of today's most exciting vocalists, instrumentalists, and tap dancers, to bring you the top-shelf entertainment experience for which PMJ is known. Whether you're a vinyl aficionado or a TikTok fashionista, catch a ride with us for an unforgettable trip through 100 years of timeless music.

 

Sunday, March 26, 2023 – 3:00 p.m. 

 

The Modern Gentlemen

These four gentlemen have been the voices appearing alongside the legendary Frankie Valli for the last decade. Hand-picked to tour the world with the rock and roll legend, Valli knew instantly that the vocal blend of these four highly accomplished singers was uniquely beautiful in a dramatic and striking way. Not since the sounds of the Four Seasons or the Bee Gees has there been a group with this much vocal chemistry. Individually, Landon Beard, Todd Fournier, and brothers Brian and 

Brandon Brigham has extensive Broadway, television, and film credits. On stage together, they bring their charm, high energy, and spot-on vocals, performing classic pop, rock, and doo wop songs for a modern audience.

 

Friday, March 31, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. 

 

Teatro Lirico D'Europa: Madama Butterfly

The most performed opera in the United States, Madama Butterfly is one of opera’s most enduring tales of unrequited love. Audiences never seem to get tired of her, and opera companies could not survive without her.  The entire opera is set from the point of view of the title character, Cio Cio 

San, who falls in love with American naval officer Pinkerton. Enduring both shame and sorrow, she decides to take destiny into her own hands--leading to one of the most devastating and legendary final scenes in all of opera.  The drama, accompanied by Puccini’s emotionally charged musical score, portrays the dangers of misguided love, and a brave pursuit of a better life.  This is a fully staged production with orchestra.

 

Saturday, April 1, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. 

 

The Kings of Soul & Swing

Julius Thomas lll (Hamilton) and Mark Kopitzke (Glenn Miller Band), join forces for an evening of song and fun. These two magnetic forces offer up songs from Michael Bublé, Earth, Wind and Fire to Stevie Wonder and the sounds of Motown. Julius Thomas III currently stars as Alexander Hamilton in the mega hit, Hamilton: An American Musical. He is a Broadway theatre veteran, having appeared in the original companies of The Scottsboro Boys, Porgy & Bess, and as the lead in the smash hit, Motown the Musical. Mark Kopitzke has tallied over 200 performances with The Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, and the Philippines. He evokes 1940’s nostalgia with the West Coast’s hottest little big band, Phat Cat Swinger, Tom Kubis Big Band and the Rock/Soul sensation the Empire Groove Orchestra. When these two musical giants collide, the result is pure magic. 

 

Sunday, April 2, 2023 – 3:00 p.m. 

 

Georgian State Dance: The Fire of Georgia

Dive into the enchanting world of dance through a variety of folk performances representing the different aspects of Georgian life. The program integrates both traditional and modern dances from various regions of the country. For decades, audiences around the world have been mesmerized by the dexterity, acrobatics, stunts grace and skill effortlessly executed by these performers. With exciting and varied choreography, this new program combines perfectly synchronized movements of the troupe, with the stunning romanticism of courting couples who float gracefully across the stage. This American debut is not to be missed! 

 

Friday, April 7, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. 

 

The Peking Acrobats

For the last thirty-two years, The Peking Acrobats have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs and display their technical prowess at such arts as trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. Together with The Shanghai Circus, they push the limits of human ability, defying gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. The time-honored Chinese 

music coalesces with high-tech special effects and awe-inspiring acrobatic feats, creating an exuberant entertainment event with the festive pageantry of a Chinese Carnival. 

 

Saturday, April 15, 2023 – 8:00 p.m. 

 

The Bronx Wanderers

What do you do when you have been producing records for Dion, Tony Orlando, The Jersey Boys, Billy Joel and others, and actor Chazz Palminteri tells you that you have enough talent to put together your own band and take it on the road? You do exactly that! Vinny Adinolfi had already enjoyed plenty of success as a gold-record producer, when he put together a band featuring himself and his two immensely talented sons. A decade later, THE BRONX WANDERERS have turned into a cult sensation! The group’s ability to recapture the sounds of the hits from the 50’s through today, have made them fan favorites! You will hear hits made famous by Frankie Valli, Paul Anka, Billy Joel, Dion, Neil Diamond and many more. Together the kids and Vinny breathe new life into timeless classics and provide stories and laughs you’d expect from a dysfunctional yet talented musical family. Having just completed a Las Vegas residency, where their show was rated in the top 5, they are celebrating being inducted into the East Coast Music Hall of Fame. Grab everyone you know and come party with The Bronx Wanderers! 

 

Through June 30, 2023

 

QPAC’s From Page to Stage (On-Going Faculty Collaborations):

Virtual reenactments of classic novels and plays, historic events, and dramatic readings. An ongoing series of educational presentations (done live and recorded for continued use). These virtual renditions of great works will be available in perpetuity for use by the collaborating department (English, Theater, History, Language, Media classes, etc.). Any work can be researched, rehearsed, and presented. Historic speeches can be recreated. There is NO fee for this service. After the initial live presentation, these works can be utilized in the classroom over and over. Special in-person live events can be accommodated for which classes can be invited.

 

THE Submission Process is On-Going:

• Requests for adaptations will be reviewed on an on-going basis.
• Faculty can request specific works by sending an email to Susan Agin, Executive & Artistic Director, QPAC ([email protected]). 
• Assuming the availability of the material and copyright permissions, a performance/recording schedule will be submitted within two weeks following each proposal received. 

 

We encourage submissions and we are available to answer any questions.

 

Creative Services

 

Queensborough Celebrates Women’s History Month

 

March is Women’s History Month. This year’s celebration features several highlights such as New York state’s role in the women’s’ suffrage movement and fight for equality; the fact that three of our Student Government Association officers are women; and the welcoming of legendary singer Melissa Manchester to headline the grand reopening of QPAC. A bespoke page was created on the College’s website and will be updated throughout the month with profiles of some of our outstanding women faculty and staff, events both on campus and in the surrounding community, quotes from female trailblazers and leaders in their fields, as well as interesting visual storytelling around the cultural and social impact of outstanding American women. 

 

 

Logo and Branding of the new Men’s Resource Center is Complete

 

Queensborough’s new Men’s Resource Center is being established and Creative Services worked with Director Jamal Biggs to create a unique logo and brand for the Center.

 

 

Student Communications

 

Work is beginning on a new freshman communication plan with the goal of guiding our new students toward a successful first year of college at Queensborough. Other priorities under development include outreach to students who withdrew to find out why so that we can track them via re-enrollment campaigns; a new series of Instagram Live sessions held jointly by the Office of Financial Aid and the Bursar; and a direct-to-students financial aid communication to assist them with any questions or concerns that they may have regarded FAFSA, SAP, TAP, or Verification. The new virtual assistant is nearing completion which will allow students 24/7 access to answers with the added ability to direct their questions to the appropriate student support offices.

 

The College received a $450,000 grant from the Robin Hood Foundation, New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization, to support the development of the Queensborough Male Resource Center, an initiative dedicated to increasing the retention and graduation rates of male students, with a particular focus on self-identified Black and Latino males who are disproportionately impacted by equity gaps in student outcomes. The news was carried in several publications including Inside Higher Ed, The College Fix, Campus News and Community College Daily. 

 

Queensborough was Selected by Achieving the Dream as the Only East Coast College and One of 10 Colleges Nationally to Launch New Three-Year Economic and Social Mobility Initiatives. 

For the first time since 2020, the CUNY Athletic Conference held its annual All-Star Basketball in person, announcing its end-of-year community college men’s basketball awards and All-Star team. Queensborough’s Anthony Walters was voted Player of the Year, while Caimans’ freshman Justice Carrington was selected Rookie of the Year. Queensborough head coach Clarence Emengo earned Coach of the Year recognition.