President's Report for September 2024

Office of Educational Technology (OET)   

Transition to Brightspace 

Course Migration Status Update

CUNY’s LMS Project Team has been working diligently on the migration of courses from Blackboard to Brightspace.  Below are some highlights of the transition to Brightspace at Queensborough:  

• 158,000+ courses have migrated since we began this process in the Fall 2023 
• Terms Completed (Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023) 
• Failure Rate is approximately .4% 

Brightspace Training

QCC faculty are now enrolled in the Brightspace Resource Course for Instructors. This self-paced training introduces the basics of course building, assignments, and quizzes, as well as resources to get started. Faculty will see the course in the dashboard when logging in at brightspace.cuny.edu using their CUNY Login Credentials. 

Over the Fall 2024 semester, the Office of Educational Technology (OET) will be offering in-person workshops starting in September.

Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/JVq3qy2CrZ

Brightspace Technical Support and Resources

The following websites are intended to be a resource for updates, training, course conversion, help documentation, and support and will be updated regularly so please check back often. 

• CUNY’s Transition to Brightspace: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/
• QCC’s Transition to Brightspace: https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/brightspace/

Technical Support

• For questions about the Transition Project, please contact [email protected] 
• For technical questions, please contact [email protected]

 If you are interested in training:  

• CUNY Instructor Training Series  
• Brightspace Guided Training  
• D2L Website  

Gradebook Changes

With review by LMS community and project governance groups, the LMS Transition Team have moved forward to implement two configuration changes in Brightspace effective July 31, 2024.  

• Drop Ungraded Items Setting

    The Drop Ungraded Items’ setting is currently unchecked by default. As a result, ungraded gradebook items display as a Zero and are treated as an “F” letter grade. CUNY CIS will be changing the system configuration, so the Drop Ungraded Items setting is checked by default. As a result, any ungraded items will be dropped and treated as a running total in the final grade calculation.  

• Scoring Unsubmitted Student Activities

    Previously, faculty needed to manually input a zero grade on past-due submitted items. CUNY CIS has enabled a setting that allows a score of zero to be automatically applied to unsubmitted student activities after the due date passes.  The benefit of this change is to eliminate the need for instructors to manually set missing submissions, and students will receive a more accurate view of their grade calculations for individual activities.

 Additional considerations: QM Rubric

Follow the QM Rubric to review and improve course quality and accessibility for Brightspace.

Office of Grants and Sponsored Programs

                                                                       Grants Awarded

                                                           April 24 – August 19, 2024

Art Gallery

Faustino Quintanilla

We the People Confess

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

 Music Department

Dr. Scott Litroff (& Dr. Daniel Garbin, Math & Computer Science Department)

Sitarosaxophony: A Musical Neologism at the Confluence of Jazz and Indian Classical Music.

Professional Staff Congress – The City University of New York (PSC-CUNY) 55 Enhanced 

Office of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Leaning (CETL) 

The Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) has scheduled Fall 2024 High Impact Practices (HIPs) workshops that provide ongoing support in integrating Academic Service Learning, Common Read, Global Diversity Learning, Students Working in Interdisciplinary Groups, Undergraduate research, and Writing Intensive. Faculty members who have completed training in any HIP prior to 2019 are encouraged to participate in refresher training. Please register soon. For the 8th consecutive year, as part of the New York State Open Educational Resources (OER) Scale-Up Initiative, CUNY will be funding new and ongoing OER initiatives and practices across CUNY.  Interested faculty are encouraged to sign up by clicking on the link. Please visit CETL and OET homepages to see a complete listing of all upcoming events and professional development opportunities.

Enrollment Management Update 

• The QCC ASAP Program has surpassed its central recruitment goal, reaching 1,071 new students as of Friday, August 16, which is 102% of the target. Recruitment efforts will continue over the next two weeks leading into the start of the fall 2024 semester. 

New Student Onboarding 

• QCC hosted its fall 2024 installment of New Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 20 for new incoming freshman and transfer students. Organized by the Office of New Student Engagement, over 500 students were present for an exciting onboarding experience consisting of in-person welcome messages from college administrators as well as the Student Government Association; presentations on technology tools and student life resources; and much more. Students participated in a support services expo where they were able to visit tables set up by various college resources such as career services; center for tutoring & academic support; male resource center. Following orientation, the students enjoyed burgers and hotdogs as well as carnival-themed games and attractions.  

• Fall 2024 Welcome Week is set to conclude this Wednesday, September 4. Also organized by the Office of New Student Engagement, Welcome Week is an initiative in which tables were set up at the Administration Building main entrance, Science Building Atrium, and Medical Arts Building main entrance beginning Wednesday, August 28 to assist with new student onboarding during the first week of the semester, whether it's providing information about support services; activating their Tiger ID, showing them where a building/class is located; campus Wi-Fi access; and much more. We would like to express our thanks to both Ms. Karen Alleyne and Ms. Belodine Perry in the Office of New Student Engagement for organizing these initiatives, and the members of the broader QCC campus community who donated their time for both events.

 Student Honors/Achievements

QCC ASAP class of alumni Bianny Rodriguez has been featured in CUNY’s 50 Under 50 Alumni Promotion (click HERE to view). Bianny entered QCC during the fall 2018 semester pursuing an Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree in Criminal Justice. With the support of her dedicated ASAP advisor, Ms. Bridget Tambini, Bianny graduated at the conclusion of the summer 2020 semester and transferred to John Jay College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Criminal Justice in 2022. She now works as the Director of Community Outreach for New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera. 

• QCC Class of 2024 graduate Ms. Jeannette Manmohan has been selected as one of 20 recipients of the 2024 Women’s Forum Education Fund Award. The Education Fund Award is open to women aged 35 and over, in which applicants must reside in NYC and attend an undergraduate institution in pursuit of their first Associate or Bachelor’s degree. Since 1987, the Women’s Forum Education Fund Award has recognized and supported extraordinary women over the age of 35, who have overcome extreme adversity to resume their education. Unrestricted $10,000 grants are awarded directly to the recipient for any costs associated with advancing her education. Ms. Manmohan was inducted into the PTK International Honor Society in spring 2024 and completed their degree requirements as of the conclusion of that semester, with their Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree in Art conferred upon them. She is now enrolled at Queens College for the fall 2024 semester pursuing a baccalaureate degree. Click HERE to read Jeanette’s write-up on the QCC website.

•  The QCC Lambda Sigma Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (“PTK”) International Honor Society would like to acknowledge the following PTK class of 2024 graduates who received awards as part of the college’s 63rd annual commencement ceremony held on Friday, May 31, 2024:
  • Valedictorian - awarded to a graduating student that has demonstrated superior academic performance in their academic class, contributed to the college community, and embodied the mission of Queensborough Community College. {Recipient: Ms. Melanie Jerez Cruz}
  • Salutatorian – awarded to a graduating student that has demonstrated strong academic performance in their academic class, contributed to the college community, and embodied the mission of Queensborough Community College. {Recipient: Mr. Michael Delva}
  • The John F. Kennedy Award - awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the college and community. {Recipient: Ms. Davia Willis}
  • The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award - awarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in promoting racial harmony and appreciation for cultural diversity. {Recipient: Mr. Abdul Wahab}

  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.

• 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 Office of Financial Services hosted a series of FAFSA Fest events during the spring and summer to assist students in completing the 24-25 FAFSA. These sessions will be continuing during the fall semester (dates to be determined”. Please direct students to the Office of Financial Services located in the Administration Building - Room 106, for all financial aid inquiries or e-mail the office at [email protected]. Additional information can be found online at our website at https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/financialAid/index.html. 

• The Women's Forum Education Fund 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's 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 2025 application will open on/after September 1, with a deadline to apply of February 2025 (exact date TBD).

Upcoming Events 

• The Office of Student Activities will host the Fall 2024 Club Fair on Wednesday, September 4 at 12:00 pm in the Humanities Quad. QCC recognizes that student clubs and organizations are an important part of the college experience, and students active in campus life are more likely to succeed in college. They are a great way to form friendships and provide opportunities for cultural expression, skill development and leadership training. At this event, students will learn about the more than 40 student clubs and organizations on campus. 

• The Queensborough Male Resource Center (“QMRC”) will host the Your Voice, Your Vote Voter Registration Drive on Tuesday, September 17  at 12:00 pm in the Student Union Building – Upper Level in Room 107. All students are invited to join the QMRC on National Voter Registration Day to register to vote if they are not already. There will be someone in the QMRC from 10AM–4PM to walk students through the registration process. We will have a special presentation on why voting matters, and why you should want to have your voice heard at 12:00 pm.

• In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Queensborough Male Resource Center (“QMRC”) is hosting a “Let’s Dance Salsa” class. Salsa is a Latin American dance that combines Cuban dances like mambo, Pachanga, and rumba with American dances like swing and tap. It's characterized by its energetic footwork, fluid turns, and rhythmic hip movements, and is set to lively Latin music with a strong beat. Join us to learn basic steps, partnering, timing, and understanding the rhythm of the dance. No prior experience needed! Join us on Wednesday, September 18 at 12:30 pm in the Male Resource Center Student Union Upper Level.

• The Queensborough Male Resource Center (“QMRC”) will offer free haircuts to QCC students on a first come, first served basis as part of Barbershop Day, taking place on Monday, September 23 at 2:00 pm Student Union Building – Upper Level in Room 107. We recognize the growing cost of many routine self-maintenance services students need in order to present their best selves, and we would like to help!

Leaders and Learners Appreciation Breakfast:

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. – Oakland Dining Room 

This breakfast will show appreciation to our elected officials and give them the opportunity to engage with our students in informal conversation and hear student experiences, aspirations, and goals. Elected leaders will share their experiences and insights with our students to offer their perspectives on civic engagement and leadership. Members of the Queens delegation will be recognized for their $5 million dollar allocation to Queensborough Community College for RESO-A capital funding to be used for critical maintenance. This funding will be matched dollar-for-dollar by New York State, resulting in a total allocation of $10 million, which will be available in FY25.

                                                             Thank you so much! 

2024 Partners for Progress Gala:

We raised a historic $390,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, and live pledges. We could not have done this without the support of our faculty and staff. Thank YOU! 

GOOD NEWS!

The QCC Fund Board is scheduled to vote on a $200,000 allocation for the Promise Scholarship which provides critical financial support to students with an outstanding tuition balance of $500 - $1,000 (85% of students with a tuition balance of $500 - $1,000 do not return the following semester). This allocation will help to remove holds on the students’ accounts and permit them to register for classes. 

DO GOOD. GIVE! Annual Fund Campaign:

The Annual Fund Campaign kicks off after Labor Day. Faculty and staff may choose to support the Lucille A. Bova Food Pantry, the Male Resource Center, and the Promise Scholarship. Click here to make your donation online and select from the drop-down menu. Please make checks payable to the QCC Fund, Inc., and mail them to The College, Division of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement, Room A-508. 

                             Your donation to the Annual Fund Campaign makes both an immediate

                                and life-long impact on our students. Thank you for always caring! 

MAJOR GIFTS RECEIVED - FY24-25 ACADEMIC YEAR:

Karlene Marie Chin,’75 bequeathed $90,000 in her estate to support scholarships for part-time students.

Alliance Bernstein again awarded $30,000 in grant funds to support Queensborough’s Male Resource Center (MRC).

William Harnisch,’66 again gifted $24,000 through the William Harnisch Foundation for scholarships to Brooklyn Tech alumni enrolled at the College. Mr. Harnisch is the founder of Peconic Partners, one of the top-performing hedge funds in the world.

The Eugene M. Lang Foundation again awarded $25,000 in emergency grant funds for undocumented and immigrant Queensborough students to ensure they receive the support they need to stay in school and on track to graduate.

                                                 Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC) 

This fall, the College will launch a national search for the next Director of QPAC, a position previously held by longtime colleague Susan Agin. An assessment will be conducted to determine how we can expand QPAC’s involvement in the borough and further integrate the Center with the College as we enter this next chapter in QPAC history.

 EAB Navigate360 

On July 1, Navigate360 replaced Starfish as the College’s student success tool, joining all CUNY colleges in utilizing the tool. All student-facing offices will be onboarded to Navigate360, allowing us to better serve our students and increase transparency for all faculty and staff while supporting student success. Intra-office referrals will be issued and tracked in Navigate360, allowing everyone to close the loop. A road show of in-office training started over the summer and will continue throughout the Fall semester.

 Facility Reservations/Coursedog Events 

The College has moved to a new system for requesting facility reservations. Coursedog, which is used for classroom scheduling by the Office of the Registrar, makes it easy for faculty and staff to submit a request with any needed resources while preventing scheduling conflicts and automatically notifying Buildings & Grounds, Dining Services, Media Services, and Public Safety of any needs. 

FACILITIES UPDATES: 

• We have few projects completed over the summer:
  • Continued Education renovation was completed. The team moved to Y-building.
  • Student clothing Boutique
  • LGTBQI+ Center is a reality…
  • 3D Maker Room in the Art Department
    Handicap ramp on the north side have been upgraded and we added two more ramps on the south side between the A- building second floor and Starbucks.
  • Nursing Lab renovation
  • Swimming pool upgrade
  • Started the renovation of the tennis courts and will be adding 6 pickle ball courts.

• We continue to be in standby for the construction of the Science Atrium and Cafeteria project. The proposed schedule by DASNY was March 2024 but they failed to get some DEP permissions to begin the project. The project will take approximately 18 months from the start date.  Currently, Oakland is our main cafeteria for students, faculty, and staff. Which means that we will need to identify other spaces for meetings and gatherings. We will share more information and details of the plan as they become available.
• Cloverdale parking will be accessible from 5pm to 6pm for exit only.
• As you know, the Childcare Design was approved by CUNY Central, and we can now start with the next steps. We will begin the exterior work during this year.

 Auxiliary Updates:

• The Farmers Fridge vending machine is located in the lobby of Medical Arts. We want to alleviate the need for vegetarian meals.
• We currently have few dining options on campus: Oakland, the Q-PAC concession, Starbucks Cafe by the Library and Tiger Bites in the basement of SUL will be open in October as another alternative.

Budget and Finance

• A little bit of good news: the financial measures taken have helped to keep our campus financially stable. We are one of the CUNY schools in good standing and we will continue to strive to be strategic and prioritize the needs of the college.   
• This year, we are investing in a series of initiatives focused on infrastructure needs that include IT (replacement of aging technology) and Building and Grounds maintenance and updates necessary to keep up with aging infrastructure.