Student Grants During the Pandemic

Hello All,

BMCC and CUNY have released some funds for students in financial difficulties due to the coronavirus.  This may be especially important because some of you may not receive a stimulus check, depending on your age and student status (CLICK HERE for the official IRS page on the stimulus checks, including an option to track your payment).

I don’t personally know how large the BMCC student grants are, but my guess is at least a few hundred dollars.  The information below comes directly from Marva Craig, Dean of Students.

The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and has disrupted all of our lives. In response, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) has received funds to offer COVID-19 Emergency Grants to eligible students who are facing financial hardships due to the pandemic. The purpose of the grant is to help students address their immediate financial needs and support them to continue their education.

If you know a student who is being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and in need of emergency assistance, please have them contact the BMCC Single Stop Office at singlestop@bmcc.cuny.edu for further information. Please have them include their phone number and 8-digit CUNYfirst ID Number. A staff member from the BMCC Single Stop Office will follow up with the student directly as soon as their inquiry is received. Please note that all grant requests require an online application and supporting documentation.

Please encourage your students to contact the BMCC Single Stop Office at singlestop@bmcc.cuny.edu for assistance.

Stay Safe and Healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Updated Academic Policy

Hello All,

We’ve already talked about this, but I wanted to make sure everyone had a copy in case you missed that discussion/forgot.  This information comes directly from Interim President Karrin Wilks.

Adjusted Academic Policies for spring 2020

• All students have the opportunity to convert any or all of their (A-F) letters grades they earn in classes this spring to Credit/No Credit which have no impact on GPA. Students will have 20 business days after the grade submission deadline to make any conversions.

• The last day to withdraw from a spring class without an impact on GPA has been extended to May 14, 2020.

• The deadline to complete outstanding work for incompletes for the fall 2019, winter 2020 and spring 2020 semesters has been extended.

• Students who fail to meet conditions of academic or other probation for spring 2020 will be placed on continued probation and not subject to academic dismissal.

• Given the sudden transition to instructional delivery, BMCC will not be conducting student evaluations of faculty this semester.

Student Support

• We are in the process of distributing Chromebooks and Ipads to students who need them.

• The Panther Pantry is open limited hours by appointment.

• Look for updates from Student Affairs.

Summer classes and beyond

• Advising and registration is currently open for summer 2020 and fall 2020. Students, please be sure to contact your advisors and complete any financial aid applications.

• Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, we will deliver all summer course instruction and support services from a distance.

• Our plan is to move classes back to campus when it is safe. We will continue to share updates as available.

Stay safe and healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Virtual Class Meeting Today, Mon. 4/20, at 6:00

Hello All,

We will have a virtual zoom class meeting today, Monday 4/20, from 6:00 – 7:15.

CLICK HERE to enter the class meeting.

Today we’ll finish watching the film.

I know I’m behind on updating stuff for our class and I apologize.  I was very sick all weekend (NOT with the coronavirus, I swear!) and taking some prescription medication that prevented me from working.  I am working very hard now to bring everything up to date.

“See” you all soon,

Prof. Jaime Weida

REMINDER – VIRTUAL CLASS MEETING TONIGHTS WEDS. 4/15 AT 6:00

Hello All,

Please don’t forget that tonight we have a virtual zoom class meeting from 6:00 – 7:15.  Tonight we will re-start the film Call Me By Your Name because I accidentally and unfortunately muted the sound while we were watching it together on Monday.

If you feel like you’re okay and don’t want/need to re-watch it with the sound on, feel free to just join us on Monday for the second half of the film.

CLICK HERE a few minutes before class to join the virtual class meeting.

I have recieved a few emails from some of you who are having trouble joining the zoom meeting.  I’m afraid that is a problem on your end.  I haven’t set a password for any of our meetings nor do you have to create a zoom account.  All you need to do is to click the link and follow the prompts.

If you are using your phone or any other mobile device, you may have to download the zoom app.  It’s free.

BMCC created a video to help students understand how to use zoom for distance learning.  Here is the link: https://livestream.com/accounts/947635/events/9042845/videos/203066738

I strongly recommend watching it if you are still having trouble.

“See” you all this evening,

Prof. Jaime Weida

REMINDER – VIRTUAL CLASS TONIGHT 4/13 AT 6:00!

Hello All,

Please don’t forget that we have our virtual class meeting tonight, Monday 4/13, from 6:00 – 7:15.

CLICK HERE a few minutes before 6:00 to join our class.

Per popular request, we’ll be watching the film Call Me By Your Name via screen-sharing.  Not many people responded to my request for films, but this one was mentioned more than once.

CLICK HERE for the IMDb page for Call Me By Your Name.

The film is also based on a book.  I haven’t read the book yet, but I just bought the Kindle version today and am going to read it before our next class.  It seems to have great reviews.  CLICK HERE to buy it on Amazon.

I hope many of us will be watching the film together tonight,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Reminder – Need Suggestions for Film Tomorrow!

Hello All,

Please remember that I had announced I’d be showing a Queer-themed film in class tomorrow and Wednesday via zoom screen sharing.  The reason why I’m showing a film is that those days were originally scheduled for spring break and I wanted to do something kind of fun while we’re all stuck under quarantine for spring break.  Also, if you had plans for the holiday with your family/friends, you can watch the film on your own time and don’t have to virtually attend this week.

I need more suggestions for the film!  I’ve only gotten a few and I’d like more.  Please just email me your suggestions by midday/early afternoon tomorrow (jaimeweida@gmail.com).  It just has to be something that I can stream.  It doesn’t have to be free; I’m more than happy paying a few dollars to rent or buy a good film.

Just let me know,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Virtual Class Meeting Tuesday, 4/7, 6:00 – 7:15

Hello All,

Remember that tomorrow, Tuesday 4/7, follows a Wednesday class schedule.  That means we DO have our usual 6:00 zoom class on Tuesday 4/7, but NOT on Wednesday 4/8, since Wednesday is the first day of our short spring break.

CLICK HERE a few minutes before 6:00 to join our class meeting.

For tomorrow, please make sure you’ve read:

• “Harlem” by Langston Hughes (CLICK HERE to read)
• “Cafe: 3 AM” by Langston Hughes (CLICK HERE to read)
• The poems by Audre Lorde (CLICK HERE to read)

Best,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Call for Suggestions for Film Viewing and Readings!

Hello All,

As I announced in class tonight, I will be showing a film via zoom screen sharing during what would have been our spring break week.  I am looking for suggestions about what film to show.  It needs to be Queer-themed and it be available over streaming (I have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime; I am also fine with spending a couple of dollars to rent a film).

Also, you may have noticed that on the updated schedule I posted on our website I’ve haven’t included anything after May 4.  The reason for that is that I’d like all of YOU to suggest texts (this can include articles, films, YouTube videos and/or webcomics) that you’d like us to read/watch and discuss as a class before the end of the semester.  The only caveat is that, because I have very limited access to printing and scanning technology right now, your choice should be something that we all can access online.

So, in short:

• Email me your preferences for what film we’ll be watching next week
• Email me your preferences for what texts (see broad defininition above) you’d like to cover before the end of the semester
• Don’t forget my email is jaimeweida@gmail.com!

I’d still like to have optional extra-credit class presentations at some point before the end of classes.  Let me think about how best to do that over zoom.

Stay safe and healthy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Videos From Tonight’s Class

Hello All,

Below are the two short videos on Langston Hughes that we watched together tonight:

Enjoy,

Prof. Jaime Weida

Reminder: Zoom Class Meeting Tonight, Monday 3/6!

Hello All,

Don’t forget that we have a class meeting TONIGHT, Monday 4/6, from 6:00 – 7:15 via zoom.  It is going to start in just a few minutes.

CLICK HERE to join the class meeting.

Best,

Prof. Jaime Weida