President's Monthly Report

President’s Report to the College

January 2022

Dear College Community,

As you know, students enrolled in in-person and hybrid courses, or who participate in on-campus activities, will be required to submit proof of vaccination, unless a religious or medical exemption has been approved.  The KCC COVID Response Team (CRT) have been active providing assistance to students who need help uploading their vaccination and booster information to CUNYFirst.  If students fail to upload  their vax information by February 23 they will be dropped from their classes.  Students are required to receive vaccine boosters once they are eligible to do so.  Failure to do so, will not result in them being dropped from class, but will prevent them from registering for subsequent semesters (summer, fall, etc).  Our CRT will continue to work throughout the semester contacting students and providing technical uploading support to ensure that students comply with this requirement.

In compliance with a public policy directive issued by Governor Hochul on December 31, all full- and part-time faculty, all non-teaching instructional staff (which includes, among others, NTAs, CLTs and those in the HEO series), and personnel in the Executive Compensation Plan, are required to be fully vaccinated in order to remain employed by the University, except if a medical exemption, religious exception or reasonable accommodation has been granted. Additional details will be forthcoming regarding the deadlines for faculty and staff to upload proof of vaccination.

Please note that the Vax Van will be on campus February 15 -17th from 8am to 6pm.  No appointment is required.

The college continues to enforce New York State’s universal indoor mask mandate. Although this mandate has been relaxed for businesses, it remains intact for schools.  Please note, this mandate is subject to modification based on changing vaccination statistics and coronavirus transmission rates.

Note that we continue to follow the latest isolation/quarantine and the testing protocols based on CDC guidance.  You can access a user friendly guide to this information here: https://inside.kingsborough.edu/response/

We will continue to be diligent in monitoring campus and community infection rates and reporting information to the campus.  Note that decisions regarding the closure of buildings/areas/offices or the campus will be made by the Chancellery/COO’s Office in consultation with local/state authorities.

Testing efforts will be expanded. Please note the following:

  • Random testing will increase to 20% of both the vaccinated and unvaccinated on-campus population. Participation in the random surveillance testing is mandatory and failure to participate will result in the removal of the individual’s Cleared4 access pass to campus.
  • All students are expected to test before returning to campus.
  • Student athletes will be required to submit a negative PCR test before returning to campus.
  • Weekly testing will continue for those who are unvaccinated and expand to cover student athletes regardless of vaccination status.

Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Marketing and Communication and their respective units continue to work diligently on student enrollment and registration efforts.  In these final weeks leading up to the first day of classes, VP Rivera will be sending weekly enrollment updates to the campus. If you are interested in participating in outreach to students via social media, please reach out to VP Todmann.  Thank you to Nick Cromie, Nicolette Soverall, Wayne Harewood, Michelle Goldstein, Pittershawn Palmer, Benjamin Stewart and Kevicha Echols for stepping up to the KCC social media plate to excite, engage and encourage our students to register for classes.

I am pleased to share that barring any spike in COVID rates, that after 2 years of virtual celebrations, our 2022 Commencement Ceremonies will be held in person!  More information will be forthcoming regarding event guidelines.  Special thank you to the Commencement Committee for answering the call to lead in such an important time.   Thank you also to the Black History Month Committee for the calendar of activities that recognize the contributions of Blacks to American history and raise awareness of issues of important to African-Americans. 

Thank you also to the faculty, staff and students who not only paused to remember the over six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, but joined me, Rabbi Zaltzman, Father Mike, Helen Nasser, KCC Holocaust Memorial Center Research Director Elke Savela, and many others on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Zoom to offer reflections on what this day means to them.

Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Kingsborough Community College.  We are in the process of establishing a committee which will be constituted by staff, faculty, alumni and donors  to develop a year-long calendar of activities to mark the occasion.  If you interested in serving, please contact VP Tasheka Sutton-Young.  Please join me in congratulating Dr. Sutton-Young whose title is now void of the ‘interim’ designation. Also join me in welcoming Damaris Rivera to the President’s Office.  Ms. Rivera comes to us from the Office of the City Clerk where she held various roles as a records manager, supervisor, and telecommunications associate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from John Jay College. Ms. Rivera will support the activities of the office as well as provide additional and critical support and much needed support to our Local Vaccination Authority. 

On February 1, a special meeting of the College Council was held where Dr. Allison Buskirk-Cohen presented the final report (found here https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/college_council/)

of the Governance Review Taskforce to the Council and other attendees.  The meeting was informational and no formal council actions were taken.  While Dr. Buskirk-Cohen’s work facilitating this process for the college has ended, our work continues. Governance is essential to helping us actualize our college mission. This semester, the council will take action on the recommendations put forth by the Taskforce.  College Council meetings are open to all members of the community. 

As we begin a new semester in a few weeks, may we channel the characteristics of this Lunar New Year’s animal, the tiger-   with bravery as we enter a new phase of our return to ‘normalcy’; with a generosity of spirit and words that recognizes the significant toll these past two years has taken on each of us; with the tenacity to maintain focus in the face of constant changes; with the wisdom to apply the lessons we have learned; and with the strength continue to both lift our students and each other up and overcome any challenges we may face together.

I look forward to seeing you in person or online at Convocation on March 3rd.  More information will be forthcoming. 

-President Schrader