Friday, February, 12: College Closed
Monday, February 15: Presidents’ Day/College Closed

The Office of Student Life presents our Virtual Headquarters. We are hosting several one-hour sessions where students can log in and ask any questions they may have about student engagement and the Baruch community.

Join the Office of Student Life and the many clubs on campus for our Spring Virtual Involvement Fair! To ensure that you have enough time to explore as many groups as possible, we will be hosting multiple Involvement Fairs. See the schedule below for dates/times and the club categories that will be at each fair:

We invite the entire Baruch community to celebrate Black History Month 2021, a celebration that provides the opportunity for our community to reflect on the significant roles that people of the African Diaspora have played in the shaping of United States history. The goal of BHM 2021 is to provide opportunities to educate on, celebrate and advocate for the diversity that exists in the world today. Follow us on Instagram @BHM_Baruch for Black history facts, live interviews and more.

Spring into Success Network
Monday, February 8- 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
This event will provide the opportunity for prospective students to get a glimpse into what it’s like to be a Success Network student. Come prepared to connect

Black Family Feud
Thursday, February 11 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Teams will go head to head in a game of Family Feud with a twist. Brush up on knowledge of Black culture and cheer for your favorite team.

Bearcat Bootcamp is back! If you are interested in improving your mental, physical and nutritional health then apply today for this 10-week fitness transformation challenge. Benefits of being a part of this program include, exercise and nutritional classes with a certified professional trainer. Limited spots are available. Apply on the Baruch website.

Our free immigration lawyer services are up and running. The Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Assembly provide current undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to speak with an immigration lawyer twice a semester.  Appointments can be scheduled for the of Spring 2021 semester. Please make an appointment via our online form on the Student Life website. Make sure to take advantage of this amazing opportunity!

The Office of Student Life is currently recruiting students, faculty, and staff to help plan Asian Pacific American History Month (APAHM) for Spring 2021! Sign up on MyBaruch. Have questions? Please contact Talia Gurstel, Assistant Director of Student Activities at talia.gurstel@baruch.cuny.edu

You are invited to attend a Meet and Greet with members of the Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Wednesday, February 10 from 2:00 –3:00 p.m.

This gathering is an opportunity to meet as a community—during a time when we all miss that personal interaction that ties us together and allows relationships to grow. As you may be aware, the council, which acts as the consultative body and a sounding board for President S. David Wu and the leadership team, is seeking to engage the campus community in conceiving a long-term vision for building and strengthening a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity at Baruch. Council members are drawn from across the College so that they may serve as ambassadors to the community.

The council is in the process of planning a series of Listening Sessions with the campus community in the coming weeks. In advance of starting this work, we would like to give members of the community the opportunity to better know the council and its members.

This Meet and Greet will include introductions and the opportunity to connect in smaller groups for brief conversation. To facilitate this, registration will be capped at the first 200 registrants. Please RSVP on the Baruch website.

In response to the current environment, the Counseling Center offers free and confidential individual and group counseling and Support sessions:

Individual Counseling

Please visit the Counseling Center’s website or email Counseling@Baruch.cuny.edu.

Group Counseling

Are you struggling with a new transition, feeling lonely, wanting to make new connections or having trouble in your relationships? The Counseling Center is offering two groups called Relationship to Self and Others, during 2020-2021. The groups are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 -2:00 p.m. on Zoom. To participate, in the Tuesday group, please send an email to Jenny Choi atJenny.Choi@Baruch.cuny.edu. To participate in the Thursday group, please send an email to Kai Lin Fu at Kailin.Fu@Baruch.cuny.edu.

Black Mental Health Matters (BMHM) Support Sessions for Baruch Students

Wednesdays: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Dear Black students,

In light of the recent events of racial violence and injustice towards Black, African American and African descendant communities, the Baruch College Counseling Center would like to remind you of and invite you to join Black Mental Health Matters. These support sessions aim to foster and support the growth, networking, collaboration, success, and well-being of Black Students. Past topics have included:

• Self-care during the pandemics (Covid-19 and Racism)  
• Being Black at Baruch  
• Intersecting Identities  
• BLM Movement and Advocacy  
• Power and privilege  
• Finding motivation  
• Coping with loss  
• Social distancing   
• Remote learning  
• Developing community  
• Power dynamics in and out of the classroom  
• Microaggressions  
• Food/Housing/financial insecurities

…and much more. If you are a Black student who is interested in finding a safe space to meet and talk with others who may have similar experiences, then these support sessions are for you. These support sessions are led by two Black Psychologists, Dr. Jael Amador and Dr. Gary Dillon, who work from a social justice and multicultural framework.  

To participate in these support sessions, send an email to Dr. Jael Amador at Jail.Amador@baruch.cuny.edu from your Baruch student email account and we will send you the Zoom link.

In solidarity and support,
Drs. Amador & Dillon

Note: In a previous version of this post, it was brought to our attention that we used offensive language. Despite our intent, we acknowledge that our impact was hurtful. For that, we offer to you all our sincerest apologies and a commitment to continue to learn and grow as we continue our work. We have also corrected our communications on all platforms.

The CUNY LGBTQI+ Advocacy Academy
Facilitated by James Vacca, the program will focus on political advocacy, policy development, community organizing, and civic engagement. Students accepted into this program will be offered a monthly stipend. Apply by filling out the Advocacy Academy Google form.

The CUNY LGBTQI+ Leadership Program
Facilitated by Dr. David Rivera, this program will focus on social justice, social-emotional learning, sociocultural identity development, and community engagement. Apply by filling out the Leadership Google form.

The Office of Student Life presents the LGBTQ+ Resources webpage! This page lists resources on- and off-campus that provide information and support for all Baruch students who identify as LGBTQ+ or are allies of the community. Visit the LGBTQ+ Resources webpage.

Learn about dozens of study abroad opportunities! Speak to Baruch students who have studied abroad! Meet with representatives from a wide range of study abroad programs. Join us on Thursday, February 11, 2021 during club hours from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
RSVP now to attend the Baruch College Virtual Study Abroad Fair.

If you are finishing your coursework in the Spring, Summer or Fall terms, apply now for graduation! Login to your Student Center in CUNYfirst to complete the online application for graduation or submit an Application for Graduation to the Office of the Registrar. For more information, please email GraduationAudits@baruch.cuny.edu.

Application Deadlines
Summer: June 15 (online application opens February 16)
Fall: September 15 (online application opens June 16)
Spring: February 15 (online application opens September 16)

The Application is now LIVE to apply for the Financial Women’s Association Mentoring Program! The FWA Mentoring Program is a two-year program in which undergraduate women are matched with a mentor in the financial field. The program also provides professional development and networking opportunities for mentees. Rising juniors who have TWO full years left of undergraduate studies are eligible to apply. Additionally, eligible applicants must hold a 3.5 GPA or higher, and be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Apply on the Baruch website.

Connecting with fellow students and building community is especially important during COVID times. This semester’s Conversation Partners Program is about to begin. All meetings and events will take place online this fall semester. Are you interested in joining?

The Conversation Partners Program matches native and nonnative speakers of English for informal conversations. It is a great way for nonnative students to gain confidence in English, for native speakers to gain experience in communicating across language barriers, and for both native and nonnative speakers to expand their cultural knowledge, make friends, and build a network of professional contacts. To participate, you should commit to meeting your partner at least six times this semester for about an hour each. If you meet seven times, you will receive a certificate—a great way to enhance your resume. The CPP also offers fun events throughout the semester. To learn more and to sign up, visit the Baruch website. To sign up, please click on “Application” and fill out the Application Form on the website. The deadline for signing up is Wednesday, Feb. 24

ARC facilities remain closed through February 28.

Bearcat Bites with Jeremy Berman of Men’s Tennis.

Bearcat Bites with Young Gi Go of Women’s Volleyball.

Bearcat Bites with Artem Zinkin of Men’s Volleyball.

Baruch College Celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Happy New Year! Baruch alumni and students are invited to join us for this special two-part program on Thursday, February 18 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

1. Cultural: A 15-minutes segment on how three different countries – China, Vietnam, and Korea – celebrate Lunar New Year. There will be a 5 minutes presentation for each country to discuss the special celebration/traditions for the region.
2. Professional: After the cultural portion, we will have four virtual industry breakout rooms with short presentations, followed by Q&A and networking RSVP on the Baruch website.

We Power NYC is looking for New Yorkers ages 14-24 who are passionate about civic engagement, voting, and democracy to join our 2021 We Power NYC Ambassador team! This paid opportunity will run from February through November 2021 and Ambassadors will earn up to $175 per month for 10-15 hours of work. For the time being, this opportunity will be entirely virtual.

We Power NYC Ambassadors are a community of young people who care about our city and our democracy. Ambassadors will be expected to complete weekly tasks, long-term projects, and engage in regular meetings. The Ambassadors will be trained to become the next generation of community leaders in New York City. Participating in the program provides not only an opportunity to work alongside a city agency and learn more about voting and local government, but also to develop leadership, public speaking, and community organizing skills. Ambassadors will be required to:

– Regularly attend weekly virtual meetings
– Share crucial election and voting information with their peers
– Participate in projects with the Campaign Finance Board staff
– Produce original content for social media
– Complete a final research project
– Host Get Out the Vote Events

17 members will be selected for the 2021 program. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 12, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Young New Yorkers of all experience levels and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Apply to be a We Power NYC Ambassador!

Let’s Read & Talk about Ijeoma Oluo’s work. Book talk moderated by Elizabeth Merrick on February 11, 2021 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Even if you haven’t read, please feel free to join via zoom:

Bank of Montreal Capital Markets will be hosting a virtual information session on Thursday, February 18th 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. ET for their Equity through Education Partners. This is a great opportunity for students to join BMO over the lunch hour to learn more about BMO Capital Markets prior to their internship application deadline: March, 7, 2021! Register today! Whether or not you are able to attend the event if you are interested in applying for the BMO Summer Internship Program please email samantha.brown@baruch.cuny.edu.

Start the Spring semester off strong. File your 2021-2022 FAFSA today at studentaid.gov. Don’t forget to obtain or retrieve your Federal Student Aid ID at fsaid.ed.gov to sign the 2021-2022 FAFSA electronically; If dependent, at least one of your parents will need one, too. Baruch’s Federal Code is 007273. The NYS TAP (NY residents only) code is 1409.

Faculty are obligated to report any suspected violations of academic integrity policies, such as cheating and plagiarizing to the Office of the Dean of Students. On a monthly or semi-monthly basis, data will be shared with the Baruch Community via the Office of the Dean of Students website on any administrative sanctions (e.g., warnings or suspensions) imposed, and, when we know them, academic sanctions leveled by members of the faculty (e.g., F for the assignment or exam or F for the course). All information is anonymous.

Cases reported at the end of a month might not have been heard by the time reports are shared.

December 2020 Reports
181 students were reported to the Office of the Dean of Students in the month of December. Of those:
– 114 were for cheating
– 24 were for plagiarism
– 42 were for obtaining an unfair advantage
– 01 were for falsifying documentation

Findings in December
– 73 were found “Responsible”
– 03 were found “Not Responsible”
– 17 allegations were withdrawn

Note: Cases reported at the end of November were adjudicated in December. The numbers reported here include cases reported in both November and December. Of all the cases submitted in December, 141 were reported after the last day of classes (December 12, 2020). These reports account for 78% of the cases submitted to the Office of the Dean of Students in December.

Administrative Sanctions
Of the 73 students found responsible in November:
– 68 received a Warning
– 05 received Probation

Academic Sanctions
The most common academic sanctions unofficially reported to the Office of Dean of Students included failure on exam/assignment and failure in the class. (Note: unless the faculty member formally notifies the Office of the Dean of Students, we don’t know if any academic sanctions have been assigned to students who were found to be responsible.)

Fall 2020
In Fall 2019, 62 academic integrity cases were reported to the Office of the Dean of Students. In contrast, Fall 2020 saw 377 cases reported—an increase by more than 600%.

Baruch College and The City University of New York (CUNY) are responding to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Working together on creating, implementing, and modifying policies and plans. To ensure that you have the most up-to-date guidance, directives, and resources, please check out:

Baruch Colleges COVID-19 Updates
Baruch’s Division of Student Affairs COVID-19 Resources
CUNY Coronavirus Updates
CUNY Continuity for Students
CDC- What You Need to Know
CDC- Key Facts
CDC- Traveling FAQs