Bearcat Buzz – February 18, 2022

February 21: College Closed – No classes scheduled
April 15-22: Spring Break – No classes scheduled

Get your booster shot! Students enrolled in in-person or hybrid classes for Spring 2022 will be required to get the booster shot as soon as they are eligible for it. Learn more on how to upload booster documentation here.

• Booster Proof Uploading (All students taking in-person/hybrid course)
  • 3/1/22 for students to upload booster proof if they are eligible for the booster on January 28, 2022
  • 30 days after first eligible deadline for students if they are eligible for the booster after January 28, 2022

Get tested!  A reminder that we are offering free PCR testing at CUNY testing sites. Any student who needs to be tested for any reason may walk into a CUNY testing site, show their CUNY ID, register in the system and get tested. Results will be available as usual within 24 to 48 hours. For a list of CUNY sites and hours of operation, visit here. For our general FAQ on the testing program, visit here.

Stay up to date! CUNY will follow CDC’s recently issued guidance that adjusted the recommended quarantine and isolation times for people in close contact with someone who is positive or those who test positive.

One of our favorite times of the Spring semester is here! Student Government Intent to Run Registration will be available Friday, February 11, 2022. Additional information related to the Student Government Elections can be found on the Studnt Life website. If you have any questions, please email student.life@baruch.cuny.edu

Time to celebrate all you’ve achieved! Senior Portraits for the 2022 Lexicon Yearbook! Final Available Sessions!
When: Beginning Monday, January 31^st
Where: NVC 2-110 (Baruch College)

To schedule your appointment and find important updates please visit the Student Life website.

I See you Sis: A Conversation on Black Girl Wellness
Tuesday, February 22 | 12:30 p.m.
Join the conversation as we discuss steps towards taking care of our mental health while in the middle of a global pandemic. We will also have a roundtable discussion about the importance of hair care and how black women present themselves in a social space.

Black Male Initiative presents: Boys to Men. Growing Up in my Skin
Friday, February 25 | 3:00 p.m.
Join us for discussion and community for part a dialogue on masculinity for Black and Latinx men. Facilitated by Karanja Carrol, Gary Dillon, Andrew Lawton, Jael Henry, Jamel Hudson. In partnership with Black Male Initiative, Black and Latinx Studies, the Counseling Center, SEEK, and the Urban Male Leadership Academy. For more information, check out our blog: blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/boystomen. Please note that this is an affinity space for Black and Latinx men. The event will be in-person and dinner is included.

Are you looking for an opportunity to get involved on campus? Then 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:

February 24, 2022
12:30-2:30 p.m.
Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Pre-Professional, Honor, Greek Letter, Academic, and Special Interest Clubs, plus Departments

Bearcat Bootcamp is back! If you are interested in improving your mental, physical and nutritional health then apply today for this 8-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. Visit the Office of Student Life’s website to apply today!

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 Spring 2022 semester. Please make an appointment via our online form on the Student Life website.

Wednesdays 4:00-7:00 p.m.
February 23, March 9, March 23, April 6, April 27, May 4, May 11

The Allen G. and Mary E. Aaronson Student Center is open to all undergraduate students
Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The Aaronson Student Center is located in back of the Madison Square Post Office. The entrance is on East 24th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, next to the AutoMotion garage.
Make sure to check it out!

Please note that masks are required at all times and no food or drinks other than water are allowed.

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.

Black Mental Health Matters (BMHM) Support Sessions for Baruch Students
Fridays: 2 p.m.- 3 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. We meet on Fridays at 2 pm.  

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 Starr Career Development Center will be hosting the 6^th Annual Undergraduate Diversity Career Expo on Thursday February 22nd from 12:00-3:00 p.m. This award-winning program is a collaborative effort with SEEK, Success Network, BMI, UMLA and the Black History Month Planning Committee. This year’s featured speaker is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, Carla Harris, Morgan Stanley Vice Chair. Students will have an opportunity to join DEI Breakout Room Discussions led by campus recruiters from various organizations. DEI topics include diversity recruiting strategies, pipeline programs, employee resources groups, mentoring programs/support systems, and more). The program will conclude with a one-hour Networking Session. Baruch Undergrads: RSVP via Starr Search under Career Fairs & Expos.

This program is on work visa options available to international graduates who wish to stay and work in the United States after graduation. This program is open to ALL Baruch and CUNY students and alumni (undergraduate and graduate). Mark Rhoads, an experienced immigration attorney who works with employers and international students all over the country. He will discuss the most common work visa options, including Optional Practical Training for F-1 students and the popular H1B visa. Please RSVP for this event.

Zicklin Undergraduate Honors Program (ZUHP) is the only honors program at Baruch College for Zicklin students with a special interdisciplinary curriculum that is focused exclusively on business education. Application deadline is February 28, 2022. Apply today!

Calling all Psychology majors. Come join our virtual Psychology Round Table! This will be a speed mentoring event for undergrad students to learn about different career tracks in the psychology industry from Baruch alumni. Make sure to come prepared with questions! Make sure to register today!

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 Spring 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 six times and fulfill a few other requirements (see CPP website), you will receive a certificate—a great way to enhance your resume. The CPP also offers fun events throughout the semester. To sign up, please click on “Application” and fill out the Application Form on the the Baruch Conversation Partners Website. The deadline for signing up is Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Welcome, Bearcats: Access to the ARC (Athletic & Recreation Complex)

The ARC is currently accessible to:

• Students enrolled in Physical Education classes
• Students who have rented a Paid Locker Rental and need to access their lockers
• Student-Athletes competing in the College’s NCAA Division III Programs

Otherwise, the ARC facilities are closed until further notice. Please stay tuned and visit BaruchAthletics.com for updates.

Dayan Ordabayev Named CUNYAC/HSS Scholar-Athlete of the Month.

 Upcoming Athletics Schedule

Friday, February 18
Men’s & Women’s Swimming at Metro Championships, 5:30 p.m. (at Rutgers University)

Saturday, February 19
Men’s & Women’s Swimming at Metro Championships, 5:30 p.m. (at Rutgers University)
CUNYAC Playoffs – Quarterfinal
Men’s Basketball vs Medgar Evers College 3:00 p.m. (Home)
Ticket & Protocol

Sunday, February 20
Men’s & Women’s Swimming at Metro Championships, 5:30 p.m. (at Rutgers University)
CUNYAC Playoffs – Quarterfinal
Women’s Basketball vs Lehman College 1:00 p.m. (HOME)
Ticket & Protocol

These are challenging times for everyone. A global pandemic. Hybrid classes. Return to the office and the great resignation. Not to mention all of the obligations you have to juggle under increasing uncertainty. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by it all, we get it. To deny what you’re experiencing and to pretend it’s not happening is only a recipe for anxiety and burn out. Join us for a 30-minute reset to slow down on Tuesday, 02/22 from 12:00-12:30 p.m., get present, and be intentional in a safe space and in community with your peers as we mindfully set the tone to move through the week. Register today!

The inaugural “Essence of Entrepreneurship” mural design competition is looking for the creative and innovative students of Baruch College to submit an art design that is to be painted on one of the center’s walls. The piece should foster the ongoing spirit of creativity and capture the essence of entrepreneurship in art form. For more information visit the Baruch website.

We are excited to announce that the 2022-2023 FAFSA is now available, at studentaid.gov. Don’t forget to obtain or retrieve your Federal Student Aid ID at fsaid.ed.gov to sign the 2022-2023 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.

This month, Carnegie Hall is kicking off a citywide festival on the theme of Afrofuturism. There are $10 student tickets available for many festival events, including performances by Flying Lotus, Nicole Mitchell and Angel Bat Dawid, Mwenso and the Shakes, and more. A full listing of all student discounts – including these Afrofuturism events – is available on our website. Students can sign up for our Student Insider program on our website – registration is fast and free! We also have a group sales team who would be happy to assist if there are any professors who would be interested in getting a group of students together to attend a performance.

Craving a more fulfilling college experience? Want to become a part of a close-knit community of high-achieving students? Learn what it takes to become a Provost or Inquiry Scholar within Baruch’s Undergraduate Honors Program. Watch​ the Information Session to see what an Honors education can do for you. Honors students receive priority registration, individual advising with a dedicated advisor throughout their academic career, access to smaller classes, and a myriad of professional development opportunities. Freshmen and sophomores are strongly encouraged to apply.

To ensure the safety, security, and well-being of our students, Baruch College has determined that a moratorium had been placed on pledging and rush activities in all Baruch social fraternities and sororities at least through May 31, 2024. Read a message from the Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, Art King, for further details. * To anonymously report any hazing activity please fill out the Hazing Incident Report Form.