Bearcat Buzz – May 13, 2022

May 17: Last day of classes
Last day to drop a course with a grade of “W”
Last day to apply/cancel P/NC option
May 18-24: Final examinations
May 24: End of Spring Term

Baruch College will hold its 2022 Commencement Exercise on Thursday, May 26 at Barclays Center at 620 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

There will be one commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m., with both undergraduate and graduate students at the ceremony. For more information on caps and gowns, how to register, and more please visit the Student Life website. Continue to check the site regularly for more updates!

Guest Tickets
Tickets for admission to the Commencement Exercises are limited to guests of the graduates. The graduating student does not need a ticket. Fill out the Guest Ticket Request Form in order to reserve and receive your guest tickets; the form is not considered complete until you have purchased your cap and gown. The form closes on May 18, 11:59 p.m. After this date, please contact the Office of Student Life.
Each graduate will receive four guest tickets for cap & gown orders completed online by the April 26, 2022 deadline. After the deadline, you may receive a reduced number of tickets. If there are extra tickets after the initial distribution has been completed, these tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please note that guest tickets are free with the purchase of a cap and gown. Tickets are not available for sale.

Distribution: Guest Ticket Distribution will occur electronically via SeatGeek. Complete information on guest tickets, including instructions, can be found on the Guest Tickets page.

Extra Guest Ticket Distribution
Extra Guest Ticket Distribution will take place in person on May 23, 2022, starting at 10:00 a.m., in the Aaronson Student Center.

Extra tickets will be transferred immediately to your SeatGeek account on a first come, first serve basis. To ensure that everyone who needs an extra ticket can get one, you are limited to one ticket at a time. Once we have transferred a ticket to your SeatGeek account you may go to the back of the line and repeat the process as many times as you like until all tickets are gone.

Please check the Extra Guest Ticket Distribution page the evening of May 20 to see how many extra tickets will be available for distribution. We will not know the number of extra tickets available until then.

Wednesday, May 18 – Tuesday, May 24

Although some students (and some instructors) might prefer to complete the final before the exam period begins, we may not do this because:

1. You should not have to study for a final that will take place on days that you are still attending and doing assignments for other classes. Please do not ask your instructor to give the exam before the final exam period.
2. The New York State Education Department specifies the minimum number of contact hours per credit; we meet the minimum by including the final exam period; therefore, no final exams may be administered during regularly scheduled classes, including during the last sessions of the semester; and
3. You deserve the number of classroom hours you have paid for.

If your instructor is not complying with the college’s final examination policy, please feel free to contact Associate Dean of Students Dr. Annie Virkus-Estrada (646-312-4570) or Annie.Virkus-Estrada@baruch.cuny.edu

Lexicon’s 2022 yearbook is on sale now! The current 50 students to purchase the yearbook will receive the Platinum Tier Senior Package for FREE, which includes a Blanket, Bucket Hat, Tumbler, and Crewneck. The following 50 students who purchase the yearbook will receive the Gold Tier Senior Package, which will include everything but the blanket so buy now while the supplies last!! Order here! For any questions please contact us at lexicon.yearbook@gmail.com.

The last day to purchase a yearbook and receive the senior package will be May 18, 2022. Senior Packages that were pre-ordered will be given out in person on May 17^th and May 18^th in NVC 1-107 from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Complete this form to RSVP for the 2022 Black Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, May, 24th from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.. This event will take place in-person. The ceremony will be held in NVC-14-220 and the reception will take place in the Bearcat Den on the 2nd floor. This ceremony is for students who identify as Black and are graduating in May 2022. This event will celebrate their accomplishments in a ceremony that recognizes Black Culture. If you have any questions, please email Margaret Van-Ess, Assistant Director of Student Activities

We recognize that the end of the semester can be a difficult time for students with upcoming finals and end-of-the-year projects and schoolwork due. The Counseling Center is offering Stress Management Support Sessions for students during this time. Please join us to get support and learn ways to cope and manage during this stressful time. You must use your CUNYFIRST login to register – Firstname.Lastname##@Cuny.login.edu

Register for Monday, May 16th 1p.m. – 2 p.m.
Register for Thursday, May 19th 1p.m – 2p.m.

Why we need your input:
– Data collected impacts college rankings
– To demonstrate Baruch’s ROI
– To better serve students like you.
Participants will be entered into a raffle to win:
– $25 gift card
– Baruch Swag
– One-on-One (30 mins) Employer Mentoring Session
– Free Year of STARR Alumni services

Share your input!

The Office of Student Life is seeking community members who are interested in actively participating in the planning and execution of LGBTQ+ History Month, which traditionally takes place in October at Baruch College. If you have any interest in participating please sign up, as we hope to solidify a committee by the end of the month. Thank you for the support in advance and look forward to a great series of events! Register by May 15, 2022.

The Social Justice Peers program is a social justice education and action program where students will have the opportunity to explore, present, and create events/programs on social justice topics and issues that they are passionate about to the greater Baruch community. Social Justice Peers receive a $500 stipend, an event budget of $250, and the opportunity to collaborate with the Student Life Team throughout the year. Application is due by Friday, September 16, 2022 at 11:59p.m. Sign up.

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 Vanessa Rumie at Vanessa.Rumie@Baruch.cuny.edu. To participate in the Thursday group, please send an email to Nina Lei at Nina.Leil@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.

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.

– Softball Finishes Runner Up at ECAC Division III Championship

– Baseball Wins Fifth All-Time CUNYAC Championship

– Men’s Tennis Wins 15^th All-Time CUNYAC Championship

Afraid of seeing a GYN doctor? You’re not alone! Take charge of your health! Watch this mini-series to see why. For more information contact studenthealthcarecenter@baruch.cuny.edu.

Baruch College has partnered with Change Machine to provide free virtual financial coaching to all members of the College. Financial coaching can help ensure you meet all of your financial goals including managing spending, building credit, reducing debt, finding the right banking options, saving money, and more! Coaching is available in English and Spanish. Get started on your goals today! To schedule an appointment with a financial coach please call the toll-free number 1-877-695-4447 and leave your name and phone number.

Need Federal Student Aid for Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023? File your 2022-2023 FAFSA Today! The 2022-2023 FAFSA is 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.

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.