Borough of Manhattan Community College

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The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) is a public community college in New York City. Founded in 1963 as part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, BMCC grants associate degrees in a wide variety of vocational, business, health, science, engineering and continuing education fields.

BMCC's original campus was scattered all over midtown Manhattan, utilizing office spaces, hotel conference rooms, and various spaces throughout Manhattan. In the mid-1970s, CUNY began scouting for suitable property on which to erect a new campus of its own. The current campus has been in use since 1983.

History

Martin B. Dworkis was BMCC's first president.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Classes were originally held in part of the ground floor, the entire second floor, and part of the third floor of an office building at 131 West 50th Street in midtown Manhattan. BMCC renovated the office space into classrooms and administrative areas, and it created its own entrance at 134 West 51st Street.<ref name="spill">Template:Cite news</ref> Fred Kelly, a graphic designer living in Kew Gardens, designed BMCC's official seal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> BMCC's first classes were held in fall 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During its first school year, 42 percent of its students were African American.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Plans were announced for BMCC to have its own buildings to hold its classes in 1968. In 1974, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools determined that BMCC's physical facilities were "so inadequate as to defy description", and it said it would suspend BMCC's accreditation unless improvements were made quickly. The City University of New York's central administration evaluated BMCC the same year, and it found that student grades were inflated to such an extent that they were essentially meaningless. There was a ground-breaking ceremony on a new building for BMCC the same year. Because of the 1975 New York City fiscal crisis, however, construction was suspended the next year.<ref name="resume">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1977, BMCC's president, Edgar D. Draper, was fired after he improperly persuaded a college association evaluation team to alter its report to show the college administration more favorably.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 1980, BMCC's passing rates on nursing certification exams had significantly improved, and BMCC no longer had a financial deficit.<ref name= resume/> BMCC's new campus building opened in January 1983.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 15-story building at 30 West Broadway was donated to BMCC in 1993 by Miles and Shirley Fiterman; the building was subsequently named Fiterman Hall in their honor.<ref name="nydn20070430"/>

On the morning of September 11, 2001, BMCC's students, teachers, and staff members heard explosions coming from the direction of the World Trade Center, which was located just a few blocks away. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey used the gymnasium at BMCC's main building to triage survivors, and BMCC donated medical supplies from BMCC's Nursing Department to treat victims. The Port Authority set up generators at BMCC's main building, and the building became its command center. That afternoon, 7 World Trade Center, across the street from BMCC's Fiterman Hall, collapsed, and the building fell onto Fiterman Hall, rendering the hall uninhabitable.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> BMCC's staff worked constantly to restore Fiterman Hall and, on October 1, the building reopened for classes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The hall was eventually demolished and a new building opened in September 2012.<ref name="WSJ-Open-2012">Template:Cite news</ref>

Academics

BMCC has also recorded a large rise in remedial education,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> lack of freshman retention,<ref>Changing Culture: A New Program for Liberal Arts Advisement at an Urban Community College</ref> and overcrowding. Due to its larger base of capital compared to most other two-year colleges, expansion of new campuses during the rebuilding of Fiterman Hall was possible. Several trailers are still used as classrooms to help expand capacity. Internal programs have also been created or expanded to help with academic advisement, provide online access for registration, transferring to other colleges, and job placement.

BMCC also has a diverse student base,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> some of whom had immigrated to America shortly before enrolling.<ref>'START HERE. GO ANYWHERE', NOT JUST BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S SLOGAN: IT'S REAL</ref> Among other issues are improving the retention and graduation rate, as well as the increased financial and academic burdens of a remedial program.

Campus

Main entrance (2006)

Borough of Manhattan Community College's four main campuses are in the Tribeca, Civic Center, and Financial District neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. BMCC occasionally hosts the Tribeca Film Festival's ceremonies and films.<ref>[1] Template:Dead link</ref> The main campus on 4.28 acres is located in Chambers Street, North Moore Street and covers a four block radius. It houses a swimming pool and gymnasium as well as technical facilities, computer laboratories, and a media centre.

Downtown/Tribeca campus

  • 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10008 – Main Campus
  • 245 Greenwich Street (North entrance), 81 Barclay Street (South entrance); New York, NY 10007 – Fiterman Hall
  • 70 Murray Street, New York, NY 10008 – Chambers Street

Fiterman Hall

Fiterman Hall was heavily damaged from the collapse of 7 World Trade Center on 9/11.

The original Fiterman Hall opened in 1959 and occupied a block bounded by Greenwich Street, Barclay Street, West Broadway, and Park Place.<ref name="Newsday 2012">Template:Cite web</ref> It had been the original location of King's College, before it was renamed Columbia University and moved to Morningside Heights.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fiterman Hall was donated to BMCC in 1993 by Miles and Shirley Fiterman, for whom the building was subsequently named.<ref name="nydn20070430">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Rubinstein 2008">Template:Cite web</ref> The building had previously been used as a bank, and CUNY had wanted to rent the building from the Fitermans, but they decided to donate the building to CUNY instead. It was the largest gift of a building to a community college in the United States, and it was the largest donation ever to CUNY. The building was renamed Miles and Shirley Fiterman Hall.<ref name="gets">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2000, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, which owned the building, began a massive renovation to better adapt the building for classroom use.<ref name="BMCC-Fiterman">Template:Cite web</ref>

During the September 11 attacks, the building's structure was heavily compromised by debris from the collapse of 7 World Trade Center, and the renovation was never completed. The building became unsafe to occupy because of exposed asbestos and mold growth. Since traditional demolition would result in an unacceptable environmental impact, the building was scheduled for deconstruction and decontamination as a part of the Lower Manhattan redevelopment project.<ref name="LMDC Page">Template:Cite web</ref>

New Fiterman Hall

Fiterman Hall was to be replaced by a new building designed by the architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners<ref name="Downtown Express Page">Template:Cite web</ref> after the deconstruction, and was scheduled to be completed by February 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, environmental impact concerns and funding issues caused numerous delays. At a press conference at BMCC on November 13, 2008, city and state officials announced a new agreement that revised demolition and reconstruction plans through a funding agreement among New York City, New York State, and the City University of New York. In addition, approximately $80 million from an insurance settlement would be applied to the project's budget.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Under the plan, the building was demolished and rebuilt in November 2009,<ref>"NY groundbreaking for college building near WTC". Daily Record (Morristown, New Jersey). December 1, 2009. p. 1.</ref> and the new Fiterman Hall was completed in September 2012.<ref name="WSJ-Open-2012" /><ref name="BMCC-Fiterman"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Off-site programs

Athletics

College teams of the BMCC participate as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Panthers are a member of the community college section of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, soccer and swimming; while women's sports include basketball, soccer, swimming and volleyball.Template:Citation needed

File:Borough of Manhattan Community College and Independence Plaza North and South.jpg
Western side of the main campus building, at the Hudson River. Behind it are the Independence Plaza North and South towers

BMCC offers a large state-of-the-art recreation facility including a regulation basketball court, swimming pool, and weight room. There are active teams in many sports such as handball, bowling, baseball, soccer, and basketball. Sports teams compete in both the CUNY athletic system and the local NJCAA collegiate sports system. The women's basketball team has won numerous championships including the CUNY basketball championship and the regional Division III championships including placing third nationally in 2000 with a 21–3 regular season record.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The chess team has won national awards. One of the most successful programs at BMCC is the men's soccer team with 6 consecutive wins at CUNY soccer championships, 1 regional Division III championship, and placing third in the NJCAA national championship in 2005.

Notable alumni

References

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