December 19, 2022
 
Dear staff and faculty,
 
As the Fall semester draws to a close and the dawn of a new year awaits, I write with enormous gratitude for your hard work. Thank you for supporting one another all semester: cheering on your colleagues’ large and small victories, encouraging one another through the challenges, and engaging in excellent work, driven by your deep commitment to our mission and our students.
 
Our communications team has been working hard to enhance the information available to all members of our community. Every Monday, they circulate the BC Brief to staff and faculty. This weekly email includes news and updates, accolades, profiles, events, and other timely information. It is easy to submit items for inclusion, and I encourage you to do so. The communications team also circulates the biweekly BC Buzz to our students. If you have ideas or feedback on either of these e-newsletters, please reach out to communications@brooklyn.cuny.edu. 
 
We continue to prioritize safety and public health. Please get your flu shot, COVID-19 vaccination, and COVID-19 booster shots. Our COVID-19 testing site will continue to be open, but will soon move from the Student Center to the basement of Boylan Hall. When it does, we hope students will retake the first floor of the Student Center and once again use that space for recreation and relaxation. 
 
In light of the resurgence of COVID-19, the NYC Health Department has issued a strong recommendation to wear masks indoors, even if you are fully vaccinated. Masks help protect you, your colleagues, and your loved ones. 
 
We remain committed to building a sustainable future for our students and community. The Campus Sustainability Council fosters dialogue on these issues and identifies, develops, and implements sustainability measures on campus. In the coming semester, the Council will establish formal membership and offer new recommendations to enhance Brooklyn College.
 
This semester we began implementing the first phase of our new Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I thank everyone involved so far. At this time in the academic year, our focus is retention. We must retain the students we enrolled in the fall semester into the spring semester so that they can continue on their academic journeys and complete their degrees. 
 
Registration for the winter intersession and the spring semester are open. Please encourage students to register. If students need assistance with registration, please direct them to William Ip, Assistant Director of the Enrollment Services Center, at esc@brooklyn.cuny.edu. 
 
Research on student retention and enrollment emphasizes the importance of students’ personal interactions with staff and faculty. Every single interaction a student has with you can make a difference. We have seen that kindness and concern go a long way. Please express a personal interest in the academic success of your student colleagues. 
 
I want to end this letter by thanking all of you who supported the college on Giving Tuesday. With broad participation, we raised more than $130,000 for campus priorities, including student completion grants, internship stipends, and emergency grants. If you did not get a chance to participate, it is not too late to join in and make an important difference in the lives of our students.
 
I hope you can join me tomorrow for a Holiday Brunch in the Student Center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to celebrate your great work this year. Wishing you all a safe, wonderful holiday break and a very happy new year.
 
Michelle J. Anderson
President, Brooklyn College