Boricua College News
No. 1
June 19, 2014
AY 2013 – 2014 SUMMER
It’s been a more hectic year than most. Perhaps, by June 30, 2014 and the end of the current fiscal year,
we may provide you a recap of what the year looked like. More to come!
COMMENCEMENT – 38th Year – CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES: THE
CLASS OF 2014, and all their Faculty Facilitators!!! Last Friday, June 13th the college celebrated 330
graduates who completed Masters, Bachelors and Associate in Arts degrees. After many years at St.
Bartholomew’s on 51st Street and Park Avenue, we changed the venue to Gotham Hall at 1356
Broadway and 36th Street for the formal Commencement and the celebratory after-party. A
thunder-storm and the threat of rain transformed the usual pomp and circumstance marching order:
graduates----who had been queued outside the venue----marched in first, to keep them from the
drenching downpour that seemed to have mystically ensued minutes after the 6:00pm start time. They
were all safely seated inside and were spared the storm! The president, board of trustees, invited
guests, faculty and administrators marched after the graduates.
Dr. Alicea welcomed everyone to a grand evening, and presented the graduates to thunderous applause.
In his address to the 38th graduating class, he spoke of the transformation that comes from completing
this stage of their education. He noted that they were facing obstacles to opportunities at a time of great
social, economic and political complexity never experienced before, and that cloud the future with
uncertainty. “… graduates…. be prepared to ask our leaders tough questions about the problems we are
facing, and demand serious answers; ….participate in the solution of those problems. There is an old
saying: ‘If you don’t participate in solving a problem then you become a part of the problem.’ So get
involved! Democracy is not a sport for spectators, it lives and grows through action, and you must take
action when needed----meaningful action that can lead to meaningful change----action that results in
self-empowerment; action motivated by the knowledge, skills and values you learned from us
through-out your years at Boricua College.”
The college’s strong and dear friend for many years, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez spoke to the
graduates and roused the guests with her presence and her warmly felt affection for the college. One of
the key points she presented was her support for higher education Pell grants. She noted how incredible
that the Congress had taken the time to vote for high tax breaks, but have not been able to bring to the
floor, the issue of Pell grants. Delivering the Keynote Address of ‘Economic Empowerment through
Education’ was the newly appointed (2014) Speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa
Mark-Viverito. The annual professional achievement awards were presented by board chairman Benito
R. Fernandez in Education: to Ms. Bonnie White Jones, Principal, P.S. 4 The Duke Ellington School,
in Washington Heights, Manhattan; and in Public Service: Ms. Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, New York
State Commissioner, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Trustee Elizabeth Velez,
presented the professional achievement award in The Arts to Ms. Carla Pinza, actress, producer, and
president of Luminous Visions Traveling Theatre Company.
Boricua College News
FC / No. 1 June 19, 2014 AY 2013– 2014 Summer
Page 2 of 3
The greatest appreciation for getting the entire college community to this 38th Commencement goes to
Dr. Alicea who this past February celebrated the college’s 40th anniversary and his 41st year as founder
and president of Boricua College. This accomplishment in one of the most difficult years imaginable due
to----among myriad other issues----the completion of a four-year legal battle for the completion of
pending construction items at the Bronx Campus Center building, the TEAC audit of the college’s
education programs, the completion with faculty and staff of the fourth decennial Self-Study, and the
ensuing four-day accreditation visit by an Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools evaluation
team of nine members to review the results of that institutional self-study.
Special thanks to Sandra Bellamy, Special Executive Assistant to Dr. Alicea; Rosalia Cruz, Director of
Financial Aid; Beatriz Ahorrio, Director of Registration and Assessment; Gladys Vega, Senior
Administrative Secretary and Maritza Arroyo, Administrative Secretary both of the President’s Office;
and Ruben Velez, Officer, IT Department, for all their work in bringing the commencement to
successful fruition. Thank you, thank you, thank you also to all the administrative staff who supported
the graduates, faculty, staff, family and friends, on all levels, at the college and Gotham Hall, before and
after the commencement exercises.
THE WHITE HOUSE – President Barack Obama’s Message – To the Class of 2014
Each year, Dr. Alicea sends the President of the United States an invitation to the college’s
commencement. Here is a paragraph from President Obama’s message to our graduates; I have also
attached a copy of the full correspondence to this newsletter:
“The optimism and empathy, dogged determination and remarkable selflessness of today’s graduates
inspire me. The world needs your unique talents and boundless passion to adapt to changing times.
And if you apply yourself fully to tackling the challenges ahead, I know your generation will prove once
more that those who love their country can make it better.”
Admissions – the Academic Management team has announced the college’s enrollment goals for
September, and the admissions teams at the four campus centers are enthusiastically moving toward this
goal. Let’s support all campus center admissions teams who are working so diligently to make their
goals.
Grand Total
New
Brooklyn Campus Center at North 6th St.
300 students
94 new
Brooklyn Campus Center at 9 Graham Ave.
264 students
116 new
Bronx Campus Center at 890 Washington Ave.
504 students
223 new
Manhattan Campus Center at 3755 Broadway
260 students
120 new
U.S. Department of Education Federal Training – On Thursday, June 19, 2014, the College
hosted the USDE’s training for NYC schools Financial Aid administrators. Rosalia Cruz, Director of
Boricua’s Financial Aid Department was the lead person in receiving 25 invited guests to the full day
training from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the college’s Manhattan Campus Faculty Colloquium room.
Boricua College News
FC / No. 1 June 19, 2014 AY 2013– 2014 Summer
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Channel 12-The Bronx – A reporter from this cable channel, Jessica Formoso, visited the Bronx
Campus on Thursday, May 21. She filmed interviews in the library and the second floor lobby with
Abraham Cruz, VP of Admissions & Enrollment Management, Jose Israel Lopez, Dean of Generic
Studies, Brenda Rodriguez, Admissions Officer, and Ada Matos, Senior Officer of HR & Personnel. She
then proceeded to the 6th floor with Dean Lopez to film students and faculty in their daytime
colloquiums. Prominently featured in the 6:00pm broadcast that evening, was Brenda Rodriguez who
in addition to being an employee, is a student who graduated from the baccalaureate program last
Friday, and who overcame many obstacles to completing her degree and described these in the
broadcast. This past week, Abraham Cruz reported that five students have already come to enroll as a
result of the news segment.
Norwood News* – a weekly paper that serves the Bronx since 1988 published an article on the
college in its June 12-25, 2014 edition entitled “Second Chances Found at Boricua College.” Abraham
Cruz and Brenda Rodriguez were interviewed and photographed for the article. In addition to printing a
short history of the college and its educational model, Brenda’s story on how the college helped her
transform her life is featured, and Abe is quoted on the successes brought about by the college’s model.
A copy of the article is attached. *Vol 27, No 12, published by Mosholu Preservation Corporation,
Wikepedia – Dr.Shivaji Sengupta and Irving Ramirez were instrumental this week in reaching out to
Wikepedia, the internet encyclopedia, to correct inappropriately cited material on its site.
Human Resource & Personnel Department
Francia L. Castro, Director / Ada Matos, Senior Officer / Teresa Baez, Officer
Boricua College News
FC / No. 1 June 19, 2014 AY 2013– 2014 Summer