Newsletter Editor Jane Weiss
Upcoming English Department Meetings
Upcoming English Department meetings are on 9 April 2024 and 21 May 2024, both in V219 from 3:00 to 4:30 PM.
Today,1 April 2024: PSC-CUNY Rally at City Tech at 3:30 PM
A message from Emily Schnee:
PSC members have been working without a contract for over a year. In addition, the CUNY administration recently proposed amending the CUNY Bylaws to significantly diminish the role of the faculty, especially department chairs, and expand the role of upper administration. You can see their proposed amendments here: https://psc-cuny.org/calendar/botbrooklynhearing/.The PSC will be showing our opposition to these proposed changes by demonstrating before the CUNY Board of Trustees meeting today, Monday, April 1 at City Tech, 275 Jay Street, in downtown Brooklyn. The rally is at 3:30 p.m. and the Board meeting will begin at 4:30. It’s open to the public and all PSC members are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you’re interested in testifying at the meeting, you can find out how here: https://psc-cuny.org/calendar/botbrooklynhearing/#how-to-testify.
2 April 2024: Literature Committee Meeting
A message from Elroy Esdaille:
The Literature Committe meeting will meet tomorrow, April 2, 2024 at 3:00 pm via Zoom. If you teach literature courses at KCC and/or are involved in literary studies, join us: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88558159349?pwd=bzRZS0tsWEZkTm5ZQzFvRUVZL21iQT09
Meeting ID: 885 5815 9349 Passcode: 241333
5 April 2024: Progress at the Midterm: Special Instructors’ Edition
A message from Hope Parisi:
A now familiar PD session around the midterm is one on helping students to perceive their progress to date in writing, especially in light of the new CLOs. (This has included certain Blackboard functions, as well as midterm reflection assignments and posts, Starfish, flexible and transparent grading, and more.) But Comp 1 and Comp 2 instructors—aspirational professionals–may desire or benefit by self- check ins too, according to the goals we set for ourselves in meeting new initiatives or priorities. And we can engage that process collaboratively. Let’s meet for “Progress at the Midterm: Special Instructors’ Edition,” in which we share the something new we’re trying out (tentatively, but it’s feeling OK so far?), and in which we discuss how we are realizing our own aspiring. (We can discuss ways to convey student progress a bit too.) This workshop takes place, paid for part-timers and open to all, Friday, April 5, from 11am-12:30pm via Zoom. Here is the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87571097738?pwd=VmkvVndSY3psY08vcHBpRW5YUTREdz09
Feedback Form for English 2400 Curriculum Revisions
As promised, Greg Bruno has created an anonymous feedback form based on our discussion around the ENG 2400 curriculum revision at the last department meeting. This document was developed in collaboration with the CRC. The feedback form has been sent to your KCC email address. Please take a moment to review and complete the short form. It will give the CRC a read on general feelings about the course revisions amongst our department ahead of the scheduled vote at the next English Department meeting on April 9, 2024.
Writing Center Asynchronous Tutoring
A message from Tony Iantosca:
The writing center’s new asynchronous tutoring program begins this week. Tony has sent the sign-up instructions for asynchronous tutoring, (which can also be used to sign up for regular tutoring) to English department faculty members at your KCC email. As Tony mentioned in the announcement last week, the Writing Center will pilot the asynchronous program with students in English 12 and 24 and later expand this initiative to all students seeking help with writing. This tutoring format is open to all English 12 and 24 students, not only those enrolled in asynchronous English courses. In addition, the KLC’s website has a set of new handouts, with more to come (especially research related handouts). Typically, the tutors and Tony develop these during the summer and winter modules when tutoring is less busy. Here is the link to those handouts:
https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/KLC/TutoringResources.html#english
Composition Coordinators Office Hours for Spring 2024
The English Department’s composition coordinators are available on campus and on Zoom this spring:
Gregory Bruno (Gregory.Bruno@kbcc.cuny.edu):
Tuesdays in C309B: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (later on Dept. and CRC meeting dates)
Wednesday in C309B: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
And by appointment via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6372657798?pwd=L28zMVBxenZzR05vbU1GRis5ajRUZz09
Rachel Ihara (Rachel.ihara@kbcc.cuny.edu)
Tuesdays in C309B: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Thursdays in C309B: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Fridays, 9:00 am – 11:00 am and by appointment via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5834566892
Faculty Mentor and Support Hours in E219
A message from Hope Parisi:
Hope Parisi will be in E219 this semester, available for informal chats with new and experienced part-time faculty, and all faculty, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:40pm-2:30pm, with more availability by phone or Zoom according to wish or need. Please come by this welcoming environment if you’re on campus. Hope’s email is Hope.Parisi@kbcc.cuny.edu.
David B. Silver Scholarship Poetry Competition 2024
Student entries are invited for the David B. Silver Poetry Competition. The deadline for submission of entries is Sunday, April 28, 2024. Rules for competition: Only KCC students may participate; each student may submit a maximum of two entries; poems must be fifty lines or fewer; all entries must include the student’s full name, address, telephone number, and email address. Entries should be emailed to SILVERFUND@KBCC.CUNY.EDU The poems will be judged on these criteria: originality of perspective; appropriateness of English language, form, and content; evocative trigger of emotional reaction; economical use of language. Awards: First Prize: $500; Second Prize: $300; Third Prize: $200. The David B. Silver Scholarship Faculty Committee will evaluate all entries. Awards will be presented during the KCC Awards ceremony on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Questions about the poetry competition should be directed to: SILVERFUND@KBCC.CUNY.EDU
English Department Protocol for Faculty Absences
A reminder of the department protocol when you cannot meet your students during a regularly scheduled class meeting, whether in-person or online synchronously: You must report all absences to our department immediately, ideally before the class session that you will miss. Please send an email to Shelly Benjamin (please cc Christine Marchese), who will initiate the absence paperwork process for you. Please be advised that it is against CUNY and NYSED policy for a faculty member to modify a course’s modality during a semester, so it is not acceptable to meet students online, whether synchronously or asynchronously, when you cannot meet them in person. In such a case, you must cancel class and take an absence for that class period.
When you know in advance that you must be absent, remember that you can contact Shelly Benjamin and request that she try to find another faculty member who can sub your class for you. Please do not arrange for a sub on your own because many of our faculty members are at their maximum hours for the year and cannot be paid more for additional teaching hours.
Plan Ahead: C309 Closure During Spring Recess
Please make a note that the English Department office will function remotely from April 22, 2024 through April 30, 2024; during that period, which is Spring Recess at KCC, C309 will be closed and the best way to reach the office will be via email.
A Note about the Newsletter
A message from Jane Weiss, the Newsletter editor:
The next issue of the Newsletter will come out on Monday 8 April 2024. Please send newsletter items by Friday, 5 April 2024 to Jane Weiss at Jane.Weiss@kbcc.cuny.edu. Please keep items brief (preferably 100 or fewer words). Longer items will be abridged. Many faculty members would like to learn more about colleagues’ areas of scholarship, so if you would like to share what you’re working on, the Newsletter will welcome descriptions of your research and recent or upcoming presentations, publications, and performances of all kinds.
