Register Now for Summer & Fall 2026.
CUNY Start offers Multiple Start Dates Throughout the Year!
ABOUT US:
What is CUNY Start?
Your Pathway to a Strong and Confident Beginning!
CUNY Start is a supportive and affordable program designed to help Bronx Community College students build a strong academic foundation before beginning credit-bearing courses. In just one semester, students strengthen their English, Math, and college readiness skills—while preserving financial aid for future coursework.
Through engaging classes, dedicated advising, and tutoring support, CUNY Start helps students gain the confidence, skills, and momentum needed to succeed in college from the very beginning—or to reset and move forward stronger than before.
✅ One-semester program
✅ Focused English and/or Math support
✅ Financial aid preserved for future courses
✅ Multiple start dates throughout the year
Who We Are
A community committed to your success.
CUNY Start is more than a program. We are a community of educators, advisors, administrators, and mentors deeply committed to student success. At CUNY Start, we believe every student has the potential to thrive with the right support, structure, and encouragement.
Whether you’re an incoming student or someone ready to overcome past challenges in English or Math, CUNY Start offers a fresh start and a strong support system to help you move forward with confidence.
Our program includes:
🎓 Expert instructors focused on growth
🤝 Dedicated academic advisors
📅 Weekly College Success Seminar
📚 Tutoring and personalized support
We are here to ensure you feel supported, empowered, and prepared—not just academically, but personally and professionally.
Why Start Now?
The Right Start Changes Everything!
Starting strong—or starting again with purpose—can transform your college experience. CUNY Start gives you the opportunity to build your skills, regain confidence, and move forward with clarity.
With multiple opportunities to demonstrate progress, you can reduce or eliminate developmental requirements and enter your credit courses prepared, focused, capable, and confident.
You’ll also:
✅ Explore your major and career goals
✅ Build leadership and college success skills
✅ Gain confidence in your academic abilities
Ready to Start Strong?
Connect With Us:
Visit Us:
Brown Annex, Room 101
Call:
718-289-5100 ext. 3141
Email:
cunystart@bcc.cuny.edu
Meet the Team
Dr. Pamela V. Eatman-Skinner
Director
718-289-5100, ext. 5226
Pamela.Eatman@bcc.cuny.edu
Norma Valenzuela
Program Coordinator
718-289-5100, ext. 3612
Norma.Valenzuela@bcc.cuny.edu
Advisory Team
Keisha Baptiste
Keisha.Baptiste@bcc.cuny.edu
Debra Cardenas
Debra.Cardenas@bcc.cuny.edu
Marie Varghese
Marie.Varghese@bcc.cuny.edu
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for CUNY Start, you must:
- CUNY Admissions requirements, be accepted to Bronx Community College, and be eligible to register for classes.
- Based on the CUNY proficiency index score, have developmental needs in English and/or Math.
- Attend a CUNY Start Information Session and Interview with a friendly staff member
- Submit a copy of your high school, high school equivalency or foreign high school diploma (must be evaluated by CUNY).
- Be able to commit to the selected academic schedule.
THREE EASY STEPS TO ENROLL!
Step #1 Apply to Bronx Community College
Step #2 Schedule a CUNY Start information session and be interviewed by a friendly and informative advisor.
- Call CUNY Start at (718) 289.5100 ext. 3141 or Email at cunystart@bcc.cuny.edu)
- Bring a photo ID.
- Info sessions can take up to one hour.
Step #3 Complete Registration
- Bring a copy of your High School Diploma or HSE Diploma to the CUNY Start Office in Brown Annex, Room 101
- $75 fee in the form of a cash or money order only*
*Students are not enrolled in the program until the enrollment fee is paid.
For further information, you may contact CUNY Start at (718) 289.5100 ext. 3141 or cunystart@bcc.cuny.edu.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
PRE-COLLEGE MATH: Building on high school and high school equivalency-level math skills, Pre-College Math focuses on more complex topics in algebra. Topics include functions in new settings and the manipulation of expressions. Understanding is maximized through in-depth study of core math concepts in an interactive, supportive learning environment.
ENGLISH: Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, you will build key reading and writing skills and broaden your general background knowledge. Skill development includes argumentative and analytic writing, and college-level reading and study skills.
COLLEGE SUCCESS SEMINAR: Develop your academic identity and learn about college structures and campus resources. College advisement will help you align your career goals with educational requirements and prepares you for academic achievement and graduation.
COURSE OFFERINGS AND SCHEDULE:
AVAILABLE COURSE FORMATS & MODALITIES
ON-LINE – Course conducted completely over the internet
HYBRID– Course which mixes in person and remote participation
IN-PERSON– Course held completely on campus
SEQUENTIAL– Full Time Schedule which encompasses both Math and English consecutively
FULL TIME– Schedule which encompasses both the Math and English in a 25 hours per week
PART TIME – Schedule which encompasses one subject in a 12 hours per week schedule.
SPRING 2026
Full Time Sequential (Consecutive Math & English classes – Provides Full Proficiency) | 9:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Math Start Eve | 6 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
English Start Eve | 6 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
STUDENT STORIES
Elaidy joined the CUNY Start Full-time program in Spring 2018. After Elaidy successfully completed our program, she began serving as a CUNY Start Math tutor and was hired as a College Assistant. One of the topics she is most passionate about is self-advocacy. At BCC, Elaidy completed her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education and received the BCC Future Educators Award upon graduation. Elaidy moved on to pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and she was recently accepted to the Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership at Lehman College.
Simone Robinson attended CUNY Start’s English and Math classes in 2020. She began her academic journey in our program just one month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York City. During our CUNY Start community icebreaker, Simone told us that she was the mother of four children, ages ranging from 6 months old to 16 years old.
Throughout the semester, Simone made a point to stay on top of her homework and asked her CUNY Start instructors and tutors for help whenever needed. Towards the end of the semester, Simone bravely submitted an original creative piece to a writing contest sponsored by BCC’s Spoken Word Club and the BCC Writing Center and won a prize for her contribution.
She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and a recent winner of the Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
She credits CUNY Start for providing her with the foundation she needed to survive and thrive in college.
Learn More
About Us!
Learn More
About Us!
CUNY Start is a program designed to help students who need to strengthen their academic and college readiness skills before beginning credit-bearing courses. It’s an intensive, semester-long program that focuses on building proficiency in English and Math. Here are some key benefits of the program:
-
Affordable: The program costs only $75, which includes all materials, instruction and tutoring.
-
Comprehensive Support: Students receive personalized advisement, weekly college success seminars, preparatory workshops and access to campus resources.
-
Flexible Options: Both full-time and part-time schedules are available, with classes offered in-person, online, and hybrid formats.
-
Financial Aid Preservation: By taking non-credit courses through CUNY Start, students can save their financial aid for credit-bearing courses.
If you think you might benefit from this program, it could be a great way to ensure you’re fully prepared for your college journey. Please find our Contact information below.
We’re Located in Brown Annex | Rm. 101
