Register Now for Spring 2026. CUNY Start offers Rolling Admissions!
ABOUT US:
CUNY Start is an intensive and affordable semester-long program for Bronx Community College students who need to increase their Math and English proficiency levels before starting credited courses. The program provides 18 weeks of rigorous preparation in English, Math and College Success Skills, allowing students to reduce or eliminate their developmental skills requirements in one semester. In the CUNY Start Program, you will take Math and/or English as needed and hold your financial aid for credit courses. The program enrolls students who have been accepted to college because they have a high school or GED diploma but are not ready for college-level work based on their initial placement results. Each student will pay only $75 for the semester, which includes all curriculum, books, tutoring services, and college success advisement. The students are permitted two opportunities in the semester to demonstrate proficiency, which minimizes student time in developmental classes and saves financial aid dollars for credit courses. All students in CUNY Start work with a dedicated advisor who helps students align academic planning with their career goals; this combination inspires student success.
Math Start is a 6 to 8-week course designed for students who need to improve their math skills, based on their initial placement in the college, before they begin to earn college math credits. Students who successfully complete Math Start are eligible for entry into college-level credited math courses. In Math Start’s interactive, supportive learning environment, student understanding is maximized through in-depth study of core math concepts. Students pay only $35 for the summer. All students in Math Start work with a dedicated adviser who helps students align academic planning with their career goals. Students attend a weekly College Success Seminar led by the adviser.
English Start is a 6 to 8-week course designed for students who need to improve their reading and writing skills, based on their initial placement in the college, before beginning credit courses. Students who successfully complete the English Start course will satisfy the English prerequisite for many college-level courses. Through an interdisciplinary examination of college-level texts, students build key reading and writing skills, including argumentative and analytical writing. Students pay only $35 for the course. All students in English Start work with a dedicated adviser who helps students align academic planning with their career goals. Students attend a weekly College Success Seminar led by the adviser.
Contact Us
Brown Annex, Room 101
Phone: 718-289-5100 ext. 3141
Fax: 718-289-6031
Email: cunystart@bcc.cuny.edu
Pamela Eatman-Skinner, Ed.D.
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
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:
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Affordable: The program costs only $75, which includes all materials, instruction and tutoring.
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Comprehensive Support: Students receive personalized advisement, weekly college success seminars, preparatory workshops and access to campus resources.
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Flexible Options: Both full-time and part-time schedules are available, with classes offered in-person, online, and hybrid formats.
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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
