Dear Students,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year! This is my second year as Interim President of Bronx Community College (BCC), and on behalf of the entire college, I wish the best to each of you for a year full of exciting experiences and growth.

While we have many points of pride here at BCC, I am especially struck by the commitment our community shows in supporting one another through both success and challenge. Our faculty and staff are here to support you on your academic journey. We provide a range of services and support, including a food pantry on campus as well as a childcare center (now accepting toddlers and infants as young as six weeks), tutoring and counseling and can connect you with outside services as needed to help you reach your goals and graduate. I urge you to take advantage of all that BCC has to offer, knowing that our college is prioritizing your success.

Our current marketing campaign is themed “Transforming Lives One Student at a Time.” This campaign underscores my long-held belief in the power of higher education. At BCC you will be exposed to new people, new ideas, and new ways of thinking. Through high-quality academic instruction and extracurriculars, you will be able to see a whole new range of possibilities for your future.

BCC’s innovative academic programs, including our Automotive, Nuclear Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, Cybersecurity, Business and Media and Digital Film Production programs to name a few, pave the way to greater socioeconomic mobility. Oftentimes, when our students graduate with degrees in these areas, they move on to high-paying careers or transfer to four-year colleges.

Like you, I myself was a first-generation college student. At BCC, 69% of our students are the first in their family to go to college. I mention this because it gives you a sense for the kind of individual who attends BCC. Our students are confident, vibrant, savvy, smart and fearless and proud of their heritage. Their families have come from more than 100 countries. We see strength in this diversity because it’s the independent thinking that leads to togetherness, community. And it’s in a community where our students thrive.

Whether you are a new or returning student, receiving instruction in person or online, I want to remind you to reach out to your advisor when obstacles arise. Our low costs and assistance through financial aid, scholarships and other awards make attending BCC possible on any budget; we want to help eliminate financial barriers whenever possible. Additionally, our new website ChatBot is Live and ready to answer any and all questions you may have.

Good luck, and together, we can change your world!

Respectfully,

Milton Santiago, Ed.D.
Interim President
Bronx Community College