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GSGA Newsletter 09.20.21

GSGA Newsletter

September 20, 2021

 

Hello CUNY SPH students,

Welcome to the Fall 2021 semester. We hope that everyone has enjoyed their summer. The GSGA would like to remind you of upcoming events and information. You can check out the CUNY Survival Guide.

 

Are you interested in getting more involved and helping to serve our SPH community? Would you please reach out via our email: GSGA@sphmail.cuny.edu? Bring your dreams, goals & ideas to GSGA and make them come to life.

 

We would like to introduce you to the 2021-2022 student leaders of the Graduate Student Government Association. See below!

 

President – Antonino Maltese

Vice-President – Bradley Meacham

Treasurer – Kevin Chin

Communications Officer- Shawon Shahriar

Masters Senators – Sherline Altidor, Julia Kolmakova, Ansu Abraham, Natalia Surujnath

Doctoral Senators – Claudia Calhoon, Shari Jardine

Advanced Certificate Senator -TBD

 

Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA)

Email: GSGA@sphmail.cuny.edu

Website: CUNY SPH GSGA Website

Facebook: CUNY Student Facebook Group

Instagram: GSGA Instagram

 

Past GSGA Leaders

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our former GSGA leaders 2020-2021 for their valuable guidance.

Please check out their profiles: GSGA Student Leaders 2020-2021.

Learn more about the 2021-2022 GSGA Student Leaders.

 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Would you mind completing our online survey & providing us feedback about how we can better serve you? It will only take a few minutes. You can complete the survey here: GSGA Online Feedback Survey.

 

Sincerely,

GSGA 2021-2022


 “Student Survival Guide” – The City University of New York

#CANTSTOPCUNY

Welcome home, CUNY! After 17 months of Zoom classes, online office hours, and remote events, we’re excited to have you back on campus for this historic Fall 2021 semester. Use this page to find life hacks, resources, college-specific advice, and other tools to help you thrive this semester. Additionally, check here for the latest, most important news you need to know:

Click to access the Student Survival Guide.


STUDENT RESOURCES

Career Services

To view the SPH Career Services live calendar, click here!


CUNY SPH Sexual & Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice Club

REPRO flyer

Hi, all of you! Known as the Repro Club, we are a student group focused on providing an open forum to discuss reproductive and sexual health issues and spreading awareness of safer sex practices, contraceptive options, and surrounding issues on campus. If you would like to join us, please fill out this form.

President: Adriana Padilla

Email: sph.sexreprohrj.club@gmail.com

Treasurer: Sara Birnel

Events Coordinator: Amanda Pierz

Facebook: @SPHsexreprohrj

Twitter: @SPHsexreprohrj

Instagram: @SPHsexreprohrj


PHIIRE Club

Population Health Informatics Innovation, Research, and Education

PHIRE flyer

Mission: To equip future public health professionals and leaders with the knowledge to address 21st-century challenges in urban communities and beyond. Its purpose is to form a coalition whereby graduate students can share ideas and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, information, and resources to advance the efforts being made in the field of population health.

President: Erica Rowe-Owen

Email: erica.roweowen66@login.cuny.edu

Secretary: Kiyante Beaugris 

Treasurer: Sadaf Ahmad – Treasurer

Founder and Alumni Ambassador: Rafaela Villacres. MS

Email: rafaela.villacres63@sphmail.cuny.edu

 Academic Commons Page


Obtain your CUNY SPH ID card

You will be able to get your CUNY SPH ID card remotely. Visit this link to request an ID card. Note that you will only be able to obtain your CUNY SPH ID card after you have received an email from IT regarding your CUNY SPH student email account.


Crisis Text Line

TEXT CUNY TO 741741 FOR CRISIS SUPPORT!


Wellness for Students

Hours of (Remote) Operation:

Mondays 10 am – 7:30 pm
Tuesdays 10 am – 8:30 pm
Wednesdays 10 am – 7:30 pm
Thursdays 10 am – 6:30 pm
Fridays CLOSED

To make an appointment, email Student Wellness Counselor Sherry Adams at sherry.adams@sph.cuny.edu, Call (646) 364-9526


Talkspace for international and out-of-state students

CUNY has partnered with Talkspace to offer international and out-of-state students online messaging therapy (at no cost). With a network of thousands of licensed clinicians, Talkspace is an online therapy service that connects users to a dedicated therapist from a secure, HIPAA-compliant mobile app and web platform. Users can send their chosen therapist text, voice, or video messages, from any location, at any time.

Please reach out to Student Wellness Counselor Sherry Adams at sherry.adams@sph.cuny.edu for any support and/or questions.


Student Emergency Fund

If you are a current CUNY SPH student-facing short-term financial hardship, we encourage you to submit an application to the Student Emergency Fund.

To access the application, you will need to log into SharePoint using your SPH login (sph\______) credentials.  Reach out to HelpDesk@sph.cuny.edu if you require assistance with SharePoint.

Click here to apply.  Please note that applicants will be asked to submit supporting documentation to demonstrate financial need.


Vaccination Van at the CUNY Graduate Center

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

The CUNY Graduate Center (GC) is hosting a vaccine van organized by NYC Health and Hospitals (H+H) this week, Monday, September 20 through Sunday, September 26, from 8 am to 6 pm. The vaccination van will be parked in front of the GC on Fifth Avenue between 34 and 35th Streets, and anyone can visit to get vaccinated. It is a walk-up, first come, first served service. Appointments are not accepted.

NYC Health and Hospitals primarily uses the Pfizer vaccine and offer first doses to all patients ages 12+ and second and third doses to eligible patients. Patients receiving the first dose will be connected to a permanent site near them for their second shot and are also eligible for the $100 incentive for getting their first shot.

Individuals coming to get vaccinated need to bring any form of ID (including national passport) and documentation of vaccine eligibility (document showing age, employee ID, physician note, etc.).

New York City is coming back strong with COVID-19 Vaccines. Safe. Free. Easy.

Please spread the word to all eligible colleagues!


Scholarships for minority researchers to learn Introduction to R Statistical Software for Public Health

APHA, in partnership with NIH’s All of Us Research Program, is offering scholarships for underrepresented minorities to attend the Introduction to R Statistical Software for Public Health Learning Institute. This virtual course will be held on Oct. 23 & 24 as a part of the pre-conference period of the APHA Annual Meeting. This training will address educational gaps in data science skills through the introduction of R software for statistical analysis and data visualization. This scholarship program demonstrates a commitment to diversifying the public health workforce and ensuring equitable access to professional development opportunities. Apply by Sept. 30: https://ampublichealth.wufoo.com/forms/qc8njeb122s35r/


Days to Observe in September

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 in the United States: September 15 to October 15

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. Discover documents, exhibits, films, blog posts, and more from the National Archives and Presidential Libraries that highlight Hispanic culture.

 


Native American Day 2021

Date When Celebrated: 4th Friday in September

This day is set aside to honor and celebrate Native Americans, the first Americans to live in the U.S. Still commonly referred to as American Indians, the term “Native Americans” has been used in recent years as a sign of respect and recognition that they were indeed the first indigenous people to populate our great and wonderful nation.

By the time the first explorers and settlers arrived from Europe, Native Americans had populated the entire North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the northern reaches of Canada.

We encourage you to spend this day learning about Native Americans, the true original settlers in America.


CUNY Votes!

Stay tuned for more information from the Graduate Student Government Association in anticipation of National Voter Registration Day on September 28.

Remember these important dates:

  • Register to Vote Deadline: October 8, 2021
    You can register directly via CUNYFirst or online here.
  • Absentee Ballot Application or Letter of Application Deadline: October 18, 2021 (by mail, online portal, email, or fax)
  • Absentee Ballot Application Deadline: November 1, 2021 (in person)
    You can request an absentee ballot online here.
  • General Election: November 2, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Newsletter 04.01.20

GSGA News

April 1, 2020

Happy First Day of April!  

 


Dear fellow SPH Students,

As you get through this semester, we want to let you know that you are not alone. Although it’s a challenge not being on campus, we encourage you to connect with your classmates and support each other through virtual study groups. Free applications such as Zoom or Google Hangouts can help get your study groups together.

We are sharing the following opportunities and virtual events with you. Take a moment to fill out the 2020 Census, complete CUNY SPH Surveys, RSVP for the upcoming virtual Town Halls and learn more about the GSGA and FSC nominations.
 
As always let’s stay strong and connected. If you have any questions, please reach out to us!

Sincerely,
Your Graduate Student Government Association  


CUNY SPH Surveys

person taking an online survey using a smartphone

Student Survey
As we collectively learn to navigate the range of challenges presented by COVID-19, we seek to gain a better understanding of your current needs. Please complete the anonymous survey to assist us in doing so.

Strategic Planning Survey
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is currently undertaking a strategic planning initiative that will set high-level direction for the school over the next 5+ years and identify more specific priorities to be achieved over the next 1 to 3 years. Your input is critical to the success of this effort. Please complete the anonymous survey today.

 


National Census Day

April 1st is National Census Day! You can complete the 2020 Census online , by phone (844-330-2020) or by mail today! Still not sure what the 2020 Census is? Join Gus and Priyanshi in taking their challenge to complete the census.  

 


Register to Vote

Register to vote now

Deadline: April 3

Presidential Primary Election *NEW DATE*: June 23  

 

gsga vp zoe

Watch this video with CUNY students encouraging you to vote, including our GSGA Vice President Zoe!  

 


 

CUNY SPH Town Hall on COVID-19
Friday, April 3  |  2:30pm – 4:30pm  |  Via Zoom  |  RSVP  |  Submit Questions
Join us as Professor Bruce Lee will be answering questions from the entire community about the pandemic, and administrators will be answering questions from students about their academic concerns during this time of distance-only education. The plan is to capture questions and concerns in advance of (as well as during) the meeting to ensure that presenters are prepared to answer as many of them as possible.  

 

Remaining Resilient During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Monday, April 6  |  2:30pm – 4pm  |  via WebEx  |  RSVP

Dr. Victoria Ngo, Community Health and Social Science Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Innovation in Mental Health, and Sherry Adams, LCSW, Student Wellness Counselor, will facilitate a discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental wellness.

 

 

Systems Science Workshop Series: Part II
Friday, April 3  |  2pm – 5pm  |  Virtual  |  RSVP

CUNY SPH’s Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD) is offering the second of three in the Systems Science Workshop Series. This event is co-hosted by the NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center. The workshops will focus on the basic concepts of systems thinking and system dynamics modeling, and participants will understand, evaluate, and improve upon problems that manifest themselves in complex systems.  

 

 

**This conference has been postponed to April 28-30, 2021** Are you passionate about public health issues? Do you have an interesting paper, project or research study to share? If you answered yes, then you should apply for the 2021 student poster competition! More info Accepting student poster abstracts for presentations on the following topic areas:

  • Air (tobacco, asthma, climate change.)
  • Water (drinking water, emerging contaminants, HABs, sugar-sweetened beverages)
  • Food (insecurity, breastfeeding, food safety and sourcing)
  • Housing/Built Environment (lead, walkable communities, complete streets)
  • Environmental Health- Innovations in Policy & Practice

 


 

 

Nominations for GSGA Elections

Submit your nominations today!

Learn about available positions by visiting the GSGA website.  

 

Insta Story Campaign | National Public Health Week April 6-12
 
Share how you are getting through social distancing whether it be reading a great book, watching an awesome movie or tv show, a new recipe you cooked or an amazing workout that you tried ! Use #NPHW2020 and #CUNYSPH so that our students can see your posts! Follow us on Instagram @GSGA_CUNYSPH to check out our National Public Health Week posts! Also, check out the National Public Health Week themes for the week of April 6, and join the NPHW Twitter Chat on Wednesday April 8 at 2pm!  

 

 

 

GSGA Spring Awards

**NEW DEADLINE: April 10, 2020**

Spring 2020 GSGA Awards are now open!


These awards are for all current SPH students! The awards offered through GSGA are meant to provide financial support to students seeking to attend public health related conferences, or pursue professional development opportunities, and also help those publishing research to journals. The various award types, details, and deadlines can be found by visiting the GSGA website.  

 

Delta Omega

CUNY SPH is now officially part of the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society as the Epsilon Chi Chapter.  Our official announcement and further details can be found on the GSGA website or by visiting the Delta Omega website.  

 


Cancel Rent

 

 


Mark your calendars!

Capsule
June 20-21  |  Austin, TX  |  Sign Up

Capsule is bringing together over 4,000 people to innovate solutions to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The ideas hacked over the event will relate to six challenge categories: Art, Education, Energy, Health, Food, and Cities. This is a truly exciting opportunity for students to be able to either propose a project, or work with colleagues from around the world to help move a project forward (submitted by others), or just volunteer to be a part of this record-breaking event.
 
Students can participate in three ways:
1) Submit a project to be hacked over the course of the weekend
2) Help move forward a proposal submitted by others
3) Volunteer to help this event be successful
If you have any questions about ASPPH’s partnership with Capsule, feel free to reach out to tseward@aspph.org.  

 


MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCES  
Student Wellness Counselor at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Sherry Adams is a licensed social worker available to provide virtual counseling to students at this time.  Sherry is also available to assist students in identifying and accessing their neighborhood specific resources.  Please email her to schedule an appointment: Sherry.adams@sph.cuny.edu
 
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Edquity
Provides online emergency support to students during COVID-19. Offers referrals available in your community related to health, food, housing, transportation, and childcare. 
 
NYC Human Resources Administration
Apply for Medicaid, cash assistance, SNAP, and childcare assistance at these HRA sites that also assist individuals in securing jobs.  

New York State Unemployment Insurance

FOOD
Food Bank NYC
Operates food pantries and soup kitchens, and directs you to SNAP enrollment sites. Visit website for most up to date information:

Meals for public school students 
Beginning March 23, meals will be distributed at more than 400 sites across the city. Visit schools.nyc.gov for most up to date information.

Newsletter 03.25.20

GSGA News

March 25, 2020

We hope you are well!

 


Letter from the GSGA President

Dear SPH Students,

We hope you are doing well during these trying times of a pandemic. Many of us are now experiencing graduate school rapidly transition from a classroom to an online setting. GSGA wants you to know that student safety is our number one priority. If you are experiencing any hardships or have concerns due to this outbreak, please reach out. We are here to support you through this difficult time. Please take appropriate precautions and follow CDC Guidelines to protect yourself from the coronavirus.

Additionally, I wanted to provide an update on the Fall 2019 GSGA Town Hall. We requested students to submit feedback so that the GSGA members can better understand what student needs are being met and what we still have to work on. A brief highlight of the feedback showed students supporting and appreciating the GSGA’s efforts in building a more inclusive campus environment, increasing social events, advocating for student issues to CUNY administrators and elected officials, and increasing transparency and opportunities across our student government. There was also critical feedback regarding the GSGA awards and the process students go through. We are working to continually improve and better serve the students of SPH.

As the Spring semester continues, we are working on creating more student opportunities, community engagement, campus development, improving GSGA processes, and much more.  While the GSGA had planned a busy Spring agenda, unfortunately due to the COVID-19 outbreak and campus closure, some of our planned projects and events, had to be postponed until further notice. Nonetheless, the GSGA is fully equipped to work virtually on other projects and initiatives that are important to our students and university. In the coming weeks, the GSGA will host another Town Hall where we will discuss our efforts throughout this semester, especially in response to the outbreak. We encourage all students to please join us!

Thank you for supporting your GSGA and its members.  We are very thankful to serve as your student leaders. On behalf of the entire GSGA, have a wonderful virtual Spring semester.

Sincerely,
Pavan Lohia
GSGA President

 


Nominations for GSGA Elections

Submit your nominations today!

 


GSGA Spring Awards

**NEW DEADLINE: April 10, 2020**

Spring 2020 GSGA Awards are now open!

These awards are for all current SPH students! The awards offered through GSGA are meant to provide financial support to students seeking to attend public health related conferences, or pursue professional development opportunities, and also help those publishing research to journals. The various award types, details, and deadlines can be found by visiting the GSGA website.

 


Distance Learning

Blackboard Logo

Blackboard After Hours Support

To help provide students and faculty with Blackboard support when the campus Help Desks are closed and Blackboard administrators are unavailable, CUNY has contracted with Blackboard for overnight and weekend telephone support during the current remote teaching requirement. Click here for more information.

 

Laptop on a desk

Updates About Online Classes

As of March 19, 2020 CUNY courses are now conducted remotely. Stay updated by visiting the CUNY Continuity for Students page and the CUNY SPH Info for Students page.

 


University Student Senate

University Student Senate logo

University Student Senate Announcements

The Higher Learning Advocates has pulled together this sign-on letter to urge Congress to prioritize specific proposals to support students who’ve been impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, we recommend:

  • Allowing for direct emergency funds to cover basic needs;
  • Allowing for flexibility with the Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Usage; and
  • Ensuring no penalty to Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Here’s a link to a campaign to tell Members of Congress to support today’s students through college closures and restrictions. Please share widely with your networks, including students– the goal is to have as many people contacting Congress as possible to make sure this is included in the final package.

USS Townhall Next Sunday March 29, 2020
University Student Senate is planning a Town Hall, where students can ask questions to the Chancellor and members of the Chancellery. We would love to get your participation in this, but we first would like to know what time works for you! Please VOTE HERE for a time and we will be following up with more details as we progress through the week.

USS Plan for Unresponsive Professors
Many students have informed the University Student Senate that they are dealing with unresponsive professors, that have not been helpful in the transition to distance learning. If you’re experiencing any difficulties with contacting your professors, please do the following:

  1. Reach out to some of your other classmates and see if the professor has been unresponsive to them too.
  2. Send an email to your campus Department Chair, Campus provost, and CC studentaffairs@cuny.edu
  3. Encourage your other peers to do the same!

 


Virtual Events

Free APHA Webinar: The Science of Social Distancing Part 1
Wednesday, March 25  |  3pm – 4:30pm  |  Sign up!

The first COVID-19 Conversations webinar will review how COVID-19 is transmitted, historical lessons from past pandemics, the state of the science on social distancing, and the targeted and layered nature of how social distancing practices are enacted.

PHI/CDC Global Health Fellowship Information Session
Friday, March 27  |  5pm – 6pm  |  Online via Zoom  |  RSVP

Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/464086275
Meeting ID: 464 086 275
+1646-558-8656 (New York)

 


Things to do while stuck at home

Pink Chris Martin John Legend Musicians

Watch couch concerts! Check out Pink, Chris Martin from ColdPlay, and John Legend perform on YouTube! #TOGETHERATHOME

More things to do!

  • Yoga
  • Watch a movie
  • Catch up on series!
  • Exercise at home
  • Do a scavenger hunt at home!
  • Play board games
  • Read a book you haven’t picked up for a while

 


Wellness Resources graphic

MENTAL WELLNESS RESOURCES  

Student Wellness Counselor at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Sherry Adams is a licensed social worker available to provide virtual counseling to students at this time.  Sherry is also available to assist students in identifying and accessing their neighborhood specific resources.  Please email to schedule an appointment: Sherry.adams@sph.cuny.edu

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Edquity
Provides online emergency support to students during COVID-19. Offers referrals available in your community related to health, food, housing, transportation, and childcare.

NYC Human Resources Administration
Apply for Medicaid, cash assistance, SNAP, and childcare assistance at these HRA sites that also assist individuals in securing jobs.

New York State Unemployment Insurance

FOOD

Food Bank NYC
Operates food pantries and soup kitchens, and directs you to SNAP enrollment sites. Visit website for most up to date information:

Meals for public school students
The week of March 15th there will be grab-and-go meals for students at every New York City Public School. The meals will be available at the schools’ start time. Visit schools.nyc.gov for most up to date information.

 


Commencement graphic

 

“In light of the current public health crisis, we recognize that our planned commencement ceremony at the Apollo Theater may or may not occur on schedule. Be assured that CUNY SPH will never take away [graduating students’] opportunity to celebrate this momentous achievement – if commencement doesn’t happen as planned on June 2, we will find another date when it’s safe and feasible for [graduating students] and their loved ones to take part. We will of course keep our [graduating students] updated on this developing situation. At this point, we are hoping for the best.” – Dean Ayman El-Mohandes

 


Census 2020

Census video cover

The Census 2020 is now live! Watch a short video here from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez teaching CUNY students what is the Census and how easy it is to fill it out. If you haven’t yet, complete the census today by clicking here.

 


Register to Vote

Register to Vote

Register to vote now

Deadline: April 3
Early Voting: April 18-26
Presidential Primary Election: April 28

 


Opportunities

**This conference has been postponed to April 28-30, 2021**

Are you passionate about public health issues? Do you have an interesting paper, project or research study to share? If you answered yes, then you should apply for the 2021 student poster competition!

More info

Accepting student poster abstracts for presentations on the following topic areas:

  • Air (tobacco, asthma, climate change.)
  • Water (drinking water, emerging contaminants, HABs, sugar-sweetened beverages)
  • Food (insecurity, breastfeeding, food safety and sourcing)
  • Housing/Built Environment (lead, walkable communities, complete streets)
  • Environmental Health- Innovations in Policy & Practice

 

 

Capsule logo

Capsule
June 20-21  |  Austin, TX  |  Sign Up

Capsule is bringing together over 4,000 people to innovate solutions to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The ideas hacked over the event will relate to six challenge categories: Art, Education, Energy, Health, Food, and Cities. This is a truly exciting opportunity for students to be able to either propose a project, or work with colleagues from around the world to help move a project forward (submitted by others), or just volunteer to be a part of this record-breaking event.

Students can participate in three ways:
1) Submit a project to be hacked over the course of the weekend
2) Help move forward a proposal submitted by others
3) Volunteer to help this event be successful
If you have any questions about ASPPH’s partnership with Capsule, feel free to reach out to tseward@aspph.org.

 

CUNY SPH is now officially part of the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society as the Epsilon Chi Chapter.  Our official announcement and further details can be found on the GSGA website or by visiting the Delta Omega website.