Starting the semester with energy and enthusiasm inspires both students and faculty. To support this momentum, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Center for Teaching and Learning created Kick Off Day—an initiative designed to set the stage for a strong and engaging semester.
Kick Off Day fosters conversations on engagement, collaboration, well-being, and community building. The event features discussion panels and concise, impactful sessions that provide practical tips, best practices, and essential resources to help faculty and students start the semester with confidence.
Program by Year, Click on ☰ below ▼
Session 1: Building Foundations: Crafting a Syllabus Introduction, Course Overview, and Structure
Moderator Mayra Mojica, Lecturer, Business Session I: Building Foundations: Crafting a Syllabus Introduction, Course Overview, and Structure In this session, we will explore innovative techniques and approaches to creating a welcoming atmosphere, providing an overview of the course, understanding the importance of learning from best practices, and structuring the course effectively. Learn valuable strategies to enhance the welcome and [...]
Session II: Guiding Principles: Navigating Policies, Grading, and Upholding Academic Integrity
Moderators: Amina Tajbhai, Lecturer, English Jenna Queenan, Humanities Alliance Graduate Session II: Guiding Principles: Navigating Policies, Grading, and Upholding Academic Integrity In this session, we will consider the ways in which the rules of our courses – classroom procedures, grading rubrics, and policies of academic integrity – can create (or fail to create) an inclusive environment. In what ways are [...]
Session III: Tech-Infused Teaching: Exploring Technology Integration and Resource Strategies
Moderator Rhonda Johnson, Assistant Professor , Library Jacqueline DiSanto, Professor, Education Tech-Infused Teaching: Exploring Technology Integration and Resource Strategies: Incorporating Technology in Teaching, and Identifying Additional Resource. {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-file-pdf&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-2024%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520Zero%25202024%2520Program%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn More + Session II: Guiding Principles: Navigating Policies, Grading, and Upholding Academic Integrity Day Zero, Day Zero 2024 Moderators: Amina Tajbhai, Lecturer, English Jenna Queenan, Humanities Alliance [...]
Connecting the Dots
Moderator Cynthia Jones, Lecturer, English, CTL Co-Director Carlos Guevara, CTL Co-Director & EdTech Director This session will offer an opportunity to hear about the emerging themes and conversations at the breakout rooms sessions and draw conclusions and future steps. {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-file-pdf&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-2024%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520Zero%25202024%2520Program%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn More + Session II: Guiding Principles: Navigating Policies, Grading, and Upholding Academic Integrity Day Zero, Day [...]
Panel Discussion – Navigating Inclusive Learning Spaces: Syllabus Design, Empathy, and Courageous Conversations in Education
Presenters Nicole Wallenbrock, Assistant Professor, Humanities Anne Lovering Rounds, Associate Professor, English Asrat Amnie, Assistant Professor, Education Moderator Carlos Guevara CTL Co-Director & EdTech Director Panel Discussion - Navigating Inclusive Learning Spaces: Syllabus Design, Empathy, and Courageous Conversations in Education Join our panel discussion as we explore the synergy between syllabus design, building community, and navigating challenging conversations in education. [...]
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Emcee Nicole Wallenbrock, Assistant Professor, Humanities Greetings from President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., Hostos Community College Shiang-Kwei Wang, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Hostos Community College Rebuilding the Hostos Community: Inclusion, Belonging, Retention Starting the semester with energy and enthusiasm is the motivation we all love to see in our students and faculty. Day Zero was [...]
Starting off on the Same Page – The Hostos Syllabus Template
Moderator Andrea Fabrizio, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs A syllabus is the document we use to communicate expectations, resources, and practices to our students. It helps set the tone for the semester. We will review the Hostos syllabus template and how a common syllabus framework benefits faculty and students. Syllabus Guide {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-file-pdf&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-program-2023%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520Zero%2520Program%25202023%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn More + Starting off [...]
Birds of a Feather Session
Moderator Amina Tajbhai, Lecturer, English Department What areas/topics/ideas/questions come to mind when we think about Persistence, Inclusion, Engagement, Retention, Belonging? Participants will respond to a virtual survey, and their responses will be used to define emerging themes for breakout rooms. {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-file-pdf&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-program-2023%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520Zero%2520Program%25202023%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn More + Birds of a Feather Session Day Zero, Day Zero 2023 Moderator Amina Tajbhai, [...]
Connecting the Dots
Moderator Cynthia Jones, Lecturer, English, CTL Co-Director Carlos Guevara, CTL Co-Director & EdTech Director This session will offer an opportunity to hear about the emerging themes and conversations at the breakout rooms sessions and draw conclusions and future steps. {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-file-pdf&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-program-2023%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520Zero%2520Program%25202023%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn More + Day Zero Program 2023 Day Zero, Day Zero 2023 9:30 am – 9:40 am [...]
Student Panel: Student Perspectives about Persistence, Inclusion, and Belonging
Panelists Jose Gonzalez - Kaplan Scholar Kevin Dillon - HEAT Recipient Jerica Isaroon - Honors Student Moderator Dr. Asrat Amnie, Assistant Professor, Education Department The purpose of this student panel is to provide a forum for students to share their perspectives and experiences, as well as to foster dialogue and understanding among students, staff, and faculty about the importance of [...]
Wellness Center 101
Day Zero 2020 Wellness Center 101 Reflections about Learning: after many planning meetings of the Center for Teaching and Learning Council, we felt greatly satisfied with the success of its second annual Day Zero. More than Seventy-five faculty, staff, and administrators attended this event. On January 23rd, faculty and staff convened in the Savoy Building Multipurpose Room to participate in [...]
What helped us move forward and what did you learn about yourself?
Moderator: Stacey Cooper, Assistant Professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences The pandemic and the transition to mostly online teaching and learning have had an influence on many aspects of our everyday lives during the last two years. As we look to the future, it is important to consider the various challenges we have faced, as well as our emerging strengths and [...]
What Held us Back?
Moderator: Mayra Mojica, Lecturer, Business In the last two years we have lived through difficult times. The outbreak has dramatically changed our lives and relationships. Before the pandemic, who would have used “social distancing” as part of their everyday vocabulary? The way that we work has also been affected in terms of where we work, and how we interact with [...]
How could we do things differently? What should we do next?
Moderator: Van Phan, Assistant Professor, Natural Sciences This exercise is an opportunity to discuss the challenges we face as we return to in person learning. It is also an opportunity to discuss integration of the tools we have developed during online teaching to our face to face courses to better our students’ experience at Hostos. {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-program-2022%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520zero%25202022%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn [...]
Recommend tips & strategies to acclimate to the New Normal?
Moderator: Joseph Caravalho, Assistant Professor, Humanities Participants are invited to share information based on their experiences. {{ vc_btn: title=Program&style=custom&custom_background=%23002f6d&custom_text=%23ffffff&align=left&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fday-zero-program-2022%252F%7Ctitle%3ADay%2520zero%25202022%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} Learn More + Day Zero Program 2022 Day Zero, Day Zero 2022 9:30 am – 9:45 am 0 likes Read more + What helped us move forward and what did you learn about yourself? Day Zero, Day Zero 2022 Moderator: [...]
Lessons Learned During the Pandemic: Obstacles and Triumphs
Moderator: Lauren Wolf, Assistant Professor, Mathematics Panelist: Fatima Bah Kobe Jacobs Renae Dosantos Ryan Pleasant The panel will discuss the resilience of our Hostos students. The students will be asked what modality their class used and how was the effectiveness of the modality. What worked and what did not work. The panel will also discuss obstacles that made dealing with [...]
Code of Honor in the Online Space
Day Zero 2021 Code of Honor in the Online Space Grounding Ourselves: after many planning meetings of the Center for Teaching and Learning Council, we felt greatly satisfied with the success of its third annual Day Zero. More than Sixty faculty, staff, and administrators attended this event. Presenter Cynthia Jones Lecturer, English Department, (CTL) Co-Director Professor Jones has placed an [...]
Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills
Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library Haruko Yamauchi, Assistant Professor, Library Linda Miles, Assistant Professor, Library Overview Reflections about Learning: after many planning meetings of the Center for Teaching and Learning Council, we felt greatly satisfied with the success of its second annual Day Zero. More than Seventy-five faculty, staff, and administrators attended this event. [...]
Class Survey
Presenter Sarah Hoiland, Assistant Professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences Class Survey PDF Program Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library Haruko Yamauchi, [...]
Engage Students Through Questions
Presenter Jacqueline DiSanto, Associate Professor, Education Students expect to be asked questions by their instructors. What they may not have much experience with is feeling free to ask engaging questions of their faculty. Set ground rules of mutual respect. For example, how do you wish to be addressed? In the same vein, can you pronounce everyone’s first and last name? [...]
Classroom Technology Benefits: Smartboards, iPads, and Lecture Capture
Presenter Iber Poma, Coordinator of Student Services, EdTech {{ vc_btn: title=Classroom+Technology+Benefits+PDF&style=outline&color=black&size=lg&align=left&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-file-pdf&css_animation=bounceInUp&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcommons.hostos.cuny.edu%252Fctl%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252Fsites%252F26%252F2020%252F03%252FClassroom-Technology.pdf%7Ctarget%3A_blank }}Classroom Technology Benefits PDFProgram Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library [...]
PANEL I : DEFINING SUCCESS & DEVELOPING A SENSE OF BELONGING & WELL BEING
Panelists: Charles Drago, Professor & Department Chair, Allied Health Sciences Charles Rice-Gonzales, Lecturer, English Ernest Ialongo, Associate Professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences Eunice Flemister, Lecturer, Education Nancy Genova, Lecturer, Behavioral and Social Sciences Nelson Nuñez-Rodríguez, Professor & Physical Sciences Coordinator, Natural Sciences Ronette Shaw, Assistant Professor, Allied Health Sciences Thomas Beachdel, Assistant Professor, Humanities Moderator: Cynthia Jones, Lecturer & Co-Director [...]
The Memory Palace
Presenter: Victor Torres-Velez, Assistant Professor, Humanities The Memory Palace PDFProgram Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library Haruko Yamauchi, Assistant Professor, Library [...]
Supporting Students as Critical Readers Critical Reading Activity
Presenter: Linda Miles, Assistant Professor, Library Supporting Students as Critical Readers PDFProgram Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library Haruko Yamauchi, Assistant [...]
How to Use Twitter in the Classroom: One Minute Paper
Presenter: Carlos Guevara, EdTech Director & CTL Co-Direcetor Twitter in the Classroom: One Minute PaperProgram Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library [...]
Benefits & Applications of Student ePortfolio
Presenter: David Dos Santos, Instructional Design Specialist, EdTech Benefits & Applications of Student ePortfolio PDFProgram Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library [...]
Common Blackboard Problems and Solutions
Presenter: Eric Ritholz, Online Initiative Coordinator, EdTech Common Blackboard Problems and Solutions PDFProgram Learn More + Day Zero Program 2019 Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 9:00 am – 10:00 am 0 likes Read more + Research Boosters: Strategies for Building Student Skills Day Zero, Day Zero 2019 Presenters Catherine Lyons, Assistant Professor, Library Elisabeth Tappeiner, Assistant Professor, Library Haruko Yamauchi, [...]
PANEL II : CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT: A 360° VIEW
Panelists: Arnaldo Bernabe, Chief-Director of Public Safety Fabian Wander, Student Health Services Director Laura McGowan, ASAP Director Linda Alexander, Director of Counseling Marie Ortiz, Coordinator, Accessibility Resource Center Moderator: Sarah Hoiland, Assistant Professor, Behavioral & Social Sciences Overview: This panel will discuss how to define a successful semester from the perspective of support structures like counseling, student life, public safety, [...]