Consider this Borough of Manhattan Community College a launchpad. It is a place where dreams take flight. Borough of Manhattan Community College or BMCC began in 1963. It started as a small business-oriented community college. The goal was simple prepare students for the business world.
BMCC’s first campus was not what you might expect. Classes were held in an office building on West 50th Street. The college renovated office spaces into classrooms. They even created a separate entrance on West 51st Street.
Martin B. Dworkis was BMCC’s first president. Fred Kelly designed the college’s official seal. In the fall of 1964, BMCC held its first classes. Impressively, 42 percent of the students were African American during that first year.
BMCC faced challenges early on. In 1974, the Middle States Association criticized BMCC’s facilities. They were deemed inadequate. The City University of New York also found inflated grades. Despite these issues, plans for new buildings were announced in 1968. Construction was unfortunately suspended in 1976 due to New York City’s fiscal crisis.
A turning point came in January 1983. BMCC’s new campus building finally opened. This provided a much-needed permanent home. In 1993, Miles and Shirley Fiterman donated a 15-story building. It was named Fiterman Hall in their honor. This was the largest gift to a community college in the United States.
September 11, 2001, deeply impacted BMCC. The college is near the World Trade Center. When the attacks happened, BMCC became a triage center. The Port Authority used the gymnasium to treat survivors. BMCC also donated medical supplies. Sadly, 7 World Trade Center collapsed onto Fiterman Hall. The building became uninhabitable.
BMCC’s staff worked tirelessly to restore Fiterman Hall. It reopened for classes on October 1. Eventually, the original Fiterman Hall was demolished. A new Fiterman Hall opened in September 2012.
BMCC has a diverse student base. Many students have immigrated to America shortly before enrolling. The college also hosts the Tribeca Film Festival’s ceremonies.
BMCC’s main campus is in Lower Manhattan. It includes a swimming pool and gymnasium. The college’s sports teams compete in the NJCAA and CUNY athletic system. The women’s basketball team has won numerous championships. The men’s soccer team has also achieved great success.
BMCC has produced many notable alumni. Cardi B, Queen Latifah and Gabourey Sidibe have all attended BMCC.
Today, Borough of Manhattan Community College stands as a testament to resilience. It reflects opportunity. It is a place where students start their journey. They then go anywhere their dreams lead them.