Hostos Community College and Baruch College Celebrate the Launch of the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy

 
On Wednesday, October 15, a remarkable milestone was celebrated as Hostos Community College and Baruch College, both distinguished institutions within The City University of New York (CUNY) system, officially launched the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy! This exciting new partnership was marked by a special signing ceremony held at Hostos’ vibrant campus in the South Bronx, a move that promises to enrich educational opportunities for countless students.
   
“Hostos Community College is proud to forge this new partnership with Baruch College, as it will provide a clear and vital pathway to opportunity and educational growth for our students,” said President Cocco De Filippis of this new partnership. “Serving the traditionally underserved population of the South Bronx, the nation’s poorest congressional district, Hostos works tirelessly to fulfill our mission of fostering socio-economic mobility through education.”
 
President Cocco De Filippis further remarked, “The new Hostos-Baruch Business Academy will provide our graduates with world-class instruction that will enable them to compete successfully in increasingly challenging business environments, uplifting their communities, and helping sustain equity and diversity in the economic engines of this nation. I am so grateful for President Wu and his team for making this partnership possible.”  
President S. David Wu also reflected on the profound impact of this collaboration, stating, “We are proud to partner with Hostos Community College to bring the transformational impact of the Baruch Business Academy to the Bronx. This collaboration embodies our shared commitment to academic excellence and equitable access.
 
He elaborated, “Together, we are building a seamless pathway that empowers students — at every stage of their academic journey — to thrive in New York City’s dynamic workforce and to become the leaders who will shape the region’s economy for decades to come.”
 
Hostos joins a lineup of CUNY community colleges collaborating with Baruch's Business Academy, which includes Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Bronx Community College, Guttman Community College, LaGuardia Community College, and Queensborough Community College. President Wu projected that over 1,000 students could be enrolled in the Business Academy at any given time! “The momentum is clearly building,” he remarked.
 
For Hostos students majoring in Business Management, enrolling in the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy will create a clear pathway to transfer to Baruch College and the esteemed Zicklin School of Business, renowned for its top-ranked programs. Upon completing their associate degree and meeting academic requirements, students will be guaranteed admission to Baruch and Zicklin, which offers 22 undergraduate bachelor’s programs in Business Administration, along with a variety of concentrations and specializations.
 
Participants can look forward to a wealth of cross-campus activities, networking events, and peer mentoring from current Zicklin students — all designed to enrich their academic experience. They will also gain invaluable internship and career opportunities, connecting them with prominent companies in New York and beyond.
 
During the ceremony, attended by administrators and faculty from both institutions as well as Hostos students, the theme of opportunity — particularly for immigrant and first-generation college students — resonated strongly. "Today's event marks more than just the signing of an agreement; it's a celebration of opportunity, equity, and a shared commitment to student success," noted Diana Kreymer, Executive Chief of Staff and Deputy to the President, who served as Mistress of Ceremonies. "This business academy is about opening doors — and for many of our students, it's the first door here at Hostos to a future filled with new opportunities and possibilities. This partnership is transformative and empowering, especially for first-generation college-goers, allowing them to dream bigger, aim higher, and advance with confidence in both their academic and professional journeys." 
   
This sentiment particularly resonated with first-generation, Dominican-born Hostos student Mayerlin Francisco, who did not previously attend college in the U.S. and initially did not meet the prerequisites to attend Baruch. When she enrolled at Hostos, she thought, “I’m going to do business management, see how it goes, then transfer to Baruch.” When a professor informed her about the new Hostos-Baruch [Business] Academy, it opened a door she believed was previously closed. “[It] led me to join the Zicklin program. That’s why I’m here, and this is a significant achievement for me.” 
 
Francisco credits Hostos with helping her improve her public speaking and networking skills and navigating her academic journey thus far. Looking ahead, she is interested in studying international business while at Baruch. “I want to be on that path, and I feel that this is the right moment and the right college for it.” 
 
Experiences like Francisco’s are the inspiration behind Hostos' many initiatives aimed at improving transfer pathways and student success. Under the leadership of President Cocco De Filippis, a Dominican immigrant and four-time CUNY graduate herself, these efforts have flourished. As both a former Provost and now President of the College, she has partnered with various institutions, with the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy being the latest example of her commitment to this goal. 
   
During the ceremony, Babette Audant, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Research & Assessment, and Dean of Academic Affairs, acknowledged the extraordinary teamwork displayed by both institutions that made the vision for the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy a reality. She recalled how, driven by a “clear sense of purpose,” the Hostos business department’s leadership and faculty restructured the program’s curriculum, and she expressed gratitude to Baruch for their unwavering support throughout the process. “We could not have done anything like this, at this speed, without the incredible participation of the Baruch faculty,” she stated.  
Bruce Weber, Willem Kooyker Dean of the Zicklin School of Business, also reflected on the collaborative spirit, noting the importance of partnership in “creating the greatest opportunities we can.” 
 
He stated,“The more we can work with our brother and sister institutions, the better it is for our students.”  
 
Indeed, it is. The launch of the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy represents a significant advancement in educational opportunities for students in the South Bronx and beyond. With a commitment to academic excellence and equity, the Hostos-Baruch Business Academy stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity, inspiring future generations to dream bigger and reach their fullest potential.