"Campus Update" is a weekly e-newsletter published by LaGuardia's Division of Communications and External Affairs to provide news and information to the college community. | | The Division of Communications and External Affairs offers various additional resources to help you share news with the campus, including an event calendar, photography, graphic design, and more. | | LaGuardia recently received national recognition for excellence in cybersecurity curriculum and programs, earning the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation by the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE designations to institutions that commit to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure. Dr. Doyel Pal, Professor of Computer Science, says the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation signifies that the college’s cybersecurity program meets the rigorous standards set by the National Security Agency (NSA), ensuring a top-tier education aligned with national security needs. | | 2025 Black Empowerment Summit Addresses "The Black Code: The Influence of Politics, Wealth, Culture, and Education" | | The Black Empowerment Summit is under way today at LaGuardia until 4:30 p.m. This year's summit is focused on the theme of “The Black Code: The Influence of Politics, Wealth, Culture, and Education,” with the slogan “Unlocking Power, Building Legacy, Shaping the Future.” Earlier today, summit attendees received a keynote address delivered by NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. Following Williams' address, attendees participated in a series of workshops, on topics like "Politics: The Power of Your Voice: Navigating Politics for Impact" and "Culture: Roots to Rise: The Power of Black Culture in Shaping the Future." Learn more about the Black Empowerment Summit here. | | LaGuardia’s Theater program will stage Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information with eight performances from May 12 to May 19 in the Black Box Theater (M-122). The play delves into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of information in modern society. “We chose Love and Information for the unique opportunities it offers our students,” said Theater Professor James Ryan (JR) Caldwell, the show’s director. “Each student will portray 8-10 characters throughout the performance, often switching roles rapidly. This demands exceptional focus and precision. They must fully understand each character’s circumstances and make distinct vocal and physical choices to convey the essence of each new role instantly. Our students have risen to this challenge admirably, and I’m excited for the audience to witness their performances.” Love and Information debuted in London in 2012 and in the U.S. in 2014. Caryl Churchill is a renowned British playwright known for her innovative and influential works that often explore feminist themes and social issues. The play is recommended for individuals ages 13 and older due to adult themes. Tickets are $10 general or $8 for students. Learn more and reserve tickets here. | | | | As one of over 1,000 community colleges across the nation participating in Community College Month, we’re proud to highlight the incredible programs, resources, and students that make LaGuardia a leader in higher education. Members of the LaGuardia community are encouraged to view and share this video, which highlights the importance of the accessible and affordable education offered by community colleges. | | LaGuardia alumnus and current Queens College student Isaac Ramos (Fine Arts ‘24) says LaGuardia’s high quality of instruction empowered him to apply for and become the New York Mets and New Balance Athletics’ 2024 Queens Creator. “LaGuardia’s amazing professors—English instructors at the CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP) at LaGuardia and the Fine Arts professors who encouraged me to pursue my passion for art—have helped shape my academic career,” he says. LaGuardia has inspired thousands of students and alumni like Isaac to go on and thrive in New York City and beyond. Students are finding success by taking advantage of a vast collection of support services and opportunities like LaGuardia CARES, Veterans Services, and Student Government Association, to name a few. Read their stories on LaGuardia’s new “We Are LaGuardia” page. | | | LHI Student Visits Capitol Hill | | | | In early March, Carlo John Domingo, an engineering major, represented the LaGuardia Humanitarian Initiative (LHI) and the college on Capitol Hill. Through LHI’s global partner, CARE International, Carlo advocated for international assistance with members of Congress and their staff. Now in its third year, the program provides student representatives the opportunity to strengthen leadership, communication skills, and advocate for global and local issues. As a "Designated Advocate" for CARE International, Carlo shared his personal story of growing up in the Philippines and how U.S. international aid helped his family overcome poverty and migrate to the U.S. This was particularly relevant as USAID funding is currently frozen. In meetings with staff members of Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Carlo advocated to protect U.S. funds for international programs, sharing his research which highlighted the impact of humanitarian decisions on global stability and U.S. security. The LaGuardia Humanitarian Initiative’s focus on global learning helps students connect classroom knowledge, community needs, and career goals to propose solutions for both local and global issues. | | To kick off this year's programming on the LaGuardia Community Greenway, the Sustainability Council will host a day dedicated to celebrating the environment at the Annual Earth Day Festival. Organized by the Sustainability Council, the Festival will feature environmental groups, agencies, and vendors from around the city, games and activities, and raffles and snacks. The celebration is the first of several events planned to take place on the Greenway this year—to learn more about upcoming Greenway events, click here. | | | Ways to Help Myanmar-Thailand Earthquake Victims | | LaGuardia extends condolences to the victims of the recent earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. The 7.7 magnitude quake, which occurred on March 28, hit near Myanmar’s second-largest city of Mandalay. More than 1,700 have died and damage has impacted the city’s airport, roads and hundreds of buildings. Members of the LaGuardia community who wish to provide help can donate to: Save the Children and ANUMSA (ANU Myanmar Students' Association). The Wellness Center at LaGuardia is available to students who may need to speak with someone. | | Do you have an idea for a mural you’d like to see on 29th Street? The college is seeking submissions for street mural designs to be placed on the LaGuardia Community College Greenway later this year. Faculty, staff, and students who are interested in submitting a design are encouraged to attend an info session on April 10 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in E-500 (RSVP here). The deadline for submissions is May 12, see guidelines; once all submissions are received, members of the LaGuardia community and the Long Island City Partnership will vote for their favorite design. A winner will be announced in late May. For more information, contact Vice President for Communications and External Affairs, Manny Romero, or Chief of Staff Nayelli Valencia Turrent. | | | Sign Up to Add a Professional Headshot to Your Faculty Profile | | | | LaGuardia’s Communications and External Affairs Division is hosting a series of “Photo Days” for faculty and staff who need to update their professional headshots! Your headshot can be used for a variety of purposes and adds a personal touch to your Faculty Profile on the LaGuardia website. Book your timeslot for, April 15 or May 13. For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471. | | LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | | Fiorello LaGuardia Book Prize Author Talk on April 24 | | Scholarship Established in Honor of Senior Academic Advisor Matthew Haynes | | | | In memory of Senior Academic Advisor Matthew Haynes, who passed away November 1, 2024, Student Advising Services has established a scholarship for students pursuing their associate degree in Theater and Music Performance. In addition to serving as a dedicated advisor to the LaGuardia student body, Matthew was an avid fan of Broadway; the scholarship will enable a LaGuardia student who shares Matthew’s love of theater to pursue this passion. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have completed 12 credits and be enrolled full-time in either the Theater or Music Performance programs. Recipients must also be eligible for FAFSA and TAP aid. If you know a student who may be a good candidate for the scholarship, please encourage them to apply via the LaGuardia Foundation scholarship application by July 31. You can also make a donation to the scholarship fund here. | | President’s Society is a program that provides students with the practical skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed in today’s workforce. The application to become a President's Society Ambassador for the 2025-2026 school year is open through June 16 — students can apply here. President’s Society Ambassadors have access to special growth opportunities including workshops on topics such as interview and presentation skills, networking events with industry leaders, cultural outings, and opportunities to build their leadership skills by representing LaGuardia at important functions. If you know a student who you believe could be a good candidate for the program, please encourage them to apply. | | | LaGuardia ALT Presents at AAC&U’s Conference on Learning and Student Success | | | | Last week, members of LaGuardia’s Assessment Leadership Team (ALT) presented at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS), held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Rejitha Nair, associate director of assessment and research, Dr. Kevin Mark, professor of Natural Sciences and co-director of Assessment and Institutional Learning, Professor Andrea Irias, associate professor and director of Paralegal Studies, and Dr. Monika Ekiert, professor of Education & Language Acquisition, delivered a presentation titled “Assessing Assessment: Who’s in Charge Here” at the conference. | | LaGuardia Professor Collaborates with CUNY Professors to Publish CHEF Curriculum Report | | Dr. Nicolle Fernandes, professor and chair of the Community Health and Wellness Department and director of the Nutrition and Culinary Management Program, collaborated with other CUNY professors to write a report which was published by Gastronomy, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on gastronomy and culinary arts, published quarterly online by MDPI. The report was a result of a $50,845 grant she was awarded in 2023 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop the Climate-friendly, Healthy, Efficient Food (CHEF) Service credential. The grant, which was part of the FY2022 Agricultural Workforce Training at Community Colleges (AWT) program was announced on NIFA’s website. The primary awardee was the CUNY School of Public Health (Dr. Nevin Cohen, associate professor), who received $250,000. | | | The other collaborators in this project and report were Dr. Katherine Tomaino Fraser, and Dr. Julia Greene, from the Urban Food Policy Institute, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy; and Dr. Mark D’Alessandro from Kingsborough Community College/CUNY. The report describes the development of the CHEF curriculum at the City University of New York (CUNY). The program addresses a critical gap between growing industry demand for sustainability-trained workers and limited community college culinary education in these areas. Through collaborative design with industry partners, public agencies, and non-profit organizations, we created four core courses covering sustainable food service operations, culinary practices, food systems, and nutrition. | | |
Students looking for enrollment services support can now access virtual office hours every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Virtual One Stop takes place on Zoom and allows students to drop in and meet with staff from the following offices:
- Admissions
- International Student Services
- Registrar
- Student Financial Services
- Student Information Center
- Transfer Credit Evaluation
- Testing
| | | Family Pride Student Panel Discussion Scheduled for May 14 | | LaGuardia Student-Parent Initiative, CUNY Fatherhood Academy, and the Women's Center & LGBTQ+ Hub invite students to the annual Family Pride Student Panel Discussion event on May 14 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. RSVP is required. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear powerful stories from LGBTQIA+ student-parents, students from LGBTQIA+ families, and allies as we explore ways to build a more inclusive and supportive campus community. If you know a student who may be interested in this event, please encourage them to attend. | | Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- The Library will have reduced hours during Spring Break. Please make sure you check our calendar before coming in.
- If you’re a student interested in joining a book club, the Library is interested in sponsoring one! Please fill out the form here.
- Need to get some writing done? Like to write in a group? The Library is once again sponsoring the 500 Words of April. Check our meeting times on our website.
- MoneyBoss workshops are throughout the Spring semester. Please check our website for our next workshop.
| | | Important Changes in Human Resources | | |
To improve services for faculty and staff, the Employment Services and Payroll/Timekeeping Departments have merged. This action offers each classification their own team of specialists designed to answer questions related to appointment, reappointment, promotion, and payroll. Please refer to the list below to identify the team assigned to each classification.
HEO Series and ECP
Faculty, CLTs, and Adjuncts/CETs
Classified – Full- and Part-Time Employees
| | This seminar is for Tier 4/Tier 6 members enrolled in the 62/5, 55/25, 57/5 or 63/5 Plan, OR Prospective Tier 6 members who would be enrolled in the 63/5 Plan. The seminar will be offered via Zoom on April 10 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, members will receive a confirmation email directly from POP Zoom no-reply@zoom.us. | | LaGuardia Seeks to Fill Open Faculty and Staff Positions | | |
LaGuardia currently has several ongoing searches for new faculty and staff members. Current faculty and staff are welcome to share the opening below with individuals who they believe may be a good fit for the role or apply for the positions themselves. For more openings, visit Employment Opportunities.
| | DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | | |
Complete Mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Please log in to Blackboard and complete the Cybersecurity Awareness Training course under the “Organizations” tab. This course covers phishing, spam, and best practices to protect CUNY accounts and sensitive data. Your participation is vital for safeguarding the University’s information. For questions, contact Maritza Acero.
| | LAGUARDIA IN THE HEADLINES | | "Campus Update" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for publication can email CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday. |
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