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"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 Welcomes Incoming Students at New Student Orientation | | Earlier this week, Campus Life welcomed another cohort of incoming Red Hawks at New Student Orientation. The event kicked off with a general session in the Mainstage Theater, where new students learned about life at LaGuardia and heard remarks from faculty and staff, including President Kenneth Adams. Following the morning session, students enjoyed lunch and got to know each other in the E-Atrium before attending department-specific sessions. The day’s activities concluded with a resource fair in the Gym, where they got a chance to learn a bit more about the different services and organizations available on campus. If you see any new faces when spring courses begin next week, be sure to give them a warm welcome! | | On Friday, February 20, President Kenneth Adams thanked New York City Council Member Julie Won for securing a $3 million allocation on behalf of the New York City Council. The funding will support major upgrades to the Thomson and Van Dam entrances of LaGuardia’s E‑Building, as well as accessibility improvements to the Cobblestone Courtyard. The project includes replacing 12 sets of double doors, installing vestibule air curtain systems to reduce energy loss during extreme temperatures, and updating the aging glass‑block façade at the primary entrance. The Cobblestone Courtyard will receive accessible pathways, new ramps and railings, improved lighting, and new seating, significantly enhancing ADA accessibility and overall usability. Keneshia Hoyte, a Fine Arts student and President of the LaGuardia chapter of Delta Alpha Pi, affiliated with the Office of Accessibility, spoke at the event, noting, “Today’s investment is not just about infrastructure. It is an investment in students, equity, and opportunity. These improvements will help ensure that LaGuardia continues to be a place where every student, regardless of ability, can move freely, feel supported, and thrive.” | | LaGuardia has received a $100,000 grant from the Long Island Sound Partnership and Restore America’s Estuaries’ Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund. This award will expand hands‑on learning opportunities for Sustainable Urban Agriculture students, connecting them with the ecosystems and communities of the Long Island Sound, an estuary between Connecticut and New York. The funding will support the launch of “From Soil to Sound: Empowering Students to Protect Ecosystems Through Environmental Science,” an initiative bringing Long Island Sound-based learning into soil science courses. Students will study links between soil and water quality, urban pollution, and green infrastructure; conduct field‑based soil and water testing; and participate in travel‑supported lab experiences that connect classroom learning to real environmental systems and sustainable career paths. A cohort of students will be selected for paid internships as Soil and Water Ambassadors, translating classroom learning into community environmental action. “This program empowers students to take meaningful action in urban ecosystem restoration and water conservation, fostering the next generation of environmental leaders,” said Chelsea Encababian, lecturer and coordinator of the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Track, and principal investigator of the grant. | | LaGuardia announces its 2026 Women’s History Month programming, celebrating the contributions, achievements, and advocacy of women and all those who advance gender equity. This year’s “HERStory in the Making” highlights the historic and ongoing work of women who have shaped, and continue to shape, our communities. The series, organized by a robust and cross-divisional committee of faculty, staff, and students, kicks off on March 10 with keynote addresses from political consultant April Cardena (Criminal Justice ’20) and occupational therapist Natasha Scott (Occupational Therapy Assistant ’02). Additional events throughout the month explore relationships during times of upheaval, financial literacy, and motherhood, featuring visits from author Michelle Millar Fisher and artist Shellyne Rodriguez. The series also includes a Women in Politics discussion on March 18 with panelists Bianey Garcia, LGBTQ Justice Organizer for Make the Road NY; Rana Abdelhamid, founder of the anti-violence training organization Malikah; and Chanel Lopez, Deputy Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs for Governor Kathy Hochul, and the 12th Annual Women’s Literary Salon, hosted by the English Department on March 25. See the full list of events here. | | Save the Date: Opening Sessions is March 3 | | Please mark your calendars for Opening Sessions on Tuesday, March 3 at 10 a.m. in the Little Theater. The event, which kicks off the Spring semester, will feature news from around the college and panel discussions focused on key initiatives. Come early for coffee in the Skylight area beginning at 9 a.m. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. | | Sign Up to Host an SYEP Intern This Summer | | This summer, LaGuardia’s Summer Youth Employment Program will welcome more than 3,500 young people ages 14 to 24 for paid summer work and learning opportunities. Please consider supporting a young person this summer by providing an opportunity for them to work with you in your office. SYEP participants ages 16 to 24 will work up to 25 hours a week, earning $17 per hour from July 6 through August 21. Younger participants (ages 14 and 15) will earn a stipend of $700 for engaging in project-based learning activities in a classroom setting. Hosting an intern comes at no cost; all wages are fully funded by the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development. To participate or learn more, contact Kareem Freeman at ext. 5034 or Kareem.Freeman34@lagcc.cuny.edu or Dr. Claudia Baldonedo at ext. 5236 or claudiab@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | | CUNY Case Reporting System | | | | CUNY takes all reports of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation seriously, including reports pertaining to sexual misconduct. Recently, the university enhanced the process for reporting these incidents. We encourage individuals who may have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or retaliation to submit a report through the university’s updated reporting form, which is designed to facilitate prompt review and coordinated follow-up. We also encourage the campus community to visit the CUNY Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Homepage for more information about the reporting system, CUNY policies on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and available campus and external resources. | | CUNY to Launch New Student Email System | | CUNY is launching a new email system to streamline the way students access their college and university emails. Beginning April 13, all CUNY students will have a single inbox for CUNY and LaGuardia-related emails. Students will access the new inbox using their CUNY Login information, and will receive an @cuny.edu address as well as a campus-specific address using the domain @stu-mail.lagcc.cuny.edu; they will be able to send and receive messages from/ to both of these addresses using the new inbox. | | | CUNY Faculty, Staff and Students to Receive Free LinkedIn Learning Access | | | | CUNY has recently announced an agreement with LinkedIn Learning to offer free access to LinkedIn Learning courses to all faculty, staff, and students at the university. Starting this week, you should receive an activation email from LinkedIn Learning that you can use to activate your account and receive free access to the platform’s 16,000+ online courses taught by experts in seven different languages, starting this week. For more information on how to access the platform's content, review your Tech Advisory email from February 23. | | LaGuardia offers resources to support students, regardless of their immigration status. The college has published LaGuardia’s Know Your Rights webpage, which features a series of resources and general guidelines for interacting with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this page with students so that they can be better informed. | | | 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. Sign up for a timeslot during one of next year's photo days:
Book your timeslot here. For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471.
| | GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS | | LaGuardia Community College Strengthens Community Ties at Hope Church of Astoria Luncheon | | |
On February 20, Hope Church of Astoria hosted a Community Partners Luncheon to reconnect with local community members and welcome new partners. The event was held at Legal Outreach in Astoria. The church collaborated with a variety of Astoria-based nonprofit organizations to share updates, highlight new initiatives, and explore ways Queens community organizations can continue supporting one another. The luncheon provided a meaningful opportunity to strengthen partnerships and reaffirm a shared commitment to serving the community.
Pictured at right: Luda Spajic with Donal Cogdell, Director of Hope Youth, Hope Church Astoria.
| | | INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND EFFECTIVENESS | | Institutional Effectiveness Service Request Form | | | | Institutional data is available on the OIRE webpage; however, where needed, additional data or evidence may be required for college officials with a legitimate education or administrative need. If a faculty or staff member need access to data, they can submit an Institutional Effectiveness Service Request (requires CUNY Login). | | Dr. Jayashree Kamblé, professor of English and past president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance, has published an essay in The New York Times examining the fourth season of “Bridgerton.” Drawing on her research into romance narratives, Dr. Kamblé compares the new season to “Heated Rivalry,” highlighting how each show represents passion, intimacy, and emotional depth. She writes, “Much of the success of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ which became a sensation long after the fourth season of ‘Bridgerton’ was crafted, shows another, better way to represent and evoke passion. It zoomed in on its romantic protagonists while offering a vision of happiness for overlooked people that definitely fired up the mainstream public.” She also notes that “Heated Rivalry” “does what romance novels can do best: make audiences privy to how lovers feel in their bodies as well as their minds.” | | | |
Reminder: Submit Software Installation Requests Before Spring Semester Begins
If you require software to be installed in class computers for the Spring semester, be sure to submit your requests prior to the start of the semester. Once classes begin, scheduling prevents the DoIT team from downloading software during the semester. The only exceptions that will be considered are emergency installations approved by the provost. DoIT will accept specific software installation requests for Spring I until Friday, February. 27. For applications available to all CUNY Faculty, visit CUNY Technology Services. To submit a software installation request, open an IT HelpDesk ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal, or contact Theresia Litvay-Sardou at TERRYL@lagcc.cuny.edu.
| | Brightspace Training Available | | |
A full schedule of ongoing Brightspace training can be found here. For more information and general questions, visit LaGuardia's Brightspace webpage or continue to reach out to the transition team at BrightspaceTeam@lagcc.cuny.edu.
For technical questions, reach out to Brightspace Support:
- Office: B-127 (first floor of the B-Building)
- Phone: (718) 482-6121
- Email: LMS-support@lagcc.cuny.edu
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Faculty are also encouraged to fill out this survey regarding their use of Brightspace. The insights and responses from this survey will inform the Brightspace Transition team’s plans for ongoing support.
| | ACE Announces Contract Training Partnership with DC 37 | | The Division of Adult and Continuing Education has formed a new partnership with District Council 37 (DC 37), New York City's largest public employee union. Through DC 37's Education Fund, the Workforce Tech Training Program will support upskilling union members with training in data analytics. The program, featuring virtual evening classes to accommodate working professionals, will focus on topics like SQL, Python, and Tableau. Those who complete the program successfully will earn a certificate in data analytics. This collaboration strengthens connections between education and organized labor while supporting regional workforce development goals. For more information about the program, you can contact LaGuardia’s Workforce Tech Training Program. | | | | | |
Students looking for enrollment services support can 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
| | Get to Know HR: Join us for Connection Café | | |
Come join Human Resources for a casual conversation outside of our typical office setting. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with HR and get answers to specific questions. The first 100 people to attend will receive a free LaGuardia mug. Here are the details:
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When: Monday, March 9
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Where: E-242
| | Meet with a TIAA Financial Consultant about Retirement | | |
Register for a one-on-one session with a TIAA Financial Consultant to discuss your retirement planning. All sessions are available in-person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the E Building, Room E-409. Register here.
- Thursday, March 19, 2026
- Thursday, April 2, 2026
| | | LaGuardia Seeks to Fill Open Faculty and Staff Positions | | |
Current faculty and staff are welcome to share the openings below with individuals who they believe may be a good fit for the role or apply for the positions themselves. For all LaGuardia openings, visit Employment Opportunities.
| | DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | | Cybersecurity Awareness Training on Brightspace | | The 2025-26 LaGuardia Community College Cybersecurity Awareness Training course is available on Brightspace. All faculty and staff must complete this mandatory, annual 40-minute training by April 1, 2026 to strengthen our cybersecurity defenses, and safeguard your own and university data. If you have any questions, contact Maritza Acero at macero@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | 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. Tuesday to be considered for publication on Thursday. |
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