“Clear focus on multiple pathways:” President Contributes to National Dialogue  

Dr. Johnson speaks to innovation at both college and workforce access points in Diverse Issues in Higher Education

Guttman Ranks #2 out of 30 Community Colleges in New York State

WalletHub compared 30 New York State community colleges based on three key dimensions, including: 1) Cost & Financing, 2) Education Outcomes and 3) Career Outcomes. Colleges were evaluated on 19 related indicators, ranging from in-state tuition and fees, student-faculty ratio, to graduation rate.  

New MOUs Expand Partnerships

In solidarity with the college-going goals of “opportunity youth,” Guttman President Larry Johnson, Jr. signed an MOU with the Bronx Opportunity Network on April 27. Earlier this Spring, Guttman sealed an articulation agreement for students graduating with our new Associate of Science (A.S.) in Accounting to transfer to Medgar Evers’s accounting bachelor’s program.  

A Decade In, Guttman Creates Cutting Edge Academic Departments  

It’s a win-win when we meet both a Strategic Plan goal and a Middle States Commission on Higher Education with “a stroke of the pen” ten years in the making. While most colleges start with a departmental structure, Guttman’s unique multidisciplinary learning communities provided the rare opportunity to build a highly collaborative academic structure from which departments can grow organically. “This is a monumental day at a world class institution with cutting edge research and pedagogy. The department structure and chair leadership will fortify our infrastructure to grow our academic programs while providing guidance and mentorship to faculty,” says Interim VP for Academic Affairs and Provost Nicola Blake.  

“Guttman congratulates our newly elected department chairs,” said Dr. Andrea Morrell, president of Guttman’s Academic Senate. “It is an important milestone for our college and for our faculty in particular. We believe this structure will allow us to better support each other as we build the college into the future.” 

CUNY’s Proud Tradition of Standing with Newcomer and Undocumented Students Continues at Guttman

Since the late 1800s, immigrants continue to be vital members of CUNY’s colleges. More than a third of CUNY undergraduates were born outside the U.S., and it’s estimated that at least 5,000 CUNY students are undocumented. Still, some students are unable to access financial aid, in-state tuition, scholarships, and other forms of assistance key to pursuing higher education because of their immigration status. Jointly sponsoring an Immigrant Career Pathways Panel on April 20, Guttman staff volunteers for the Immigrant Student Success Initiative and the Center for Career Preparation and Partnerships team are committed to offering all Guttman students access to all Guttman offers. The panel they hosted featured five young professionals of varying immigrant statuses who shared practical advice on gaining career-related experience during college, disclosing immigrant status while interviewing, finding community in the workplace, and more.  



Dana LePage, associate director of the college’s Connect Center and part of the team that coordinated the panel, explains that she and her colleague, Samantha Gregoire-James, are always looking for ways they can fill programming and services gaps so that DACA and non-DACA students can gain the important supports students need to pursue and complete their degrees. “It’s a real equity issue, and it impacts an immigrant student’s sense of belonging, too, when campus opportunities like internships, peer leadership roles, international study, and other things just aren’t attainable without a Social Security Number,” said LePage.  

When it comes down to basics, which are the de facto critical determinants of students being able to continue their studies, the Connect Center can offer groceries and supplies through various sources, including the Corbin Hill Food Project, Food Bank of New York City, New York City Council Food Security Funds, Fresh Direct, and Community Food Connection (CFC), explains Gregoire-James. Unfortunately, not all students who are food insecure can access some programs which require SSNs, ITINs, or other documentation. The Connect Center is grateful for generous private donors like Proskauer and the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation to provide our students with valuable food and emergency services. The Immigrant Success Initiative, including LePage, Financial Aid Specialist Jessica Portilla, and Student Success Advocate Sarina Harty, are leading up the efforts to ensure our undocumented students can also have access to these critical resources. To truly fulfill our mission, we are hoping the College can continue to stand with immigrant students. 

Guttman Comeback Program 

“We wanted to create a space for dismissed students so they can remain connected and receive support needed to ensure a strong academic comeback to the college in the following term,” says Krystal Liriano-Gonzalez, Director of Strategic Enrollment & Persistence Initiatives. Running from March 30 through May 18, this multifaceted pilot program was designed to offer students greater clarity into the circumstances surrounding their dismissal and the options they have for returning. The Comeback Program provides a safety net for students to take courageous, insightful action. Consisting of an in-person workshop that includes an overview of financial aid implications, mental health services, reflection, meeting one-on-one with the Director of Enrollment Management, the program culminates in students authoring their own success plan for moving forward. Of 58 students who were dismissed at the end of Fall 2022, 15 students are currently engaged in the pilot. 

Our 2023 Commencement will take place on Wednesday, June 21 at Bryant Park at 9 am.

Andrea Shapiro Davis, senior advisor and director of public service engagement for Mayor Eric Adams, will be the graduation speaker.