"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. | | On August 13, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul rallied with students, staff and faculty at LaGuardia to celebrate the more than 16,500 New Yorkers statewide who have applied to her landmark free community college program for adults in high-demand fields through CUNY and SUNY Reconnect. Beginning in Fall 2025, CUNY and SUNY Reconnect builds upon Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to expand access to higher education, strengthen New York’s workforce, and provide pathways to good-paying careers for adult learners. LaGuardia President Kenneth Adams, who introduced Governor Hochul at the start of the rally, said, “Community colleges play a vital role in higher education and workforce development by providing accessible, affordable, and career-focused education, particularly for underserved populations. Offering free community college enhances the impact they have on the lives of New Yorkers. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her unwavering dedication to higher education and her work to expand opportunities for every New Yorker.” | | CUNY Chancellor Visits LaGuardia Community Greenway Street Mural | | On August 14, CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and President Kenneth Adams joined the preview of the LaGuardia Community Greenway street mural. Vera Albrecht, Chair of the Art Department, and Kalsang Yangtso, representing Councilmember Julie Won’s Office, also took part in painting the street mural on 29th Street between Skillman Avenue and 47th Avenue. In the coming weeks, patio furniture will be placed on the greenway for the community to use. The mural’s design, Keep It Movin’!!, was created by LaGuardia Fine Arts student Fernanda Contreras, who won first place in the LaGuardia Community Greenway Street Mural Contest this past June. Fernanda’s winning work will be formally honored with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September. Stay tuned for more details. | | LaGuardia Celebrates NYPA Power Up 2030 Graduates | | On August 19, LaGuardia Community College celebrated 17 graduates from the NYPA PowerUp 2030 Program, aimed at helping small businesses compete in the renewable energy sector. Remarks were presented by President Kenneth Adams, who acknowledged program leaders Assuanta Howard, Assistant Dean of Business Services and Executive Director of LaGuardia’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program; Gina Jackson, NYPA Supplier Diversity Program Administrator; and John Canale, NYPA Senior Vice President of Supply Management. NYPA's PowerUP2030 program is a New York Power Authority (NYPA) initiative designed to help small businesses, particularly those owned by minorities, women, and service-disabled veterans, compete in the renewable energy sector. It's a program offered in partnership with LaGuardia Community College. The program aims to prepare businesses for opportunities in the clean energy sector and connect them with resources and potential contracts with NYPA. | | Horizons NYC at LaGuardia Presents End-of-Summer Showcase | | Children enrolled in the Horizons NYC program at LaGuardia presented their End-of-Summer Showcase on August 14 in Room E-242. The jungle-themed celebration included dancing and singing by rising kindergarteners and first graders. Guests included Dr. Denise B. Maybank, CUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Remarks were presented by President Kenneth Adams; Dr. Alexis McLean, Vice President for Student Affairs; Irkania Pimentel, Program Director; and Macy Stockton, Executive Director of Horizons NYC. On June 30, LaGuardia became the first institution in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first college in New York City to serve as a host site for Horizons NYC. The Horizons program model utilizes social-emotional, experiential learning techniques and time-tested methods to offset summer learning losses and maintain grade-level or above expectations. | | CUNY Central Celebrates Staff Appreciation Day at LaGuardia | | LaGuardia Community College was the backdrop for CUNY Central’s Staff Appreciation Barbeque on August 14. The afternoon included CUNY merchandise giveaways, food, and domino tables on the LaGuardia campus. President Adams welcomed CUNY Central staff and introduced CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, who thanked LaGuardia for serving as the venue host for the celebration. | LaGuardia Veterans and Students Attend Community Night at Citi Field | | LaGuardia Community College was in attendance at the first-ever "Mets in the Community Night at Citi Field: Celebrating Grantee Partners" on August 13. Daryl Griffin, Student Life Manager with Veterans Services, and other members of the LaGuardia community attended thanks to the generosity from the Amazon’ Mets Foundation and Community Engagement who donated tickets for the game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. | | Fall 2025 Opening Sessions: Save the Date | | | | Mark your calendars! Opening Sessions 2025, Learning Beyond the Classroom: Expanding Opportunities Through Experiential and Work-Based Learning, is scheduled for Thursday, September 4. This year’s Opening Sessions will feature a keynote address from Angie Kamath, Dean of the New York University School of Professional Studies. Breakout sessions will explore subthemes such as “Enhancing Learning Through Practice,” “Aligning with LaGuardia’s New Education Plan,” “Expanding Experiential and Work-Based Learning,” and “Fostering Participation and Civic Responsibility.” Contact Jasmine Edwards at jaedwards@lagcc.cuny.edu and Christine Pardo at cpardo@lagcc.cuny.edu with any questions. | | CUNY Login MFA Has Begun – Set Up Your Account Now! | | CUNY Login Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) was implemented August 14. All faculty, staff and students are required to use CUNY Login MFA each time CUNY Login is used to access CUNY applications such as CUNYfirst, Blackboard/Brightspace, DegreeWorks, Zoom and Dropbox. If you haven’t already set up your CUNY Login MFA account, do it today! CUNY Login MFA is separate from the Microsoft MFA implementation required when using Microsoft 365 applications. All LaGuardia faculty and staff must set up a CUNY Login MFA to avoid being denied access to CUNY apps including CUNYfirst, Blackboard/Brightspace, DegreeWorks, Zoom and Dropbox. However, if you’re using the College’s VPN you already have a CUNY Login MFA and you don’t have to set up another account. The authentication method for CUNY Login MFA is the Microsoft Authenticator App. To avoid delays in accessing CUNY apps when you need them, you are encouraged to set up your MFA account now. Click here to learn how to set up CUNY Login MFA. If you have questions or need assistance, contact our HelpDesk by submitting an IT HelpDesk ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal, or by email at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or call (718) 482-6134. | | | Brightspace Training Available | | | | LaGuardia will start using Brightspace in Fall 2025. Ongoing training is available, and a full schedule can be found here. Students have received communication about Brightspace and will receive additional communications in advance of the Fall. For more information, visit LaGuardia's Brightspace webpage or email the transition team at BrightspaceTeam@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | LaGuardia has relaunched its Alumni Association to empower all LaGuardia graduates through a strong network of support, resources, and opportunities. Membership in the LaGuardia Alumni Association is free and offers guidance and tools to help alumni navigate the professional world and fosters a spirit of community by encouraging alumni to give back through volunteer efforts that support current students and college initiatives. By signing up, alumni members will receive a monthly newsletter, which includes news and updates about their alma mater. LaGuardia alumni members can now receive their Alumni ID card which offers alumni access to campus services. To get their verification, please email alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. LaGuardia alumni are encouraged to share their story at alumni@lagcc.cuny.edu. To volunteer and get involved, call the Communications and External Affairs Division at (718) 482-5583. Visit the Alumni Association page to learn more about your benefits and how to get involved. | | | College Closed on Fridays Through August 22 | | | | As a reminder, LaGuardia is participating in CUNY’s Summer Four-Day Workweek Program, which remains in effect through August 22. The college will resume its regular workweek on August 25. Please keep the adjusted summer schedule in mind, and be sure to check individual office hours when seeking assistance from your colleagues in other departments and divisions. | | LaGuardia and EdSights Launch Chatbot to Check in with Students | | LaGuardia has partnered with EdSights to launch an SMS chatbot that will maintain connections with students and foster engagement and student retention. The chatbot, named after our mascot, Rebel the Red Hawk, will interact with students via text message to provide resources with them and check in about their experience at the college. Rebel can answer students’ questions across a broad range of campus topics specific to LaGuardia. Students will receive an introductory text from Rebel on Monday, August 25. If you receive any questions from students about the chatbot, feel free to forward the questions to StudentAffairsHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | | | | As part of the college’s commitment to safety and emergency preparedness, LaGuardia is looking for volunteers to serve as Fire Wardens for each department or floor. The role of a Fire Warden is crucial in ensuring the safety of all employees during emergencies including leading evacuation procedures during fire drills and actual emergencies, and ensuring all employees are aware of emergency exits and procedures. If you are interested in becoming a Fire Warden, please add your name and email here by Friday, August 29. If you’ve previously registered, then you do not need to register again. If you have any questions, you may contact Sebastian Zarate at sebastian.zarate54@lagcc.cuny.edu. | | Students Learn About Wastewater-Based Epidemiology in Summer Bootcamp | | A group of 12 LaGuardia students and three Queensborough Community College students are learning about biotechniques like DNA isolation and gel electrophoresis this week at the Wastewater Epidemiology Student Training and Education Program’s (WESTEP) Summer Bootcamp. Dr. Olga Calderón, a professor in the Natural Sciences Department, is a Co-Principal Investigator on the program, along with Dr. John Dennehy of Queens College and Dr. Monica Trujillo of Queensborough Community College. The bootcamp, which began August 11 and will continue until Friday, August 22, takes place at Queens College and the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Center at New York City College of Technology. Pictured above, the students are in the Queens College Microbiology Lab, learning about wastewater science surveillance through biotechnology, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and bacteriophage isolation and identification. | | High School Students Participate in Settlement House Experience at LaGuardia | | LaGuardia has partnered with Queens Community House to host The Settlement House Experience, a transformative one-year program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors involved in Queens Community House (QCH) programs. This initiative invites students to explore enduring works of literature and philosophy that challenge them to reflect on lives of purpose and civic responsibility. The experience begins with a free summer college course taught by Professor Jose Fabara, CSE120: Reading the Biography. Students receive all necessary materials and benefit from the support of dedicated tutors to ensure academic success. Following the course, students engage in a paid internship (up to 60 hours at $16 per hour) within a QCH program, gaining firsthand experience in civic engagement and the settlement house tradition. Throughout the academic year, each student is paired with a college advisor who provides monthly guidance—either in-person or virtually—on the college application process. | | LaGuardia Students and Faculty Enjoy Perks of AMATYC Institutional Membership | | LaGuardia is an institutional member of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC). This membership allows faculty access to the AMATYC publications MathAMATYC Educator (a journal published three times a year) and AMATYC News (a newsletter published four times a year). Faculty can also take advantage of professional development opportunities through the association, such as conferences, traveling workshops, and webinars. Thanks to our membership, LaGuardia students have had the opportunity to in the Student Mathematics League and the Student Research League. In the 2024–2025 Student Mathematics League final results, LaGuardia student Jiale Lin placed fourth in the Northeast Regional Individual Results. And in April 2025, Jiale and fellow student Enmanuel De La Nuez teamed up to participate in the AMATYC Student Research League with a project applying a regression model to assess affordable housing needs in Sacramento, CA. | | | | | |
Students looking for enrollment services support can now access virtual office hours every Thursday 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
| | Student Success Mentors visit the Museum of the City of New York | | On Thursday, July 31, a group of 13 new Student Success Mentors (SSMs) visited the Museum of the City of New York. Framed as a co-curricular experience to complement their training, SSMs had the opportunity to see a variety exhibits—and receive a guided tour—on a range of topics important to the history of New York City, particularly related to cultural identity, housing and infrastructure, labor and political movements, and racial justice. Throughout the trip, SSMs were prompted to think about social issues and movements impacting New Yorkers today. Key takeaways included learning what it means to be an advocate, and activist, the history of advocacy and activism in shaping New York City, and the importance of co-curricular learning, connecting with colleagues, and building community. | | Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- The Library has reduced hours during Intersession. Check our Library Hours before you make the trip.
- Not sure what to read for fun? Your Librarians are here to help you find out! Fill out this form.
| | | LaGuardia Student Affairs Hires Director of Community Standards | | | | Childerick Barthelus has been hired as the Director of Community Standards, effective August 11, 2025. Childerick most recently served as Assistant Director for Student Organization and Off-Campus Misconduct at Rutgers University where he managed all student conduct processes and led campus-wide educational outreach efforts as they relate to community standards. Prior to his time at Rutgers, Childerick was Assistant Dean of Student Life at Farleigh Dickinson University, where he oversaw student engagement and programming, co-chaired the Behavioral Intervention Team, and led crisis response efforts. He has also held appointments as an Assistant Director of Student Life and Residence Hall Director. In his role at LaGuardia, Childerick will oversee the implementation and facilitation of workshops, seminars, lectures and/or symposia as they relate to student rights and responsibilities, crisis response, behavioral intervention, and campus/CUNY policy, and ensure that these efforts target and reach applicable campus stakeholders. He will also serve as the divisional liaison for all matters involving student policy violations, and work with Public Safety, academic departments, student support services units, and other areas of the college to investigate and mediate or adjudicate these matters. Childerick is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) and American College Personnel Association (ACPA). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Administrative Science, both from Fairleigh Dickinson University. | | LaGuardia Appoints New Athletic Director | | LaGuardia has appointed Marquee Poole as the new Director of Athletics and Recreation, effective August 18, 2025. Marquee previously worked at Hostos Community College, where he most recently served as Athletics Program Coordinator, but led the institution's athletics program as Interim Athletics Director on three separate occasions. He was also Hostos' Head Women's Basketball Coach and is currently the Youth Programming Creator for and a member of the Board of Directors for Dyckman Basketball NYC. Marquee has been recognized as Coach of the Year by both the CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) almost ten times and has won championships within both CUNYAC and the NJCAA. In his new role, Marquee will provide innovative and strategic leadership, program development, and administration of a comprehensive athletics and recreational program serving all students, with a creative and forward-thinking vision that will expand the athletics operation at the College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Bonaventure University, and he is currently completing a Master of Science in Recreation Administration at Lehman College. | | |
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Gentle Reminder About Paycheck Distribution Times
Please note that Human Resources has a firm policy of check distribution between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in Room E-405, Monday through Thursday. This ensures that critical staff are available when you arrive. If you can't make it during this window, please call us at (718) 482-5075 to make a special arrangement. Note: Check distribution will return to Monday- Friday starting the week of August 25th with hours remaining 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
| | HR Office Renovation is Nearly Complete | | Due to office refurbishment, Human Resources has been temporarily located in E-405 for the summer. We are pleased to report that the mid-August completion date is on schedule, and we will be back to our previous location in E-407 by the end of the month. We look forward to serving your HR needs from our new space. | | DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | | Cybersecurity Tip: Protect Yourself Against Smishing Scams | | Smishing scams (also known as robotext scams) involve receiving unsolicited, automated text messages that impersonate a familiar business, government agency, or financial institution. Often, smishing scam texts try to capitalize on your fear, saying you could lose money if you don’t respond, or trick you into giving them your personal or financial information. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a warning that scammers are increasingly using text messages and has tips to stay safe. If you have any questions, please contact our IT HelpDesk at: ITHelp@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. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday. |
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