"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. | | |
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As we greet the month of May, there are many celebrations and commemorations to fill our calendars. Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month has been celebrated at LaGuardia for many years. This year’s committee, led by Professors Dana Trusso, Tuli Chatterji, and Tomonori Nagano, has planned a mini-conference, scheduled for Thursday, a cultural celebration on the Plaza, taking place next week, and additional events taking place later in the month. Be sure to visit www.laguardia.edu/aapi for full details. | |
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May also marks Mental Health Awareness month, and our Wellness Center has planned activities to honor this occasion; be sure to read more below. There are several other commemorations as you will see noted by Wendy Nicholson, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on our DEI website.
These commemorations give us all the opportunity to learn from each other’s unique experiences and cultural inheritance.
Best wishes,
Kenneth Adams
President
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LaGuardia’s Award-Winning Theater Program Presents Big Love
The award-winning Theater Program at LaGuardia is putting on a production of Big Love, a tragic yet hilarious play that takes the plot of an ancient Greek play into modern times. Tickets are available now for shows running May 17–20 at the Little Theater. Big Love is a tragicomic, modern re-telling of one of the western world's oldest plays, The Danaids by Aeschylus. It tells the story of 50 brides fleeing arranged marriages to their 50 cousins and seeking refuge in a villa on the coast of Italy. Big Love deals with themes of refugeeism, gender roles, dysfunctional relationships, and ultimately love. It raises questions about the institution of marriage and shows that there are no easy answers to some of life’s biggest problems. LaGuardia students and recent graduates who are part of the Big Love production include crew members D'Amari Brown, Bryan Feliciano, Christian Houston, Morticia Salazar, and Tsumugi Fukuda, and cast members Isaias Aragon, Cheyenne Campbell, Jaden Collins, Viktoriya Gurskaya, Michael Hernandez, Annabelle Paez, Jermaine Parker, Liz Pratt, Jason Rodriguez, Christian Torres, Bambo Coulibaly, Raven Furs, and Isabella Rivera.
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On Exhibit: "Land & Lens" from April 27 through May 25
“Land & Lens,” on display from April 27 through May 25 in the President's Gallery (located on the 5th floor of the E-Building), features the work by Nathanael Cox. Through his lens, Cox captures the vibrant colors, intricate textures, and transcendent beauty of the natural world, revealing scenes that are familiar and yet strangely otherworldly. His compositions are marked by a masterful use of tone and light, creating dimensionality that draws the viewers into each scene and invites them to explore their hidden secrets. Despite the absence of human figures, Cox's photographs are infused with a palpable sense of presence and vitality, evoking wonder and awe at the majesty of our environments. Cox's creative process is evidence of his commitment to the art of exploration. Through years of trial and error, he has developed a keen sense of the ideal times and locations for shooting, allowing him to capture the subtle nuances and veiled beauties of the natural world. By combining his intuitive approach to composition with a masterful use of digital editing tools such as Lightroom and Photoshop, Cox creates photographs that are at once deeply personal and evocative. Through his work, he inspires us to embrace the spirit of exploration and to seek out new vistas of thought, creativity, and self-discovery.
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MEC Department Hosts “Math is Everywhere”
The Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science (MEC) Department hosted “Math is Everywhere,” a co-curricular student competition event on May 3. The event featured students who presented projects and showcases, which were reviewed. Facilitators for the event were Malgorzata Marciniack, Lucie Mingla, Shenglan Yuan, Choon Shan Lai, and Nana Osei Bonsu. Welcome remarks were presented by Kenneth Adams, LaGuardia President; Dr. Billie Gastic Rosado, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs; and MEC Chair Dr. Abderrazak Belkharraz.
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LaGuardia Academic Departments Share OER Success Stories
On May 3, the MEC and Natural Sciences (NS) departments hosted an event in the Little Theater, showcasing LaGuardia's achievements using Open Educational Resources (OER) over the past few years. Professors shared how cost savings is one of the biggest advantages of using OER, because it removes a costly burden from our students and makes a crucial difference in providing all students with affordable access to education and more opportunities to earn their college degree. The event was presented by Dr Maria Entezari, NS Department Chairperson and Dr. Abdel Belkharraz Idrissi, MEC Department Chairperson.
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GOOD NEWS FROM GRANTS DEVELOPMENT | | |
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Taleida Gamble Finds Her Way Back to LaGuardia with Credits for Success
LaGuardia Community College student Taleida Gamble, 34, appreciates the Credits for Success initiative for helping her re-enroll after a five-year break. Taleida first enrolled at LaGuardia in 2014 as a Human Services: Mental Health major. After earning 24 credits, she left LaGuardia in 2017 when she became the head of her household and wanted to focus on supporting herself and her two daughters, now ages 10 and 11. In February 2022, Taleida saw a post on LinkedIn about a debt forgiveness scholarship available through the Credits for Success initiative of LaGuardia’s Office of Credit for Prior Learning. Both are supported by a $1 million grant from Robin Hood to help working-age New Yorkers who have earned some college credits but did not complete the course requirements from a degree. Taleida is back in class and pIans to complete her associate degree in 2024; she then hopes to pursue a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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RSVP for Commencement 2023
Marshals and Volunteers Needed!
LaGuardia’s faculty and staff are invited to attend the 51st Commencement Exercises, taking place Wednesday, June 21 on the Queens College campus. Please RSVP as soon as possible, whether you plan to volunteer, serve as a Commencement Marshal, march in the Academic Processional, or sit in the audience. The Commencement website contains additional information regarding academic regalia rental, directions, and information for students.
Student applications are still being accepted for Class Speaker. See details online; deadline May 12, 2023.
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Donations of New Items Requested for Asylum Seekers
CUNY has partnered with the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) to collect donations to assist asylum seekers temporarily housed in the city. New clothing for people of all sizes will be accepted at C-107 through May 26. Contact Rhonda Mouton for questions. The following items are being accepted:
- Sneakers, flip flops, sandals, rain boots
- Light coats & raincoats
- Sweatshirts
- Short & long sleeve t-shirts and button ups
- Shorts, jeans, slacks and cropped pants
- Dresses, tank tops (appropriate length)
- Bathing suits (appropriate style) & rash guards
- Onesies (newborns and babies)
- Underclothes
- Backpacks/supplies (for all school-aged children)
- Essential items such as toiletries, sunscreen, diapers, etc.
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Queens-Wide Lavender Graduation Celebration Taking Place on May 26
Colleagues from LaGuardia Community College, Queens College, York College, Queensborough Community College, and CUNY Law School invite you and your graduates to a CUNY Queens Lavender Graduation Celebration honoring LGBTQIA+ undergraduate and graduate students on May 26, 2023, at Queens College’s Music School Atrium. RSVP by May 19.
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2023 LaGuardia Undergraduate Philosophy & Social Science Conference
Join us to hear students present their own original work! Lunch provided and admission is open to the public. Keynote speaker: Dr. Kris Sealey (Professor of Philosophy, Fairfield University) Keynote Address: Variants in the Machine, Plots, on the plantation, Beauty in the Ashes. Join us May 4,from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in E-242. Contact: lagccphilosophy@gmail.com
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May 10 College Senate Meeting Cancelled
The meeting of the College Senate scheduled for May 10 has been cancelled. The next Senate meeting will be Wednesday, June 7. Please contact your Senator or Senate Chair Cristy Bruns for any related matters or questions.
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Senate Governance Plan Revision Committee Recommendations Implemented
The Senate's Governance Plan Revision Committee, which completed its work last spring, recommended the formation of new governance bodies at the College to facilitate continued improvements in communication and representation in the governing of the College. Two of those bodies have formed. The Chairs Council consists of the chairs of the academic departments, and the Governance Leaders Council brings together the elected leaders of all the other governance bodies of the college in a meeting with President Adams each semester. The current members of the Governance Leaders Council are Student Government Association President Lucia Chavira, Faculty Council President Rochell Isaac, Chairs Council Chair Michael Napolitano, Staff Representative Loretta Capuano-Vella, and College Senate Chair Cristy Bruns. The first meeting of the Governance Council Leaders and President Adams will be scheduled soon. If you have any questions, please contact Cristy Bruns.
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LaGuardia’s Nursing Program Featured at Queens State of the Borough
Last week President Adams attended Queens Borough Donovan Richards’ State of the Borough at Queens Theater, where he spoke about the importance of investing in CUNY for the future of Queens. The Borough President highlighted his commitment in supporting the healthcare system and his recent $2 million in funding for LaGuardia's nursing program. During the event President Adams had the opportunity to catchup with legislators, including Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and provide updates on some of the new initiatives happening at LaGuardia.
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LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | |
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Steinway and Sons Pianos - Instrument of the Immortals
A little-known treasure within the Steinway Collection at the La Guardia and Wagner Archives is a group of Steinway advertisements from the 1920’s, with the captivating slogan “Instrument of the Immortals”. The Ads illustrate Steinway Artists at their craft or music, generally. The ethereal beauty displayed in these advertisements is based on Artwork commissioned by Steinway. We invite you to enjoy more of these works of art on the Archives’ website.
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The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives has been the repository of the papers of the Steinway & Sons piano company since the 1990’s. This Collection spans the 1850s through the present and consists of greater than 5,000 folders across 23 document series, 4,835 photographs, over 500 videos, more than 80 artifacts, as well as the Steinway Oral History Collection. In fact, La Guardia is home to one of the “instrument of the immortals”; a restored 1858 Steinway square piano, located in front of the LPAC Main Stage Theater on the second floor of the E-Building. Stop by and have a look, and while you are nearby, visit the Archives, in E-2387, to see more of the Steinway Collection. | |
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ServiceNow Launching Monday, May 8!
We’re excited to tell you that we’re going live with ServiceNow, our new cloud-based ticketing system that will be replacing SysAid, our current ticketing system on Monday, May 8.
ServiceNow will improve our efficiency, security and ability to connect, manage, integrate and respond to help desk ticket requests. This is a CUNY university-wide change so most campuses are transitioning to ServiceNow to take advantage of the new system’s many benefits. For more information and updates visit our ServiceNow Website page. In the meantime, please check your emails and Campus Update regularly for more information about ServiceNow and the transition including what will change, available user training, instructional materials and updates on our progress.
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MFA/M365 Support Zoom Sessions
If you need or would like help with MFA and the new M365 email system, we have created Email Migration Support Zoom Sessions open to all faculty & staff. The remaining May sessions are below. For more information about MFA and M365, please visit Microsoft 365.
Morning Sessions
Afternoon Sessions
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The World Around Us Photography Exhibition Opening May 11
Works by LaGuardia’s Commercial Photography students will be featured in the second annual Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation Exhibition, opening Thursday, May 11 in the LaGuardia Community College Gallery of the Photographic Arts, located on the third floor of the B-Building. A reception will be held in the Gallery at 6 p.m. on opening night. The featured student-artists, who are also recipients of Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation scholarships, are Giulia Armentano, Isaac Carvajal, Sead Cena, Lenny Estrella, Victoria Fernandez, Qiao Jiang, Karina Martinez, Justin Parra, and Jeannine Subtyl. For more information, please contact Lidiya Kan. Above photo by Lenny Estrella
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Center for Teaching and Learning Seminar and Workshop Applications Are Open
The Center for Teaching and Learning recently announced its first round of professional development seminars and workshops for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year. Opportunities for in-person, online and hybrid programs are available. Themes range from artificial intelligence and inclusive pedagogy to mindfulness and housing insecurity. Participant applications are due Monday, May 15.
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Liberal Arts Brown Bag Sessions
Faculty are invited to attend an upcoming session to learn more about building a Liberal Arts identity, thinking about how to intentionally and mindfully shape the major, and information about the new course, LIN150. Sessions are taking place on Zoom, May 10 at 2:30 p.m., and May 16 at 3:30 p.m.
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Latest Updates from LaGuardia’s Library
- Even though construction in the Library continues, we have plenty of seating available. Other than the first floor, the Mezzanine is still accessible to students by the side staircases and the elevator. The Thomson Reading Room on the second floor is open and accessible by elevator.
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It’s a new month! Check our Library Hours before making the trip in.
- The Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) will be in the Library on Thursday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Stop by to learn about their resources.
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Thursday, May 4
Friday, May 5
Monday, May 8
Tuesday, May 9
Wednesday, May 10
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Virtual Yoga; 9- 10 a.m.; Zoom
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Cultural Celebration; 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.; The Plaza
- Table Tennis Tournament; Begins at 12 p.m.
- Origami Workshop; Ongoing, begins at 12 p.m.
- Stress-Free Yoga; 1- 2 p.m.
- Performances throughout the day, including Ani-song Appreciation, A.K.F. Dance Studio, Taiko, and more.
- Deloitte: Accounting 101: 11:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.; E-242
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NYU CCTOP Scholarship Info Seminar; 2- 4 p.m.; E-501
- DegreeWorks Workshop; 2:15- 3:15 p.m.; B-218
- Family Pride Panel Discussion; 2:30- 3:30 p.m.; Zoom
- Latinxs in STEM: Sharing Stories; 3- 5 p.m.; E-111
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Mindfulness Meditation; 8- 9 p.m.; Zoom
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"Campus Update" is produced and published by the Communications and External Affairs Division. Faculty and staff who wish to submit items for publication can Share a Story or send an email to CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday. |
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