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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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spring 2024 Opening Sessions is February 28

 

Please join President Kenneth Adams and LaGuardia’s Vice Presidents for a discussion around key initiatives on Wednesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. RSVP to attend live in the Little Theater, or plan to watch live on YouTube. Please submit your questions for the panel online. American Sign Language interpretation will be available.

Black History Month Events Scheduled in February 


LaGuardia Community College celebrates Black History Month during the month of February with a variety of activities and events hosted across campus. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the celebration was the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. Click here to see the full schedule of events. 

CEA Offers Professional Headshots for Faculty and Staff


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! The Photo Days are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Room E-509. Book your timeslot here for one of the following dates:


  • Wednesday, March 13
  • Wednesday, April 10
  • Wednesday, May 15
  • Wednesday, June 12


For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471.

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LaGuardia CARES to Host Clothing Drive Beginning February 26

 

Next week LaGuardia is launching a clothing drive next week, benefitting asylum seekers and migrants that have recently arrived in New York City. Inspired by the CUNY Women’s Conference Leadership theme, CUNY Women Leading and Mobilizing Our Communities, a community day of service will be observed at all CUNY campuses on March 18. LaGuardia's clothing drive will culminate on that day, when all of the donations are delivered to individuals in need. New and gently used clothing items in all sizes can be dropped off at LaGuardia CARES in C-316, Monday though Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning Monday, February 26. A collection bin will also be available outside the Little Theater on Wednesday, February 28 ahead of Opening Sessions.

Hugo Fernandez Interviews C.J. Hopkins in "What's Going On?" on LaGuardia Web Radio 


On today's episode of "What's Going On?," Professor Fernandez chatted with C.J. Hopkins, an American playwright, author, political satirist based in Germany. In "What's Going On?," Hopkins discussed global free speech in light of his recent experience of going on trial in Germany for tweets criticizing the government's mask mandates — although he was found innocent, his legal fate remains in question as the prosecution has appealed his acquittal.


A recording of the show will also be accessible on LaGuardia Web Radio's archives on SoundCloud and YouTube.

Rebel’s Resources Available for Students, Faculty and Staff 


The LaGuardia website includes the Rebel’s Resources webpage, a central location to find offices, departments, and units across the college. The RR page offers listings with direct hyperlinks by categories including: Academic Departments, Programs and Support; Registration, Tuition and Financial Resources; Student Engagement, Services and Programs; and Other Programs, Resources, and Policies. The RR page is a shortcut for finding resources quickly. 

Oral History Seminar Shares Collection of Black History Resources

 

The NEH-funded Oral History in Interdisciplinary Community College Pedagogy (2023-2025) is a faculty professional development seminar that aims to introduce oral history techniques to community college faculty’s pedagogical practices. To celebrate Black History Month, the team has compiled a collection of oral history resources that bring the rich and diverse experiences of Black Americans to life, including narratives of Civil Rights Movement participants from Queens College and a series of more than 300 interviews with African American leaders and innovators in the Bronx African American History Project. Faculty can use these resources to incorporate real-life voices and experiences into their teaching. Learn more about the oral history seminar and access other resources here

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

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Save the Date: Faculty Book Adoption Trainings on March 13 and April 11


There will be two CUNY-wide faculty adoption training webinars for faculty to learn how to navigate the new online bookstore portal. These 20-minute sessions will enhance your understanding of the adoption process and ensure that you can efficiently communicate essential textbook information to your students. Use the links below to access the training sessions:



Both sessions will cover the same material, so you only need to attend one.

Critical Language Scholarship Program Recognizes Professor Maria Savva 


This application cycle, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program received more than 5,000 applications for its summer 2024 program. Thanks to volunteers like Maria Savva, an associate professor in the Education and Language Acquisition Department and the International Studies program director, the CLS Program was able to evaluate each applicant fairly against its selection criteria in a timely and efficient manner. The CLS Program acknowledged Professor Savva’s hard work in a letter addressed to President Adams on February 20. Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the CLS Program relies on volunteers like Professor Savva to help select CLS scholars, who will go on to gain critical language and cultural skills that will enable them to contribute to the nation’s economic competitiveness and national security. 

Music Professor Scott Ethier's Music Featured In New Documentary The Arc of Oblivion 


Scott Ethier, an adjunct lecturer of Music Performance, worked with the film’s director, Ian Cheney, to create a musical number for the film. Under the executive production of Werner Herzog, the film sets out to explore a curious "quirk of humankind: in a universe that erases its tracks, we humans are hellbent on leaving a trace.” The filmmakers traveled from Maine to the Alps, the Arctic, and the Sahara to shed light on the “strange world of archives, record-keeping, and memory.” The Arc of Oblivion made its New York debut at the DCTV Firehouse Cinema on February 16. It will run there until tomorrow evening — buy tickets here

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

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Virtual Office Available Every Friday for Enrollment Assistance 


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 Admissions, International Student Services, Registrar, Student Financial Services and Testing offices.  

RED HAWK ATHLETICS

Three Red Hawks Recognized as CUNYAC Community College Basketball All-Stars 


On Feb. 15, the CUNY Athletic Conference announced the results of this year’s Community College Basketball All-Star Voting. Arthur Dukes was honored as this year’s Player of the Year in men’s basketball, and also snagged a spot on the Men’s All-Stars Team. Shemiah Sealy and Moutiatou Djibring, of the women’s basketball team, also earned recognition: Sealy was voted onto the Sportsmanship Team, while both Red Hawks made the Women’s All-Stars team. 

LIBRARY NEWS

Updates from LaGuardia’s Library 


  • The Library will be closed on February 24 and 25. It will be open with reduced hours during intersession. Please check the Library Hours before making the trip. 
  • It’s Black History month! Check out our collection of books
  • Our Media Lab is open. Come to the second floor to use our computers, print, log into your online class, etc.
  • LRC 103, our Internet Research Strategies course, is a one-credit class. You can find more information here.
  • Be sure to check out the Library’s financial literacy resources!

HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL UPDATES

CUNY Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): How It Works  


The CUNY FMLA policy provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying reasons during the designated leave year, i.e., September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025. In order for the leave to be paid while out on FMLA,, eligible employees must have enough sick or annual leave available to use for the paid leave. For more information, visit CUNY’s Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Policy, Procedures & Forms.

Professional Development Monthly Tip: DCAS No Cost Training Opportunities 


Consider attending one of these upcoming professional development trainings offered at no cost by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services:


  • Creating a Culture of Inclusion, From Microaggressions to Microaffirmations (Live Webinar/In-Person): Microaggressions are verbal and non-verbal exchanges, intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages based solely on individuals’ membership in a marginalized/underrepresented group. Employees frequently targeted can experience health problems, burnout, and other negative effects. This course features case scenarios and interactive assessments that promote a more inclusive, respectful, and engaging workplace. For details, see the DCAS Catalog. Course Code: C9583 (In-Person); C9583W (Live Webinar). Live Webinar: February 23, 9 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. In-Person: May 6, 9 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Register to attend
  • LGBTQ: The Power of Inclusion (Live Webinar/eCourse): This course facilitates awareness of the emotional impact of being a member of the LGBTQ community and provides guidance for how to create/promote an open and inclusive environment. Receive specific guidance for correct and inclusive terminology, City agencies’ responsibilities under Mayor’s Executive Order 16 (EO 16) regarding legal right of transgender and gender non-conforming persons, as well as examples of behaviors that may violate EO 16. For details, see the DCAS Catalog. Course Code: C7787W (Live Webinar) Live Webinar: March 6, 9 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. or 1:30– 5 p.m. Register to attend


Tax Time – How to Access Your Tax and Pay Information 


As tax season approaches, you may need to access your LaGuardia tax and pay information online. You can access your W-2, pay stubs and other information through NYCAPS/ESS (Employee Self-Service). Here's a step-by-step guide to accessing your tax and pay information: 


  1. Open a new browser window and navigate to My Paycheck Page on NYC.gov
  2. Select Employee Self-Service (ESS) at the top of the page. 
  3. Enter your seven-digit City Employee ID # which can be found on your pay-stub. If you don’t remember or know your number, or don’t have a pay stub to check, contact payrollhelp@lagcc.cuny.edu
  4. Enter your password. If this is your first time trying to login, refer to the NYCAPS/ESS Instructions & Information
  5. After you log in for the first time, you will be asked to create a new password. 
  6. After logging in and you’re on the NYCAPS/ESS home screen, click on “Pay and Tax Information” which will take you to a screen where you can access your information. 


For more information, account set-up instructions and the NYCAPS Employee Self-Service Guide, refer to NYCAPS/ESS Instructions & Information

Your Input is Needed! Complete the Professional Development Survey Today!


Human Resources is in the process of creating a professional development program that will actively promote learning, community engagement, and encourage continuous professional and personal growth for everyone. Please check your emails for our survey requesting your feedback and take a few minutes to complete it. Your feedback will help guide the Professional Development process and ensure that all voices are heard and included in the training and development initiative. Click HERE to complete the survey.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

CUNYfirst Unavailable from February 24 at 7 p.m. until February 25 at 1 p.m. 


At our request to reduce the critical CUNYfirst monthly maintenance from its usual 24-hour window to increase the time available for inputting Fall II Semester final grades, CUNY/CIS has agreed to make every effort to complete the required work by 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, or earlier if possible. We will monitor the maintenance progress and provide you with updates by email as they become available, including when CUNYfirst is back online.  


Only CUNYfirst is unavailable during this maintenance. Other applications, such as Blackboard, remain available through the CUNY Login page. CUNYfirst reporting will be unavailable until Monday, February 26 at 8 a.m. See CUNY IT Help for the schedule of CUNYfirst Monthly Maintenance. If you encounter any issues with CUNYfirst after maintenance is completed, please contact our HelpDesk by submitting an IT HelpDesk ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal, by email at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or by calling 718-482-6134. 

Protect Your Data! Take the CUNY Cybersecurity Awareness Training Course Today!  


Given the rapidly increasing threats to our cybersecurity, CUNY is taking various actions to safeguard the security of our data. To that end, CUNY recently created a 40-minute Cybersecurity Awareness training course, designed specifically for faculty and staff. This course covers many cybersecurity risks, such as phishing attacks, spam, and hacked accounts, and best practices for safeguarding your data. You can view the course on Blackboard. All LaGuardia faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to take this course as soon as possible to protect their own and the University's data. If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact Maritza Acero.

New Microsoft Teams is Faster and Simpler! Switch Today!



When opening Microsoft Teams, you may have already noticed the option to switch to the new Microsoft Teams client version that Microsoft began introducing this month. The new Teams version will be required for use by all users beginning after March 31. We strongly suggest you change to the new version as soon as possible. The new Teams provides a faster, simpler, and more flexible experience. It installs and loads faster so you can launch the app and join meetings more quickly, resulting in a more efficient use of your time and your device’s resources. 


The switch to the new Teams is also seamless. None of your saved files or information changes. All your Teams, chats, calendar, files, etc., will remain the same, nothing is lost. The look will be new, but not significantly different from the previous version. For more information on what’s changing, visit Features that are changing in the new Microsoft Teams. If you have any issues with Teams, visit Microsoft Teams Troubleshooting. If you like, there is an option to switch back temporarily to the old version until March 31. See the following instructions

LAGUARDIA IN THE HEADLINES

NEW YORK TIMES: Arthur Dukes, CUNY’s player of the year, went through hard times before he broke out at LaGuardia Community College.


QUEENS CHRONICLE: This month the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center is presenting five performances of “Working: A Musical,” the 1978 Tony-nominated musical that was updated with some new music in 2012.


QUEENS GAZETTE: LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Presents ‘Working: A Musical’


INSIGHT INTO DIVERSITY:The Exploring Transfer program at Vassar College, a summer intensive that immerses currently enrolled community college students in an academically rigorous environment, was started in 1985 through a partnership with LaGuardia Community College.

 

THE GRIO:LaGuardia Community College professor and sex educator Herbert Samuels (now retired) quoted in article.

EVENTS

Check Out the Latest Events

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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 email CampusUpdate@lagcc.cuny.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication on Wednesday.