"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 October 22, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced its 2024-2025 cohort for the Aspen Presidents Fellowship. LaGuardia's very own President Kenneth Adams was selected among the 25 innovative leaders selected from across the country to participate in the program's second cohort, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The fellows will engage in a unique year-long professional development experience that will help them refine and enact a reform agenda to help more of their students succeed both during and after college. Through the year-long program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze their college’s outcomes and develop concrete plans inspired by field-leading practices. They will engage in a curriculum that will include exemplars from the field, data reports on available good jobs and student outcomes in completion and transfer, and qualitative reports about how well their current practices are aligned to what research reveals has led other colleges to high and equitable levels of student success. | |
 | The LaGuardia community is invited to celebrate the opening of Finca La Florecita (Spanish for "The Little Flower Farm"), LaGuardia's urban farm on October 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The grand opening will feature a a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from elected officials at 11 a.m., followed by hands-on workshops led by LaGuardia faculty in flower pressing and dyeing, farm tasting, botanical illustration, soil building, and pollinator protection, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Finca La Florecita is a collaborative project spearheaded by Dr. Preethi Radhakrishnan, professor and director of LaGuardia’s Environmental Science Program, and departments throughout the college. Finca La Florecita supports the LaGuardia CARES food pantry, providing the pantry with fresh produce, addressing food insecurity among students and the local community. Since May, Sustainable Urban Agriculture students have cultivated the farm, building and installing raised garden beds and planting seedlings grown in LaGuardia’s Hydroponic Research Lab. So far, Finca La Florecita has yielded a variety of produce, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and leafy greens. | |
Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the final event scheduled to take place on the LaGuardia Community Greenway this year: the Halloween Harvest Fest. The Halloween Harvest Fest marks the end of this year's programming on the Greenway, and it will feature several spook-tacular festivities such as trick or treating, DIY Halloween crafts and a costume contest. Please note that the "Thriller" performance originally scheduled at 3 p.m. will no longer be taking place. The event will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Nayelli Valencia Turrent at nvalenciaturrent@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
Reverend Al Sharpton Visits Campus for Screening of "Loudmouth" | |
On October 23, Campus Life hosted a screening of the 2022 documentary "Loudmouth," a film that "documents the winding road that is Al Sharpton’s life story as an iconic activist and spiritual leader." According to the documentary's description, "the film offers behind the scenes insight into Sharpton’s experience as a presidential candidate advisor and racial justice advocate during the volatile climate of 2020," in addition to his "history in the public eye." Following the movie's screening, attendees had the opportunity to hear from the reverend himself. Sharpton spoke with assistant professor Kyle Hollar-Gregory, answering questions about the role of activism in the current political climate and the state of civil rights and racial justice in the United States, among other topics. Learn more about Sharpton and "Loudmouth" here. | |
LaGuardia Hosts Third Annual Community 5K Run | |
Over 250 runners and walkers (of all levels) participated in the third annual LaGuardia Community 5K Run on Sunday, October 20. The event was organized by a committee chaired by Evelyn Lowmark (Administration) with support from Public Safety, Buildings and Grounds, and other areas of Administration; faculty, staff, and student served as volunteers. The course took participants through sections of Long Island City starting next to the college’s C-Building, led by bike marshals Dr. Joby Jacob (Natural Sciences) and Elizabeth Streich (Communications and External Affairs). Under a clear sky with crisp fall weather, participants enjoyed music and visited tables hosted by a dozen community organizations and businesses. Carmen Griffin (LPAC) served as emcee. The event raised more than $4,300 to support Community Health and Wellness, a new department chaired by Dr. Nicolle Fernandes, aimed at preparing students for roles in the workforce that maintain and enhance the health and wellness of New York communities. President Kenneth Adams thanked Boyce Technologies, Inc., located in Long Island City, Queens, principal sponsor of the event for the second year in a row. “We thank Charles Boyce and Boyce Technologies, Inc. for their generosity and continued support of LaGuardia Community College and its students,” said President Adams. The top three men finishers were: FIRST-Mathew Chiang, 29 (19:01); SECOND-Tomo Imamichi, 51 (20:17); and THIRD-Jean Valbuena B., 36 (20:18). The top three women finishers were: FIRST-Kristina Bruk, 47 (23:46); SECOND-Mary Kathryn Ira, 21 (24:54:53); and THIRD-Jaelynn Yupanqui, 20 (24:54:92). The complete list of finishers can be found here. Watch a video compilation of the race here or view photos from the event here. | |
English Department and La Casa Host National Day on Writing Celebration | |
The English Department and Casa de las Américas (La Casa)’s celebrated the National Day on Writing on October 21. The celebration, which took place in Room E-111 on Monday afternoon, featured a reading and keynote address from acclaimed writer and editor Kima Jones. Students also participated in a zine-making workshop with participatory artist and designer Lizania Cruz. In addition to Jones and Cruz, faculty members Dr. Deirdre Flood, Dr. Thomas Fink and Dr. Rochelle Spencer also led a series of engaging workshops on writing and translation, giving participants a chance to dive into a world of storytelling and express themselves. | |
Upcoming Fairs to Support Transfer and Employment Opportunities | |
On Thursday, October 24 students will be able to speak with representatives from more than 30 colleges and universities at the Fall Transfer Fair. Students are encouraged to attend to make valuable connections and learn more about transferring to a CUNY, SUNY, or private school. The Fall Transfer Fair will take place in the E-Building Atrium from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Then, on Wednesday, October 30, the Job & Internship Fair will offer students exciting opportunities to connect with over 40 employers. Students are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume and have a professional pitch ready; some employers will even have on-site interviews. Finance, law enforcement, veterinary, social services, and education are just a few of the sectors represented at the fair. See the full list of confirmed employers here. The Job & Internship Fair will be held in the E-Building Atrium (Floors 1 and 2), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | |
|
Faculty Lunch Series with President Adams: Register Today | | |
|
Faculty are invited to RSVP for Lunch with President Kenneth Adams, as part of an on-going series of meet ups with the community. There is no formal agenda, just a chance to catch up and share your LaGuardia story with the President. Please RSVP; space is limited. All events are held on Wednesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. The first event will be November 20; additional dates continue into 2025. | |
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. 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:
For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471.
| |
|
Don't Forget to Vote! Early Voting Begins October 26 | | |
|
The 2024 General Election on November 5 is coming up fast! Early voting begins October 26 and will run through November 3. To search for your Early Voting and Election Day locations, click here. Note that although LaGuardia is an Early Voting location, it may not be yours — voters in New York City are assigned one Early Voting location, and may only cast an early vote at their assigned site. Be sure to look up your location before showing up to the polls. | |
Malgorzata Marciniak book "Creativity in STEM Fields: A View from an Eclectic Mind" | |
Margorzata Marciniak, an Associate Professor in the Math, Engineering, and Computer Science, recently published a book entitled Creativity in STEM Fields: A View from an Eclectic Mind. According to the book's description, Creativity in STEM Fields "offers a step-by-step guide to rediscovering and incorporating creativity into your teaching." The book features writing prompts, reflections, exercises, and examples of projects and activities in an effort to share a "fresh approach to STEM education" with readers. Marciniak noted that the work would not have been possible without the support of her CUNY colleagues Maria Jerskey (LaGuardia) and Bronislaw Czarnocha (Hostos). | |
|
Ari Richter’s New Comic Published in Hyperallergic | |
|
Faculty Invited to Conversation about Transfer Mentoring
LaGuardia’s Transfer Engagement Initiative invites you to “A Conversation with Faculty about a Transfer Mentoring Mindset.” During this in-person event, there will be an opportunity to discuss our impressions and experiences of LaGuardia’s transfer support to four-year colleges. In addition, we will consider what it means for us to mentor students on the transfer pipeline. The event will take place on Wednesday, November 6 at 2:15 p.m. in MB-06. Please RSVP here. Facilitators Misun Dokko (English), Julianne Salazar (College Discovery), and Joshua Goldblatt (Academic Affairs) will present basics about transferring to four-year colleges, address the impression that expertise is required when supporting the transfer process, and walkthrough a couple of transfer tools/websites. There will be time to tinker with the transfer tools and practice responses to preliminary student questions about transfer—all to support student agency over their transfer experience.
| |
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, Student Information Center, Transfer Credit Evaluation and Testing offices. | |
|
CUNY Fatherhood Academy’s Jesus A. Benitez Advocates for Student Parents at Aspen Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Columbia University | |
On October 15, Jesus A. Benitez represented the CUNY Fatherhood Academy (CFA) at LaGuardia at ThinkXChange, a convening hosted by Ascend at the Aspen Institute. Jesus, outreach and recruitment coordinator for LaGuardia’s CFA, was a panelist with fellow Parent Advisors, who shared insights on 2Gen approaches to supporting families. He gave a presentation on strategies to enhance student retention among student parents, while supporting their children, emphasizing the importance of integrating family needs in post-secondary education. Jesus continues to find other venues to advocate for student parents. In addition to his role as a Parent Advisor for Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Jesus serves as a Family Advisory Committee member for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He has also joined the advisory board for the Center for the Transition to Parenthood in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ob/gyn) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. | |
Crossing the Finish Line: Cross Country Team Wraps up a Successful Season | |
The LaGuardia Red Hawks closed out their cross-country season on Saturday October 19, fielding a small but determined team of just two men’s runners and one women’s runner. Despite the slim roster, the Red Hawks competed in five meets throughout the season. Jaelynn Yupanqui had her best race at the Caldwell Invitational on September 28, placing eighth in the 5K race with a time of 24:01. Gary Romero-Garcia hit his personal best of 33:51 in the 8K race at the Queensborough Invitational on October 6, finishing in 41st place out of 163 runners. First-time runner Pawel Zyzanski also made great strides, completing four of five races. Coach Peter Briguglio says that his personal highlight of the season was the fact that "all three runners are sophomores who are on track to graduate this spring and move on to four-year schools in the CUNY system next year, and I believe all of them are leaving our program with a joy of running that they didn't have before entering it." | |
Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- Novelist Jami Attenberg invented 1000 words of summer, where people commit to writing 1000 words a day, every day, for two weeks. One thousand words is a lot. Especially during the semester. So why not try 500 words a day? And you're not alone. The library is here to support you with books, in-person events, virtual events, and giveaways. Spend 500 words on your creative projects. Or anything that interests you. Not forever. Our next sessions will be on October 29. Check here for more information.
- We have copies of almost all textbooks in the Library available to check out for 2 hours (you can’t leave the Library, though). If we don’t have it, please let us know. If you can’t make it into the Library, you can request a chapter scan.
- Free digital subscriptions to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are available to all students, staff, and faculty. Use your LaGuardia email to sign up.
| |
|
HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL UPDATES | |
CUNY Benefits Office Open Enrollment Sessions Online Nov. 6 and 7 | |
The University Benefits Office open enrollment sessions for all CUNY employees will be held virtually on November 6 and 7. This is a great opportunity to learn more and enroll online. Presentations by the Welfare Funds, Insurance Carriers and NYCERS (New York City Employees Retirement System) will be made during Zoom meetings as scheduled below. CUNY’s Open Enrollment website will be accessible next week. | |
|
Benefits Webinars:
Wednesday, November 6, 9:30 a.m.– 12 p.m.
-
Join Zoom Meeting; Meeting ID: 861 3734 0251; Passcode: 418833
- DC-37 at 9:30 a.m.; PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund at 10 a.m.; MetroPlus at 10:45 a.m.; Emblem Health at 11:15 a.m.
Thursday, November 7, 12 – 2:30 p.m.
-
Join Zoom Meeting; Meeting ID: 873 7302 8263; Passcode: 593407
- DC-37 at 12 p.m.; Metro Plus at 12:30 p.m.; PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund at 1 p.m.; Emblem Health at 1:30 p.m.
| |
|
NYCERS Webinars:
Wednesday, November 6, 10 a.m.
-
Join Zoom Meeting; Passcode: 811406
- 62/5, 55/25, 57/5, 63/5 Pension Plans
- Note: NYCERS webinar will not be recorded.
Thursday, November 7, 1:30 p.m.
-
Join Zoom Meeting; Passcode: 409358
- 62/5, 55/25, 57/5, 63/5 Pension Plans
- Note: NYCERS webinar will not be recorded.
| |
|
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Open Enrollment 2025
The FSA Open Enrollment Period is September 23 – November 8, 2024 for the effective date January 1, 2025. Employees can download forms to enroll and get information at Healthcare (HCFSA) and the Dependent Care Assistance (DeCAP) Flexible Spending Account programs. The first payroll deduction begins on the second paycheck in January 2025.
Current FSA participants must enroll annually and complete the 2025 enrollment form. After the FSA administrative office processes the employee’s HCFSA/DeCAP enrollment form, participants will receive a confirmation letter. Employees are encouraged to refer to the FSA website for updates to the HCFSA/DeCap program. For more information, view FSA Videos.
FSA forms must be submitted by the employee on/or by November 8, 2024 to NYC Employee Benefits Program.
Health Benefits Buy-out Waiver Program for 2025: The annual incentive payment for the 2025 Buy-out Waiver Program is $500 for waiving individual coverage and $1,000 for waiving family coverage (payments issued in June and December). Current active participants in the Buy-out Waiver Program will be automatically enrolled in the program for Plan year 2025. If a participant would like to withdraw from the program, they must complete the 2025 MSC Enrollment/Change Form in addition to completing the Health Benefits Application and submit them to Human Resources.
| |
|
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week 3: Recognizing and Reporting Phishing
Receiving unexpected messages requesting personal information should put you on alert to proceed with caution. Take a moment to assess whether the email looks legitimate before opening or clicking on links or attachments.
Resources to Recognize and Report Phishing:
Additional information and resources are available on CUNY’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month and Information Security webpages.
If you suspect you’ve received a suspicious or phishing email, please forward it to spam@lagcc.cuny.edu. If you already responded to a phishing email, clicked on an attachment or link, immediately contact our IT HelpDesk by submitting a ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal or by email at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or call 718-482-6134.
If you have any general inquiries, please contact the University's Chief Information Security Officer, or LaGuardia's Information Security team.
| |
IT Reminder: Complete Mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness Training | |
This is an important reminder to log in to Blackboard and complete the Cybersecurity Awareness Training course. You can find this course under the “Organizations” tab, along with the other essential annual training courses required for CUNY employees. This course was developed specifically for CUNY and covers phishing attacks, spam, and best practices for protecting your CUNY accounts and sensitive data. We encourage you to take it as soon as possible to protect the University's data, as well as your own. Your active involvement is crucial to our collective security efforts. If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact Maritza Acero. | |
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. |
| | | |
