"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. | |
An event hosted at LaGuardia yesterday honored student parents throughout the City University of New York (CUNY) system for their resilience, academic achievements, and community engagement. The event, “Celebrating Student Parent Success,” has been an annual tradition since 2015, organized by the CUNY Childcare Council, which supports and advocates for the 17 childcare centers throughout the CUNY system. Sonya Evariste, executive director of LaGuardia’s Early Childhood Learning Center Programs, Inc. (ECLC), co-chairs the Council. Attendees heard from CUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Denise B. Maybank, President Kenneth Adams, and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Alexis McLean. LaGuardia Nursing major Rebecca Ramos, 36, was recognized at the event. Rebecca, mother to a three-year-old daughter, emigrated from Venezuela seven years ago. She first came to LaGuardia to learn English. Today, she’s heavily involved in campus activities, for which she credits ECLC for enabling her to do. And as a Student Government officer, Ramos’s mission is to make sure students know about the high-quality, nurturing, affordable care at ECLC. “The ECLC directors, coordinators, and teachers are awesome. They take such good care of my daughter and all the children. I’m forever grateful to be selected for this honor.” | |
During a panel discussion on October 9 at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, women in New York politics shared what motivates their public service, and urged students to vote and be civically engaged. New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, NYC Council Members Julie Won and Tiffany Cabán, and the Governor’s Deputy Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs Chanel Lopez spoke before a group of LaGuardia students, faculty, and staff. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Alexis McLean, Vice President for Student Affairs at LaGuardia, and Dr. Nichole Shippen, Professor of Political Science at LaGuardia. The panelists encouraged students to vote, while acknowledging that it isn’t always something that young people understand the importance of doing. | |
LaGuardia is a sub-awardee on a recent, $4.7 million grant to The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering, and Science (NY CREATES) from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support the establishment of the Education Alliance for Semiconductor Experiential Learning (EASEL) program. This workforce development initiative aims to help address the growing national demand for a skilled workforce in the semiconductor industry, a critical need highlighted by the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act. The EASEL program will bring together a coalition of community colleges and leading U.S. semiconductor manufacturers to develop and implement multi-modal experiential learning opportunities. Initially, the alliance will include four core community colleges—Columbus State Community College, Onondaga Community College, LaGuardia Community College, and Madison Area Technical College—and will expand to include additional institutions across key semiconductor manufacturing regions in the U.S. | |
The LaGuardia Community Run is making its way back to Long Island City this fall for the third time. Please note the change of date—the LaGuardia Community Run will now be taking place on October 20. If you have already registered and are unable to participate on the newly scheduled date, check your inbox for a message from elitefeats on obtaining a refund; refund requests must be made by end-of-day on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. The run will begin at 9 a.m. near the C Building, at the intersection of 29th Street and 47th Avenue. Many thanks to Boyce Technologies, Inc. for once again becoming a principal sponsor of this event. Proceeds from the LaGuardia Community 5K Run support the new Community Health and Wellness department. Registration for the LaGuardia Community Run is now open to participants ages 7 or older. Volunteers are also welcome. | |
Casa de las Américas (La Casa) is wrapping up Hispanic Heritage Month next week with a block party set to take place on October 16 from 12 to 4 p.m. on the LaGuardia Community Greenway. All members of the campus community are invited to attend and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The block party will feature food, games, and music from Tambacum, a traditional music group from Golfo de Tribuga, Colombia. For more information, contact Casa de las Américas at casa@lagcc.cuny.edu. To learn more about upcoming programming on the Greenway, click here. | |
LaGuardia Community College Included in Queens Edition of Monopoly Board Game | |
On Saturday, October 5, game manufacturer Top Trumps USA officially unveiled the much anticipated Monopoly: Queens Edition, available for purchase online. The event, held at Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst, revealed the local spots that have earned a place on the iconic board game. LaGuardia is the only school on the board. Several notable speakers were in attendance, including Tim Barney, game manager at Top Trumps USA and Kelly Cefai, senior manager at Queens Center, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Assembly Members Catalina Cruz and Steven Raga, among others. Dr. Manny Romero, Vice President for Communications and External Affairs, was in attendance to represent the college at the event. A list of other businesses and locations selected for Monopoly: Queens Edition can be found here. | |
“Parenting and Academics: Thriving in College” Event Aims to Support Student Parents, October 9 at 5:45 p.m. | |
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This evening, the Student Success Mentor Program and the Student Parent Initiative will present “Parenting and Academics: Thriving in College,” an event that aims to empower student parents and enhance their overall college experience by focusing on practical advice, shared experiences, and community support. The event will take place from 5:45 to 7:55 p.m. in E-242 and will serve as a space for student parents to connect with one another and to learn about support programs like the CUNY Fatherhood Academy, the Student Parent Club, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a panel and various breakout sessions on topics like balancing schoolwork and parenting, networking, and psychological well-being. If you know a student who may be interested in attending, please encourage them to RSVP here. | |
LaGuardia Hosts Soil Judging Event Connecting Classroom Learning to Real-World Application | |
Sustainable Urban Agriculture students recently had the opportunity to get their hands dirty—literally—during a recent soil judging event co-organized by newly hired Lecturer Chelsea Encababian. This event introduced students to hands-on soil analysis, under the guidance of USDA Soil Scientists. LaGuardia students, joined by students from Brooklyn College and Pace University, gathered at Greenwood Cemetery for an immersive experience aimed at bridging classroom learning with practical application. The event featured a 5-foot-deep soil pit where participants examined the various layers of soil, assessing its ability to transmit and retain water, and interpreting the geological history of the site. They evaluated the soil’s suitability for real-world applications such as agriculture or construction. “Soil judging challenges students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world systems, using NYC’s vibrant landscape as our classroom,” said Professor Encababian. She noted that this event provided students with a valuable networking opportunity, helping them prepare for future careers in agriculture and related fields. | |
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Ever dream of dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller as a zombie? You still have time to sign up and join in on the fun! We’re looking for 20 fearless dancers to bring Thriller to life in an unforgettable Flash Mob on Thursday, October 31 at 2 p.m. at The Greenway! Rehearsals will be held October 7, 16, 21 and 28. If you can’t wait to dress like a zombie and show off your moves, RSVP here ASAP!
Photo credit: Optimum Productions
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Faculty Lunch Series with President Adams: Register Today | |
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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:
- October 23
- November 13
- December 11
For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471.
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In recognition of the critical intersections between domestic violence and mental health, the Wellness Center is offering Suicide Prevention Training Certification for faculty and staff. To register for the training, click here. This training will cover common myths about suicide, how to recognize warning signs and risk factors, and effective ways to seek help for yourself or support someone in crisis. Join us in this vital initiative to save lives and promote mental health awareness within our community. Upon successful completion, all trainees will receive a QPR Gatekeeper Training Certificate of Course Completion and may qualify for CEU contact hours. For training inquiries, please email your instructor Dez Rodriguez, LMHC at desrodriguez@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
New York Voter Registration Applications Due October 26 | |
- Voter registration forms sent by mail must be received by county board of elections no later than October 26, 2024 to be eligible to vote in New York state in the General Election.
- You may register in-person at your local board of elections or any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, on any business day throughout the year but, to be eligible to vote in the General Election, your application must be received no later than October 26, 2024.
- Early Mail and Absentee Ballot Requests sent by mail must be received by county board of elections no later than October 26, 2024 to be eligible to vote in New York state in the General Election. (In-person requests must be received no later than November 4, 2024.)
- In addition, early voting begins on October 26 in New York and continues through November 4.
Learn more.
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LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | |
The CUNY LGBTQIA+ Consortium is proud to present a video documentary of our participation in the 2024 Queens Pride parade! See what you missed out on if you couldn’t make it to march, and see if you can spot yourself in the video if you did! | |
Archives to Host LGBTQ Student Research Showcase | |
Queer studies students, rejoice! Tomorrow, at 1 p.m. in Room E-242, the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives are presenting a showcase of two LGBTQ-focused student research projects! The student research fellows have done an amazing job producing innovative, original work that is a worthy contribution to the field of queer studies. Come learn more about NYC LGBTQIA+ spaces and the 1992 Children of the Rainbow Curriculum and help celebrate our student fellows! | |
Dr. Karen Miller Publishes New Book, Prehistories of the War on Terror | |
Dr. Karen Miller, professor of History (Social Sciences), co-edited Prehistories of the War on Terror: A Critical Genealogy (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2024) with Dr. A. J. Yumi Lee, professor of English and Asian American Studies at Villanova University. The book examines how the U.S. has historically labeled foreign adversaries as terrorists. It features essays from scholars specializing in U.S. imperialism, racial and ethnic studies, and postcolonial literature, who explore U.S. military actions from 19th-century settler colonial wars to 20th-century conflicts in Asia and the Pacific. Their essays examine the cultural frameworks shaping our understanding of these past conflicts and their relation to the War on Terror. The volume argues that maintaining a unified narrative of the War on Terror requires suppressing discussions on sovereignty, extraction, and inequality. Contributors conclude that multiple historical paths, not a single trajectory, led to 9/11 and the War on Terror, and that understanding these diverse histories is critical to striving for a more just future. | |
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Associate Provost to Participate in National Webinar, Oct. 17 | |
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Dr. Dionne A. Miller, Associate Provost of Academic Affairs, is participating as a panelist in the “Community Colleges, Civic Education, and Engagement” webinar which is based on a newly released report, Community College and Civics, by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Join the national online conversation about community colleges and civics on Thursday, October 17, 12 to 1 p.m. Dr. Miller’s participation is based on the project she led with LaGuardia faculty and students in collaboration with the Gilder-Lehrman Foundation, who in turn received their funding from Annenberg. Registration for the free program is available here. | |
Hugo Fernandez, professor of photography, will serve as a panelist in the "Re-Present: Photographic Practice" all-day symposium on Oct. 17, in the Torp Theater (Davidson Hall) at South Central University. “Re-Present” is a series of integrated events constituting a continuing symposium that will look at photography through a wide and narrow lens. This multi-part symposium project addresses the technologies birthed in the 1800s that have opened our vision of ourselves and of the universe, and the contemporary ways we develop, disseminate and share what photographers have captured. The symposium is free and open to the general public.
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Lisa DeSpain’s Opera Premieres at Vanderbilt Opera Theatre | |
The Vanderbilt Opera Theatre presented Staggerwing, an opera by Humanities professor Lisa DeSpain, on October 3 and 4. The Vanderbilt production expands on an earlier version of the opera, which was the winner of the 2020 Zepick Modern Opera Commission. Staggerwing tells the story of two female pilots, Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes — contemporaries of Amelia Earhart — as they compete in (and win!) the 1936 Bendix Trophy Air Race. Navigating extreme physical risk, sabotage, personal tragedies, and a male-dominated field, the pilots persevere to shape the future of women in aviation. The opera was produced by Gayle Shay, director of Vanderbilt Opera Theatre, and Jennifer McGuire, music director and conductor of the live accompanying ensemble. | |
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. | |
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Coming 10/15: QLess Check-In System for Selected College Areas
Enrollment Management is excited to announce the launch of a new check-in system on October 15. QLess will be introduced at select college offices that have opted to utilize the software. QLess will serve prospective students, ACE, and student groups and departments that have not yet been integrated into EAB Navigate. The QLess system promises to be an efficient, easy-to-use, and user-friendly tool, providing a seamless experience for both students and staff. It will help reduce wait times by allowing people to reserve their place in line before arriving at a location, and improve overall service efficiency, ensuring a smoother and more organized process for everyone involved. Stay tuned for further details as this is rolled out in departments in ACE, Administration, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs in the coming days.
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Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- MoneyBoss financial literacy workshops for students are back for the Fall semester and will be IN PERSON! Our next workshop is on October 10. To register, and find out more information, visit our MoneyBoss website.
- The Library will be open on Friday, October 11 from 9 a.m. - 4:50 p.m., closed on Saturday, October 12, and will re-open Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Check the Library hours before making the trip in.
- 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.
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HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL UPDATES | |
Free Flu Shots at Benefits Fair – Submit Reservation Form by Oct. 14
LaGuardia’s Human Resources will hold a Benefits Fair on Wednesday, October 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the E-Building Atrium. Free flu shots will be available – reserve yours here by completing and submitting the form by no later than Monday, October 14. Please note: LaGuardia comes up in the form as one of the locations to get the free flu shot. The confirmation gives you our address in the E Atrium and the time of your appointment.
The fair is an excellent opportunity to learn more about benefits available to you, and to speak directly with many attending vendors and organizations including EmblemHealth, Anthem, TRS, TIAA, PSC, Social Security Administration, MCU, Chubb/Combined, the Wellness Center, Costco, BJs, LaGuardia CARES and many more! For questions and additional information, please contact Bonnie Brown.
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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.
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CCA Hosting Employee Assistance Program Zoom Meeting
CCA, a resource available to CUNY employees, provides practical, around-the-clock information and resources to help you manage daily life from emotional health and wellness support to daily work/life concerns like dependent care and financial/legal challenges. CCA will be hosting a Zoom meeting to provide an overview of their Employee Assistance Program on Tuesday, October 15 at 10 a.m. For questions and additional information, please contact Bonnie Brown.
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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
This year’s theme, “Secure Our World,” emphasizes the importance of safeguarding personal data and digital interactions amid increasing cyber threats. CUNY is supporting this global effort in partnership with the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA).
Throughout October, CUNY will distribute weekly messages on key cybersecurity behaviors:
- Week 1 – Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager
- Week 2 – Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication
- Week 3 – Recognize and Report Phishing
- Week 4 – Update your Software
CUNY emails and information are available on the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) CUNY website page, where you can also find helpful resources and interesting facts and figures on cybersecurity. Visit OUCH! to read recent security articles. If you have questions, please contact LaGuardia's Information Security team.
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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. | |
Security Alert: Guard Against Increasing Phishing Email Attacks
There has been an increase in phishing attacks directed at CUNY from a variety of Gmail accounts. Most are of the familiar job scam variety which students are prone to acting on. CUNY/CIS teams are working with Microsoft to block these attacks, which are not “spammy” or “phishy” in nature so they aren’t automatically blocked by email security measures. CUNY/CIS urges all to guard against responding to potential phishing emails, as well as to communicate with colleagues and students to generate greater awareness about the scam increase.
Recommended User Actions Include:
- DO NOT reply to unexpected or unusual emails.
- DO NOT reply to emails with personal information or passwords.
- DO NOT click links or open attachments in unsolicited emails.
- DO read the CUNY Ransomware and Phishing Advisories.
- DO complete security awareness training at security.cuny.edu.
If you suspect you’ve received a suspicious or phishing email, please forward it to spam@lagcc.cuny.edu. Do not forward it to the LAG Information Technology Division or other group distribution lists or employees, including IT personnel. If you already responded to a phishing email, 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 questions, please contact LaGuardia's Information Security team.
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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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