"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. | |
Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Awards $116 Million Grant to LaGuardia Community College to Create the Cohen Career Collective
Gift is Largest Ever to a Community College in the U.S.;
Largest Donation in History of City University of New York
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The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, led by philanthropist and New York Mets owner Alex Cohen, has awarded a grant of $116.2 million to LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, to create the Cohen Career Collective, a state-of-the-art workforce training center. The 160,000 square-foot facility will ensure economic mobility for New Yorkers while providing skilled workers for local employers. Learn more. | |
LaGuardia Students Participate in Professional Development Workshop | | |
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The Center for Career and Professional Development partnered with Macy's at Queens Center Mall on Friday, March 15 for a suit-fitting and professional development workshop designed specifically for individuals preparing for their career advancement. Attendees benefited from one-on-one sessions with experienced fashion advisors, learning how to choose professional attire that aligns with their career goals and making a powerful first impression. This event not only aimed to refine participants' professional presence but also equipped them with the confidence necessary for success in their professional development journey. The workshop was made possible with the assistance of LaGuardia alumnus, Karone Bailey, (’18). Student participants included Jun Hong, Computer Science major; Ali Isleem, Electrical Engineering major; Michael Pink, Computer Technology major; Michael Joseph Ramos, Practical Nurse major; and Diovane Satil, Business Administration major. | |
LaGuardia celebrates CUNY Community Service Day in honor of CUNY Women's Conference Week | |
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our college community, LaGuardia CARES in partnership with the President's Office collected a staggering 20 boxes of clothing for women, men, and children asylum seekers and other members of the community for CUNY Community Service Day in honor of CUNY Women's Conference Week. These donations will directly benefit individuals and families in transition, offering them comfort and dignity during challenging times. The donations were gratefully received by Kathy Martinovich, Volunteer Coordinator at Commonpoint Queens, a vital social services organization serving the diverse needs of our borough. Commonpoint is a beacon of support, fostering connections and providing opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. Thank you to everyone that contributed to the clothing drive and for embodying the spirit of community and compassion. | |
President Adams Participates in Forum Discussion at Harvard | | |
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On March 12, Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College, joined Rachel Lipson with the U.S. Department of Commerce; Bob Schwartz, Professor Emeritus of Practice in Educational Policy and Administration from Harvard; and Peter Blair, an Economist from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, to discuss America’s Hidden Economic Engines: How Community Colleges Can Drive Shared Prosperity, hosted by The Project on Workforce at Harvard’s Post. A new research and design project, in partnership with the Education Design Lab's Community College Growth Engine, was announced to improve the ways community colleges leverage real-time labor market information and emerging technologies to advance economic mobility for their students. | |
LaGuardia’s Transfer Council is pleased to announce that the Spring Transfer Fair will take place Wednesday, March 27 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the E-Building Atrium. At the fair, students will have the chance to meet with admissions representatives from over 30 different public and private universities. This is a core event that our institution hosts to ensure our students connect with college admissions reps for a smooth transfer process once they graduate – please encourage your students to attend the fair next week! | |
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LaGuardia Community Invited to Celebrate 10 Years of First Year Seminar | | |
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Join the college community in celebrating the 10th anniversary of LaGuardia’s First Year Seminar (FYS) in an inspiring atmosphere. The event is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m., April 10 in the Atrium, located on the first floor of the E-Building. Hear from LaGuardia students and alumni about the impact of the FYS on their success and network with Student Success Mentors (SSMs), faculty, and staff who make the FYS possible. Share your FYS experiences, while learning about new resources to support your continued success at LaGuardia. Light refreshments and raffle prizes will be available! For more information contact SSM@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend LaGuardia’s Interfaith Council on April 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in room E-500. The LaGuardia Community College Interfaith Council was formed to openly and peacefully spark respectful dialogue about faith and its role in our lives. The Council also aims to provide a safe space for students to explore their own faith journeys and learn from diverse religious and spiritual perspectives. For more information, please contact Alexis McLean at amclean@lagcc.cuny.edu or Choon Shan Lai at clai@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
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Oral History Resources for Women’s History Month | |
In celebration of Women’s History Month, a curated collection of oral history resources highlighting female historical figures in the U.S. history has been compiled. This collection of resources highlights the significant contributions and diverse experiences of women in various arenas, including politics, activism, and the workforce. Celebrating the first female majority in the New York City Council and exploring the histories of Asian-American, African American, and Cuban women through oral histories, these archives provide insight into the struggles and achievements of women. They document the voices of feminist leaders, the impact of women during World War II, and the ongoing fight for social equality. NEH Oral History in Interdisciplinary Community College Pedagogy (2023-2025) is a faculty professional development seminar to introduce oral history techniques to community college faculty’s pedagogical practices. Please visit our website if you are interested in our oral history seminar. | |
1LaGuardia: Raise Your Voice, Respect Each Other | | |
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LaGuardia’s Office of Compliance and Diversity educates and develops a workforce that embraces cultural competence, intersectionality, and aids in ensuring compliance with Federal, State, City, and CUNY Policies on Sexual Misconduct and Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination. LaGuardia encourages a positive and welcoming environment free from harassment and discrimination of any kind. Learn about: | |
LaGuardia’s Visual Identity | |
Wondering which logo to use or how to use it appropriately? Check out LaGuardia’s Visual Identity guide—just updated for 2024! Here you’ll find guidelines for consistent use of LaGuardia’s visual brand elements, including the logo, typography, color palette and more. Faculty and staff may download a range of logo formats, as well as department logo lock-ups, on the Faculty/Staff Portal. Please reach out to Communications and External Affairs with any questions. | |
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LaGuardia is celebrating Women’s History Month with “HERStory in the Making,” a series of events highlighting the historical and continued contributions and achievements of women, and all those who fight for women’s rights. Programming focuses on the doers and changemakers at the forefront of political, artistic, and educational advancement. Learn more and add events to your calendar here. | |
Professional Headshots for Faculty and Staff | |
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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, April 10
- Wednesday, May 15
- Wednesday, June 12
For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471.
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LaGuardia Hosts “One CUNY Caribbean Symposium” | | |
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On Tuesday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., LaGuardia Campus Life in partnership with the Multi-Cultural Exchange and Casa de las Américas will host representatives of four CUNY Caribbean focused centers and institutes: the Caribbean Studies Center at Medgar Evers, the Dominican Studies Institute at City College, the Haitian Studies Institute at Brooklyn College, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College. Each will give an overview of their work and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso will make a keynote presentation. The symposium will take place in the Little Theater, followed by a networking and tabling engagement in the Poolside Café. | |
Community Capacity Development (CCD) Visits LaGuardia Community College | |
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As part of an ongoing initiative to strengthen relationships with community-based organizations, representatives from Community Capacity Development (CCD) paid a visit to LaGuardia and toured the campus on March 18. The participants of the meeting have discussed potential areas of collaboration, including speaker series, events, volunteer and internship opportunities, and more.
Photo: Maurice Vanderhall (CCD), Manny Romero (LAGCC VP of Communications and External Affairs), Luda Spajic (LAGCC External Affairs), Elijah Shippe (CCD), and Judith Brown Fears (CCD).
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LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | |
"Politics of Sexuality" Students Dig into the Archives to Learn About the New York City Gay Rights Bill | |
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On Monday, Archives historian Stephen Petrus discussed the New York City Gay Rights Bill with students in the course "Politics of Sexuality" taught by Professor Nichole Shippen. To spark dialogue, Petrus introduced documents from the Archives New York City Council Collection both for and against the bill. The purpose was to use archival sources as pedagogical tools in the classroom. Students did close readings of the documents, put them in historical context, and analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the different arguments. Particularly powerful was a handwritten letter by New Yorker Joe Remmes urging Council Majority Leader Tom Cuite to support the legislation in 1977. Remmes reflected about his personal journey to the gay rights movement. "It has taken a great deal of courage on my part to begin to confront this issue openly, to discuss it with friends, with associates at work," he commented. "But I really had no choice. My courage was born of necessity."
Photo: City Council Speaker Peter Vallone addresses an anti-gay rights rally in Manhattan in 1986.
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LaGuardia & Wagner Archives Project “Making it Here: Women in New York City Politics” on Display in City Hall | |
On March 19, the LaGuardia & Wagner Archives team was invited to City Hall celebrate the display of their project, “Making it Here: Women in New York City Politics.” Councilmember Amanda Farias (District 18) is one of the political leaders who was interviewed for the project by LaGuardia students in April 2023. Her experience sparked the idea to promote the project during Women’s History Month and have images and historical content displayed in City Hall, where other elected officials could view the work of LaGuardia students. The display is made up of seven panels which include historic and contemporary photos of women who got their political start in New York City. The display is located on the Council floors in 250 Broadway and will remain there until the end of March. | |
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Professor Karen Miller’s Article Selected as the Featured Open Access Essay in American Quarterly
An article written by Dr. Karen Miller, professor of history, has been published as the Featured Open Access Essay in American Quarterly, the journal for the American Studies Association. Her article is titled “Agents of the Settler State: Incarcerated Filipino Workers, Conjugal Migration, and Indigenous Dispossession at the Iwahig Penal Colony.” It is an examination of a conjugal migration program at the Iwahig Penal Colony in the early twentieth-century Philippines that was designed by American colonial administrators and built by incarcerated Filipino men. Dr. Miller’s academic research focuses on The Philippines. She is also a professor in the master of arts program in liberal studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.
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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. | |
Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | | |
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- Students can submit “A” papers for a course taken at LaGuardia during the 2023/24 academic year to the 43rd Annual Library Research Review Competition. The first place winner will receive an Amazon fire tablet. Entries are due July 6.
- Group Study Rooms are open! Students can reserve a room here.
- Check out our LibraryPicks: book and film recommendations from the Library.
- March is Women’s History Month. We’ve put together a collection for you—check it out in the Library.
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HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL UPDATES | |
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CUNY Time to Vote Policy
The Presidential Primary election is April 2, 2024. Please review the CUNY Time to Vote policy, which is posted on the University Human Resources website.
- Employees are eligible for voting leave only if they do not have four consecutive hours either between the opening of the polls and the beginning of their working shift, or between the end of their working shift and the closing of the polls; and
- Employees who do not have a four-hour window are eligible to take off only as much working time as will enable, when added to their voting time outside working hours, the employee to vote, up to three hours of which time must be without loss of pay.
This is also a reminder that early voting takes place between Saturday, March 23, 2024, to Saturday, March 30, 2024. Voting FAQs can be found here.
If an employee plans to take time off to vote per the guidelines above, the employee should indicate the hours on the corresponding timesheet.
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Fastest and Best Way to Get Technology Help
Whenever you have any technology-related problems—whether it’s with apps like CUNYfirst, Outlook, or the Faculty & Staff Portal, etc. or with any network services or computer equipment — the fastest and best way to get help is to contact the IT HelpDesk by opening a ticket through the Faculty & Staff Portal, or by calling 718-482-6134.
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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.
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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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