"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. | |
President Kenneth Adams Kicks Off Spring Semester with Opening Sessions | |
On March 5, LaGuardia faculty and staff gathered for Spring Opening Sessions. This semester’s Opening Session focused largely on the school’s Strategic Plan. President Kenneth Adams started the event with a quick address before inviting faculty, staff, and students to speak about the five pillars of LaGuardia’s Strategic Plan: Access, Teaching and Learning, Student Support, DEI, and Career Success. If you were unable to attend Opening Sessions in person or view the livestream, a recording of the event can be found here. | |
Campus Life Serves Welcome Breakfast to Students | |
Students were met with a warm reception this morning, thanks to Campus Life's Welcome Breakfast. With Spring I classes ramping up, Campus Life served a free hot breakfast to hungry students passing through the E-Building Lobby. Campus Life will host a wide range of other activities for students throughout the Spring Semester. For more information on future events hosted by Campus Life, contact campuslife@lagcc.cuny.edu or visit our Events Calendar. | |
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Seven students from LaGuardia have been selected as semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship. On March 6, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation named 467 community college students as semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This transformative scholarship empowers exceptional community college students with financial need to transfer to the nation’s top four-year institutions while avoiding the burden of student debt. Congratulations to the seven selected LaGuardia students, and their advisors and mentors:
- Anwarul Azim, AAS Cybersecurity major (Advisors and mentors: Shadi Haidar, Adel Tarfaia, Gordon Tapper)
- Lyvia Hawks, AS Business Administration major (Advisors and mentors: Mauricio Zegarra, Rochelle Spencer)
- Jessica Gallegos, AAS Music Recording major (Advisors and mentors: Kimberly Ramirez, Monika Ekiert)
- Toe Htin Lin Nyo, AS Business Administration major (Advisors and mentors: Andrea Francis, Diane Vasquez)
- Tabia Tarannum, AS Biology major: (Advisors and mentors: Ingrid Veras, Sorin Cucu)
- Leah El Paing Paing Htwe, AS Computer Science major:
- Haofeng Lin, AS Applied Math major (Advisors and mentors: Shaoshao Yang, Shenglan Yuan)
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Casa de las Américas Hosts Open House | |
This week, Casa de las Américas (La Casa) launched its spring programming, with the Federación de Mujeres Cubanas Panel Discussion on Tuesday, followed by La Casa’s Open House earlier this afternoon. The Open House featured an interactive cultural workshop with Kalpulli Huehuetlahtolli, which showcased traditional Mexica dance and teachings. The dancers gave a live performance before teaching the audience the significance of their movements, instruments, and attire. Attendees also got a chance to try out some of these moves themselves and participate in an open discussion about Mexica traditions and history. Find the full schedule of La Casa’s Spring 2025 programming here. | |
LaGuardia Hires Jennifer Jensen as Director of Archives | | |
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LaGuardia has hired Jennifer Jensen as its new Director of the LaGuardia & Wagner Archives. Jennifer officially begins her role on March 17, 2025 and comes to LaGuardia with extensive experience in cultural and educational institutions. In her role, Jennifer will oversee the management of the Archives’ collections and develop strategies for building and expanding them. Jennifer will lead strategic planning, operational, and financial management activities for the Archives, which is part of the Office of the President. “I am thrilled to be joining the LaGuardia College Community as the new Director of the LaGuardia & Wagner Archives,” Jennifer said. “My hope is that the archives will become more accessible to students, faculty and staff as a resource for research, curriculum, and exhibitions and become a center for both formal and informal learning opportunities.” | |
Mark your calendars for “HERStory in the Making,” a series of events for Women’s History Month highlighting the contributions and achievements of women and advocates for women’s rights. This year’s programming focuses on doers and changemakers at the forefront of political, artistic, and educational advancement. Events kick off on Thursday, March 13, with a keynote address from Vilda Vera Mayuga, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). The HERStory in the Making series is spearheaded by the 2025 Women's History Month Committee, a collaborative, cross-divisional committee of faculty, staff, and students (see list here). “HERStory in the Making honors the advocacy, education, and legal efforts advancing women’s rights and gender equality nationwide. While progress is ongoing, our current political and social climates present new challenges,” said Dr. Alexis McLean, Vice President of Student Affairs. “We encourage the campus to engage in these events, which offer opportunities for self-expression and models for spreading this work far and wide.” Read more here. | | |
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LaGuardia aims to be an inclusive and welcoming environment with an appreciation for celebrations and observances that are important to a wide range of cultures and religions. Here are just a few of the religious and cultural observances recognized in our community throughout the month of March:
- March 5: Ash Wednesday
- March 13-14: Purim
- March 14: Holi
- March 20: Nowruz
- March 31: Cesar Chavez Day
For a full listing of holidays and observations celebrated this month and throughout the year, please visit the CUNY Religions & Ethnic Holiday Calendar.
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LaGuardia's Spring Transfer Fair will take place March 19, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the E-Building Atrium. This event is a great opportunity for students to connect with college representatives at a wide range of senior colleges across the New York area and beyond. The full list of colleges that will be represented at next week's fair can be found here. Please encourage your students to attend. | |
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Black Empowerment Summit to Host Networking Event; RSVP by March 14 | | |
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The Black Empowerment Summit is hosting a networking event on April 9 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. This year's summit is focused on the theme of “The Black Code: The Influence of Politics, Wealth, Culture, and Education,” and espouses the slogan “Unlocking Power, Building Legacy, Shaping the Future.” The networking event will highlight the vital connections between these factors in driving Black excellence and progress. Business owners, poets, entrepreneurs, authors, and changemakers are invited to attend the event and connect, collaborate, and share insights with other attendees. To attend, please RSVP by reaching out to Rachel Romain at rcharles@lagcc.cuny.edu by March 14. Learn more about other programming at this year's Black Empowerment Summit here. | |
LaGuardia's Working Group on Student Conduct and Academic Integrity will host a virtual Brown Bag Series for faculty and staff throughout the semester. Topics covered will include online conduct expectations, mental health first aid, and the student conduct investigation process. Click here for the full schedule of events. Registration links for each session will be available shortly. For more information, contact Dianne Gordon-Conyers at dconyers@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
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Sign Up to Add a Professional Headshot to Your Faculty Profile | | |
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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! Your headshot can be used for a variety of purposes and adds a personal touch to your Faculty Profile on the LaGuardia website. Book your timeslot for March 18, April 15 or May 13. For more information contact Anastasia Figuera, photographer, Ext. 7471. | |
LaGuardia Attends New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Community Resource Fair and Community Board 2 Meeting | |
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For the third consecutive year, LaGuardia Community College attended the annual New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) community resource fair on Friday, March 7. State Senator Joseph Addabbo provided support for organizing the event. The fair served as an excellent opportunity to increase the college's visibility among Queens community members while also providing networking opportunities with local agencies, small businesses, and community-based organizations. The same week, on Thursday, March 6, Luda Spajic of LaGuardia's Communications and External Affairs Division attended a monthly CB2 meeting. Representatives from the offices of Congress Member Meng, Congress Member Velazquez, Senator Gianaris, Assembly Members Gonzalez-Rojas, Assembly Member Raga, Assembly Member Valdez, and Council Member Won were in attendance and provided information on various topics including rezoning, land use, and forthcoming events.
Pictured above (left to right): Luda Spajic (External Affairs), State Senator Joseph Addabbo and the staff members of New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission
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LAGUARDIA AND WAGNER ARCHIVES | |
An exhibition highlighting the importance of open spaces in the daily lives of NYC public housing residents is coming to LaGuardia from March 25 to May 23 in the lobby of Shenker Hall (M-Building). Living in the Shade: NYCHA Open Space Past, Present, and Future features historical photos from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Collection at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, and contemporary photos by LaGuardia Photography students under the direction of Professor Maureen Drennan and Dr. Stephen Petrus. Co-curated by Matthias Altwicker (NYIT) and Nicholas Dagen Bloom (Hunter College), the exhibition is open to the public during regular college hours. | |
LaGuardia Offers Funding Resources for Virtually Every Student | |
Through the Friedman Fund for new New Yorkers, any eligible student at LaGuardia can receive support through scholarships, experiential learning stipends, and emergency aid, to help students complete their degree or continuing education program. Students of any citizenship status can apply for support through the LaGuardia Foundation here. | |
LAGUARDIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | |
LPAC is partnering with the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company to present a restaging of Boda Mexicana (Mexican Wedding). A celebration of Mexican culture through the story of a traditional Mexican wedding, Boda Mexicana follows two lovers who travel through time, from the Mayan pyramids to the coast of Sinaloa in Northern Mexico. The show highlights indigenous and Hispanic customs of courtship, engagement, meeting the in-laws, the wedding ceremony and reception. In true telenovela style, an enchantress seeks to end the couple’s voyage of love. “The Boda Mexicana cast of dancers and musicians will take audiences on a voyage filled with color, joy, and the Mexican spirit,” said Juan Castaño, Executive Director of Calpulli. The performance is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, at 2:00 p.m. on LPAC’s Mainstage Theater. Tickets are $35 for general admission. Reserve tickets here. | |
LaGuardia Hires Melissa Grant as Assistant Dean for Advising | |
LaGuardia has hired Melissa Grant as the school’s new Assistant Dean for Advising. Melissa brings nearly 25 years of experience in higher education leading and supporting student success initiatives and comes to LaGuardia after 12 years at Pace University, where she started as Assistant Dean of Graduate Advisement and Student Development in the Lubin School of Business before serving the last five years as the inaugural Associate Dean in a newly-centralized Division of Advisement within Academic Affairs. In this most recent role, she was tasked with uniting multiple and distinct advising teams across six schools on two campuses to better coordinate advising practices and policies that improve the student experience. Melissa holds a BA in English and American Literature, with a minor in Classics, from Hunter College, and an MSED in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College. | |
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Center for Teaching and Learning to Host Open House on March 26 | | |
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Mark your calendars for the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)’s Open House on March 26 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The CTL Open House is an opportunity for faculty and staff to learn more about the benefits of participating in CTL seminars. Attendees will hear from faculty and staff who have participated in past seminars and learn more about upcoming CTL workshops and seminars. Light refreshments will be served. For more information about the CTL Open House, contact ldepovic@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
David Watson Receives Grant from Foundation for Contemporary Arts | |
Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) recently announced the recipients of 23 artists that will receive $45,000 Grants to Artists awards. Among the winners, is David Watson, Humanities Department adjunct lecturer, who received the Alvin Lucier Award for Music. David's work is particularly notable for his effort to reinvent the bagpipes and "bring them into the 21st Century." In his artist statement for the award, David writes that he works "at a crossroads where the ancient and the future, the junk and the gems can all meet." FCA describes Grants to Artists as “unrestricted, by-nomination grants that provide recipients with the financial means to engage in any artistic endeavors they wish to pursue.” | |
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Donna Siergie-Munsey to Present at BCC's 12th Annual Conference on Community College Excellence | |
Donna Siergie-Munsey, Health Sciences assistant professor, will present “Empowering You and Your Gen Z Students with Mindfulness Tools for Enhanced Living!” at Bronx Community College’s Twelfth Annual Conference on Community College Excellence. Held March 13 and 14, the conference theme will recognize the essential role of curriculum innovation and interdisciplinary studies in preparing students for the evolving workforce. | |
Transfer Engagement Initiative Shares Resources with Faculty and Staff to Support Students with Transfer | |
The Transfer Engagement Initiative (TEI) encourages faculty and staff to support LaGuardia students on their journey to transfer to a four-year college. To that end, TEI has created the Transfer and Scholarship Application guide for faculty and staff to share with students who are considering transferring in the coming semesters. This guide highlights important deadlines for transfer scholarships and programs, many of which are coming up this semester. | |
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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 following offices:
- Admissions
- International Student Services
- Registrar
- Student Financial Services
- Student Information Center
- Transfer Credit Evaluation
- Testing
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Four LaGuardia students participated in a mock debate on housing as part of the CUNY Model Senate Project on March 9. The mock debate took place during the Somos Inc. New York Conference. LaGuardia students Hsu Pan Thazin (Business Administration), Jonathan Machado (Biology), Anwarul Azim (Cybersecurity), and John Jara Morales (Mechanical Engineering) all traveled up to Albany to participate in the debate alongside students from other CUNY schools at the New York State Senate Chamber. This year’s debate focused on the Housing is a Human Right Act (Assembly Bill A3850), which would establish an affordable housing czar and a volunteer task force. The program, which began nearly three decades ago, aims to prepare CUNY students for a career in public service. The CUNY Model Senate Project is made possible thanks to a partnership with the New York State Assembly and Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. | |
LaGuardia's CUNY Citizenship Now! Attorney, Elinor Rahmani will be hosting a Know Your Rights Workshop on March 19 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in E-242. This workshop will provide attendees with information regarding their legal rights and protections in various situations. The session will cover key topics, from civil rights and workplace protections to interactions with law enforcement, and family preparedness strategies. Students can register for the event here. For more information, contact Dr. Alexis McLean, Vice President for Student Affairs at amclean@lagcc.cuny.edu. Visit LaGuardia's Know Your Rights webpage to stay informed. | |
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This fall, Louis Muamba (‘22, International Studies) will begin graduate studies towards a Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University. Louis, a first-generation college student who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spent time in Belgium and Mexico before moving to New York City, credits LaGuardia for helping him plan a career in public service. “LaGuardia taught me how to tailor my education to align with my goals and passions while acquiring the essential skills to make a meaningful impact in the world,” says Louis. As a LaGuardia student, he interned with Councilmember Julie Won and found mentors in Professors Maria Savva and Nichole Shippen. Today, Louis works for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs (MOIA), leading Know Your Rights forums throughout the five boroughs. LaGuardia’s YouTube channel features several videos where Louis offers advice for students about: Being a Non-Traditional Student; Why International Studies?; Advice for Incoming Students; and Transitioning from Intern to Employee. | |
Hot Lunches Provided to Students (First Come, First Served) by LaGuardia CARES | |
LaGuardia CARES is offering hot lunches to students on a first come first serve basis in Room C-235. Lunches will be available each week (Monday through Friday) until June 30, 2025. LaGuardia CARES is no longer providing lunch vouchers. For more information contact Dr. Rhonda Mouton, Director of LaGuardia CARES, at (718) 482-5129 or rmouton@lagcc.cuny.edu. | |
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Adult Basic Skills has launched GED Express, a free, online, evening program to help students who have not passed one or two subjects of the GED exam. Classes begin this month for the new program, which provides a faster track to GED completion through targeted support and resources. GED Express focuses on the core subjects of social studies, science, reading and language arts, and math. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approx. 25% of GED test-takers fail at least one subject, most often math and language arts. GED Express offers specialized modules and resources to ensure comprehensive coverage of each subject. Students receive targeted support based on specific areas of need. The program is funded by the New York State Education Department and City Tax levy monies. | |
Twenty-six New Yorkers recently graduated from the Healthcare Finance and Operations Training Program. Formerly known as the Medical Billing Specialist Training, this marks the 13th cohort to graduate from the program. The new name reflects an expanded focus on a broad array of non-clinical healthcare topics, such as revenue cycle and patient access coordination, designed to meet the needs of employer partners. The six-month program is offered tuition-free, designed and funded through a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS). The program began a decade ago with the Harvard Business School Club of New York connecting LaGuardia and Weill Cornell Medicine to train underserved New Yorkers for healthcare jobs. It expanded with support from SBS and the New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (NYACH), and has grown to include partners like Mount Sinai, Columbia, and Northwell Health. | |
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Updates from LaGuardia’s Library | |
- MoneyBoss workshops are back! Our first workshop is "A Student's Guide to Preparing Your Taxes," with Professor Maribel Arias. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 18, at 2:15 p.m., and will be in person in E-111. Register for this workshop, as well as the rest of our Spring workshops, on the MoneyBoss website.
- 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. Follow these directions to make a request.
- Group Study Rooms are available if you want to meet with your classmates to work on a project, or if you need quiet for an online class or an interview. Students can reserve a room here.
- Need to borrow a Chromebook, iPad, calculator, or laptop? Stop by our Media Help Desk.
- 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 | |
Important Changes in Human Resources | |
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To improve day-to-day services for faculty and staff, the Human Resources and Payroll/Timekeeping Departments have merged!
While the traditional Payroll/Timekeeping structure will no longer exist, this action will offer each classification their own team of specialists designed to meet their needs. Under this new structure there will be a specific point of contact for each classification.
Please refer to the list below to identify the team assigned to each classification.
HEO Series and ECP
Faculty and Adjuncts
Classified – Full and Part Time Employees
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LaGuardia Seeks to Fill Open Faculty and Staff Positions
LaGuardia currently has several ongoing searches for new faculty and staff members. Current faculty and staff are welcome to share the openings below with individuals who they believe may be a good fit for the role, or apply for the positions themselves.
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Complete Your Compliance Trainings | |
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Human Resources reminds faculty and staff to complete their compliance trainings, as LaGuardia's completion rates are low:
- Employee Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Course (ESPARC) – 23%
- Workplace Violence Prevention (WVP) – 24%
- Gender Based Violence Training (GBVT) – 29%
All CUNY employees are required to complete these trainings at least once each academic year. To access your assigned training(s), log into Blackboard and navigate to Organizations to find your assigned compliance courses. If you need assistance, please contact Yasu Denda.
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DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DoIT) | |
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New End User Digest Report Helps Manage Blocked Emails
The Department of Information Technology is excited to announce the End User Digest Report, a new feature to help protect you against targeted attacks in your inbox such as phishing, malware, and business email compromise. The report allows you to easily view and manage messages that have been blocked; you can also review and release emails incorrectly flagged as spam and block unwanted senders or set custom filtering rules. If you have any questions or need assistance with using the Digest Report or its features, contact our HelpDesk at ITHelp@lagcc.cuny.edu, or call (718) 482-6134.
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Complete Mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Please log in to Blackboard and complete the Cybersecurity Awareness Training course under the “Organizations” tab. This course covers phishing, spam, and best practices to protect CUNY accounts and sensitive data. Your participation is vital for safeguarding the University’s information. For questions, 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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