Registration / Exhibits Open

Haaren Hall, 4th Floor Gym

Concurrent Sessions I

Creating Connections with Brightspace’s Video Notes Tool

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

With the Video Notes tool in Brightspace, instructors and students can easily create and share videos directly in Brightspace. But how can this tool be used to support teaching and learning? During this workshop, instructional designers Laura Todd and Arielle Ortiz will demonstrate how Video Notes offers practical, innovative ways to connect students with each other, with the course content and with their instructor. Attendees will see a demonstration of how to create a video note and examples of how it can be used across multiple tools for multiple purposes, including providing feedback.

Laura Todd, Instructional Designer

Arielle Ortiz, Instructional Designer

Both of Office of Academic Affairs, CUNY Central Office

Brightspace Intelligent Agent and Release Conditions Best Practices and Applications

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

The focus of the presentation is to dive into the use cases of release conditions and intelligent agents within Brightspace. As educators, being able to automate tasks, send reminders to learners who may fall below a certain grade level in the course and personalize the learning experience is crucial for successful online learning. Brightspace’s platform allows instructors to leverage these features to help and encourage learners to succeed in their studies. Join us for this session to learn about best practices and use cases for these tools.

Stephen Castellano, LMS Administrator, Instructional Technology Support Specialist, Division of Information Technology, Lehman College

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From Incarceration to Innovation: AI in Tech Education for Justice-Impacted Students

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

In this session, we will explore the transformative power of artificial intelligence in tech education for justice-impacted students. We will discuss what it is like to return home from prison and feel technologically behind. How AI can be leveraged to enhance digital tech skills through AI techniques. We'll go over the various platforms (Gemini, Co-Pilot, ChatGPT) our students use to generate content, brainstorm and even prepare for job interviews. Additionally, we will highlight success stories of justice-impacted students who have benefited from our program, showcasing the positive impact of AI on their educational and career trajectories. Our students are having a lot of fun learning AI, so come join us and learn how AI is not only a tool for academic and professional development, but also a catalyst for social change, empowering justice-impacted students to build brighter futures.

Javier Irizarry, Senior Coordinator of Tech Support Programs, The Institute of Justice & Opportunity, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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Augmented Reality in the Library: Building Collaboratively

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

In this session, we will share how the Kingsborough Community College Library built an Augmented Reality (AR) activity to introduce new students to the library. Previous studies have demonstrated that college students often feel nervous using the library; to address this, we built this smartphone-based activity to engage students with technology and to create a fun experience to familiarize them with the library space. Rather than use a proprietary AR app, the librarians built the activity themselves, using open source Javascript libraries, specifically AR.js and A-Frame. The project was a truly collaborative experience for the library, with roles for both librarians with coding skills and non-technical librarians. In addition, the AR game has served as a learning activity that we were able to share more broadly with the KCC community. This presentation will describe the process we used to build the AR activity; its reception by KCC students and faculty; our challenges, successes and ideas for future iterations; and some resources for those who are interested in working with AR.

Mark Eaton, Professor

Caroline Jedlicka, Assistant Professor

Both of Kibbee Library, Kingsborough Community College

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Expanded Reach: Lessons from a Small Cohort Program and Using Technology to Encourage Cross-Campus Collaboration

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

The BMCC Learning Academy (BLA) is a small success program that supports students interested in healthcare careers. With a small staff limited by budget constraints, BLA has found creative ways to improve collaboration and expand its impact through strategic cross-campus collaborations with Admissions and the Health Studies department. We've also utilized tech platforms like Navigate360, Hobsons Connect, Brightspace and Instagram to multiply our impact and improve partnerships to better support our students. BLA will present on the implementation of these strategic initiatives and offer suggestions for other small departments.

James Nadeau, Associate Director of Enrollment and Engagement

Melanie Bonilla, Senior Academic Advisory

Ashley Wright, Academic Advisor

All of BMCC Learning Academy, Borough of Manhattan Community College

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IT Service Management Across the CUNY Enterprise

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

CUNY CIS and college departments are collaborating and redefining IT support for students, faculty and staff. With an improved customer service portal scheduled for Spring 2025 and more collaboration with and across college IT departments, the CUNY IT Help platform is taking off. This panel presentation and discussion will focus on how the teams are working together to balance the unique attributes of each program with universal practices that are easy to access and track. Topics will include:

The presentation will include a panel with representatives from Lehman College, Hunter College and CIS.

Wayne Levy, Application Lifecycle Management Director, CUNY CIS, CUNY Central Office

Michael Himmelstein, Metrics & Analytics Manager, CUNY CIS, CUNY Central Office

Clarence Feng, IT Project Manager, Instructional Computing and Information Technology, Hunter College

Shacara Cudjoe, ServiceNow Administrator, Instructional Computing and Information Technology, Hunter College

Susan Lai, Director of IT Support Services, Information Technology Division, Lehman College

Gerome Ferreira, Enterprise Application Developer, Information Technology Division, Lehman College

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Fostering Joyous Collaboration Through a CUNY-Wide AI Initiative

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

This panel highlights the collaborative processes and effective technological tools that faculty leads used in a CUNY-wide initiative called Building Bridges of Knowledge (BBK). With the aim to help students use AI tools ethically and responsibly, the BBK project is made up of 25 faculty fellows in five disciplinary areas (Education, Health, Humanities, Social Sciences and STEM) and is led by a CUNY faculty member with expertise in the use of AI. During the summer of 2024, the BBK leads used a myriad of technological tools such as Padlet, Zotero, Shared Google Documents, Custom GPTs, Zoom and Teams, along with collaborative strategies to support BBK fellows with the task of creating OER learning materials. In this session, the panelists will describe the most effective strategies, processes and technological tools that not only helped them successfully build community with their team, but ultimately meet the goal of creating over 30 learning materials, despite the challenges of working across the globe with conflicting schedules. The panel will wrap up with a description of how the project coordinator and leads supported one another through brainstorming, problem-solving and other strategies grounded in a Communities of Practice (CoP) framework.

Laura Scheiber, Adjunct Assistant Professor, KCC Department of Behavioral Studies and CUNY Central, Kingsborough Community College

Karan Puri, Associate Professor, Mathematics & Computer Science, Queensborough Community College

Casandra Silva Sibilin, Lecturer, History, Philosophy and Anthropology, York College

Karyna Pryiomka, Doctoral Lecturer, Psychology, Lehman College

Liz Clark, Professor, English, LaGuardia Community College

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Transforming STEM Tutoring with ChatGPT

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

This session will showcase a grant-funded project at Hostos Community College’s Academic Learning Center (HALC), in collaboration with Hostos EdTech, focused on integrating ChatGPT into STEM tutoring services. Supported by the IDEAS grant, this initiative aims to enhance personalized learning, boost student engagement and improve tutoring efficiency through AI. The presentation will explore ChatGPT’s capabilities in handling text, audio and image-based tutoring tasks while addressing key ethical considerations, such as maintaining academic integrity and data privacy. The session will also highlight best practices developed for responsible AI integration and the necessary competencies tutors must acquire to guide students effectively in AI-supported learning environments.

Lissette Jourdain-Torres, Director, Hostos Academic Learning Center

Ana Marjanovic, LMS Administrator, Instructional Designer, The Office of Educational Technology

Pablo Nienhusser, STEM Tutor, Hostos Academic Learning Center

Denisse Feliz, STEM Tutor, Hostos Academic Learning Center

All of Hostos Community College

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Building a Collaborative Strategy for Transfer Student Success Using Navigate360

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

Over the last year, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) adjusted our use of EAB Navigate360 to further improve our support for undergraduate transfer students. Using cross-unit collaborations centered around alerts, automation, campaigns and progress reports, we created a differentiated care strategy that provides more timely assistance to all undergraduate transfer students and additional support to students data suggests may be more likely to experience transfer shock or significant academic difficulty.

Our panel will outline how we designed our strategy and share our progress during the calendar year. Along the way, we’ll provide examples of early intervention strategies, cross-departmental tactics designed to encourage student registration and retention and case studies of how specific departments revamped their processes to better serve our students. We will close by sharing our next steps and lessons learned as we continue to use Navigate360 to build collaborative, data-driven interventions that enhance the student experience and operational efficiency at our campus.

Angela Francis, Assistant Dean, General Education and First Year Experience

Leah Chajeczkis, Executive Director, Student Financial Services

Joseph Contreras, Director, Institutional Research

Cindy Lin, Manager, Institutional Research

Ashley Hoyt, Assistant Director, Academic Advisement

All of CUNY School of Professional Studies

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PIVOTing to Success: Unlocking the Future of Grant Funding with the PIVOT Database

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

CUNY has a subscription to PIVOT, a powerful platform that enables faculty, staff and graduate students to efficiently discover funding opportunities tailored to their expertise and interests, while also identifying potential collaborators within CUNY and beyond. PIVOT combines an extensive, editorially maintained database of funding opportunities, valued at approximately $33 billion, with a unique repository of 3 million pre-populated scholar profiles. Using a proprietary algorithm, PIVOT compiles detailed researcher profiles, allowing users to instantly view relevant funding matches. Researchers can further refine these results by updating their profiles and creating targeted searches.

PIVOT offers several key benefits:

With PIVOT, CUNY researchers can streamline the process of finding grants and building research collaborations, ultimately enhancing their ability to secure funding and advance their academic pursuits. This presentation will demonstrate the features and functionalities of PIVOT and how it can serve as a vital tool in navigating the complex landscape of research funding.

Joshua Barnes, Administrative Research Coordinator, Office of Research, CUNY Central Office

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Leveraging CUNY’s Digital Toolbox to Drive Student Success

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

CUNY’s dedication to innovation and technological integration is reshaping the landscape of student success and engagement, driving transformative advancements across educational experiences. The Student Success team at Queens College will present on how we utilize digital tools to enhance cross-departmental efficiency and collaboration to elevate student experiences. We will showcase various tools in the Microsoft Office suite, highlighting their applications and benefits. We will discuss the usage of Brightspace and EAB Navigate as tools that enhance our ability to track student engagement and academic progress, enabling data-driven decision-making for improving support services and tailoring interventions.

The team will demonstrate how the Bookings App streamlined scheduling for peer tutoring and advising sessions by allowing students to easily view availability and book appointments. We will demonstrate how Power Automate can facilitate effective communication by automating email notifications and managing surveys. We will explore how Microsoft Teams serves as a centralized hub for both inter- and intra-departmental collaborations, boosting productivity through real-time chat, file sharing, document collaboration, task management and organized team channels. Finally, we will highlight how the power of data can be harnessed through Power BI, enabling the creation of insightful, data-driven dashboards that optimize budget spending and support informed decision-making.

Daniel Yakubov, Director, Office of Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success, Q-STEM Academy

Sayashmini Madhow, Administrative Coordinator, Office of the Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success, Academic Affairs

Allan Edmond, Assistant Director, Learning Commons and Academic Support Center

Ivan-Scott Lee, Director, Accelerate, Complete and Engage

Martina Singleman, CUE Coordinator, Office of the Associate Provost for Innovation and Student Success

Ming Lei, Project Coordinator, NSF S-STEM Program

All of Queens College

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From Silos to Synergy: Enabling a Data Revolution in Higher Education

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

In recent years, higher education institutions across the United States have been leveraging cloud technology to consolidate their vast and varied institutional data. This presentation explores how these centralized modern data architectures, alongside advanced AI and machine learning tools, are transforming higher education. By enhancing student experiences, generating academic and administrative insights and enabling comprehensive visualizations, institutions are unlocking new value for faculty, staff and students alike. The discussion will also highlight the shift towards a culture of data governance and collaborative reporting, showcasing how this evolution is fostering smarter decision-making and a more connected campus community.

Dallas Maddox, Higher Education Strategy Leader, Data Analytics, Amazon Web Services

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Scaling Transformational AI – Graduating from Pilots to Proliferation

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Higher education has been advancing on the AI front with a proliferation of low-risk use cases and pilots distributed across many areas of service. Unleashing the full transformative power of AI through personalized engagement and experiences will require colleges and universities to develop AI solutions that leverage data sources and applications that contain sensitive and personal information. Come join our discussion as we present a comprehensive, practical approach that universities can take to safely realize the full potential of AI in creating digital experiences that drive the best outcomes.

Michael Sink, Chief Technology Advisor, Higher Education, World Wide Technology

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Mastering of AI Technologies by Leveraging of DNS with AI and Security

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

The Mastering Operational AI Transformation program by CDW is designed to help organizations maximize AI benefits while managing risks. MOAT supports the NYC AI Action Plan by providing governance, policies and risk mitigation strategies, fostering an AI culture among employees, partners and customers. The process of leveraging DNS, DCHP and IPAM to enhance security operations with the power of AI is transformational and a new space in the market. The mitigation threats from generative AI adoption will monitor and control which AI services can be accessed. Understanding how threat actors use AI to compromise environments is now a rising concern across the globe.

Roger Campbell, Principal Consultant, CDW

Chris Usserman, Chief Technologist, Infoblox Public Sector

Break

Concurrent Sessions II

Students Design and Implement Argument Maps Based on Student Feedback: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

During the Spring 2023, students from an English 102 class and a CIS 152 class worked together to design a computer application that can help one build an argument map. The classes did not meet on the same days, so all interaction happened through an asynchronous discussion board. Students from both classes were divided in groups, so each group contained some students from the English class and some students from the CIS class. The English students had to explain to the CIS students what an argument map is and also provide a list of features they would like to see implemented in a computer application. The CIS students designed a preliminary version of the application and solicited feedback from the English students. The CIS students were then required to incorporate the feedback they received into a new version of the application. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the challenges encountered and provide evidence of student engagement.

Roumen Vragov, Assistant Professor, Queensborough Community College

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Transforming Experiential Learning: Jupyter Book, Python and AI in Action

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Picture creating an experiential learning project where students don’t just passively absorb information – they actively engage, code, analyze and solve real-world problems, all in one seamless environment. With Jupyter Book and Python, this vision becomes reality, and it’s an absolute game-changer for college professors designing cutting-edge learning experiences!

Our presentation shows how a Jupyter Book with Python is created using the help of AI to offer a dynamic platform where you can integrate live Python code, data visualizations and multimedia, allowing students to dive deep into projects with real-time feedback. Imagine your students generating interactive graphs and exploring data all within the same document, seeing their work come to life as they learn. This hands-on approach bridges the gap between theory and practice, giving students the tools to apply concepts immediately.

For professors, the Jupyter Book is a dream tool for creating immersive projects and building multi-faceted collaborative assignments. Incorporating Jupyter Book elevates the learning experience, helping students master the skills that matter most while making teaching more engaging and impactful. This tool enables you to design projects that captivate students’ curiosity, encourage active participation and prepare them for a data-driven world.

Joseph Foy, Assistant Professor, Online Business Programs, CUNY School of Professional Studies

Calvester Legister, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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Tech Tools for Fostering Intentional and Engaging Collaborations in Education

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

CUNY SPS offers asynchronous online learning, presenting both benefits and challenges in student engagement. This session will showcase how graduate nursing faculty employ innovative strategies to engage students, overcome barriers and utilize alternative modalities. It is crucial for faculty to use multi-model assessment strategies to measure student learning and foster engagement in a diverse digital classroom. Traditional tools like discussion boards, shared essays and pre-recorded lectures are supplemented with newer digital tools such as online journals, VoiceThread video discussions and platforms like Prezi. Microsoft Teams, Office 365 Cloud, Web-Ex and Zoom, with AI capabilities, are widely used for collaboration.

Evolving technologies enable students to engage in innovative assignments involving AI, multimedia, poetry, interdisciplinary projects and cloud-based team projects. Collaborative activities outside the classroom include nurse-led hackathons, innovation sprints, conferences and mentoring. Students also work with local and out-of-state healthcare institutions through cloud-based video-conferencing on projects like research, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and clinical informatics applications. These experiences enhance students’ technology and collaboration skills, providing a strong foundation for future practice.

Lilly Mathew, Associate Professor

Olga Kagan, Associate Professor

Mary Joy Garcia, Assistant Professor

All of Nursing, CUNY School of Professional Studies

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Empowering Students with Financial Clarity: CUNY’s Net Price Calculator

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

CUNY’s Net Price Calculator web tool empowers students to make informed financial decisions about college, particularly in light of FAFSA delays. The Net Price Calculator allows students to compare CUNY’s financial aid packages and expenses with those of other colleges, helping them evaluate which institution offers the best financial fit for their needs. By integrating strong technical infrastructure, user-friendly design and accurate financial data, the Net Price Calculator provides timely and accessible cost estimates, reducing uncertainty and supporting students in their educational journey.

Mark Rivera, Deputy Director of Student Financial Assistance, Office of Student Financial Assistance

Yvonne Venezia, Manager of Strategic Development, CUNY CIS

Berlin Francois, Software Developer, CUNY CIS

All of CUNY Central Office

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YrkGPT – Custom-Built AI Invention

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Imagine if CUNY became a hub of innovation, developing tools designed by CUNY students for its community and industry. YrkGPT is being created by York students in collaboration with York faculty and IT, an AI-powered tool similar to ChatGPT. YrkGPT, a Large Language Model, trained on data from around 3,000 endpoints from the publicly accessible York College website, features 7.6 billion parameters, allowing it to accurately generate responses related to York College. This inference ability is bolstered by Retrieval Augmented Generation, giving it access to a constant stream of current and relevant information.

YrkGPT will provide one stop solution to anyone seeking information on York College. YrkGPT will answer questions related to students’ admissions, financial aid, navigating the campus and much more. Faculty and staff will be able to find answers to perform their daily tasks, such as contact information, event location etc.

Once successfully launched, YrkGPT has the potential to be replicated across CUNY campuses and administrative units. The CUNY IT Conference provides a perfect platform to showcase YrkGPT’s innovative approach to advancing education and operational efficiency, setting the stage for broader adoption across the university system.

Abu Kamruzzaman, Assistant Professor, Department of Business and Economics, School of Business and Information Systems

Elizabeth Quaye, Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting and Finance

Gregory Vega, Interim Assistant Vice President/Chief Information Officer, IT

Eric Tyrer, Associate Director, IT, Web Services and Business Intelligence Department

Darryl Nurse, Student, Math & Computer Science Department

All of York College

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RSI, UDL and Accessibility: Key Pillars of the Hostos Brightspace Guidelines

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

This session demonstrates how Hostos Community College’s custom Brightspace guidelines integrate regular and substantive interaction (RSI), universal design for learning (UDL) and accessibility to foster collaboration and enhance online teaching while learning how to use the new LMS. Participants will engage with practical examples of Brightspace tools that apply these concepts, showcasing features such as announcements, discussions and multimedia tools to meet RSI requirements, support diverse learning styles through UDL and ensure digital content is accessible to all students. Additionally, the integration of a custom AI-powered chatbot will be discussed, demonstrating how it streamlines faculty support and promotes effective LMS usage. By the end of the session, participants will leave with actionable strategies and a deeper understanding of how to utilize Brightspace tools to create engaging, inclusive and compliant online learning environments.

Ana Marjanovic, LMS Administrator, Instructional Designer, The Office of Educational Technology, Hostos Community College

Carlos Guevara, Director of EdTech and Center for Teaching and Learning, The Office of Educational Technology and Center for Teaching and Learning, Hostos Community College

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A Brightspace Project Management and Empathy Hack for Course Development

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

Join us for a discussion exploring the innovative use of Brightspace as a collaborative tool for course development via the Crafting Compelling Courses model for instructional design. Our panelists will share their insights on the development and implementation of this model and its ongoing use. Our team at Baruch College’s Digital Learning Hub facilitates a consultative instructional design model working directly with faculty course developers through an intensive design process. As we scale our work across multiple degree programs while integrating new staff, we sought to supplement our synchronous design meetings with an asynchronous digital space to streamline course development, co-create team knowledge and empower faculty to make informed pedagogical choices.

We'll delve into how using our new LMS as a training mechanism, project management tool and living best practices repository enhances empathy and innovation for the student experience. Together, we'll explore opportunities for further extension of the course including generative AI. This interactive discussion offers an opportunity to learn from experts and contribute your own perspectives.

Jeffrey Bennett, Online Program Manager

Jenny Quarles, Associate Provost for Online Programs and Pedagogy

Christopher Campbell, Instructional Design Specialist

Lukasz Chelminski, Instructional Design Specialist

All of Digital Learning Hub, Baruch College

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This Is What We Need: Insights from CUNY Computer Science Students

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

This presentation will discuss the results of a cross-CUNY student survey of over 600 students, examining whether students have adequate access to technology to succeed in Computer Science / Information Technology courses. An overview of the results will be shared, including student-reported access to and use of technology (hardware, operating systems, other software) and their expressed needs and preferences to better succeed in CS. The presentation will also discuss key takeaways from a complementary cross-CUNY student focus group study. The focus group results will concentrate on student experiences in prioritizing equipment purchases (i.e., laptop, desktop, external storage, internet) compared to other academic and non-academic expenses, as well as recommendations of their ideal technology landscape for incoming CUNY computer science students.

Sheena Philogene, Assistant Professor, Library, Brooklyn College

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AI-Empowered HR: Transforming Talent Management for the Future

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

This presentation highlights how AI is revolutionizing HR by automating recruitment processes, reducing bias and enabling more efficient, data-driven decision-making. AI tools are personalizing employee experiences through tailored learning and engagement programs, while streamlining administrative tasks like crafting job descriptions, position classification and compensation analysis. As AI takes over repetitive tasks, HR professionals can focus on strategic initiatives like employee well-being and diversity.

Anesha Bonner, aHEO-HR Coordinator for Civil Service Recruitment, Human Resources, Bronx Community College

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PIT@CUNY: Advancing Public Interest Technology Through Upskilling, Data Collaboration and Community Tech Apprenticeships

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Public Interest Technology (PIT) is an emerging field focused on the development of technology that promotes social good, sustainability and equity. PIT approaches are being applied to AI, machine learning, disaster prevention, data science and cybersecurity, with a mission to address societal challenges. CUNY, with its 25 campuses across New York City, is at the forefront of advancing these technologies in civic engagement, education and economic growth. PIT@CUNY is dedicated to integrating social justice into the design and deployment of technology, ensuring diverse access and equitable use of tech tools. This mission is driven by university-community and university-industry partnerships, which are vital to fostering innovation and systemic change.

The CUNY PIT Lab, as part of PIT@CUNY, received FY 2024 funding from the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline to support two key initiatives. First, the development of experiential learning opportunities through paid apprenticeships with BetaNYC, designed to create pathways for CUNY students into PIT careers. Second, the establishment of the CUNY PIT Lab as a regional hub, promoting PIT to serve the diverse needs of New York City communities, in alignment with CUNY’s mission of advancing upward mobility for all New Yorkers.

Joshua Barnes, Administrative Research Coordinator, Office of Research, CUNY Central Office

Effie MacLachlan, Director of Grants & Research Programs, Office of Research, CUNY Central Office

Kathleen Cumiskey, Professor, Psychology, College of Staten Island

Brendan Collins, Executive Director, New York City Tech Talent Pipeline

Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director, BetaNYC

Jazzy Smith, Civic Innovation Fellowship Director, BetaNYC

Anthoni Garcia, Lab Coordinator, CUNY PIT Lab, CUNY

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Strategies for Pedagogy and LMS in the Age of Emerging Technology

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

This session explores how to use innovative teaching strategies and leverage LMS to engage and prepare students in the age of AI. Presenters will share real-life, CUNY-situated examples to offer flexible frameworks for teaching, learning and LMS integrations where student success, retention efforts and career readiness – not AI buzzwords – lead the way. By first addressing the “AI elephants” in the classroom (i.e., common faculty and student concerns about value, ethics and curriculum-wide implementation), this presentation will demonstrate practical ways to move toward a future where students are critical, creative and confident users of emerging technologies.

Shauna Chung, Senior Strategic Development Manager for Higher Education, Adobe

José Diaz, Director of Academic Technologies and Online Learning, Academic Technologies and Online Learning, New York City College of Technology

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Engaging Adult and Non-Traditional Learners Using Data and AI-Powered Tools

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

As the future of work continues to evolve, and workers navigate an increasingly dynamic career landscape, it’s essential for higher education institutions to reach adult and non-traditional learners through effective targeting, engagement and enrollment. This session will delve into how data aggregation and AI-powered tools may identify learners who are likely to be interested in and apply to programs based on their geographic area and preferences and engage them through personalized outreach and marketing efforts.

Blythe Kladney, Manager, Deloitte Consulting LLP

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Unifying Asset Vulnerability Prioritization Across the Enterprise

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

In today’s complex environments, effective security requires a comprehensive understanding of assets. A robust AI-enabled platform offers a unified view of your entire infrastructure, integrating with existing tools to streamline security operations and reduce risk. By leveraging a neutral perspective and advanced analytics, we can:

Join us to learn how your campus can achieve a more secure, efficient and resilient technology operation.

Hunter Ely, CISSP, Director, U.S. Higher Education Strategy, Armis

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Brightspace Users – Basic

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Join us for an introduction to Brightspace’s essential tools designed to streamline online course management and boost student engagement. This session will guide you through Brightspace’s features for simplifying grading workflows, enhancing communication and building a collaborative learning environment. Discover how to set up assessments, create announcements, manage assignments and facilitate discussions. By the end, you’ll be ready to navigate Brightspace with confidence and kickstart a dynamic online learning experience for your learners.

Jamie Ferrazano, Customer Success Director, D2L

Break

Please note: The exhibit area and 4th floor gym will be locked down and secured at ~4:30 pm. Please make sure you have all of your personal belongings out of the area by that time. No one will be allowed in the area after 4:30 pm until the conference resumes on Friday morning at 8:30 am.

Opening Remarks and Keynote Presentation

New Building, 1st Floor Theatre

Opening Remarks

Eusebio (Seb) Formoso, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and University Chief Information Officer, The City University of New York

Edi Ruiz, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Lehman College and CUNY IT Conference Co-Chair, The City University of New York

Greet Van Belle, Director, Center for Teaching, Learning and Educational Technologies,

York College and CUNY IT Conference Co-Chair, The City University of New York

Keynote Presentation

Aleks Berditchevskaia, Principal Researcher, Center for Collective Intelligence Design, Nesta

2024 CUNY Excellence in Technology Awards

New Building, 1st Floor Theatre

Adjourn Day 1

Registration / Continental Breakfast / Exhibits Open

Haaren Hall, 4th Floor Gym

Concurrent Sessions I

LEAPing into Opportunity: Leveraging Technology in Integrated Academic and Career Advisement Models

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

In Fall 2019, the college launched the LEAP (Linking, Experience, Academics & Practice) Program to provide first-time students who are not part of other specialized cohorts with customized major and career exploration; intensive academic advisement; and access to experiential learning opportunities (ELOs), such as campus-based leadership, community service, fellowships, internships and undergraduate research, through their second year.

This session will discuss how LEAP uses technological platforms such as EAB Navigate, CUNYFirst and Constant Contact, in addition to collaborating with campus partners to help students succeed throughout their college journeys. Using data regarding our student population, we will be sharing best practices used to meet the retention, credit accumulation and experiential learning goals of the program. By engaging a wider campus network with the use of technology, experiential learning applications and participation quadrupled amongst LEAP students. By attending this session, attendees will learn:

1. Best practices regarding technology used to meet the program’s retention and credit accumulation goals.

2. How the use of technology for data gathering informed student success initiatives.

3. To leverage networks on campus to triple experiential learning experiences for their students.

Cortanay Parker, Academic Advising Manager, LEAP, Academic Advisement Center

Anita Devarie, Senior Academic Advisor, LEAP, Academic Advisement Center

David Arez, Senior Academic Advisor, LEAP, Academic Advisement Center

Gustavo Aguilar, Senior Academic Advisor, LEAP, Academic Advisement Center

Stacia Maynard, Assistant Director for Student Career Engagement, Career Learning Lab

All of John Jay College of Criminal Justice

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Fostering Intentional, Engaging Collaborations Through Live Writes and Peer Review

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Teaching online synchronous classes can present challenges for real-time engagement, collaboration and active participation. We want students to collaborate with their peers in intentional, enjoyable activities no matter their online or hyflex environment. Participating in the peer review of research papers and collaboratively commenting on published research studies affords students opportunities to intentionally engage with each other, demonstrate real-time critical thinking skills and come to class prepared for dynamic discussions. Our presentation will demonstrate how students analyze written content and apply rubrics, encouraging the students to think critically rather than use AI to generate original content. We encourage the use of AI for logic and rhetoric, showing students how to follow CUNY guidelines to use and reference AI tools. We design no-cost live-writeable documents and rubrics for peer review and create online spaces for small group collaborative discussion. We share the students’ and faculty reflections as to why these exercises were instrumental in their learning experience.

Amy White, Assistant Professor, Health Administration, Equity, and Technology

Tailisha Gonzalez, Assistant Professor, Health Equity Administration and Technology

Both of Lehman College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Online Nursing Admission Application

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

The healthcare sector, particularly nursing, has experienced substantial growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying the demand for nursing professionals in New York. City Tech’s Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree Program has remained competitive with its high NCLEX-RN pass rates, attracting 160-200 applicants every semester. Traditionally, the application process involved cumbersome hard copy submissions, leading to inefficiencies and administrative burdens for faculty and staff.

In response, the Nursing Admission Committee collaborated with the Office of Computing and Information System (OCIS) Department to develop and launch the Online Nursing Admission Application in Fall 2023. This innovative application streamlines the admissions process by centralizing the application management through a sophisticated digital platform. The system features advanced tools for scoring applicants based on customizable criteria, GPA calculation and comprehensive communication tracking. Additionally, it enables applicants to upload essential documents, such as transcripts and references, directly online.

Since its implementation, the platform has been utilized by an average of 180 applicants each semester, yielding positive feedback from all stakeholders. The Online Nursing Admission Application has not only optimized the admissions workflow, but also holds potential for integration with other institutional departments such as advisement, registration and financial services. This application stands as a pioneering model that could be extended to other CUNY departments, further enhancing operational efficiency across the college system.

Michelle Gellar, Assistant Professor, Nursing Department

Shi-Li-May Li, CLT, Nursing Department

Peter Dinh, Web/Application Manager, Office of Computing & Information Services

All of New York City College of Technology

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Building Fully Online Courses and Programs with CUNY Online

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

CUNY Online launched in 2022 to meet the demand for high quality, impactful, fully online programs for CUNY. Since then, we have built over 300 courses in 35 programs across CUNY. This panel will allow participants to get a deep inner look at the complete process of building a fully online course and program with CUNY Online.

Building fully online learning experiences is a multi-faceted process that requires collaboration from multiple individuals and roles. With guidance from campus and university stakeholders, faculty developers work with Instructional designers and media specialists to design and produce courses. Collaborative technology is essential to this process. Team members leverage tools and software (i.e., SharePoint, EdTech, project management tools) to facilitate creation of courses, map course design and achieve course pedagogical aims. Through these tools, team members successfully develop courses synchronously and asynchronously, despite the inherently virtual nature of a continuous cross-campus collaboration effort.

Have you been curious about what it means to collaborate with CUNY Online? Do you also handle large-scale endeavors that require multiple stakeholders across the CUNY system? Join this panel to discuss these topics with the CUNY Online instructional designers, media production specialists, executive director and director of instructional design.

Rachel Stern-Lockerman, Instructional Designer

Judy Cahn, Interim University Executive Director, CUNY Online

Renee McGarry, Director of Instructional Design

Jonathan Fernandez, eLearning Multimedia Design Specialist

Laura Todd, Instructional Designer

Chelien Brown, Instructional Designer

All of CUNY Online, CUNY Central Office

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Smart Solutions for Student Success: Leveraging Data and Automation to Enhance Student Engagement

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

This presentation will showcase how Queensborough Community College’s ASAP program utilizes experience management platforms such as Qualtrics surveys, workflows, Power Automate and more to bridge various departments and streamline the student experience. QCC ASAP Associate Director of Data Management and Program Strategy Angela Mc Aleese and QCC ASAP Engagement Specialist Rachel Jerome will dive into how data-driven communication processes collect both quantitative and qualitative information about new students to understand their unique needs better. The program sends targeted messages and instructions related to financial aid, bursar and other essential processes through automated communication workflows, ensuring a personalized and unified experience. Learn how advisors collaborate with engagement staff to track student progress in real time and how all data is seamlessly integrated into a live spreadsheet for ongoing updates and status monitoring. This session will provide insights on creating efficient, yet personalized, engagement strategies that improve the student journey and foster deeper connections across departments.

Rachel Jerome, ASAP Program Specialist for Student Engagement

Angela Mc Aleese, Associate Director of Data Management and Program Strategy

Both of ASAP Program, Queensborough Community College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Addressing the Use of Generative AI in Higher Education: A Roadmap for College Administrators and Offices

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

While concerns about GenAI interfaces negatively impacting assessment methods in regard to their traditional designs persist, the inevitable development and, more importantly, current deployment of these tools necessitates an urgent and far wider examination of how they impact different departments, offices and charges of a university in the present day to best serve their students. This presentation reviews how administrative stakeholders in the Center of Teaching and Learning, Division of Student Affairs and the Career Exploration and Development Center at Lehman College collaboratively developed and deployed relevant programming that attend to academic freedom and integrity, pedagogical practices and guidelines for students, faculty and staff.

Dermot Foley, Acting Executive Director for the Center of Teaching and Learning

Asma Neblett, Student Support and Academic Resource Specialist

Both of Center for Teaching and Learning, Lehman College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PowerBI, Power Automate, Navigate360 and More: Affordable, Robust Workflows to Impact Student Success

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

At Hunter College’s School of Arts and Sciences, affordable and robust workflows powered by Microsoft’s Power BI, Power Automate and Navigate360 are revolutionizing student success operations. This session will demonstrate how the integration of data from multiple sources – including Qualtrics, CRM systems and historical academic data – enables automation-supported monitoring of critical metrics such as course fill rates and DFW trends. These insights, paired with automated workflows, allow for timely interventions that prevent challenges like duplicate credit accumulation and support student progression. While these workflows have been pioneered at Hunter College, the strategies presented are scalable across other CUNY campuses, providing cost-effective solutions for enhancing student success best practices. Attendees will gain practical insights into using these tools to streamline operations, leverage actionable data and improve institutional outcomes.

Brian Buckwald, Assistant Dean for Student Achievement, Office of the Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Hunter College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Collaboration Through CANVA: Innovating Authentic Language Resources

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) emphasizes teaching language proficiency through its core practices. One key practice, "Guide Learners Through Interpreting Authentic Resources," often challenges language educators, consuming valuable preparation time. In the age of AI, innovative tools like CANVA have emerged to alleviate this issue. CANVA allows educators to create authentic materials using a vast array of existing templates, streamlining the process of resource development. This aligns with insights shared during the pedagogy workshop by the Institute for Language Education in Transcultural Context (ILETC), which highlighted the importance of authentic materials in education. However, locating suitable authentic materials for introductory classes remains a challenge, particularly in high-enrollment programs across institutions like CUNY. The resources generated through CANVA have fostered collaboration among instructors, enhancing support for teachers across multiple campuses. We will present new proposals that leverage AI and CANVA to achieve ACTFL’s core practices, further promoting collaboration among educators to enrich language learning experiences.

Kazuko Saito, Adjunct Faculty and EdTech Faculty Fellow, Japanese Program of the Department of Classical and Oriental Studies, Hunter College

Mieko Sperbeck, Adjunct Associate Professor, Modern Languages and Literatures, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Leveraging Data Through Data Availability, Visualization and Supportive Leadership

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Offices of Institutional Research (OIR) strive to support colleges by providing key stakeholders with access to data that is critical to inform decision-making. To achieve this mission at the College of Staten Island, two key components were needed. One was the use of Tableau and Tableau Server to provide stakeholders with direct access to curated data. The second component included supportive leadership, who modeled the informed decision-making process and made intentional connections between the IR office and key stakeholders. With these components in place, CSI’s OIR developed dashboards that provide deans and department chairs with visualizations to show trends in enrollment by major and course, as well as trends in course performance. These changes have allowed the college to increase re-enrollment rates, adjust course schedules and begin to have deeper conversations about student success in courses.

Tara Mastrorilli, Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, Institutional Research and Assessment

Michael E. Steiper, Provost/Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Both of College of Staten Island

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Modernizing Network Infrastructure at CUNY

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Topics:

1. Centralized Management and Monitoring: streamlining network operations with centralized control and tools and best practices for effective network monitoring.

2. AI-Managed Network Optimization: leveraging AI for proactive network management and case studies on AI-driven network performance improvements.

3. Building the Foundation for Emerging Technologies: preparing your network for the future of tech and integrating new technologies seamlessly into existing infrastructure.

4. Deep Dive into Campus Network: exploring the intricacies of campus network design and solutions for common challenges in campus networking.

5. Building the Future Campus Network: innovations in campus network architecture and future-proofing your network for upcoming demands.

Shahram Zarmehrbakhsh, Director of Network Field Operations, CIS/Networking, CUNY Central Office

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Using Peer-Enhanced Blockchain-Based Learning Environments to Promote Student Engagement and Retention

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

The Peer-Enhanced, Blockchain-Based Learning Environment (PEBBLE) program, developed at the College of Staten Island and funded by the National Science Foundation, takes advantage of the anonymized, yet open, data capabilities of blockchain to allow for small-group peer-led teams to operate within a larger lecture-based course. With the encouragement of peer-leaders and teammates, students earn co-curricular micro-credentials, displayed as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on a public blockchain. These tokens are designed to teach students how day-to-day activities in their coursework translate to real world skills that support college success and are required of the STEM workforce. Team-level token accumulation is displayed by the course instructor and peer leaders in the form of leaderboards designed to incentivize teams to compete to accumulate as many tokens as possible. The combination of community building through peer-led team learning, improved course performance through team-based competition and learning how course activities translate to workforce skills is expected to improve retention of students, particularly those at most risk. The PEBBLE program boosts motivation and engagement by helping students see how college success and skill development enhance their employability and job success. While the PEBBLE program has been designed to be implemented in any college-level course, our pilot studies have been in Introduction to Psychology (PSY100), the STEM course with the highest enrollment of college freshmen in the U.S.

Dan McCloskey, Professor

Patricia Brooks, Professor, Psychology

Katie Cumiskey, Professor, Psychology

Dan McCloskey, Professor, Psychology

All of College of Staten Island

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Innovative Synergies: AI and Holistic Approaches for a Thought-Provoking Education

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

This proposal examines the integration of both technological and non-technological tools to enhance collaboration and deepen learning experiences. The use of these tools improves student engagement and strengthens their understanding of the Professional Mxn Series’ objectives. The series’ overarching theme is holism and the development of self-actualization through community building. As a team of educators, we serve multiple roles as a success coach for a cohort of 250 Black freshman males, academic program manager for historically marginalized students in a higher education opportunity program and media specialist with social work training. As a result, our collective experiences have birthed a customized experience for men attending Medgar Evers College.

To foster collaboration with AI and enrich learning, we adopt a holistic approach combining Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities, theoretical knowledge, modeling exercises and hands-on applications. These preparatory activities help students become familiar with the material and engage in peer collaboration. Our workshops conclude with small networking events to reinforce the value of building connections. Some of our favorite AI tools for fostering intentional and engaging collaborations include the Series Planning Workbook, which aids in organizing any workshop series and SEL exercises that incorporate digital options to increase accessibility for our unique students.

Rennae Robinson, Success Coach, Student Persistence and Retention Services

Jessica Rivera Baptiste, Academic Program Manager, The Percy E. Sutton SEEK Department

Darlennys German Aponte, College Assistant & Media Specialist

All of Medgar Evers College

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Transforming Higher Education with Precision AI and Securing Critical Applications

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

In this breakout session, we will explore how Precision AI is revolutionizing higher education by enhancing personalized learning, leveraging predictive analytics for student success and driving administrative efficiency – all while securing critical applications within the CUNY network. Attendees will see real-world examples like AI-powered adaptive learning platforms, predictive tools for identifying at-risk students and AI-driven automation for streamlined campus operations. Led by Jaydeep Bhatia and our core AI specialist, this session will showcase how these innovations are shaping a smarter, more secure, data-driven future for CUNY.

Jaydeep Bhatia, Solutions Consultant, Palo Alto Networks

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Transforming Operational Efficiency with Streamlined Communication Systems

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Faced with increasing challenges from an outdated phone platform, the Borough of Manhattan Community College adopted a centralized, cloud solution that resulted in significant cost savings and greater employee and student satisfaction. During this session, RingCentral will explore how education institutions can increase reliability, enhance operational efficiency and deliver a connected community. Maintaining efficient and resilient communication is critical to supporting the needs of students, faculty and administrative staff. This presentation will highlight successful implementations in higher education, focusing on PBX migration and how cloud technology enables secure, multi-device engagement.

Jeff Green, Public Sector Solutions Engineer, RingCentral

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bridging Digital Equity on New York City College Campuses

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

Ensuring digital equity on urban college campuses is vital for student success and institutional growth. This session explores the unique challenges that New York City campuses face in providing equitable access to digital resources, including connectivity and infrastructure. Attendees will participate in a discussion centered on solutions to bridge the digital divide, including examples of successful urban technology initiatives. They will leave with practical strategies for creating inclusive, student-centered campuses that provide all students with the tools needed for academic achievement.

Walter Cannon, Vice President, Connected Communities and External Affairs, Boldyn Networks

Break

Welcome Remarks and Panel Presentation

New Building, 1st Floor Theatre

Panel Discussion: People, Process and Technology: A Framework for Connections and Collaborations

Moderators

Ediltrudys Ruiz, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Lehman College and CUNY IT Conference Co-Chair

Greet Van Belle, Director, Center for Teaching, Learning and Educational Technologies, York College, The City University of New York and CUNY IT Conference Co-Chair

Panelists

Jorge Silva-Puras, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success, Lehman College

Cheryl Littman, Chief Data Strategist, Office of Applied Research Evaluation and Data Analytics, Central Office

Evan Silberman, Chief Academic Technology Officer, CUNY Academic Affairs, Central Office

Amish Batra, Chief Technology Officer, Borough of Manhattan Community College

Lunch (until 1:30 pm)

Haaren Hall, 4th Floor Gym

Concurrent Sessions II

Crafting Collaborative Online Program Solutions in Transition

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

The Online MBA program WordPress Network at Baruch College, launched in 2023, is a collaboration between the Center for Teaching and Learning, Digital Learning Hub and Zicklin School of Business. Enhancing connections between these departments, it filled a critical niche during the launch of a new online program in the midst of the LMS transition from Blackboard to Brightspace. Building the first online classes with open-source technology allowed us to work with faculty to provide a platform that was uniquely tailored to their needs while remaining responsive to accessibility, security and the student experience. Through the WordPress plugin system, we integrated extended functionality with CUNY Login authentication, Baruch’s Kaltura video library and accessibility testing tools. With the pedagogical expertise of staff from the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Digital Learning Hub, we met with faculty from the Zicklin School of Business to convert their existing courses into custom-designed online modalities. The OMBA WordPress platform served as a site of collaboration and furthered conversation about the intersections of LMS and custom-tailored solutions.

Christopher Silsby, IT Academic Technology Manager, Center for Teaching and Learning/Educational Technology

Shiraz Biggie, Educational Technologist, Center for Teaching and Learning/Educational Technology

Lukasz Chelminski, Educational Technologist, Digital Learning Hub/Center for Teaching and Learning

All of Baruch College

Open-Source Tools for a New Digital Learning Landscape at CUNY

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

Baruch Center for Teaching and Learning staff will present their efforts to build a community of open-source advocacy and resource-sharing across CUNY, including the launch of a new collaborative online resource, Teach Open Tools. The Baruch CTL has long engaged in open-source work, including its Blogs@Baruch and Vocat platforms and, through its OER initiatives, the development of open resources and open pedagogy. Our annual CUNY Open Pedagogy Summit has created a meaningful space to exchange innovative digital pedagogy across campuses. With the help of our upcoming hosting option, the Domain of One’s Own, we will be able to provide students, faculty, and staff with more control over their own digital spaces and identities. Baruch’s recent transition to Brightspace has provided an opportunity to explore the possibilities of adding open-source tools to the LMS and how open-source technology and practices can complement the LMS and foster opportunities for public student engagement beyond course sites’ walled gardens to allow students to take ownership of their own learning and educational tools.

Seth Graves, Digital Pedagogy Manager (Higher Education Associate), Center for Teaching and Learning

Pamela Thielman, Digital Pedagogy Specialist, Center for Teaching and Learning

Katherine Tsan, Digital Pedagogy Specialist, Center for Teaching and Learning

Amanda Matles, Digital Pedagogy Specialist, Center for Teaching and Learning

Christopher Silsby, IT Academic Technology Manager, Educational Technology DEIPI

Shiraz Biggie, Educational Technologist, Educational Technology DEIPI

All of Baruch College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harnessing AI, Python and APIs for Smart Data Collection

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Imagine giving your students the power to access real-time, real-world data at their fingertips – instantly. That’s what learning to use APIs (application programming interfaces) feels like! APIs are like magic portals that let your students tap directly into live data streams, pulling weather reports, stock market information or healthcare data in real time. APIs are better than using AI or a Google search, because data is more structured, reliable, consistent and secure.

In this presentation, using AI and Python to help create an API, we will demonstrate how APIs can obtain data and turn abstract concepts into exciting, hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom. Instead of just reading about data, students get to interact with it. APIs open doors to creativity and innovation. Students can combine multiple data sources, mash up information and create their own unique insights. The possibilities are endless, and it’s a game-changer in how they approach projects. They can pull targeted information – like gathering tweets from a specific city about a hot topic or tracking historical sales data for businesses, all with just a few lines of code. APIs let them skip the mess of sifting through irrelevant information and get straight to valuable insights.

Joseph Foy, Assistant Professor, Online Business Programs, CUNY School of Professional Studies

Calvester Legister, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Transforming College Application Advising: CUNY’s Innovative Counselor Portal

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

CUNY’s University Admissions Services and Computer Information Services teamed to transform how high school college counselors support their students through CUNY’s Counselor Portal. This innovative project modernizes how counselors receive the current application status updates on demand.

Sharon Hardy, University Dean, University Admissions Office

Zev Jeremias, Director of Technical Development, Computer Information Services

Ravi Joshi, University Director of Enrollment Solutions, University Office of Enrollment Management

Estrella Redondo, University Director of Recruitment, University Office of Admissions Services

All of CUNY Central Office

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bringing the Library into Brightspace

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

This panel presentation highlights collaboration among CUNY libraries and LMS administrators to automate integration of library course reserves, research guides and other web-based services into Brightspace. The presentation begins discussing how learning tools interoperability (LTI) integration provides library resources to students at their point of need. It then describes the technical requirements to automate and customize the Springshare LTI library platform within Brightspace. The panel concludes with examples from several campuses demonstrating what this integration looks like.

Stephen Francoeur, Interim Assistant Dean and Executive Chief Librarian, Library, Baruch College

Rebecca Hyams, Assistant Professor, Library, Borough of Manhattan Community College

John DeLooper, Assistant Professor, Library, Lehman College

Robin Naughton, Interim Deputy Chief Librarian, Assistant Professor, Library, Queens College

Eric Silberberg, Assistant Professor, Library, Queens College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Streamlining Campus Events: The Collaborative Power of CourseDog Events Management System (CEMS) at City Tech

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

CourseDog, a CUNY-managed platform, primarily used for course scheduling, was adapted to automate and improve campus event management. By implementing the CourseDog Events Management component, City Tech centralized event space reservation, implemented a college-wide events calendar, reduced administrative burdens and fostered collaboration across multiple departments. This innovative approach demonstrates the power of intentional connections and smart utilization of existing resources.

CourseDog integrates event space requests, calendar listings and workflow approval processes into a single, centralized system, significantly improving efficiency and user experience. The system simplifies the administrative processes by integrating with ServiceNow (CUNY IT Help), enabling users to effortlessly create IT and AV support tickets for the event without navigating multiple authentication systems. This streamlined approach reduces complexity and enhances organizational cohesion.

The implementation of a single, college-wide events calendar within CEMS provides increased visibility for all campus events and significantly reduces scheduling conflicts, ensuring optimal use of campus resources. By centralizing event management and promoting transparency, CEMS enhances organizational efficiency and coordination. The system underscores the importance of collaboration between various departments at City Tech, including the CUNY Registrar team, CUNY ServiceNow team and CUNY Facilities. This collaborative framework supports a more organized and transparent approach to campus event management, ultimately enriching the campus experience for all stakeholders.

Billy Wang, Project Manager

Rita Uddin, Chief Information Officer

Peter Dinh, Web/Application Manager

All of Office of Computing Information Services, New York City College of Technology

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Connecting CUNY to the World Through OER Collaboration

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

Over the past decade, CUNY has emerged as a leader in developing OERs, driven by the efforts of faculty, staff and students. These initiatives have contributed to reshaping higher education at our institution and beyond by offering new opportunities to challenge traditional learning models and create more inclusive classrooms. This session will highlight a range of CUNY OER projects and initiatives that have cultivated intentional connections across programs, disciplines and campuses and showcase their broader impact. Presenters will share their experiences, best practices and lessons learned in scaling OER development and fostering collaboration through various platforms.

The panel will feature three collaborative efforts: interdepartmental collaborations at City College aimed at developing new Zero Textbook Cost majors; the newly developed OER edition of the popular social history textbook Who Built America?; and the Open Education Publishing Institute, an NEH-funded, Graduate Center-led summer institute that brought together humanities faculty from across the country to develop OER classroom projects for institutions serving diverse student populations and operating with limited resources. These projects showcase the breadth and impact of work on OER at CUNY and provide templates for sharing CUNY-funded models with the larger academy and the public sphere beyond it.

Stefano Morello, Assistant Director for Digital Projects, American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning, CUNY Graduate Center

Matthew K. Gold, Associate Professor, Advisor to the Provost for Digital Initiatives, English and Digital Humanities, CUNY Graduate Center

Thomas Peele, Associate Professor, Director, English, Teaching and Learning Center, The City College of New York

Janelle Poe, OER and Teaching and Learning Center Fellow, PhD Candidate, English, CUNY Graduate Center

Carli Snyder, Researcher and PhD Candidate, American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning, History, CUNY Graduate Center

Krystyna Michael, Assistant Professor, English, Hostos Community College

Luke Waltzer, Director, Teaching and Learning Center, CUNY Graduate Center

Laurie Hurson, Educational Technologist, Teaching and Learning Center, CUNY Graduate Center

Robin Miller, Open Educational Technology Specialist, Graduate Center Digital Initiatives, CUNY Graduate Center

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

SPIRIT! Supporting Progress with Institutional Research and Information Technology

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Do you have SPIRIT? How can you better support planning and assessment with Institutional Research and Information Technology resources? Learn about Guttman Community College’s IR and IT approach for implementing a collaborative tool to collect and use evidence to advance strategic priorities and comply with accreditation standards. To maximize resources, these two offices leveraged existing IR and IT staff members’ skills in technology, visualization, planning and assessment to develop an interactive system for engaging administrative, educational, student support and academic units in annual planning and assessment activities. The system connects the dots between unit-level and institutional-level planning and progress with 1) electronic templates for documenting unit-level action items, alignment with college priorities, assessment questions, targets and outcomes; and 2) automated institutional-level reports that show collective strengths and challenges. Presenters will showcase the user-friendly tool, briefly discuss the technical specifications and describe strategies for a successful implementation.

Elisa Hertz, Assistant Dean of Institutional Effectiveness & Strategic Planning, Institutional Research

Christopher Eng, Associate Director of Director of Information Systems, Information Services

Nyssa Hasan, Senior IR Data Analyst, Institutional Research

Krystal Liriano-Gonzalez, Director of Strategic Enrollment & Persistence Initiatives, Enrollment Management

Sasha Ortiz, Associate Director of Assessment & Academic Affairs, Academic Affairs

Courtney Stevenson, Assistant Dean, Student Affairs

All of Guttman Community College

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Empowering Future Innovators: The Launch of the CRSP Tech Fellows Program in Collaboration with NYC Tech Talent Pipeline

(Collaboration Tools for Teaching and Learning)

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the CUNY Office of Research, in collaboration with the New York City Tech Talent Pipeline (NYC TTP), launched the new CUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP): Tech Fellows. With the support of this funding, 10 tech fellows were selected from 10 CUNY colleges offering associate degrees. These fellows received financial support to conduct undergraduate research, specifically in computer science, and participated in professional development sessions focused on AI. Over the course of two semesters, six AI-focused sessions were held, featuring experts from across CUNY. Topics included AI and Social Justice, Blockchain Technology, AI and Robotics and more. The partnership not only benefited the tech fellows, but also attracted hundreds of attendees, including students, faculty and staff. The discussions sparked by these sessions brought AI to the forefront of academic conversations, helping higher education institutions better understand the future workforce and equip students for the growing role of artificial intelligence.

Joshua Barnes, Administrative Research Coordinator

Ron Nerio, Research Programs Director

Veer Shetty, Programs Coordinator

All of Office of Research, CUNY Central Office

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CUNY-SUNY Library Synergy: Streamlining Access, Amplifying Resources

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Discover how CUNY Libraries revolutionized resource sharing by integrating their catalog with SUNY’s, creating a seamless experience for students, staff and faculty. This presentation showcases our innovative approach to “Intentional Connections & Smart Collaborations” through the strategic use of shared library systems. Learn how we leveraged the CUNY Libraries’ catalog to enable direct requests for physical materials across both university systems, significantly reducing the need for interlibrary loan processes for these items. We'll discuss:

1. The technical implementation of cross-system resource sharing.

2. Benefits to users: improved access, faster fulfillment and a streamlined experience.

3. Cost-effectiveness through utilization of existing platforms and delivery services.

4. Challenges faced and solutions implemented during the integration process.

5. Impact on staff workflows and training.

This case study demonstrates how intentional collaboration between institutions can significantly enhance library services without incurring additional costs. Attendees will gain insights into the potential of system integration and inter-university partnerships to amplify resource accessibility and improve user satisfaction in academic libraries.

Alevtina Verbovetskaya, University Director of Library Systems, Office of Library Services, CUNY Central Office

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Transforming CUNY Law: Campus-Wide Automation Through ProcessMaker

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

In this session, we explore how CUNY School of Law has successfully utilized ProcessMaker to digitize and automate processes, transforming both student-facing and internal workflows. From streamlining admissions and financial aid applications to enhancing faculty and administrative operations, ProcessMaker has significantly improved campus efficiency and user experience. By integrating secure access technologies such as Single Sign-On (SSO-SAML) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), the law school has ensured that these automated processes are not only efficient, but also secure, protecting sensitive data across departments. This presentation will offer insights into how these solutions have reduced manual errors, improved turnaround times and fostered stronger connections between departments and campuses.

Attendees will gain practical knowledge of how automation can be applied to enhance operational effectiveness and improve service delivery for students, faculty and staff. Whether you’re an IT professional, an administrator or a department, this session will equip you with strategies to replicate similar success at your own institution, advancing smart collaborations and intentional connections across CUNY.

Kenny Armenta, User Services Specialist, Information Technology, CUNY School of Law

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Anatomy of an Attack: Protecting Education Networks from DDoS Attacks

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Cloudflare will review recent attacks that are aiming to target different vectors in the education infrastructure landscape. We will discuss how to identify when an attack is happening and rapidly put the mitigation controls in place to restore operations. You should leave this session having new awareness of the DDoS attacks on education institutions networks and mitigations to put in place to stop them.

Vic Falconieri, Senior Sales Manager, Public Sector, Cloudflare

Robert Rasner, Senior Solutions Engineer, Public Sector, Cloudflare

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Nobel AIs and AI Factories: Navigate this Revolution

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

In a landmark year for artificial intelligence, we’ve witnessed the field’s pioneers honored with Nobel Prizes – a testament to the profound impact of neural networks and breakthroughs like AlphaFold. This recognition reinforces that a revolution is in progress. Knowledge has been humanity’s most powerful tool. And AI is changing our relationship with knowledge. This session will highlight current capabilities of AI systems and survey the knowledge and the computational resources required to operate them. Recent research publications will be used to ground the discussion and live demonstrations will be offered.

Eliot Eshelman, Relationship Manager, Higher Education & Research, NVIDIA

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Scientific Computing on Google Cloud

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Scientific computing plays a critical role in accelerating scientific discovery and many researchers leverage Google Cloud’s scalable infrastructure and cutting-edge tools to conduct complex simulations, analyze massive datasets and accelerate their work. This presentation will provide an overview of Google Cloud’s unique capabilities in the areas of scientific computing, high performance computing, scientific data analytics and research-focused AI/ML.

Volker Eyrich, Industry Architect, Research, Google Public Sector

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How Technology is Transforming the Higher Ed Experience

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

The speaker will discuss three components: experience is everything – universities are focused on ensuring every interaction and each person’s experience is consistently exceeded and maintained and the speaker will break down the requirement of an experience-driven model and where to focus; highest quality operation promise – reports show that campus budgets are flat, resources continue to be stretched and universities need to leverage AI, automation, integrations and deliver a sustainable operation; and the “new” digital divide is ahead of many institutions – use of AI across education, research and all industries will have far-reaching impact, good/bad, including unique costs. What can campus do to prepare and close this gap now?

Neal Tilley, Business Development Manager, Cisco Higher Education Advisory

Break

Concurrent Sessions III

Maintaining Evolving [Digital] Pedagogies: Cultivating Cross-Campus Connections Through Topical Affinity Groups at CUNY

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

CUNY’s Computing Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) initiative prepares future P-12 teachers to teach about, with, through and against technology using meaningful, culturally responsive methods. In order to continue supporting CUNY Teacher Educators’ learning and curriculum design work, CITE established a set of inter-campus affinity groups tailored around specific topics related to computing education. These groups all functioned differently, taking up different approaches for engaging faculty in discussions on emerging literature in their fields, innovative tools/tech, their academic program structures and their own evolving [digital] pedagogies. Through a community-driven approach, faculty members developed goals and established a strong cross-campus network of mutual support.

You will hear insights from the facilitators of four groups: AI + Teacher Education, Digital Humanities, Bilingual Education/TESOL and Assistive Tech/Special Education. The group facilitators employed a number of strategies to engage faculty in these generative collaborations, including creating intentional spaces for faculty to practice, troubleshoot and discuss the ethical implications of AI, co-authoring book chapters and international conference proposals, sharing instructional resources and much more! The panelists will briefly present context for their groups, reflect on their facilitation strategies, share experiences and outcomes (thus far) and participate in a Q&A.

Anthony Wheeler, Computing-Integrated Teacher Education Research Associate, Central Office of Academic Affairs, CUNY Central Office

Rosa Calosso, PhD Student, CITE Research Assistant, Urban Education, CUNY Graduate Center

Meg Ray, Director of the K-12 Equity Lab, Cornell Tech's K-12 Education Initiative, Cornell Tech

Sarane James, CITE Research Assistant, Central Office of Academic Affairs, CUNY Central Office

Jenia Marquez, CITE Undergraduate Research Assistant, Central Office of Academic Affairs, Princeton University

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Empowering Nonprofits and CUNY: Using AI to Unlock Form 990 Insights

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

This presentation offers a unique opportunity to enhance research, collaboration and experiential learning across CUNY. Using AI and Python to analyze IRS Form 990 data, students, faculty and community-based organizations and business partners can dive into rich datasets that fuel academic research and practical applications, forging stronger partnerships. Analyzing Form 990 data turns theory into practice, uncovering financial trends, governance structures and program effectiveness. Using AI and Python empowers students to generate actionable insights that can be applied to solve real-world challenges.

Faculty members benefit as well, using AI and Python to support advanced research in fields like data science, financial analysis and social impact studies. Accessible, structured data creates collaboration opportunities to co-author research papers, develop case studies and present findings that push the boundaries of how AI and Python can be used to address complex societal problems. Through data insights, nonprofit and small businesses can better understand their financial health and strategic opportunities. Ultimately, this AI-driven approach fosters a collaborative ecosystem where CUNY students, faculty, staff and community organizations unite to drive innovation, enhance research outcomes and create positive, lasting change. We will demonstrate with a live interactive data extraction of a local nonprofit, Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department.

Joseph Foy, Assistant Professor, Online Business Programs, CUNY School of Professional Studies

Calvester Legister, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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YAMS: A Collaborative Tool, Bridging Assessment and Technology

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

This session explores the successful collaboration between the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning at York College, which led to the creation of the York Assessment Management System (YAMS). Driven by a recommendation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, YAMS was developed to address significant challenges in managing assessment documents across the College’s 37 Administrative, Educational and Student Support (AESS) Units and 57 Academic Programs. Before YAMS, departments relied on various tools such as Excel, Google Docs and Blackboard, resulting in inconsistencies and inefficiencies. YAMS offers a centralized platform for annual document submission, enabling the institution to generate comprehensive reports. It ensures compliance with academic program and AESS unit assessment documentation requirements and promotes sustainability and transparency across the College.

Rafael Nunez, Director of Web and Business Intelligence

Nazia Naeem, Director of Assessment (Project Lead OIESP), Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning

Yanike Williams, IT Associate, (AESSAC Member and End-User), Information Technology

Lori Hoeffner, Vice President Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning (Conceptual Designer), Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning

All of York College

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Increase Student Engagement and Retention Through Social Media Collaboration

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

In the Fall 2023 semester, the Office of Student Academic Engagement and Retention started a social media initiative to effectively distribute marketing materials from many different offices. Through collaboration from the different departments and initiatives, as well as strategic content creation and marketing plans, the social media account had a positive effect on the algorithm which gained over 20,000 impressions and over 3,000 accounts reached in the first 3 months. Many of our student events and programs shared a massive increase of student attendance and participation. By having consistent content being posted, the algorithm within our social media featured the majority of our content which effectively informed many students within our campus, as well as many neighboring CUNY schools. By attending this presentation, you can learn more about our initiative and how our strategies in bringing collaboration between departments can increase student engagement and retention.

Girard Tecson, Program Manager

Maisha Ahmed, ePortfolio Program Assistant

Both of Office of Student Academic Engagement and Retention/Tutoring, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

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Enhancing Micro-Learning Opportunities for Students, Faculty and Staff at Hunter College

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

Hunter College implemented a new micro-learning initiative in Spring 2024 for students, faculty and staff. For students, this initiative offers the opportunity to gain industry-relevant skills, as well as earn professional certificates and badges that enhance their employability. For faculty, it supports them with accessible educational content that can be incorporated into their instructional pedagogy. Faculty and staff can also pursue professional development through short, flexible learning modules that can be completed at their convenience. As part of the program, Hunter College has provided free and unlimited access to the entire catalog of over 22,000 LinkedIn Learning modules via an enterprise licensing agreement. In collaboration with CIS, the college has also implemented Single Sign-On (SSO) to streamline access to the micro-learning platform.

This presentation will discuss the college’s micro-learning goals, strategy, target outcomes and operational plan for the micro-learning initiative. It will outline the steps we took to implement and promote the micro-learning career initiative. It will also detail the results achieved and lessons learned over the first three months of the initiative and our plans for future adoption.

Suman Taneja, Deputy Chief Information Officer, ICIT, Hunter College

Teresa Saljanin, Director of Web Services and Digital Presence, ICIT, Hunter College

Steve Giovino, TRC Manager, ICIT, Hunter College

Robert Domanski, Dean of Academic Innovation and Outcomes, Provost Office, Hunter College

Mark Manis, Director of Identity & Access Management, CUNY CIS

Kristina Simonsen, Director of Career Services, Hunter College

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The Four Cs: Keys to a Successful LMS Transition

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

An LMS transition is a major undertaking, especially for an online institution like CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS), where the LMS functions as the virtual campus. This presentation will explore how CUNY SPS prioritized communication, collaboration and community in order to affect a successful transition from Blackboard to Brightspace, with change management lessons applicable to other groups and projects. The presenters will cover stages in the transition, including anticipation, planning, organization, implementation and assessment, and give replicable examples of how they actualized principles such as:

The four implementation teams – Communication, Training and Support, Pedagogy and Practice and Technical – will describe their work and how they maintained critical channels of communication between users, decision-makers and implementers. Finally, the panel will invite the audience to examine their own experiences of connections and collaborations in organizational transitions.

Ruru Rusmin, Assistant Dean of Faculty Development and Instructional Technology

Angela Francis, Assistant Dean, General Education and First Year Experience

Matt Lewis, Instructional Design and Multimedia Manager, Office of Faculty Development and Instructional Technology

Lianna Scull, Assistant Director, Sociology and Human Relations Programs

Kathryn Larkins, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Manager, Office of Faculty Development and Instructional Technology

Sarah Kresh, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Manager

All of CUNY School of Professional Studies

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Optimizing Student Onboarding: Leveraging Existing Technology to Enhance Experience and Boost Conversion Rates

(Connections for Improving the Student Experience)

Imagine a seamless onboarding process where entering students feel supported and engaged from day one. In this session, we will explore how leveraging existing technology can revolutionize the student onboarding experience. By optimizing current infrastructure, we can craft a more efficient, personalized and welcoming environment for new students, ensuring they embark on their academic journey with confidence. This approach not only enhances the overall student experience, but also drives higher conversion rates by making the transition smoother and more appealing for prospective students. Furthermore, it empowers advisement initiatives by equipping advisors with advanced solutions and data to provide targeted guidance and support. Join us to discover practical strategies and innovative tools that can transform your institution’s onboarding process and improve student success.

Ashley Falcon, Senior Academic Advisor

Edwin Toribio, Senior Academic Advisor

Gina Gaccione, Director

All of Onboarding Advisement Office, Lehman College

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Normalizing: How CUNY Unified into a Single ArchivesSpace Instance

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

In late 2023, the City University of New York won a two-million-dollar grant from the Mellon Foundation to explore and strengthen archival collections across their 30+ libraries and research institutes. A major part of this project is to set up a centrally purchased, shared instance of Archives Space that includes every repository. This panel will explore the approach of a working group whose goal is to identify elements of descriptive metadata that will need to be unified in a shared Archives Space instance.

Archivists from two colleges, technical services staff from the Office of Library Services and a project archivist involved in the full implementation of this initiative will share how they are collaborating with colleagues across CUNY to unify authority records and other elements across the new, shared instance of Archives Space. For some campuses, this shared instance is their first introduction to using the tool, but, for 18 of CUNY’s archives that already had individual instances of ArchivesSpace, their data is now merging, which creates several clean-up projects and changes to local descriptive practices. Speakers will discuss both technical and organizational considerations.

Roxanne Shirazi, Associate Professor and Head of Archives and Special Collections, CUNY Graduate Center.Renae Rapp, Assistant Archivist, CCNY Archives & Special Collections, The City College of New York

Caitlin Colban-Waldron, Archivist and Special Collections Specialist, Queens College Special Collections and Archives, Queens College

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Is Bigger Really Better? Harnessing Small Language Models for Low-Cost, High-Impact Test Generation in Higher Education

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

While large language models (LLMs) have garnered significant attention, small language models (SLMs) remain comparatively overlooked, despite notable advancements in their development. SLMs trained on smaller, more focused and high-quality datasets can perform tasks with efficiency comparable to their larger counterparts when applied in specific domains. This presentation explores the practical use of SLMs, particularly in resource-constrained environments, for generating tests in social science disciplines. By leveraging open-source SLMs and programming libraries such as Ollama and LangChain, the speaker will demonstrate how institutions can deploy these models effectively at little to no cost. The use of SLMs can offer considerable pedagogical and assessment benefits, enabling tailored, high-quality outputs without the extensive computational resources typically required by LLMs. This approach highlights the potential for SLMs to enhance teaching and learning in higher education through targeted, domain-specific applications, providing scalable, accessible solutions to meet educational needs.

Marco Castillo, Associate Professor, Social Science, New York City College of Technology

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Teaching Art Online

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

This session offers a field report on what’s new in the post-covid digital art classroom. Medgar Evers College launched a new BFA in Media and Performing Arts degree in 2020 and the program has rapidly grown to produce the next generations of artists and cultural producers. We will discuss the nature of 100 percent digital studio environments, how emerging technologies such as AI can be incorporated into the new curriculum and how new technologies can positively connect students in both physical and digital classrooms. The attendees will leave the conference with their own artwork that they create with AI-powered digital art tools.

Nozomi Kato, Assistant Professor, Adjunct, Mass Communication, Medgar Evers College

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Navigating AI in Teacher Preparation: Fostering Critical Thinking, Creativity and Care

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Teacher candidates and educators are increasingly encountering and being marketed Generative AI tools in their classrooms and daily lives. Despite this, opportunities to explore, critically reflect on and implement these tools in educational settings remain limited. This panel addresses the gap by showcasing a variety of open educational resources (OERs) developed by faculty fellows in the education team of the Building Bridges of Knowledge initiative. Sponsored by the Lumina Foundation, this new initiative supports the ethical, responsible and effective use of AI tools by teacher candidates. The OERs developed cover diverse applications such as AI in lesson planning, equity-centered literacy, illustrative storytelling, the impact of social media, mental health awareness, prompt engineering, programming and data analysis. Projects utilize a range of tools ranging from general application Large Language Models (i.e., Gemini and ChatGPT) to specialized educational AI technologies. Faculty fellows will discuss their collaborative process in developing these materials over the summer of 2024, from brainstorming to providing peer feedback and, ultimately, crafting varied resources that share the common theme of empowering teacher candidates to critically evaluate and integrate AI in their future classrooms.

Casandra Silva Sibilin, Lecturer, History, Philosophy and Anthropology, York College

Norman Eng, Lecturer, Childhood, Bilingual and Special Education, Brooklyn College

Denise Farrelly, Program Director, Associate Professor, Behavioral Sciences, Kingsborough Community College

Maria Savva, Program Director, Associate Professor, Education and Language Acquisition, LaGuardia Community College

Ting Yuan, Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, College of Staten Island

Eric Silberberg, Assistant Professor, Library, Queens College

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Simplified and Streamlined | Transforming Digital Student Engagement

(Collaborating with AI for Teaching and Learning)

Today’s students navigate an overwhelming number of systems and apps, resulting in frustration, confusion and missed opportunities. This session explores how institutions can tackle these challenges by breaking down digital silos and creating a seamless, centralized hub where students easily access resources, complete tasks and connect with peers. A modern, scalable approach to streamline student experiences can transform student engagement while promoting belonging, success and persistence.

Tim Edwards, Account Executive, Pathify

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Increasing Security Through Identity and Access Management Modernization

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Organizations across all industries, including higher education, have embarked on journeys to modernize their identity and access management (IAM) estate with the dual mandate of strengthening security and risk posture while simplifying adoption and reducing cost. Organizational priorities dictate different starting points and journey courses. Join this session to learn from industry experts and peers how they are leverage cloud-native services and AI/ML driven innovations to modernize their IAM solution for today’s world. How does CUNY use the most secure database and leverage the groundbreaking autonomous database to stay modern.

Srinivas Rajaraman, Lead Cloud Architect, Identity Team, Oracle

Mark Manis, Director of Identity and Access Management, CUNY

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Brightspace Users – Advanced

(Connecting for Operational Optimization)

Unlock the full potential of Brightspace in this in-depth session for faculty. Dive into advanced tools like release conditions, intelligent agents and advanced grading options to create personalized, engaging online courses. Discover how these powerful features can streamline workflows, enable targeted communication and provide deeper insights into student progress. This session goes beyond the basics, empowering you to transform your course design and boost student interaction. By the end, you’ll be ready to craft a dynamic, customized online learning environment that inspires and engages.

Jamie Ferrazano, Customer Success Director, D2L

Break

End-of-Day Drawing

Haaren Hall, 4th Floor Gym

You must be present to win.

Conference times, agenda and speakers are subject to change.