Co-working is one strategy for increasing focus and productivity. What are others that you recommend? Share your ideas in the comments below!
The next OpenLab co-working session is on Thursday, 10/23, 11:00am-12:00pm, and is open to all students, faculty, and staff. These hour-long sessions are for quiet working time alongside others, with the option to move to a breakout room for conversation or questions.
Bring some work that you want to do for an hour, set a goal, and work in the (zoom) company of other members of the community.
Is there someone you want to work alongside? Invite them, too!
Save the date for additional co-working sessions this semester:
Co-working is one strategy for increasing focus and productivity. What are others that you recommend? Share your ideas in the comments below!
The next OpenLab co-working session is on Thursday, 9/18, 11:00am-12:00pm, and is open to all students, faculty, and staff. These hour-long sessions are for quiet working time alongside others, with the option to move to a breakout room for conversation or questions.
Bring some work that you want to do for an hour, set a goal, and work in the (zoom) company of other members of the community.
Now that the summer is winding down and the fall semester about to start (no comment here), everything left on that to-do list is calling for your attention. Come work and check things off your to-do list done while others do the same! OpenLab co-working hours are virtual quiet meet-up sessions for anyone to join to get work done. Breakout rooms are available for conversation or questions. All are held via Zoom, so when it’s time for the session, join and quietly work on whatever needs your attention first!
This month, the OpenLab’s co-working session is Thursday, 8/21, 11:00am-12:00pm. It’s open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
With the end of the semester mere inches away, everything left on that to-do list is calling loudly for your attention. Come work and check things off your to-do list done while others do the same! OpenLab co-working hours are virtual quiet meet-up sessions for anyone to join to get work done. Breakout rooms are available for conversation or questions. All are held via Zoom, so when it’s time for the session, join and quietly work on whatever needs your attention first!
This month, the OpenLab’s co-working session is Thursday, 5/22, 10:30-11:30am. It’s open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Stay tuned for upcoming co-working opportunities after the semester ends. And let us know if there are dates or times that we should consider hosting co-working sessions, other formats you’d like to try, or any other ideas for boosting the power of co-working. Plus you can reach out to the OpenLab Team at OpenLab@CityTech.cuny.edu or via our contact form if you’re interested in requesting an additional co-working session for your group.
Join us as we launch the 2025 City Nature Challenge weekend with a fun, interactive event outdoors at Macaulay Honors College. Hear a welcome from Macaulay Dean Dara Byrne, PhD and Director of Science Forward, Kelly O’Donnell, PhD, followed by a brief, guided nature walk in nearby Central Park. Participants will receive a free CITY SCIENTIST KIT* containing tools to help make plant and animal observations.
The event is free, open to all, and will take place rain or shine.
Macaulay Honors College is the official organizer of the 2025 City Nature Challenge for the City of New York, taking place over the weekend of April 25-28, 2025. The college has partnered with dozens of public parks, preservation societies, gardens, and other organizations throughout the five boroughs. And we invite nature lovers of all ages to participate for free.
Along with volunteer student guides, faculty, and local scientists, we’ll use our smartphones to record as many examples of urban wildlife as we can. The information can then be used by scientists and researchers to help improve biodiversity and sustainability in New York City—and beyond.
“City Nature Challenge is not a contest,” explains O’Donnell. “But we all win when we explore nature within our community, have fun, and contribute data that can be used to make New York City greener and healthier for everyone.”
Macaulay Honors College is the NYC organizer of the City Nature Challenge, with generous support from the New York City Council and the office of Council Member Gale Brewer.
* While supplies last.
Thanks to @drlisabrundage for creating CNC:NYC graphics for us!
Now that Spring Break has ended (no comment here), everything left on that to-do list is calling for your attention. Come work and check things off your to-do list done while others do the same! OpenLab co-working hours are virtual quiet meet-up sessions for anyone to join to get work done. Breakout rooms are available for conversation or questions. All are held via Zoom, so when it’s time for the session, join and quietly work on whatever needs your attention first!
This month, the OpenLab’s co-working session is Thursday, 4/24, 10:30-11:30am. It’s open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
How are your students doing at this point in semester?
Here are some resources you can share to help them stay on track:
Encourage students to take advantage of academic support:
The Comprehensive Tutoring Schedule is a guide to tutoring from the Atrium Learning Center, the Writing Center, individual departments, and 24/7 online tutoring from tutor.com. Use the tabs at the bottom to explore the offerings.
The Library offers 24/7 help via Ask a Librarian, meetings with reference librarians for help with research projects, workshops, computers and printers, and study spaces.
Students enrolled in special programssuch as ASAP, ACE, C-STEP, SEEK, Early College, etc., as well as veteransand students using disability services, may have access to workshops, advising, tutoring, or other resources provided by those programs.
Any student can request a Student Success Center coach for help with school/life balance, study habits, or navigating the many other college resources.
Provide each student with a Mid-Semester Progress Report as described in the Provost’s March 17 email. You can point students to The Companion for the First Year for a helpful explanation of midsemester grades.
Remind students to refer to the syllabusfor important information, including professors’ office hours, course grading rubrics, and important due dates.
Invite each student to take advantage of your office hours to discuss any questions or concerns. The Companion for the First Year offers students advice about Communicating with Professors During Office Hours.
Navigateis a helpful tool for emailing or texting students with reminders (or high-fives!) Faculty can also issue Navigate Alerts and the Student Success Center will respond by reaching out to students with appropriate resources.
Consider using the related slidesand/or a short activity to raise student awareness of academic help:
Students can explore the Student Hub and report back to classmates with details on their favorite discovery.
Students and professors can collaboratively create a calendar of dates for deadlines, workshops, and other support sessions.
Students can be invited to share testimonials of their experiences with any of the City Tech supports (only if they are comfortable sharing!)
By some work of magic, it’s already midsemester! Come get some of that ever-growing to-do list done while others do the same! OpenLab co-working hours are virtual quiet meet-up sessions for anyone to join to get work done. Breakout rooms are available for conversation or questions. All are held via Zoom, so when it’s time for the session, join and quietly work through your to-do list!
This month, the OpenLab’s co-working session is Thursday, 3/27, 12:00-1:00pm. Please note the new time for this session. It’s open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Today is the last day of Plan Week. If you haven’t already, please encourage your first-year students to check their email and participate in suggested Plan Week activities.
Fall and summer registration starts soon and many first-year students are registering themselves for the first time. Plan Week prepares them to get the classes they need and the schedule they want before classes fill.
PLAN WEEK MAR 3–7, 2025 Have you made your plan for next semester? Plan Week Activities & Peer Mentors will guide you through these steps.
Speak with your advisor
Register for fall/summer classes
Troubleshoot holds
Make sure you’re on track to graduate
Focus on your career path
Create your Handshake account
Plan Week Activities & Peer Mentor Zoom Schedule
Tues – 03/04•1 PM – 3 PM
Wed – 03/05•3 PM – 5 PM
Thur – 03/06•1 PM – 3 PM
BONUS: Participate in Plan Week for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card & other Great Prizes.
As students transition from high school to college they often struggle to take responsibility for their own education and in particular to understand the amount of study time required outside of the classroom.
City Tech’s First Year Programs developed this graphic to emphasize that College Happens in Many Places:
You can empower students to take responsibility for their learning with pointers from The Companion for the First Year at City Tech — a valuable resource that offers advice about navigating the first year:
Section 2-D explains that for every hour spent in class, students should spend another two hours outside of class completing the work for that course.
Section 2-A encourages students to track what they need to do during the average week. They can use the provided grid to develop a schedule, including time spent in class, at the library, in the Writing Center, at tutoring, in an undergraduate research project, etc., as well as at work and other responsibilities outside of school. This is often an eye-opener for new students!
If you are teaching a class with many first-year students, consider one or more short activities to help students learn to manage their time and learning. These low-stakes activities and sharing can also foster ongoing community and participation in the classroom:
Students review and annotate the course syllabus to understand the course’s expectations, including expectations for work outside of class and the attendance policy.
Students plan their weekly schedule to include due dates from the course syllabus, incremental work they need to do to meet those due dates; appointments they have with tutors and the Writing Center, etc.
Students share ideas about places on campus to study, such as quiet spaces on the library’s 5th floor, or group study rooms, computer labs, and student lounges.
Students share ideas about places off campus to study, including other CUNY college libraries, public libraries, local coffee shops, etc.
