La Guardia Community College Receives $600,000 Grant to Develop New Media Curriculum

6/11/2000
CUNY


NEW YORK, June 11, 2000 -- LaGuardia Community College, of the City University of New York, has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a curriculum that focuses on new media and Internet technologies.

The curriculum, when it is launched next spring, will train some 200 students for entry into the work force as web masters, Internet programmers, web designers, and e-business analysts, said Dr. Lawrence Muller, program director.

Under the three-year grant, the College will also establish a professional development component where faculty will be trained to teach the high-tech courses.  As part of their training, both students and faculty will participate in industry internships.

This new curriculum will be a great addition to a program that consistently ranks first or second in the nation in associate degrees conferred, said Dr. Gerald Meyer, chairperson of the Computer Information Systems department.  “It will help our students, many of whom represent underserved ethnic populations, make inroads into this promising industry,” said Dr. Meyer.

To ensure that students gain the skills needed for careers in this technology, the College is establishing the New Media Institute of Applied Technologies in collaboration with industry, community leaders, and the Northwest Center for Emerging Technologies, a national center for skill standards in information technology.  Dr. Ted Brown, the executive director of the CUNY Institute of Software Design and Development, will be aiding in establishing a technical advisory board consisting of members of the New York Software Industries Association, Consolidated Edison of New York, the Long Island City Business Development Corporation.  

"The goals," said Dr. Muller, “are to bring advanced technology education to service the needs of Silicon Alley and other related businesses in New York City and vicinity.”

 For more information about the new program please contact Dr. Lawrence Muller by e-mail at LaGuardiaNewMedia@yahoo.com.