While you’re on campus for your STAR Center appointment or a new student orientation, take some time to stroll around City Tech and familiarize yourself with the buildings and facilities. You’ll likely be spending a great deal of time on campus over the next several years, so it makes sense to get comfortable with the physical space! Check out the campus maps to find out where your classes are located (classrooms will be listed on your new class schedule) and go take a look at one of your classrooms, find the library on the 4th floor of the Library Building and the cafeteria on the 1st Floor of Namm Hall, and look for the main office of your major department. If the Public Safety ID Station is open, you can also get a jump on the semester by picking up your City Tech ID Card.

pick up Your City Tech ID Card as Soon as Possible

Visit the ID station in Namm 112 with a digital or physical copy of your class schedule along with a valid photo ID. Check the times the ID station is open and prepare to stand in line, especially during the first weeks of classes. Getting your card before the semester starts can help you avoid the lines.

Your City Tech ID card is also your library card for our library and all CUNY libraries. Your library card must be validated in City Tech’s library each semester. Additionally, your ID card gives you access to events happening on the campuses of all CUNY colleges, such as music concerts and theater events, movie screenings, and academic programs and events. Off campus, you can receive student discounts at numerous local shops and restaurants by showing your City Tech ID card.

Don’t lose this card! There is a fee for replacing it. Further, the ID Station has limited hours, so it can be inconvenient to find a time to replace it.

Immunizations

New York State law requires all college students to show proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella in order to attend classes. Failing to provide the required immunization documents will result in your being dropped from all classes, receipt of a “WA” (Administrative Withdrawal) grade for all classes and the possible loss of your financial aid award.

The immunization forms can be downloaded here. Click here for instructions on how to upload completed forms to the Student Document Repository.

Activate Your City Tech Email

Roughly one week after you register for classes, you will receive an email from the college at your preferred email address, notifying you that your City Tech email account has been created. From this point on, all communications from the college or from CUNY will be sent to your City Tech email address. It is important that you activate your City Tech email account promptly and get into the practice of checking it every day while you are enrolled.

As an enrolled City Tech student, you will be provided a City Tech Microsoft Outlook email account. This account can be accessed from any computer with Internet access or by downloading the Outlook app to your phone. Visit the Technology Services website for instructions on how to set up your City Tech email account:  https://it.citytech.cuny.edu/one-category.aspx?id=15

Please contact the Student Help Desk at 718-260-4900 or StudentHelpDesk@citytech.cuny.edu for assistance if you have any difficulty setting up or accessing your City Tech email.

Update Your CUNYfirst Account

Log in to CUNYfirst through the CUNY website (http://home.cunyfirst.cuny.edu). Check your profile to ensure that your personal information is accurate and up to date. Once you’ve registered for classes, you’ll find that you can check your class schedule, begin to track your progress toward graduation with Degree Works, create and make changes to your course schedule through Schedule Builder, and more. Familiarize yourself with the tools available in CUNYfirst.

Log In to BRIGHTSPACE

Blackboard is the Online Learning Management tool for CUNY. Faculty may use Brightspace to post course information, collaborate and communicate with students, manage grading, and administer exams. Brightspace must be used for all online and hybrid courses and it is used by many professors for in-person classes as well.

You can access Brightspace through CUNYfirst or from the CityTech website using your CUNYfirst login credentials. Once you’ve logged in, you should see a home page with a list of links to courses you are enrolled in. Some professors may not make their Brightspace courses available until the semester starts, so don’t panic if your courses are listed as “not currently available.” When the Brightspace site for a course is available, click the course links to see what your professors have posted. This may include a welcome message, a syllabus listing course policies and assignments, and/or any information the professor wants you to know before the semester begins, such as if you need to buy textbooks or other materials for the class.

Create Your OpenLab Account

The OpenLab is City Tech’s custom-built online community, an open source digital platform where students, faculty, staff, and alumni can learn, work, and share their ideas. Anyone with a City Tech email account can join to find courses, join clubs, create projects, or start an ePortfolio for academic and professional work. Some professors may also require you to join their class on OpenLab rather than Blackboard.

To create your account, go to the OpenLab website: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/ and follow the instructions to sign up.

Explore the OpenLab. You might want to look at:

• Courses on the OpenLab. These are course sites that City Tech instructors create and where they post syllabi, course assignments, and course readings. Some include space for students to share their work. Exploring these sites is a good way to get a feel for classes that might interest you.
• Projects on the OpenLab. Some of these were created specifically to support incoming students. Others share information about opportunities for students, such as the Undergraduate Research site. Browse to find opportunities and project-based work happening at and around City Tech.
• Clubs on the OpenLab. Many were created by and for students as places for students to come together around shared interests, such as running, anime, or coding. You may find something that interests you, so explore and see what is there.

Where to Find Information and Help with Technology

For more information on Technology Services for students, such as CUNYFirst, Blackboard, and campus email: https://it.citytech.cuny.edu/servicecatalog/Categories/Resources/Student

For help with Open Lab: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/blog/help/openlab-help/

For information on Blackboard, eportfolio, and Microsoft workshops offered through the Department of Instructional Technology & the Technology Enhancement Centers (iTEC): http://websupport1.citytech.cuny.edu/workshops.html

For more assistance and information about just about anything, visit:

The Student HelpDesk is available for technical questions, including help connecting your devices to CityTech WiFi. In addition, the Welcome Center serves as a central clearinghouse for information about City Tech’s events, activities, services, location, policies, and procedures.

Other Useful Locations on Campus

• ATMs are located on the first floor in Namm Hall.
• Bicycle racks are located at the Voorhees Hall (186 Jay Street) entrance.
• Bulletin boards are available on most floors for posting flyers and general information. Student groups must receive approval for posting from the Office of Student Life and Development.
• Lockers are available for students enrolled in studies that require uniforms.

  Contact your department regarding access to lockers if uniforms are required. Students in Technology departments located in Voorhees Hall may also have access to lockers.

• Student lounges are located on the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth floors between the General and Pearl Buildings; on every floor of the Atrium, including a multi-purpose lounge on the Library Building ground floor facing the outdoor garden; on the second floor of Voorhees Hall; and on the third floor of the Academic Building.
• The Student Tech Lounge and Gallery is located on the sixth floor, between the General and Pearl Buildings. This lounge is an open wireless environment. Bring your laptop for an around-the-City-Tech-clock connection.