LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College is a public community college located in New York City. It is situated in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens and is part of the City University of New York. The college is named in honor of Fiorello H. LaGuardia, a former congressman and mayor of New York City.

Students at LaGuardia can pursue associate degrees in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and applied sciences. In addition to degree programs, the college also offers continuing education programs to help individuals develop new skills and advance their careers.

History

LaGuardia Community College was founded on January 22, 1967, by the Board of Higher Education of the City of New York, which was part of the New York State government. It was originally called "Community College Number Nine" and aimed to serve the needs of the local community with cultural activities, education, and training for people of all ages.

The college opened its doors on September 22, 1971, and received its first accreditation in 1972. Over the years, it has had several presidents, including Joseph Shenker, Raymond C. Bowen, and Gail Mellow. In 2020, Kenneth Adams became the fourth president. In 2024, the college received a large donation to build a new workforce development center, set to open in 2029. The La Guardia and Wagner Archives was also established on campus in 1982.

Campus

LaGuardia Community College started using a former factory building in Long Island City in 1970. This building, renamed Shenker Hall in 2008, was once home to Ford Instrument Company. The college planned to move to a new site but could not due to costs.

Today, the campus includes several renovated factory and warehouse buildings. It is located near the Long Island Rail Road and is served by subway and bus routes. The campus features modern classrooms, a theater, a library, and athletic facilities including a swimming pool.

Academics

LaGuardia Community College offers associate degrees and certificates in more than 60 different subjects. These include areas like Business and Technology, Liberal Arts, Health, Math, and Science. The college is officially recognized for its quality by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Enrollment

As of the Fall of 2025, LaGuardia Community College had 25,877 students. This group included 14,494 students working toward a degree and 11,383 students taking classes for personal or professional development.

Student body

LaGuardia's student body includes people from 131 different countries, and they speak 31 languages natively. This diversity makes the college a rich place for students to learn about different cultures and ideas.

Athletics

LaGuardia Community College teams, called the Red Hawks, compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association. They joined the community college section of the City University of New York Athletic Conference in the 2013–14 season. The college offers men's and women's basketball, and will also add men's and women's soccer and men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2014–15 season.

Notable people

LaGuardia Community College has educated and inspired many interesting people. Among its alumni are Elly Gross, a Holocaust survivor, poet, and author; Heather Foster, a Jamaican American professional bodybuilder; Ruben Diaz Jr., the Bronx Borough President; Reby Sky, a professional wrestler; Rudy Washington, who served as Deputy Mayor under Rudolph Giuliani; and Jeffrey Archer, a disk jockey.

The college has also been home to notable faculty members such as Bruce Davidson, a former photojournalist; John A. Williams, a former novelist; and Barbara Zucker, a former sculptor.