CUNY SPS Hosts Spring 2020 Outing at Brooklyn Nets Game

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) hosted an Alumni and Student spring outing, organized by the School’s Office of Alumni Relations and Student Association. Over 130 members of the CUNY SPS community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and guests, attended a Brooklyn Nets basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Barclays Center on March 4.

Anthony Sweeney, associate director of Student Life, helped organize the event. He noted, “The Student Association works hard to plan events like this for the student body, and it is especially rewarding when they can team up with the Office of Alumni Relations to help raise resources for the CUNY SPS Foundation. It is also such a great opportunity for our community to come together to meet each other in person, often for the first time, after having been in classes with the same people for several semesters.”

Students were offered free tickets to the event, and faculty, staff, and alumni were given the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discount. A portion of the ticket purchases will go to the CUNY SPS Foundation, whose mission is to help students in need of financial assistance.

CUNY SPS attendees first convened at the school’s welcome table in the Barclays Center lobby before heading over to their allocated seats in the same section to watch the game and root for the Brooklyn Nets. 

Jennifer Holland, who attended the game, commented, “I had a wonderful night out in the great company of my family, friends, colleagues, and fellow alumni members. I had the pleasure of meeting another alumnus through an introduction by Dean Mogulescu during a conversation that the three of us shared during halftime. I am always pleased by these opportunities to meet other alumni and look forward to future events.”Holland, who is a two-time alumna of CUNY SPS (BS in Business ‘11 and MA in Psychology ‘19), has also worked for the School since 2011. Currently, she serves as the institutional effectiveness manager, where she manages the School’s survey research and various assessment processes in support of its strategic plan, and also participates in accreditation activities. 

Shakima Williams-Jones, a MS in Business Management and Leadership candidate and the co-chair of the Student Association, also attended the game. She reflected, “The Student Association’s mission is to develop and provide opportunities for students to meet, since they may not get a chance to otherwise. We are super excited to have hosted this event since it helps build community within the school. It made me so happy to see so many current and former students at the game with their families, waving their CUNY SPS flags and having fun!”

The Brooklyn Nets game is the second outing co-hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Student Association. In July 2019, 60 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and guests attended a New York Yankees baseball game. The two offices plan to organize more events in the future, which may include another Yankees game and several family-themed outings.

Supporters of the School who wish to help CUNY SPS outside of these events may do so by donating to the CUNY SPS Foundation.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

Home to the first fully online degree programs at the City University of New York, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) provides online and on campus programs that meet the needs of adults who are looking to finish a bachelor’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, advance in the workplace, or change careers.

The School’s growth has been remarkable. Launching twenty-three degrees since 2006, enrollment has risen by more than 30% in the last four years to over 3,700 students in the credit-bearing programs. We serve thousands more who are enrolled in our non-degree and grant funded workforce development programs. In addition, the School has an active Alumni network and established the CUNY SPS Foundation, which offers multiple scholarship opportunities to our current students.

Affirming our role as a leader in online education, CUNY SPS was ranked in the top 5% of U.S. News & World Report’s list of the 2020 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs, making CUNY SPS the highest nationally listed program in New York State and New York City.

Press Contact:
Andrea Fagon
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andrea.fagon@cuny.edu
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