Start of the Semester Checklist

As part of CUNY’s commitment to improving cybersecurity, including to help protect your personal and academic data, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) has been implemented across all applications that use the CUNY Login Single Sign-On (SSO) system. All of the applications listed below require MFA .  

• Brightspace 
• Blackboard 
• CUNYfirst 
• Degreeworks 
• FreshService Ticketing System (ITS Service Desk, Financial Aid, Registrar) 
• QC Navigate360 
• Yealink Telephone 
• Zoom 

Important Note:  Don’t confuse this CUNY Login MFA with the Microsoft MFA (M365 MFA), which is used strictly to verify all Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, etc) 

MFA Set Up Guide: How do I get started with setting up my MFA? 

Review the step-by-step instructions found in the GlobalProtetct VPN Knowledge Base Articles. 

Start with Setting Up CUNY Login MFA 

Once a CUNY application or service is enabled for CUNY Login MFA, you will be prompted for an MFA authentication method. Please refer to this corresponding article: Responding to MFA Requests/Prompts 

If you have any issues with CUNY Login MFA, you can find fixes here: Common Issues and Fixes for CUNY MFA 

If you are having CUNY Login MFA issues, use the following form to contact and report it directly to CUNY CIS: https://tinyurl.com/4j83y8v6 

For more information about ITS support services, visit the Information Technology Services site. 

• Log into CUNYfirst to make sure your classes are listed correctly in CUNYfirst, including the correct mode of instruction. 
• Check your class rosters to see who’s enrolled in your class. 
• Reach out to your students in the beginning of the semester. You can  email your students from CUNYfirst. 
• You can view your Teaching Schedule on CUNYfirst. 
• Additional CUNY Technology Training Resources. (Login required) 

Access your Brightspace course 

1. Go to https://brightspace.cuny.edu 
2. Log in with your CUNY Login credentials. 

If you can access Brightspace but your course isn’t listed 

• Check CUNYfirst and CourseDog to confirm that you were correctly added as an instructor to the course. 

Make your Brightspace course available 

To make your course available, navigate to the Course Admin tab in your Brightspace course, then to Site Setup, select Course Offering Information, scroll down, and ensure that the “Course is active” option is checked off, and then click Save. How to make your Brightspace Course Available 

Instruct your students, via an email from CUNYfirst, to contact you if they cannot see their course in Brightspace. 

Merge Courses 

Request Section/Course Merge in Brightspace. Please email bbsupport@qc.cuny.edu if you need further assistance. 

Adding new users to a Brightspace course 

Faculty must use the Request to Add User to a Brightspace Course form to add a new user to course. If a co-instructor or TA needs to be enrolled, please refer to your department chair to have this action completed via CourseDog. 

Visit Microsoft Office 365 for Education to log into your CUNY Office 365 account and for links to training resources. 

To access your CUNY Zoom account, 

1. Go to https://cuny.zoom.us 
2. Click on the blue “Sign in” button. 
3. Log in with your CUNY Login credentials. 

Check in with the online book store to confirm that the books you have ordered for your class are available. Use your CUNYfirst credentials to view your selections, or mark your course as “no books required.” Textbook information entered through the bookstore will automatically update your course in CUNYfirst. Consider having the library place a copy of the book on reserve for your class.

Information on requesting reserves can be found at Reserves Information for Faculty 

The Reserves and Course Content department of Rosenthal Library is now accepting requests for new materials to be hosted for the Fall 2025 semester. To ensure that new material has the best chance of being available for the first day of the semester, please adhere to the following request deadline for  Fall Semester: August 22, 2025.

 Renewals and New Requests 

• To renew reserves materials from a previous course, you can submit a Reserves Renewal Request. 
• To request new or additional items, please submit an E-Reserves Request for each item. 

For Information and Policies for Faculty, visit Reserves Information for Faculty. 

For questions about Reserves, contact the reserve desk at: qc_reserve@qc.cuny.edu. 

Make sure you have access to your classroom. Contact your departmental office to ascertain how to access your assigned classroom (card swipe or key). If the room has card swipe access, make sure your QC ID card is activated. For key access, contact the Main Gate Security at 718-997-5912. 

Verification of Enrollment Rosters (VOE) will be available to faculty on Tuesday, September 2 and are due from faculty on Monday, September 15. Rosters are available via the Faculty Center in CUNYfirst at https://home.cunyfirst.cuny.edu. 

All teaching faculty must verify that students who registered for classes are actually attending or participating. All students will be noted as having attended at least once by default; instructors only need to note if a student has never participated in their course. Any independent study, lab, thesis, dissertation, research, or similar course also constitutes a class and must be verified as well. Online or hybrid instructors need to note whether their students have commenced participation in any course-related activity. 

As you continue to call attendance in your courses, please make sure that all students present in your class are formally enrolled via CUNYfirst. Students who are not formally enrolled should be referred to the respective department for registration. 

To Submit Enrollment Verification Rosters, follow the instructions at Verification of Attendance Rosters 

Log in/technical issues should be referred to the ITS Help Desk (support@qc.cuny.edu). 

You are encouraged to test your CUNYfirst login credentials and resolve any issues in advance of reporting your grades. If you cannot log in, please contact the ITS Help Desk. 

If you have questions about attendance policies or procedures, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@qc.cuny.edu 

There are a few circumstances that may require you to suddenly pivot from in-person to remote teaching: inclement weather prevents access to the campus; or a medical condition requires you or some of your students to quarantine.  

Be sure to tell your students where to look for information about emergencies. Encourage them to sign up for CUNY A!ert, and remind them that the QC website will post updates on the front page and on its Emergency Preparedness page, as well as via QC Facebook and QC X. 

If you are in a situation where your class has to pivot to a remote format, you and your students may need: 

• Laptop or desktop computer with built-in microphone  
• Headset if your device does not have a built-in microphone 
• Access to High-speed internet 
• Ethernet or strong wi-fi connection 
• Access to your CUNY accounts: 
• Zoom for virtual classes and office hours 
• Brightspace for file sharing, assignments, quizzes, discussions 
• Office 365 for file sharing from OneDrive, Teams for communication and collaboration