CUNY Explorers

Medical Arts Building, Room C34
Phone: 718-281-5312
Email: ssimmons@qcc.cuny.edu
CUNY Explorers Website

Sherri-Ann Simmons Terry, Director

Who We Are
CUNY Explorers was launched in 2016 under the NYC College Access for All program as a partnership between CUNY K16 Initiatives and NYCPS. Since its founding, CUNY Explorers has expanded to provide campus experiences to all middle schoolers, and 9th and 10th graders. Early college readiness programs like CUNY Explorers set the foundation for success in high school, college, and beyond.

CUNY Explorers helps students develop college identity at a developmental age, while providing a campus experience that promotes a college-going mindset—therefore, students and families internalize the message that college is a necessary and achievable goal.

Visit Guides
CUNY hires and trains college students as Visit Guides to deliver interactive and meaningful campus experiences for the visiting middle and high school students.

Guided Tours
Students explore the campus through a guided tour—meeting college students and campus staff, and participating in activities that promotes college readiness and introduces them to academic areas of study.

Classroom Visits
Explorers hosts virtual visits for schools that cannot attend an in-person visit. To supplement the campus visit and to deepen the program’s impact, Visit Guides can also travel to middle school classrooms to facilitate activities and discussions about college, as a special request for college awareness events or college fairs.

Schools in Districts 75 and 79 and those with high numbers of English language learners are provided tailored support through partnerships with campus accessibility and resource offices.