SPARC is CUNY’s mandatory Sexual & Inter-personal Violence Prevention and Response Course for students.
The purpose of SPARC is to educate CUNY and BCC’s community on policies pertaining to sexual misconduct, how to report incidents and provide available resources.
Don’t hold up registration, complete SPARC TODAY!
Who needs to complete SPARC?
EVERY STUDENT.
All students are required to complete the SPARC Training by their 3rd semester at CUNY and only have to complete SPARC once during their enrollment at any CUNY school.
However, if you are a Broncos Athlete, a Student-Leader (such as an SGA or IOC member), doing a study-abroad program or part-taking in domestic overnight travel with the college, you must complete SPARC every year.
If a student has not completed the SPARC Training, or cannot provide proof that they completed the training, they will not be able to participate in their activities.
How do you access SPARC?
Your CUNYfirst To-Do List can be found on your Student Center on CUNYfirst.
Once you click on “SPARC” in your CUNYfirst To-Do list, the link will bring you to Blackboard to complete the training.
When you complete the SPARC training, your CUNYfirst hold will be removed 24-36 after completion.
Tip: take a picture/ screenshot of your training completion notification at the end of the program for your records.
Need Help? Contact Us.
We are always here to support you. Please reach out to the following offices based on the topic of your question.
When contacting us and to best assist you, please consider following these tips:
- Please include your full name, EMPLID and contact information in your message with a brief description of your issues(s) or questions.
- Please provide screenshots if available.
- When calling us, please be sure to leave a clear and concise message with your full name, EMPLID and contact information.
- Please allow 24-48 hours for your call or e-mail to be returned.
| Question | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Questions? | 718-289-5970 | TSC@bcc.cuny.edu |
| Content Questions? | 718- 289-5194 | studentlife@bcc.cuny.edu |
If you cannot see the SPARC indicator on your To-Do list OR if you have a SPARC hold but completed the training, please:
- Check your CUNYfirst To-Do list in 24 hours to see if the hold is on your account
- If the problem persists, please contact the Technology Service Center at TSC@bcc.cuny.edu, include your EMPLID and description of the issue in your communication.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this initiative.
Need to report an incident of Sexual Misconduct?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Content for this section has been provided by the City University of New York (CUNY).
SPARC is an abbreviation for Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response. SPARC is an online mandatory training program developed by the State University of New York in partnership with the City University of New York that students must complete to continue their enrollment. Its purpose is to educate the institution’s community on policies pertaining to sexual misconduct, how to report incidents, and available resources. The training is available in Blackboard to make it easier for students to access and maintain a record of their completion.
New York State Education Law, Enough Is Enough, requires that students enrolled in all NYS colleges and universities complete SPARC
All new and transfer students, and students noted as part of a designated population, must complete SPARC. New students are required to complete SPARC once during their enrollment at CUNY. The requirement to only take SPARC once applies regardless of the campus or program in which the student is enrolled at the time of SPARC completion. SPARC training must be provided to all new students and transfer students who are new to CUNY during onboarding or new student orientation.
A student is defined as a person who is matriculated and enrolled in courses creditable toward a degree or a certificate approved and registered with the New York State Education Department. This definition includes undergraduate and graduate students and includes degree and certificate programs that are offered in an on-campus, hybrid, and online format. Students who have a question regarding their status should contact their campus Office of Student Affairs or Title IX Coordinator.
Designated Populations are listed in New York State Education Law Article 129-b as heads/officers of student organizations, student-athletes, and students studying abroad or partaking in domestic overnight travel. Designated populations are unique to each CUNY campus and defined based on their activities and offerings.
Annual Completion Requirements
Students who have been selected as designated populations must complete SPARC annually before they participate in a college recognized or sponsored activity. For example, student-athletes must complete SPARC annually before participating in intercollegiate competitions.
Any student who is a member of a designated population who has not completed SPARC or provide proof of completion will not be able to participate as a heads/officers of student organizations, student-athletes, and students studying abroad or partaking in domestic overnight travel.
Most students are not required to retake SPARC once the training is completed. Students who must complete SPARC are first-time students, students who are part of a designated population, or transfer students who are new to CUNY. Transfer students who are transferring within CUNY do not have to retake SPARC if the training was completed at the initial college of enrollment. For example, if a student completes SPARC while enrolled in Hostos Community College and subsequently transfers to Lehman College, that student does not have to retake SPARC at Lehman College.
- SPARC Online Training Reminder indicates that a student has not yet completed the training.
- SPARC Online Training Required indicates that a student will not be able to register until the training is completed.
The SPARC service indicator will be removed 24-36 hours after the training is completed.
Students who are required to complete SPARC will have a link to the training on their CUNYfirst To Do List.
Students who are required to complete SPARC and do not see a link to the training on the CUNYfirst To Do List, should contact their campus Help Desk.
At BCC, this is the Technology Service Center (TSC).
Phone: 718-289-5970
Email: TSC@bcc.cuny.edu
When contacting TSC, please include your full name, EMPLID, a description of your issue and screen shots if available.
Students who encounter technical difficulty with the SPARC training should be directed to their campus Help Desk for initial troubleshooting in order to escalate the case to the SPARC designated campus personnel.
At BCC, this is the Technology Service Center (TSC).
Phone: 718-289-5970
Email: TSC@bcc.cuny.edu
When contacting TSC, please include your full name, EMPLID, a description of your issue and screen shots if available.
Upon completing the entire SPARC training, a student should receive a certificate of completion to be saved. A student who does not receive a certificate after completing the training should contact the campus Help Desk which will generate a ticket to resolve the issue.
At BCC, this is the Technology Service Center (TSC).
Phone: 718-289-5970
Email: TSC@bcc.cuny.edu
When contacting TSC, please include your full name, EMPLID, a description of your issue and screen shots if available.
A student who is unable to take or complete SPARC for personal reasons should reach out to the campus Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator will discuss the reasons for which a student is unable to complete the training and how a student can best receive this vital information.
At BCC, this is
- Jessenia Paoli
- (718) 289-5288
- jessenia.paoli@bcc.cuny.edu
- Office of Affirmative Action, Compliance and Diversity -Language Hall, Room 31
While the SPARC completion certificate is available to the student upon completion of the training, it is not necessary to print up the SPARC completion certificate. The campus can confirm the students’ successful completion of the SPARC training by running a query report in CUNYfirst.
YES! SPARC is mobile friendly!
Students do not need to complete the training on a laptop or desktop. Students can use a mobile device or tablet to complete SPARC. Be sure to print or save your Certificate of Completion (especially because it is transferable).
