Latin/Greek Institute

This year’s traditional week one First Friday Social was especially meaningful. As afternoon reviews let out, students made their way to the ninth-floor suite to mix and mingle with faculty, classmates, and students in the other basic program. About an hour later, more guests arrived—including alumni, former faculty, and friends with no direct connection to the Institute—and the event gently segued into a memorial for the Institute’s late founder, Floyd L. Moreland. As a slideshow of Floyd’s life and career played on multiple screens throughout the room, Rita, Hardy, Bill (Pagonis), and GC’s VP of Student Affairs Matt Schoengood shared their memories of the conditor. To no one’s surprise, Rita’s comments were especially moving. Though it was a memorial, we endeavored to keep the event festive—as Floyd would have undoubtedly wanted. More meaningful than any words spoken or thoughts shared, however, was the presence of so many 2026 students, who are Floyd’s true legacy. In perpetuum, paterfamilias, ave atque vale…

Scenes from Day One of the 53rd summer of the Latin/Greek Institute. We welcomed one of the largest classes in decades: 27 students in Basic Latin and 40 in Ancient Greek. There's no place we'd rather be!

Day One of the 53rd summer of the Latin/Greek Institute is exactly two weeks from today, and we'll be welcoming one of the largest cohorts in decades! As shared previously, the first week will close with a tribute to the Institute’s late founder, Floyd Moreland (Friday, June 12). This will be a celebratory and joyful affair - as Floyd would have wanted. If you’re around and able, please join us for an early dinner and recollection at the CUNY Graduate Center. Meet new students, reconnect with faculty and other alums, and celebrate the extraordinary enterprise that is the LGI. RSVP: lg_inst [AT] gc.cuny.edu OR LRubin [AT] brooklyn.cuny.edu. We would love to see you t/here!

The 53rd summer of the Latin/Greek Institute is only seven weeks away. At the close of the first week, immediately following the traditional first Friday social (June 12), we will celebrate the life and legacy of the LGI’s founder, Floyd Moreland, who passed away last May. If you’re around, we would love for you to join us at the Grad Center for an early dinner and reminiscence: the event will be festive, as the creator would have wanted. Rita and Hardy will be there, as well as the summer 2026 faculty and LGI students. RSVP: lg_inst [AT] gc.cuny.edu OR LRubin [AT] brooklyn.cuny.edu.

The Spring 2026 LGI Newsletter is out. This special, 32-page double issue pays tribute to Floyd Moreland and, in the festive spirit in which he envisioned the Institute, is also packed with a comprehensive review of the summer 2025, historical trivia, and – of course – Rita’s Digest. Link in comments below.

There’s nothing like a summer of study at the LGI: you give us 50 days, we’ll give you the gift of Latin or Greek. Applications close soon. Scholarships available.

Alums! Do you still have your LGI t-shirt? The forthcoming newsletter includes a feature on t-shirts, and we’d love to include a picture of yours - or, better, you in it! We’re especially interested in those from the 1980s-early 2000s. If so, please send our way: [email protected].

The LGI’s Lar and Herm are aglow this morning: yesterday’s Giving Tuesday campaign raised $32,326, which was 162% of our $20,000 goal! This was by far the most successful individual campaign at the College and will help, immeasurably, with keeping the Institute the extraordinary place that it is. There’s nothing like the LGI, and nothing like its amazing alums. From all of us - Rita, Hardy, and the faculty and staff - THANK YOU! (and, if you would still like to contribute, the previously shared link will be active through the end of the year).

Salvete Alumni et Amici Instituti,

As you know, there is nothing like a summer of study at the Institute: in terms of quality and outcomes, the LGI is without peer. Central to this success is a zealous adherence to the highest of standards, as demanded the LGI’s late founder, Floyd L. Moreland. These are non-negotiable.

Although the Institute’s pedagogical approach has remained almost unchanged from its inception, the cost of running the Institute has not. With each passing year, New York State and CUNY regulations make it increasingly difficult for us to, inter alia, support our faculty, maintain many of our longstanding traditions, and even purchase basic supplies. In addition, the LGI is committed to remaining affordable and accessible; in this regard, there are limited discretionary and/or emergency funds for students (such as providing textbooks to those who are unable to afford them). In 2023, we established an operating endowment to meet these needs – and those to come.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday and an opportunity to help ensure that the LGI remains a vital resource to aspiring scholars in the years and decades to come. We hope that you will consider a donation to the endowment fund. A gift of any size is an enormous help as, in addition to the total amount raised, the number of individual donations sends a powerful message to university leadership about the importance of the Institute. Through the generous pledge of an alumnus, $10,000 in total donations will also unlock a $10,000 match. No need to wait, either: you can make a gift now.

Our campaign motto: Together, agemus monumentum aere perennius...

Latin / Greek Institute - 50th Anniversary Fund's Fundraiser Profile | #CUNYTUESDAY 2025 Help Latin / Greek Institute - 50th Anniversary Fund's fundraiser efforts for 2025

There's nothing like a summer at the LGI, and the 53rd Institute beckons, with Basic Latin, Basic Greek, and Upper Greek (online) on offer. Spread the word!