In The Know – Issue 95

Semester in LA has Students Shooting for the Stars

The School of Communication and Media program helps students gain experience in Hollywood film, television and media while living and working in Los Angeles.

In the News

• Carmen Cusido (Communication and Media) wrote a piece about being bilingual for Remezcla, a Latin-culture-focused digital publication.
• Montclair is mentioned in this NJ.com article about a proposed bill that would allow college students to voluntarily transfer unused funds from their dining plan to New Jersey’s food banks.
• New research from Jennifer Krumins (Biology) is highlighted in Science Daily; the research shows carbon emissions from the destruction of mangrove forests are predicted to increase by 50,000% by the end of the century.
• Gabriel Rubin (Justice Studies) is quoted in this New York Post article about “babygirl,” a new Gen Z-approved term of endearment describing men who are “sweet, charming, a bit bashful and seemingly in touch with their feminine side.”
• Fanny Lauby (Political Science and Law) was on a panel at the People’s Forum in NYC, discussing the upcoming presidential election. The event was in French and can be viewed on YouTube.

Important Updates

• W-2 forms are now available for print and download in Workday. From your Workday home page, under “Applications,” please select the “Pay” icon, then select “My Tax Documents.” Once in My Tax Documents scroll down and you’ll see a table with available tax year W-2 documents that you can view/print. If you do not see this notation, that means your W-2 was delivered by mail. If you were employed by Bloomfield College during January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023, you will receive a separate W-2 for earnings during that time period. Questions? contact Workday Support at wccsupport@montclair.edu or 973-655-5000, Option 3.
• The deadline for faculty and staff participating in Spring Commencement to order regalia is Monday, March 25. Advanced registration is required for all faculty and staff working Commencement and for those who are participating in the academic processional. Registration will close on Monday, April 15. Additional information about venue arrival times, event credential distribution, shuttle service, and more is available on the Commencement website under Faculty and Staff Information.

Upcoming Events

• Occupational Health Services along with Christopher King in Clinical Psychology, are conducting roundtable sessions/discussions for employees beginning Monday, March 4 through Monday, April 29. Register to learn valuable tips on managing mental health and keeping your work and personal life in alignment. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
• Join the Office for Social Justice and Diversity in honoring Women’s History Month with a flag raising on Monday, March 4, at noon at the Student Center flagpoles with a reception from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Student Center Ballrooms A and B (also the rain location for the flag raising). To find more Women’s History Month events visit the Engage calendar.
• The School of Communication and Media and Series A USA are holding three soccer watch parties with exclusive giveaways and complimentary food on Sundays, March 3, April 28 and May 19. Register for this Sunday’s game, Napoli vs. Juventus.
• The Coccia Institute’s second episode of Red Sauce: An Italian American Culinary Journey premiers Monday, March 4. Red Sauce is a docu-series that explores how Italian American food transformed America, and how Italians assimilated into American culture through food.
• Attend the screening of The Spanish Mission Revival Architecture of Montclair State University on Monday, March 4. The short film explores the historical evolution of the campus architecture and its uncanny resonance with the University’s current designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
• View the Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature film 20 Days in Mariupol, on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with a moderated panel discussion and reception to follow. The film by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov, is a vivid and harrowing account of the besieged city of Mariupol during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Attend the Critical Urban Education speaker series on Thursday, March 21 featuring Deonna Smith, educational justice advocate and former school teacher and leader. Learn strategies in community building and accessible academic frameworks.
• Montclair State University Day at Yankee Stadium is Sunday, April 7. Watch the New York Yankees take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Purchase tickets for Montclair section #334. Tickets include a free Yankees/MSU cap and a $20 food and beverage voucher.

Reminders

• Campus Recreation invites employees (and up to four guests) to its FREE Family Swim Night from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, March 22 and April 26 at the Student Recreation Center pool. Guests must be over age 5 and accompanied by an employee with a University ID. Flotation devices that are USCG approved are allowed. For more information, contact Alex Sperling at sperlinga@montclair.edu.
• Request the company of our university pupscot, Pebbles at your upcoming events! Let Pebbles be a paw-sitive presence at your event, fostering a sense of well-being and support for everyone involved.
• The University has partnered with Ascendium Education Solutions®, a leader in student loan repayment support, to address any questions or concerns regarding federal student loans. Call 833-707-1220 or email successcenter@ascendiumeducation.org for assistance. Also check out the MSU GradReady website for additional resources available to help with managing your financial needs.
• Faculty and staff are eligible to choose from two meal plans for purchase. The purchase of the $300 Faculty/Staff RHD plan, includes a bonus of $50 in Red Hawk Dollars. The plan can be used at all campus dining venues, vending machines and convenience stores. Enroll by payroll deduction or credit card.
• Take advantage of the State Employee Discount Program with access to discounts in various categories.
• EMS has installed hemorrhage/bleeding control kits and Narcan in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinets on campus and is offering training sessions on how to use the hemorrhage control and Narcan kits. If you or your department would like to participate in these training sessions, contact EMS at 973-655-7836 or ems@montclair.edu.
• Did you know the Center for Writing Excellence is open to all University employees? The center provides free, confidential appointments for feedback on all types of writing including professional documents, emails, memos and improving general writing skills. In-person and virtual appointments are available.
• Land on a broken link or dead end on montclair.edu? Report your experience here.
• The new University Calendar is here. Powered by the University’s room booking system, 25 Live, all event listings should be entered here. Still need training? Register for online or in-person training.
• The email listservs “For Sale,” “Campus” and “Discuss” are now opt-in only. All members have been unsubscribed. Re-subscribe to opt-in.

Support for Staff and Faculty

• The Employee Assistance Program provides free, confidential support services for employees and their families – including locating resources for substance abuse, mental health and self-help. For more information, view the CONCERN brochure.
• Worried about a student’s well-being? Please fill out a CARE Report form to connect students to mental health support and resources. Faculty and advisors can complete an alert via Navigate for academic concerns.
• If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, the nationwide 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Kudos

• To Stephanie Lopez (Social Justice and Diversity), who was inducted into the Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha honor societies at the Northeastern Greek Leadership Association conference.
• To Pamela Booker (Writing Studies), who was awarded the Prose Fellowship grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in recognition of a novel-in-stories manuscript, “Dill’s Mirrors and the Lizzies.”
• To Peter DeSarno (Business, Bloomfield) who hosted the first Cyrus H. Holley Professorship Applied Ethics learning event with guest speaker Fiona Harris-Ramsby (Humanities, Bloomfield).
• To Julia DelBagno (Center for Student Involvement) and graduate student Warren Rigby (Center for Student Involvement) and the work by the Civic and Voter Engagement Office that helped Montclair get recognized among 18 campuses in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge by the U.S. Department of Education in its promotion of Voter Engagement for Students.

Social Media Post of Note

This view never gets old. Where’s your favorite campus spot to view the NYC skyline?

Have an item you’d like included in Kudos or Reminders? Want to nominate a staffer for our spotlight? Use this form to tell us. Read more about our people and programs in the University News Center and in back issues of In the Know. And find out what’s happening on campus in the Events Calendar.