In The Know – Issue 100

University Expands Its Pre-College Summer Program

New additions to the Pre-College Summer Program include: Pre-Medical Professions, Animation and VFX, the Montclair Broadway Institute and Study Abroad in Sicily, Italy.

Immerse Your High School Student in Foreign Language and Culture

The Summer Language Institute offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while learning about French, German or Korean languages and cultures.

Major Madness Helps Students with Major Decision

University College’s unique program continues its success, helping undecided students explore majors aligned with their interests and career goals.

In the News

• New Jersey business publication ROI-NJ published a news article about the recent HISPA Youth Conference held at Montclair and co-hosted by the Office for Hispanic Initiatives and Prudential Financial.
• An article by Sylvia Martinez (University Communications and Marketing) on Layla Tamimi ’23, an outstanding graduate who overcame paralysis to complete her bachelor’s degree, was the cover story for the March 2024 issue of Exceptional Parent magazine.
• NorthJersey.com published a story on a “celebration of life” memorial event held at Mountainside Medical Center for the late Ashton Clatterbuck, a Montclair student when he died last month. The event was part of Out Montclair’s Trans Day of Visibility, and included contributions by a number of students and faculty. In the aftermath of his death, Ashton’s parents, Mark Clatterbuck (Religion) and Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck also wrote a piece for Lancaster Online addressing anti-LGBTQ legislation and its impact on trans youth.

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 New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits special enrollment period closes Tuesday, April 30. Learn about the new Aetna medical plan and how to enroll. Upon enrollment, the Aetna medical plan will become effective Monday, July 1. Log into the Benefitsolver website by accessing a link on the MyNewJersey portal or via MyNJBenefitsHub to access additional information. No action is required if you do not wish to make any changes to your current medical plan.
• Advanced registration is required for all faculty and staff working Commencement as well as for those participating in the academic processional. Registration will close Monday, April 15. Find more information about venue arrival times, event credential distribution, shuttle service and more at the Commencement website under Faculty and Staff Information.
• The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Institutional Equity is seeking a dynamic thought partner to fill the role of Inclusive Excellence Programs and Engagement Specialist. Internal applicants are encouraged to apply.
• Instructional Technology and Design Services invites faculty to submit proposals for the 19th Annual Summer Institute conference, held June 4 and 5. This year’s theme, Forward Together, embraces the teaching community and will create a space to discuss shared experiences, opportunities, challenges faced as educators and the future of education.Deadline for submissions is Monday, April 15.
• Nominate a student who you think would be a good fit for a career in Student Affairs for the next cohort of undergraduate students to join the Future Student Affairs Professionals program for 2024-2025. Requirements for the program: Rising sophomore, junior or senior in fall 2024; GPA Requirement: 2.75 or higher; in good standing; interested in Student Affairs.

Last Chance

• Final call for nominations for the annual student-employee awards which recognizes students for their contributions to the University. Students should be nominated and recommended using the following criteria: work ethic, initiative, quality of work, disposition and contribution to employer. The supervisor’s description of how the student meets each of the criteria assists the committee in its decisions. For questions or assistance, contact careerconnect@montclair.edu.
• 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.
• The Spring 2024 Children’s Swim School begins Monday, April 8. Classes take place at the Panzer Athletic Center pool and children must be 4 to 12 years of age by the start of classes. Classes are taught by the University swimming and diving teams. For more information, contact mclaughlinb@montclair.edu.

Upcoming Events

• The Physics and Astronomy Department is hosting a viewing party of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. in front of CELS. The eclipse begins at 2:20 p.m., peaks at 3:25 p.m. and ends at 4:46 p.m. There will be projections of the sun and a limited supply of eclipse viewing glasses available so bring your own if you have them.
• Celebrate National Poetry Month by attending a reading by Christopher Parker (Classics and General Humanities) on Wednesday, April 10, from 11 to 12:30 p.m. in Student Center room 111-114. The reading will be followed by an interactive workshop on the themes of Age, Disability and the Environment.
• The Inserra Endowed Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies and the Department of Political Science and Law are sponsoring a discussion of “The Politics of Memory: Remembering Laborers, Women, and Italian Immigrants Through Public Monuments” on April 11, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in Feliciano, Room 101. The Manhattan Triangle Fire Memorial co-designer Richard Joon Yoo and Mary Anne Trasciatti, president of Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, will discuss the relationship between history, memory, politics and public space. Reserve your spot.
• The University hosts “Racial Trauma-Informed Strategies in Supporting Students of Color,” webinar to give faculty, advisors, coaches and mentors the tools to recognize and support students experiencing mental health concerns. Led by University of Maryland Director of Inclusive Excellence Jasmine Lee on April 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., this webinar will show participants how to adopt trauma-informed strategies to support and empower students of color. Registration is required.
• The University Spring Town Hall with President Koppell will take place Wednesday, April 17, 3 to 4 p.m., at the Alexander Kasser Theater. Register in advance.
• Join ITDS at the Educational Technology Expo on Wednesday, April 17. Learn about emergent technologies like AI, VR, and current instructional technologies and campus resources, while networking with colleagues. Refreshments and prizes will be available!
• Attend “The Fragmentation of Governance in Drug Policy: Harmful or Constructive?,” on Thursday, April 18 at the School of Communication and Media Presentation Hall, Room 1040. Guest lecturer Michel Kazatchkine will discuss drug policy and global health.
• Staff and faculty are invited to attend and participate in the Earth Day Creative Carnival on Monday, April 22. Enjoy free tie-dying and aromatic living plants. Interested in participating as a speaker or with a table or activity? Contact earthdaycreativecarnival@montclair.edu.

Reminders

• Get ready for One Day! Join the filming for the One Day video on Tuesday, April 9, at 4:30 p.m. on the quad. Be sure to wear your Red Hawk gear! For more details, contact brennanka@montclair.edu.
• The Hill at Yogi Berra Stadium is now open! Enjoy concessions from local food vendors and breweries. View the vendor schedule.
• Lost and found items can be brought to the Student Center information desk in the 2nd floor lobby. Browse the inventory of lost items or file a claim with a description of your lost item to be notified if it is returned.
• Make parking easier by downloading the Parking Logix app to check for available parking before you leave for campus. The app provides real-time updates on parking availability in the parking decks and lots.
• 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. By purchasing the $300 Faculty/Staff RHD plan, you will also receive a bonus $50 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.
• Need some writing help? 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 the Montclair State University website? Report your experience via our Broken Link form.
• 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.

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.
• Concerned 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.
• Occupational Health services along with Christopher King (Clinical Psychology), are conducting round table sessions/discussions for employees through Monday, April 29. Register for an occupational health round table session to learn valuable tips on managing mental health and keeping your work and personal life in alignment. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Kudos

• To Paul McGroarty (University Communications and Marketing) and his team of social media student ambassadors as Montclair’s Instagram tops the list of New Jersey Colleges and Universities in followers, engagement and reels reach in the first quarter of the year.
• To Tammy Castro (Biology, Bloomfield), who received a travel award to present at the NSF-funded Adelante Conference: Building Capacity for STEM Student Success at Hispanic-Serving Institutions held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• To Ismat Mikky (Nursing, Bloomfield), who served as the keynote speaker at the Singapore Nursing Research Conference in March. His presentation was entitled “The lived experience of a nurse transitioning from a clinical setting to an academic environment.”
• To Jacquelyn Svercauski (Nursing, Bloomfield), who attained National League for Nursing Certification as a Certified Nurse Educator.
• To RJ Miller and John Rizer (University Police), who will begin their training at the Passaic County Police Academy this month.
• To Danianne Mizzy (Sprague Library), who was selected to take part in the 2024 UCLA Library Senior Fellows program.
• To Elyse Postlewaite (Family Science and Human Development), who received a Teacher-Scholar grant from the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University.

Social Media Post of Note

Have you checked out the NEW sleeping pods in the Library yet?
They are great for any Red Hawk who’s in need of a quick power nap during the day! Pods can also be found in the @montclair_studentcenter & @montclair_campusrec

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.