In The Know – Issue 145
Posted in: In the Know
Cooking with Koppell: Candidates Edition featuring Sean Spiller
This election season, President Koppell is giving us a personal look at New Jersey’s gubernatorial candidates beyond the campaign trail—exploring what drove them to public service and their vision for the state’s future.
The University Employee Assistance Program Provides Free Support Services for Employees and their Families
Explore confidential support services such as short term counseling, mental health specialists and other self-help programs.
2025 College Rankings: Montclair’s Graduate Programs Ranked Among Nation’s Best
U.S. News & World Report annual survey includes the University programs in Education, Public Health, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and the University’s Part-Time MBA program.
Updates
Share Your Feedback: Take the Workday Student Project Survey
Workday Student will become Montclair State University’s new student information system within the next one to two years, replacing our current system, Banner. More than 100 of your colleagues are currently collaborating across 13 workstreams to plan, design and build our Workday Student experience. Students recently participated in focus groups and a university-wide survey to share feedback on current systems, helping inform the development of a more intuitive and responsive platform.
Faculty and staff are invited to add their voices by completing the Workday Student Project Survey open through Friday, April 25. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous. For more information about the Workday Student Project, visit the Workday Student Project website.
Summer Friday 2025 Schedule
Summer Fridays will return this year, beginning the week of June 2 and concluding on Friday, August 8 for 35-hour per week AFT librarians and professional staff, 35-hour per week CWA staff and managers. These individuals will work 8.75 hours Monday-Thursday and have Fridays off. Summer Fridays are not in effect during the weeks in which the Juneteenth (June 19) and July 4 holidays are observed.
Flexible working arrangements are a privilege offered at the discretion of the dean or vice president and are not possible for all jobs. We will continue the practice of one remote day during the weeks identified as being eligible for Summer Fridays. Please note that Montclair will continue to review and revise this practice annually based on business needs and applicable federal and state laws.
New Ethics Reporting Platform
Montclair is committed to the highest ethical standards and expectations of honesty and integrity across our community of faculty, staff and students. A critical piece of this commitment is ensuring that all those employed by the University adhere to the New Jersey State Code of Ethics. We have created this new reporting system because it is important for our University community to have the ability to confidentially and comfortably report suspected violations of the State Code of Ethics. All reports will be taken seriously and we thank you for sharing the University’s commitment to excellence.
New Policy Regarding Romantic Relationships in the Workplace
The University recently implemented a new policy addressing romantic relationships between employees and students. Employees should familiarize themselves with the policy to ensure compliance.
Reminders
Celebrate Campus Earth Day with the Office of Sustainability
Campus Earth Day will be held Tuesday, April 22, from noon to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Quad and everyone is invited. Enjoy free food, swag, stickers, and you can earn the first-ever Office of Sustainability t-shirt! Join us and over 20 campus and community partners to celebrate all things sustainable at Montclair. Every table you visit will provide you with a code word. Collect eight code words to earn a t-shirt. Every bonus code word is also an entry into the Campus Earth Month giveaway. Learn more about everything Earth Month has to offer!
Share Your Story or Nominate a Fellow Red Hawk
Everyone has a story, and Student Communications wants to share yours! Red Hawks of Montclair State U highlights the incredible students, staff, faculty and alumni who make our community special—just like Humans of New York, but right here at Montclair. Interested in being featured? Fill out the form and schedule a photoshoot with our student photographers. If you would like examples of our photoshoots, view our photo gallery. You can also nominate someone whose story deserves to be shared.
A Day in the Life
University Communications and Marketing is always looking for stories to tell and share about our students, faculty and staff.
We are interested in showcasing members of our University community who are doing something noteworthy — whether in the classroom, through research, internships, jobs, hobbies or unique personal experiences.
If you or someone you know has a compelling story to share, please fill out this form. Faculty and staff may also submit on behalf of students who express interest.
In The News
(Articles may require a subscription to view)
- Joel Penney (Communication and Media) was cited in this Yahoo! Entertainment article discussing the public fascination with celebrities who move away from Hollywood.
- Jordanna Maziarz (Undergraduate Admissions) was featured in this U.S. News article discussing how the university’s direct admissions initiative helps expand access to college.
- Dan Geltrude (Accounting and Finance) appeared on this Morning in America segment to offer commentary on several news topics related to the economy.
- The Montclair State Chorale was the topic of this NJ.com article praising the group’s strong vocals during their performance with the New Jersey Symphony at NJPAC.
Kudos
- To Grace Cook (Academic Affairs, Bloomfield), who recently presented at EdgeCon Spring on Using AI in the Math Classroom for English Language Learners. Grace was also selected to participate in a National Science Foundation Grant in association with the Mathematical Association of America regarding program assessment.
- To Christabelle Robinson (Global Center on Human Trafficking), who has been recognized by the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT), for her healing-centered approach on the inclusion of previous trafficked people in professional spaces.
- To Rosita Rodruguez (Nursing), who passed the Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse national board certification exam. Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification and recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Program, it sets a distinguished standard in practice, education, and research.
- To the Montclair Tennis Club and the Global Center for Human Trafficking Ambassadors who hosted a workshop designed to teach youth participants from the Bella Chanel Mentoring Program the fundamentals of tennis, while also fostering a strong sense of community and belonging.
- To Michelle Ciecwisz (University Police), who has been promoted from Lieutenant to Captain.
- To Brian Dominguez, Daniele Dougherty, Christopher Gray and Mahbub Houssain (University Police), who have completed 25 weeks of PTC academy training.
- To new hires Alexander Dailey-Sterling, Daniele Vandenbos, Valeria Gallego and Roosevelt Gonzalez (University Police), as they begin their PTC academy training.
- To the Language, Business and Culture program and its director Enza Antenos (World Languages and Cultures), for being featured in the Italian daily, Sempione News, for hosting the international Erasmus+ Job Shadowing Program. As part of the initiative, educators from the Istituto Carlo dell’Acqua in the greater Milan area engaged with American teaching methodologies across core LBC courses, collaborating with faculty from various departments on campus.
Social Media Post of Note
There was a gas station behind the Student Center? 
From trolleys and trains to gas pumps and parking permits, the commute to campus has looked a little different in every decade.
Check out a few of the archives we pulled out of storage in honor of March’s Transportation month!
Photo of the Week
Accepted Student Day – University Photographer: John LaRosa
Quick Links
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.