In The Know – Issue 99

A New Ball Game

President Koppell’s ceremonial first pitch at Yogi Berra Stadium ushers in a new era for Red Hawk Athletics with a partnership between Montclair and NJIT. The weather may have been cold, but the Red Hawks are off to a hot start.

‘We are All Public Health’

Join the College for Community Health in celebrating National Public Health Week 2024 (April 1-7). A full week of public-health related events – including free health screenings – is planned.

Showing that COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies Worked

Professor Danlin Yu’s published studies confirm the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions on flattening the curve and make recommendations for further investigation to inform future policy decisions.

In the News

• Angy Estrada (Community Health) offered advice to advisors in this Inside Higher Ed article on engaging and motivating students.
• Brigid Harrison (Political Science and Law) is quoted in this Associated Press article about a possible new era in New Jersey politics.
• Jason Williams (Justice Studies) spoke to NJ Spotlight News about concerns surrounding crisis response programs in New Jersey.
• Chancellor Marcheta P. Evans (Bloomfield) appeared on New Jersey Urban News podcast “Breaking Barriers: Creating Black Wealth” to discuss scholarships and support for marginalized students.
• Danielle Epps (Center of Pedagogy) is profiled in this feature in The Montclarion about how she has become one of our Red Hawks’ biggest supporters.

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 has designated Monday, April 1 – Tuesday, April 30, as a Special Open Enrollment Period for employees to learn about the new Aetna medical plan and optionally enroll. If you choose to enroll, the new Aetna medical plan will become effective Monday, July 1. Beginning Monday, April 1, employees will be able to 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Next Week

• Join the School of Communication and Media in Presentation Hall at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 1 for a conversation with NBC/MSNBC’s political correspondent Steve Kornacki who is known for his in-depth analysis on elections and politics. Register in advance.
• Interested in Grad School? The next Graduate Admissions FAQ session is Wednesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. Whether you are at the beginning of your graduate school journey or further along in the process, this online session will provide resources to help you take the next step toward your goals. Register today!
• Don’t miss “University Budget 101: A Breakdown of Our Fiscal Strategy” on Thursday, April 4, 10 to 11 a.m. with President Koppell. This session will provide an inside look at how the University receives funding and how strategic decisions about tuition, infrastructure and staffing are made. Register to attend in person or via livestream.
• Join Fridays with ITDS on April 5 for a conversation with Laura Quiros (Social Work and Child Advocacy) on fostering inclusivity across modalities. Learn how to integrate diverse perspectives into in-person and online teaching to acknowledge the multitude of identities in our classrooms.
• Panel Discussion: “This is What First Gen Looks Like: Stories From Faculty & Staff Who Were the First in Their Family to Finish College.” All are welcome and students who are the first in their family to attend college are encouraged to attend. Thursday, April 4, 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. University Hall 1050.
• 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.

Upcoming Events

• 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 will take place Wednesday, April 17, 3 – 4 p.m., at the Alexander Kasser Theater. Register in advance.
• 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.
• Show your Red Hawk pride with new Zoom backgrounds as we approach One Day for Montclair on Thursday, April 25 – the day for our Montclair community to come together to support Montclair and our students.

Reminders

• The University is closed Friday, March 29 for Good Friday.
• 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 purchase the 30 Block + $50 Red Hawk Dollar meal plan or the $300 Red Hawk Dollar meal plan. 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Welcome!

• Please welcome Liaquat Hossain, the new director for the School of Computing. His extensive academic career includes leadership positions at the University of Sydney, the University of Hong Kong, Lund University and the University of Nebraska-Kearney, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT.

Kudos

• To Darius Edwards (Social Justice and Diversity), who received a Pan African Network 2024 PAN 30 under 40 Award at the 100th Annual American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Conference in Chicago.
• To Natascia Boeri (Social and Behavioral Sciences, Bloomfield), who was selected as a scholar for the Civic Engagement and Voting Rights Teacher Scholars Program at Clemson University, which is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
• To Christopher Parker (Classics and General Humanities), whose two poems, “Candle Inquiry,” and “The Child Lost,” were included in the anthology Tiny Moments: Vol—II published by Bronze Bird Books.
• To Jessica Wohlstetter (Linguistics), who is teaching officers in the NYPD as they work toward their national American Sign Language Interpreter certification.

Social Media Post of Note

Thankful to have @montclairpresident throw out the first pitch yesterday to help celebrate the renovations to Yogi Berra Stadium!

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.