In The Know – Issue 182
Posted in: In the Know
How Montclair’s 4+1 Program Turned a Childhood Science Project Into Marine Biology Research
The combined BS/MS in Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences helped Kelly Witters turn a third-grade horseshoe crab project into hands-on research for coastal conservation.
Introducing Stalls for Safety: A New Campus Initiative to Support Survivors
Stalls for Safety raises awareness about human trafficking and provides discreet, accessible information and resources to individuals who may be experiencing exploitation or who knows someone who is.
Bloomfield College Women’s Basketball Wins First-Ever USCAA Division I National Championship
Congratulations to the Bears, who defeated Paul Quinn College 72–64 to secure the program’s first national title!
Cooking with Koppell
Join President Koppell for the Season 5 premiere as Sudha Wadhwani of Counseling and Psychological Services shares her grandmother’s beloved Aloo Gobi recipe and the family story behind it.
HR Updates
Performance Management Key Dates and Reminders
2026 PARs Due for CWA Employee
The 2026 Initial PAR Agreement was due on January 31, 2026.
All Supervisors of Civil Service staff have received a task in their Workday inbox to complete. If you have not done so, please log into Workday to submit the task as soon as possible.
This year, we are providing all Civil Service employees with a self-guided, employee-facing version of the Performance Assessment Review training.
AFT Evaluations for Next Multi-Year Contracts
Employees currently serving in a Multi-Year contract expiring June 30, 2027 received a task in their Workday inbox on Monday, March 2 to complete their self evaluation.
Self evaluations must be submitted in Workday no later than Monday, March 23.
For the full AFT Staff Evaluation schedule with key due dates, please refer to the AFT Professional Staff- Evaluation and Reappointment webpage.
Questions? HR is Your Partner in What’s Next!
If you have questions regarding the 2026 Performance Assessment Review or have not received your Initial Agreement, please email performance@montclair.edu. A ServiceNow ticket will be created on your behalf.
The SECURE 2.0 Act
Effective January 1, 2026, the SECURE 2.0 Act introduces a mandatory Roth treatment for age-based catch-up contributions for certain high-income participants in the New Jersey Employees Deferred Compensation Plan (NJSEDCP).
This requirement applies to employees who:
- 50 years of age or older
- Had FICA wages of $150,000 or more in 2025, and
- Contribute more than the standard annual IRS limit in 2026
If you meet the above criteria then any contributions you make above the standard limit must be made as Roth (after-tax) contributions.
Updates
Faculty and Staff Commencement Registration
Montclair State University is excited to hold Spring 2026 Commencement exercises on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Prudential Center in Newark. Advanced registration is REQUIRED for all faculty and staff attending Commencement. There are two registration forms depending if you are a staff member working the event or a faculty or staff member participating in the academic processional. Registration will close on Monday, March 30, 2026. Due to event coordination needs, faculty and staff MUST register by this deadline. Late registrations will not be accepted. Visit the faculty and staff Commencement webpage for more information or email officeofspecialevents@montclair.edu.
Apply for a Plot in the Campus Community Garden
The Montclair Campus Community Garden, located on the side of the Student Center, will be opening for its 9th growing season!
The garden will provide space and tools to support 40 garden plots on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to the high quantity of applications, raised beds will be split into plot sizes per applicant(s). All interested gardeners of any skill-level are invited to sign up for a plot on campus. All students, staff and faculty are welcome to join us for the season! Questions about the garden season or growing on campus may be addressed to the Community Garden Manager, Brittney Portes, portesb@montclair.edu or the Office of Sustainability, sustainability@montclair.edu.
External Email Tagging is Now Active
Starting on March 16th, external emails will show [EXTERNAL] in the subject line.
This simple reminder helps you spot suspicious messages and reduce phishing or fraud risk. Note: Emails from external addresses may be legitimate. This reminder is designed to alert you to pause and check before clicking links, opening attachments or responding to unexpected requests for information. Quick Tip: If you receive a suspicious email, hit the Phish Alert Button to report. For more information, check out the Phish Files.
Reminders
Montclair’s Middle States Self-Study: A Campuswide Reflection on Mission, Growth, and Resilience
The University’s self-study report has been completed and formally submitted to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The self-study has provided an invaluable opportunity to take stock of Montclair’s significant growth, examine how the institution continues to deliver on its mission and identify the ways we are strengthening institutional resilience for the future. The self-study report is available for the community to view online.
Donate to Create Recharge and Restore Kits for Students
The Red Hawk Pantry, CART Performance Operations and CAPS are partnering to distribute Recharge & Restore Kits to students at the end of the semester. These kits are designed to encourage students and support their wellbeing during this stressful time. Kits can include a mix of salty and sweet snacks, study supplies, stress relievers and/or self care items as well as personal notes to boost morale.
You can support this initiative by donating supplies for the kits from the Amazon Wish List.
Monetary donations can be made online via the TIX.com CART Donations page. Select “Red Hawk Pantry Care Kits” (see image below) to donate to this project. The cost of 1 kit is about $15.50. Our goal is to give out 150 boxes this first semester.
In The News
- President Jonathan Koppell was named to ROI-NJ’s Influencers Power List for 2026.
- Amanda Baden (Counseling) is cited in this Decluttering Mom blog post published on AOL.com about navigating divorce.
- Arnaud Kurze (Justice Studies) co-authored a piece for The Conversation about how social media can draw attention to atrocities and is a key factor in reducing risk of recurrence.
- Dan Geltrude (Adjunct, Accounting and Finance) appeared on Newsmax program “Bianca Across the Nation” to weigh in on the economy as it relates to the conflict in Iran.
- Bond Benton (Strategic Communication) and Daniela Peterka-Benton (Justice Studies, Global Center on Human Trafficking) are quoted in this New Jersey Monitor article about the politicization of human trafficking.
- Keith Strudler (College of Communication and Media) is quoted in this Chalkbeat Newark article about the city’s plans to open New Media High School, which will be geared toward film and TV careers and digital creator roles.
Kudos
- To Teresa Fiore (World Languages and Cultures), who coordinated four projects as part of the prestigious national initiative Agrigento Italy’s Capital of Culture 2025.
- To Christopher Parker (Theatre and Dance), who received an honorable mention in the 2026 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards for his poem “Lake Echoes, After the Storm.” The recognition highlights his ongoing contributions to contemporary poetry and the New Jersey literary community.
Social Media Post of Note
Ready to chef it up at the Teaching Kitchen located at Freeman Dining Hall What are you cooking?
Photo of the Week
Editing in progress. – 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.