In The Know – Issue 173

How an Olympic Figure Skater Spends Her Days at Montclair

Austrian national champion Olga Mikutina fits training for the Winter Olympics 2026 into a full schedule of classes, work shifts and campus life.

University Names Fatma Mili Interim Provost

Fatma Mili, PhD, has been named interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Montclair State University, effective January 2, 2026.

HR Updates

Performance Management Key Dates and Reminders
AFT Professional Staff with First Year or 1-2 Year Contracts

• All steps for AFT Professional Staff with the above contracts, including Unit Head and Division Vice President steps, must be submitted to Human Resources before Wednesday, January 14.
• Please review the upcoming key dates and actions required by viewing the AFT Professional Staff Evaluation and Reappointment Schedule 2025 – 2026.

2026 PARs Launched for CWA Employees
The 2026 Performance Assessment Review (PAR) is now live in Workday. Your Supervisor has received a task in their Workday inbox to complete the initial agreement. The initial agreement is due on January 31, 2026.

This year, we are providing all Civil Service employees with a self-guided employee-facing version of the Performance Assessment Review training.

• Access the Self guided employee training
• Access the Instructions on accessing the Canvas course

Your Partner in What’s Next

• For questions regarding 2025-2026 Performance Evaluations, please email performance@montclair.edu. A ServiceNow ticket will be created on your behalf and routed to the Learning and Talent Development team.
• To review AFT Professional Staff contracts, please visit the Collectively Negotiated Agreements webpage.
• View the full 2025-2026 AFT Professional Staff calendar for a printable version of additional key dates and actions per contract type.

W2 Paperless Option
To avoid waiting for your 2025 W2 to arrive by mail, you can opt to go paperless and receive your W2 electronically via Workday. To opt out of receiving your W2 by mail, please log into Workday to elect the option to go paperless (you will not receive a paper version of the W-2). The deadline to choose the paperless W-2 option for the 2025 tax year is Friday, January 9, 2026. Any paperless elections made after this date may not apply until the following tax year.

How to Go Paperless
Visit W-2 Printing Elections or visit the Employee Self-Service section on Workday Quick Guide for HR for instructions on going paperless. If you selected to receive an electronic copy in a prior year, you do not need to make the selection again. However, we do encourage you to review your selection to make sure it is correct.

Qualified Overtime Compensation
Under the OBBB passed in July 2025, eligible employees can deduct up to $12,500 of qualified overtime compensation from their taxable income, with a higher limit of $25,000 for married couples filing jointly with income limitations. Employers are required to report qualified overtime on the 2025 W-2. In Box 14 on your W-2, you will see the reporting code OT Prem. This will contain the “half time” portion of your overtime compensation for 2025 which is the amount eligible for the deduction.
For more information on the OBBB provisions, please visit the IRS Website.

We also encourage employees to speak to their tax accountants on any specific questions related to their eligibility for the deduction. As a reminder, Montclair State University cannot give out any tax advice related to individual employees and their annual tax returns.

Review and Update your Beneficiary Designations

As we begin a new year, this is a great opportunity to review and confirm that your selections are accurate and up to date.

• To identify who your current beneficiary is, you may submit a written request to the State requesting a copy of your beneficiary disclosure. Requests should be sent to:
  • New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits
    Defined Benefit & Defined Contribution Bureau
    P.O. Box 295
    Trenton, NJ 08625-0295
• To update or change your beneficiary, complete the Beneficiary Designation form and return it to:
  • New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits
    Defined Benefit & Defined Contribution Bureau
    P.O. Box 295
    Trenton, NJ 08625-0295
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) members who wish to verify, update, or change their beneficiary information must use the online Designation of Beneficiary Application available through the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS).

The University does not maintain beneficiary designation information for employees. The State of New Jersey is the official record keeper. Contact the New Jersey Division of Pension and Benefits (NJDPB) at 609-292-7524 with any questions.

Updates

Montclair.edu Digital Transformation Office Hours
Book a slot to request updates to your program pages, ask questions about governance and responsibilities and preview both the upcoming Montclair.edu homepage and the draft of the Inside Montclair sitemap.

Reminders

Presidential Excellence Awards – 2026 Nominations Are Now Open

The Presidential Excellence Awards honor individuals and teams who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Montclair’s mission, excellence in their work and service to our community. These awards are intended to highlight achievements from all members of our Red Hawk community, including faculty and staff, full-time and part-time, long standing and newly arrived. Together, we will continue our mission to make Montclair an inclusive and accessible University that creates transformative educational opportunities for students across the globe. Nominations close Friday, January 23 at 5:00 p.m.

Advancing the Common Good at Montclair
Montclair is launching two initiatives to fulfill our mission to advance the common good:

• The University Community Engagement Council will consist of faculty and staff that engage in community-based work to ensure community-engaged activities are coordinated, impactful, and aligned with the institution’s values and mission. For more information contact Bryan Murdock, murdockb@montclair.edu. To be considered for the council, fill out the UCEC application by Friday, January 9.
• The Civic Participation and Public Purpose Council includes faculty and staff that promote civic participation, civic education, and political involvement. This Council is charged with: enhancing our existing partnerships with civic organizations; promoting and coordinating civic participation; and delivering what was promised in the Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose elective classification. For more information contact Mark Allman, allmanm@montclair.edu. To be considered for the council, fill out the CPPPC application by Friday, January 9.

In The News

• Francesca Laguardia (Justice Studies) is quoted in an article published by The Guardian about the Department of Justice’s controversial prosecution of a Texas “antifa cell” charged with terrorism.
• Jason Williams (Justice Studies) is quoted in this NJ Spotlight News article about the push for a bill that would require the New Jersey attorney general to review, and potentially revise, the policy that dictates when police officers can use deadly force.
• Stephanie Silvera (Public Health) offered commentary on flu season for a NJ Spotlight News article as well as a NorthJersey.com article. She also appeared on CBS Evening News, discussing how some states are banning SNAP recipients from buying junk food as the new year begins.

Kudos

• To Muninder Ahluwalia (College for Community Health) who was selected to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) Department Chair Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute supports leaders who aspire to be dynamic, strategic, and empathetic institutional citizens. Participants gain a national perspective on the vital role chairs play in advancing their institution’s mission, delivering value, and ensuring student success.
• To Denise O’Shea (University Libraries) for her contribution to the conference proceedings for the 2024 annual Charleston Conference that was recently published. Her co-authored article is about the impact of library mergers on library collection.
• To Maughn Gregory (Educational Foundations) who was featured in the latest podcast episode by the Center for Ethics & Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, “Philosophy With (and for) Children | (K-12),” which also highlights Montclair’s Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children.

Social Media Post of Note

2025 it’s been real ✌️ Happy New Year Red Hawks! #RedHawkPride

Photo of the Week

Say hello to Summer, a supportive presence alongside University Police and Victim Services. – University Photographer: Mike Peters

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.