I’ve thought about that speech a lot as higher education continues to come under intense scrutiny. I strongly believe in staunchly defending the role of universities as engines of public good that bring enormous value to their communities and the nation. But I also believe in self-reflection and admitting our faults. I share more about this with Inside Higher Ed in .��

As the State of New Jersey’s elected leaders develop next year’s State budget, it is important to remind them of the impact ����vlog and Bloomfield College of ����vlog make on our students and on our surrounding communities.

People often ask me how funding for higher education in New Jersey works and whether they can help advocate for the University. A lot of people assume there must be a formula so that each student receives the same state investment regardless of what school they attend. That is not how it works. In fact, every annual state budget sets specific numbers for each university: how much money each school is allocated and how many employees each school will receive funding for to cover benefits.

This year, the proposed budget would result in particular challenges for ����vlog, which already has the lowest per student funding of any four-year public university in New Jersey (other than TESU, which is fully online).

At the same time, ����vlog, unlike other New Jersey universities, continues paying the State millions of dollars each year to fund benefits for hundreds of employees not covered in the NJ State budget. With the per employee charge increasing every year, the total costs pass through to each of our students at upwards of $750 per year.

We are asking that the State begin to rectify this issue by covering the benefits of the 500 employees Montclair currently pays for so we can continue offering an excellent education at an affordable price.��

Another significant concern is that the proposed state budget would further cut support for Bloomfield College of ����vlog, the state’s only four-year Predominantly Black Institution. Our team has done a terrific job integrating Bloomfield and saving millions of dollars in the process, but the current budget compounds the dramatic loss of funding for Bloomfield College students that unexpectedly occurred when Bloomfield College merged with ����vlog.��That’s right. The per student investment from the State actually went down when Montclair stepped in to keep Bloomfield College from closing.

Let’s see a baseline level of per student funding for all ����vlog students including those at Bloomfield College of ����vlog.

We need your help to show our legislators the true impact of our institution and to correct these inequities in state higher education funding.

Thank you for your interest in advocating for ����vlog students. Please visit our online platform at where you can find customizable email language you can send to your representatives to show your support for equitable higher education funding in New Jersey.

Together, we are stronger. Together, our voice is louder. And together, we can make a difference for future generations of New Jersey students.��

I am writing to thank the many hundreds of people who pitched in to make Investiture Day wonderful for me and my family, and for the entire University community. The comments from our guests were universally positive about the entire day.

You gave me an incredibly warm welcome, for which I am deeply grateful. But even more importantly, we celebrated together all that makes our University remarkable, and underscored for ourselves and our visitors all that is truly inspirational and amazing about Montclair.

From the Campus Festival highlighting the many amazing programs, research and initiatives of our colleges, schools and administrative units and our work with community partners, to the Ceremony, which included uplifting student performances and inspirational speeches, the day was truly spectacular. I was so happy to spend it celebrating with you.

Myriad employees and students worked hard to make this day possible. Foremost among them is Nicole Fleming ’06, our talented, dedicated Director of Special Events. She worked tirelessly to plan and produce this event. I also want to thank the planning committee: vice presidents Joe Brennan, Colleen Coppla and Dawn Soufleris, Dean Dan Gurskis, and my chief of staff, Keith Barrack, a team that was ably supported by Pamela Fox in my office and Kaitlin Kurdyla in Conference Services.

I also want to thank the many departments and units who played important roles, including The College of the Arts, Student Development and Campus LIfe, University Communications and Marketing, Development, University Facilities, and the Office of the President, and of course all of the departments and programs who were so well represented at the Campus Festival.

And finally, thank you to everyone for your support and enthusiasm for our University. Together, we make great things happen.

Jonathan GS Koppell, PhD
President

The U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of the landmark abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade will have profound consequences for millions of Americans, including members of the ����vlog community. We recognize the strong feelings this significant change in American law will create even for those not directly impacted.

It is important to underscore that here in New Jersey, this ruling has no effect on our ability to access all reproductive health services. State law protects access to abortion and contraceptives and the New Jersey Supreme Court has held that the protected right to privacy encompasses a woman’s right to control her own body. Learn more at the .

Once again, we are reminded of the pivotal role participation in public affairs has in shaping our communities. As a public-serving university, we encourage all Red Hawks to become engaged in the civic life of our state and our nation. The Office of Civic and Voter Engagement website provides information on how to register to vote and how to contact your elected representatives at the state and federal levels.

Students who have questions about their health care should contact the University Health Center or Health Promotion, and employees should contact their personal health care provider. For any emotional or mental health needs, students can contact CAPS at any time, and employees can make use of the Employee Assistance Program.

We encourage you to take good care of yourself and each other during this tumultuous time.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Koppell
President

Tuesday, April 19, 11 a.m. – Noon

Conference Center, University Hall, 7th Floor

Please wear a mask, which may be removed briefly when drinking.

You may recall that last fall Bloomfield College announced that it is facing financial challenges. It sought potential partners with which it could form a strategic relationship to ensure that its vital mission serving predominantly Black and Hispanic students in our community could continue.

I immediately opened up a dialogue with Bloomfield’s president, Dr. Marcheta Evans, to explore the opportunities for collaboration. After evaluating many institutions that responded to the call for a partner, Bloomfield determined that ����vlog is the ideal match. Indeed, the missions of both institutions are closely aligned around providing access to high-quality educational experiences to underserved students.

Today, the ����vlog Board of Trustees authorized the finalization of an agreement under which the University will provide a “line of credit” to ensure that Bloomfield College will remain open for academic year 2022-23. This support, along with assistance from the state included in the Governor’s budget, creates a window of opportunity to design an innovative collaboration that is fiscally sustainable and advances educational outcomes for both student populations. Over the next several months, we will work together toward this shared goal. The structure of our relationship has not yet been determined and we have many questions to work through before final consideration. Please read the details here.

This strategic initiative is entirely consistent with our institutional mission and our values. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, Montclair has been an innovator and leader with our eyes always focused on serving the public interest. We continually strive to find new ways to deliver on our purpose as a public-serving research university committed to advancing the common good. That means not letting an important neighboring institution founder, especially one that is focused on the success of marginalized students, but also, and more profoundly, it means taking the lead at a time when higher education requires critical self-examination and re-invention.

Across the nation, colleges and universities are facing novel challenges and heightened expectations in an increasingly complex operating environment. Our work with Bloomfield College is part of our effort to develop a new model for American higher education for the 21st century. Hopefully, we will chart a promising path that is relevant for other institutions that, like Bloomfield, are open-minded and opportunistic about embracing new approaches to delivering on their mission.

As we work to define a sustainable permanent relationship, our first priority will be to ensure that our commitments to Montclair students and the communities we serve are met without compromise. I am confident we can successfully take on this critical assignment because I am already deeply impressed by our faculty, staff, students and leadership. Your creativity, knowledge and commitment to generate solutions to our most vexing challenges enables us to be bold and capitalize on promising opportunities,

Together we will seize the day and do great things.

Jonathan Koppell
President

I am pleased to announce that Associate Vice President for Finance Michael Galvin has been appointed Interim Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, effective March 21. He will assume Donna McMonagle’s role when she leaves later this month to become Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Seton Hall University.

In addition, former Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Jon Rosenhein has rejoined the University as Senior Advisor to the President for Finance and Administration. In concert with Michael, he will provide strategic counsel to my office on University operations.

Michael brings a wealth of experience and expertise and has held several positions during his nearly eight years at Montclair, including the role of University Controller in addition to Associate Vice President.

Please join me in congratulating Michael and welcoming Jon back to our community.

Jonathan Koppell
President

I am writing to share the news that Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Donna McMonagle has been chosen as the next Chief Financial Officer at Seton Hall University. Her last day at the University will be March 18.

Since joining ����vlog in 2018, Donna has played a key role in strategic leadership of the University’s financial position, ensuring both flexibility and sustainability for the future. Under her stewardship, the Finance division successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic, including oversight of substantial federal pandemic relief funds and various critical contract negotiations, implemented a socially responsible investment strategy for the University’s investment portfolio, and continued to improve operational efficiency across the division.

The University will conduct a national search for Donna’s replacement. I will be announcing a transition plan prior to her departure.

Please join me in expressing the University’s appreciation for her contributions and wishing Donna well in her new role.

Jonathan Koppell
President

​I want to extend my congratulations to University Counsel Mark Fleming, who has announced his retirement effective May 21, 2022, after a distinguished 41-year legal career.

Widely respected across the State of New Jersey, Mark has spent his entire career in public service, having served 22 years in the Attorney General’s Office, first as a Deputy Attorney General and then as an Assistant Attorney General. Mark was then elevated to the position of Deputy Chief Counsel, wherein he served two Governors with distinction. Governor Codey, in acknowledgment of his expertise and contributions to the State of New Jersey, appointed him to serve as a New Jersey Superior Court Judge. He was reappointed with tenure by Governor Christie.

The University and the Board of Trustees have been fortunate to be able to count on Mark’s wise counsel for the past seven plus years. His contributions have been central in the University’s development, the most significant of which were associated with the passage of legislation designating the University a Public Research Institution.

The University will conduct a national search for Mark’s replacement.

Although he will continue to work to advance Montclair State’s interests throughout the semester, please join me in wishing Mark and his family the brightest of futures during a well-deserved retirement.

Jonathan Koppell

President

As the year draws to a close, let’s take a moment to celebrate the spirit of our University community. We have much to be grateful for and much to be proud of this year. I wish you and your families all the best during the holidays and a very happy New Year.

Jonathan Koppell
President