Dear Colleagues,
As I continue to learn about the Montclair character, I am deeply inspired by our collective commitment to student success—a commitment that embraces every discipline, every role, and every contribution that lifts our students higher. This work begins with pride in our students' potential and is fueled by our shared determination to help them achieve—and exceed—their goals.
Every day, I have the privilege of seeing this spirit in action. Today, I want to highlight two examples of how we are strengthening our community and the systems that support our students.
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- Breaking Silos, Building Connections
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As you know, Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management officially merged on July 1. This is more than an organizational shift; it is a powerful opportunity to break down silos and deepen connections across the full spectrum of our work.
To mark this milestone, we recently hosted a social gathering to bring our teams together. It was a wonderful opportunity to officially welcome Dr. Roman, our new Vice Provost and Chief Enrollment Manager, and to connect in a spirit of camaraderie rooted in our shared mission. During the event, we encouraged colleagues to learn more about their colleagues' day-to-day work, and I was reminded once again of how much we gain when we look beyond our own immediate offices.
One team I want to place squarely in the spotlight is Red Hawk Central. They are truly the front door and "voice" of Montclair State University for our students, families, and community. Whether answering complex questions about registration, financial aid, transportation, health services, or facilities, our Red Hawk Central colleagues bring deep expertise, empathy, and a strong collaborative network to solve problems on the fly.
What impresses me most is the mental and emotional agility they demonstrate daily—especially as federal and state policies shift rapidly. They must stay constantly informed, provide accurate answers under pressure, and possess the humility to reach out across divisions when they need support. Their work is essential to our students’ success and well‑being, and I am deeply grateful for their dedication.
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- Strengthening Academic Support Through Supplemental Instruction
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My second example comes from within our Student Success group in Academic Affairs, led by Dr. Julie Mazur, Senior Assistant Provost for Student Success.
Julie devotes her time and expertise to advancing high-impact academic support resources, including tutoring, academic coaching, and Supplemental Instruction (SI). But the ultimate impact of these resources depends on awareness, adoption, and active partnership among our faculty and students.
I have invited Julie to share more below about Supplemental Instruction and its proven effectiveness. My vision is to see SI expanded into every course with historically high DFW rates, creating a proactive, robust safety net for our learners. I encourage you to read Julie's message below and consider how SI might enhance your courses and support your students this coming year.
With my best regards,
Fatma
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Supplemental Instruction: Designing Success Before Students Struggle
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By Julie Mazur, Senior Assistant Provost for Student Success
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As an institution, we are deeply committed to optimizing student success. A key question guiding our work is: How do we move from reacting to student struggles to designing systems that proactively prevent academic crises?
One of our most powerful tools is Supplemental Instruction (SI). SI shifts academic support from a reactive service students seek after falling behind into a proactive strategy embedded directly within historically challenging or foundational courses. The goal is not remediation—it is to help students build confidence, master complex concepts, and normalize help-seeking behaviors while actively engaging with course material.
How SI Works at Montclair
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- Targeted Courses: We identify courses where students have historically faced academic hurdles.
- Embedded Peer Leaders: SI Leaders—trained, certified peer educators who previously excelled in the course and are recommended by faculty—are embedded directly in the class.
- Collaborative Learning: Leaders facilitate structured, interactive study sessions outside of class time that reinforce core concepts and build effective discipline-specific study skills.
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The partnership between faculty and SI Leaders is central to the program's success. This collaboration ensures support is tightly aligned with course expectations while preserving the approachable, peer-driven environment that students find engaging and inclusive.
Looking Ahead to Fall 2026
This fall, we are expanding the SI Program as part of a broader institutional strategy to embed a culture of success into the academic framework. Student persistence is rarely achieved through a single intervention; it requires intentionally designed systems, meaningful cross-campus partnerships, and a collective commitment to every student's potential to thrive.
Partner With Us
Any faculty member or department interested in expanding their existing SI offerings or introducing SI into their courses is encouraged to reach out to the Center for Academic Success and Tutoring at cast@montclair.edu.
We also invite you to attend one of our upcoming information sessions to learn more about how SI can support you and your students.
Warm regards,
Julie Mazur
Senior Assistant Provost for Student Success, Academic Affairs
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Faculty and staff are invited to speak about their professional journeys, share wisdom and insights, and connect with early college students, Wednesday, August 5, 12:30-1:30 p.m. or 1:30-2:30 p.m., in the Feliciano School of Business, Room 140. For questions, please contact Dr. Mayida Zaal at zaalm@montclair.edu.
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The next forum on the University's new program management system is Monday, August 17, 2 p.m., on Zoom. Questions and feedback can be submitted through this form.
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- 'We've Got Your Back' Supply Drive
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- Montclair Online Teaching Foundations for Faculty
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Faculty teaching in a Montclair Online program this fall or spring are encouraged to register for the Montclair Teaching Foundations for Faculty, a new asynchronous training offered August 17-23 and August 24-30. Space is limited; register to reserve your spot today.
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- Federally Mandated Research Security Training Requirements
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Recently, several federal funding agencies implemented a new requirement for annual Research Security Training (RST) as a condition of submitting a proposal. All investigators and named key/senior personnel must document that they have completed this training within 12 months of proposal submission.
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- Office for Faculty Excellence: Summer Support Available
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