Office of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management | Vol. 2, No. 4 | January 27, 2021

Photo of blue ribbon award with words quality achiever

Nominate Your Colleague for a Quarterly Staff Special Recognition Award

The Montgomery College Special Recognition Award (SRA) recognizes and celebrates staff members for exemplary performance on the job or for providing superior customer service to others at a time or event. Awards are bestowed quarterly throughout the fiscal year. Current full-time or part-time staff members employed at the College for at least one year are eligible to receive the SRA once per fiscal year.

The FY21 third quarter (Q3) award timeline is now open for accepting nominations. The closing deadline is April 16, 2021, 11:50 p.m.

Visit the awards page of the Office of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management website to nominate a staff member and for more information about the SRA.

Congratulations to all Q1 and Q2 Special Recognition Award recipients.

College Adopts Changes to 2021 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plans

Based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 enacted on December 27, 2020, the College has adopted changes to FSAs that will provide relief for employees whose FSA elections may have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes apply to employees who have elected a Healthcare, Dependent Daycare, or Limited (for Cigna Choice HSA participants only) FSAs for 2021.

Photo of laptop screen showing remote teaching

Part-Time Faculty News: SEIU Agreement and Good Faith Consideration

The application window for Good Faith Consideration Assignments for the 2021–2022 academic year (fall 2021 and spring 2022) is open and will close on Monday, February 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

During the spring of 2020, the College and the part-time faculty union, SEIU Local 500, agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. For questions on the changes, please contact the Employee and Labor Relations team in the Office of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management.

Employee Connections Program Offers Webinars to Support Employees

Join one or all of these webinars to connect with, share ideas, and support one another across the College.

Coping with COVID/Working at Home with Children

The Montgomery College Rising Professionals Association (MCRPA) established an Employee Connections group: Coping with COVID. They recently joined forces with the Working at Home with Children group. Contact Sean Wright if you are interested in joining this group.

Overcoming Financial Obstacles Series

February 5, 12–12:30 p.m. “Voya Presents: Maximizing your Personal or MD Pension” Register for webinar.

Mental Health Education Series

Presented in partnership with the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
Friday, February 12, 2 p.m. “Loneliness and Isolation in Today's World"
Tuesday, February 16, 3 p.m. “Building Mental Resilience”
Tuesday, March 2, 3 p.m. “Rich Mattingly Tells His Story and Gives Advice on Coping with Loss of a Loved One”
Thursday, March 25, 11 a.m. “Coping with Family Mental Health”
Register for one or more webinars.

Screen shot detail of gratitude messages on Montgomery College Gratitude Board

ELITE Hosts MC Gratitude Board

The Office of E-Learning, Innovation, and Teaching Excellence (ELITE) created an online gratitude board for faculty, staff, student, and friends of Montgomery College to share their expressions of gratitude. View or post gratitude messages.

Reminder for Purchasing Office Supplies During Emergency Remote Work

The Office of Business Services recently sent a reminder memorandum to employees outlining the guidelines for purchasing office and technology supplies during emergency remote work. All requests for supplies must be documented on the Emergency Remote Work Office Supply Request Form. For questions or additional information, please email the Office of Procurement.

Is Your Position Description Up to Date?

Administrators and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that position descriptions accurately reflect the work performed by their staff and should be maintained throughout the fiscal year. Please go to the Job Wizard and review your position description to ensure it accurately reflects your current role. For position description guidance, including Job Wizard help, please visit the New Supervisor Toolkit.

Back Issues of Employee Matters Newsletter Online

Miss an issue? Find current and previous issues of the Employee Matters newsletter, as well as other Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management news and employee communications here.

Suggestion for the Newsletter?

Please send your suggestion to hrstm@montgomerycollege.edu.

Important Dates

January 25 through Monday, February 15

Part-time faculty Good Faith Consideration Assignment application window is open for fall 2021 and spring 2022.

Thursday, January 28

1 p.m., Presidential Dialogue Series: Building Racial Justice Through Health

Thursday, February 4

Employee Services Council Meeting, 1 p.m. Request the meeting link.

Weekly Stretch Breaks

Join us for virtual stretch breaks. See schedule.

Talent Share Opportunities

Managers, do you need help? Or, do you have employees available to help another area of the College? Request talent or see the list of current opportunities.

Is Your Contact Information Up-to-Date in Workday?

In alignment with the College’s COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan, and to assist in contact tracing, we ask that all employees update their personal contact information in Workday. See the job aid for step-by-step instructions on updating your information. You can access Workday on MyMC.

HRSTM Guidance for MC Employees During COVID-19 Pandemic

Resilient MC

College Resources and COVID-19 Information

Resilient MC Resources
The College’s response to COVID-19, guidance, documents, and videos

Coronavirus: What You Need to Know
Guidance for MC students and employees

Spring 2021 Semester Information
Most classes fully online

Daily COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment
For employees, students, contractors, and visitors to take prior to arriving to MC campus or off-site locations

Give to Emergency Fund
Supports MC students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

The MC Next Generation Wellness program offers online classes daily, including arms and cardio, barre sculpt, core power, dance rhythms, legs and core, weights and cardio, yoga, Zumba^®, and more. See the wellness schedule for days and times.

Watch for email updates from India Hunter and the Wellness program. Let us help you stay well during this difficult time.

Join MC Employee Facebook Group

Stay up to date on the latest news by joining our private MC employee Facebook group. This group is only open to MC employees and will require approval to join.

Let’s stay connected.

More Information

For contact information by person or topic, please visit the Office of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management website for the Points of Contact link.