2021 Excellence in Equity Award Honorees Announced
- The late Dr. Mohibullah N. Durrani, professor of engineering (posthumously)
- Dr. Lucinda Grinnell, acting manager, Writing, Reading, and Language Center, Rockville Campus
- Kimberly Jones, campus student life manager, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
- Dr. Katya Salmi, assistant professor of sociology
- Charles Washington, adjunct professor, English and Reading Department, Germantown Campus
- Richelle Adu, Teresa Doley, and Adjo Evonlah, students
Congratulations to the 2021 honorees!
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EQUITY WEEK SELECTED EVENTS
To request a sign language interpreter or other accommodation, contact Farah Vivas in the Office of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management
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The Art of Mindfully Communicating About Race and Racism
A Discussion with Lee Mun Wah
Thursday, April 8, 1–4 p.m.
Lee Mun Wah is an internationally renowned Chinese American documentary filmmaker, author, poet, Asian folkteller, educator, community therapist, and master diversity trainer. He is the executive director of StirFry Seminars & Consulting, a diversity training company that provides educational tools and workshops on issues pertaining to cross-cultural communication and awareness, mindful facilitation, and conflict mediation techniques. Read more about Lee Mun Wah’s background. Register.
Event sponsor: Office of Equity and Inclusion
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LET’S TALK! Series
“Campus Stigma and It’s Impact on Morale”
Friday, April 9, 11:30 a.m.
Have you heard stigmas associated with our campuses? Maybe something like “that campus is the country club” or “that campus is unsafe?” During this session, we will explore these stigmas through an open discussion about their history, how they are perpetuated, and how they affect the morale of students and employees. Register.
Event sponsor: Office of Equity and Inclusion
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To register for any Equity Week event, visit the Equity Week Lobby and enter your Montgomery College email address to access the schedule and find details for specific workshops or Zoom registration links.
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Update on Employee and Student Access to Germantown Campus Mass Vaccination Site
COVID-19 vaccines are being administered at the Bioscience Education Center (BE) on the Germantown Campus. To manage traffic flow, all vaccine traffic is directed to enter the campus from Route 118 (Germantown Road) and follow Observation Drive to park in Lot 3 across from BE. Montgomery College employees and students are directed to enter Germantown Campus from Middlebrook Road and park in Lot 4. See the Germantown Campus map for traffic and parking information. For more details about the vaccination site, see the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management’s March 29 memo.
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Alert: IRS Impersonation Scam Primarily Targeting Educational Institutions
The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning of an ongoing IRS-impersonation scam that appears to primarily target educational institutions, including students and staff who have “.edu” email addresses. The IRS’ phishing@irs.gov email has received complaints about the impersonation scam in recent weeks from people with email addresses ending in “.edu.” The phishing emails appear to target university and college students from both public and private, profit and non-profit institutions. The suspicious emails display the IRS logo and use various subject lines such as “Tax Refund Payment” or “Recalculation of your tax refund payment.” It asks people to click a link and submit a form to claim their refund. View the official press release from the IRS including what the phishing website requests from taxpayers.
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Employee Connections Webinars Support Employees
The Office of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management (HRSTM) established the Employee Connections Group program to facilitate opportunities for employees to come together as a community via Zoom meetings to enrich personal experiences and build community. The Employee Connections Group program also offers these upcoming webinars.
Overcoming Financial Obstacles Series
Monday, April 19, 11 a.m. “Equitable Presents: Share the Love Estate Planning”
Wednesday, May 5, noon “TIAA Presents: The Starting Line: Beginning to Save for Retirement”
Mental Health Education Series
Thursday, April 29, 2 p.m. “FSAP Presents: Counseling and Therapy, Demystified”
Tuesday, May 18, noon “Anxiety and Depression with Stephanie Will”
Questions About the Program?
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For Your Benefit
Information and Events from the HRSTM Benefits Team
IRS Allowing Increase to Maximum of Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was recently signed into law. One of the law's provisions is to temporarily increase the maximum annual contribution amount for the Employer-sponsored Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. The law provides for the following dependent care increases for the 2021 calendar year:
- The maximum contribution has been raised to $10,500
- For married couples filing separate tax returns, the maximum has been raised to $5,250.
These increases are only in place for the calendar year 2021. Learn more and how to change your contribution here.
Updated Eligible Expenses Now Include Personal Protective Equipment for Flexible Spending Accounts
The IRS recently released Announcement 2021-7, which adds Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect against COVID-19 as eligible expenses under Code 213(d). This means PPE expenses are now eligible under Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans. Specifically, PPE includes:
- Masks
- Hand sanitizer
- Sanitizing wipes
This change is retroactive and effective for expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2021. Learn more about this newly eligible expense.
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| Important Dates Monday–Friday, April 5–9
Thursday, April 8
9–10:30 a.m.
“Ableism, Equity, and Inclusion” Equity Week webinar presented by Professor Naliya Kaya. Register.
5–6:15 p.m.
“Skin Bleaching and Blacks: A Worldwide Epidemic” Equity Week webinar talk with Dr. Ufuoma Abiola. Register.
Weekly Stretch Breaks
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| Talent Share Opportunities
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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.
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| College Resources and COVID-19 Information
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The MC Next Generation Wellness program offers online classes daily, including arms and cardio, barre sculpt, core power, hip hop dance, weights and cardio, yoga, yogalates, Zumba ®, and more. See the wellness schedule for class times. Feedback Needed!
All new and past wellness members must enroll via Workday to receive wellness information and incentives. View how to enroll.
Visit MC Wellness to view class schedules, wellness forms and resources.
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Back Issues of Employee Matters Newsletter Online
Miss an issue? Find current and previous issues of the Employee Matters newsletter and other Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management news and employee communications here.
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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.
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