Montclair State trustees approve new mission statement, personnel slate and credit-card contract

Board Chair Kent Sluyter called the Montclair State University Board of Trustees to order at 10:34 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2025, and read the meeting’s public-notice statement, noting that "in compliance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting — November 3, 2025 — has been provided." The board then approved the minutes from its Sept. 9, 2025 meeting.

Chair Sluyter moved that the trustees adopt a revised University Mission Statement and related commitments; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The board recorded the action without a roll-call tally.

President Jonathan Koppell highlighted recent institutional accomplishments and programming during his remarks. Koppell reported that recent grant awards brought the university’s total new research funding to $19.3 million, thanked staff volunteers who organized a Halloween event at Yogi Berra Stadium, and announced that the Montclair250 lecture series will include a forthcoming talk by State Attorney General Matt Platkin. He also recognized the university’s student-athletes, including the inaugural Women’s Flag Football team planned for spring 2026 and students competing in fall NCAA playoffs.

AFT President Laura Field told the board she supports the intent of the new mission statement while urging leadership to do more to support faculty and staff. Field asked trustees and administrators to provide training for management on the collective bargaining agreement, increase transparency in decision-making, value faculty and staff input, and invite their participation in university planning.

The Human Capital Committee, represented in the public minutes by Ms. Shelia Rostiac, presented a package of personnel actions. The slate included 3 managerial appointments, 22 professional staff appointments, one leave of absence without pay and five professor emeriti. Individual hires and titles were listed in the minutes; the trustees seconded the motion and approved the personnel slate unanimously.

Separately, Mr. Anthony Abrantes reported for the Infrastructure and Operations Committee and moved approval of contract awards reviewed by the committee. The minutes record that trustees approved a contract for the university’s credit card programs with Bank of America; that motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Student Representative Quentin Ocampo relayed student concerns about academic stress, space accessibility and the block schedule and invited university leadership to engage directly with students. Faculty Representative Professor Mary English urged the Student Success Committee to elevate graduate student voices and asked that the Governance Committee be involved in discussions about restructuring within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Chair Sluyter moved that the board enter closed session prior to the next public session pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-13 and N.J.S.A. 10:4-12.b to discuss pending litigation, personnel matters and other permitted matters; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The public meeting adjourned at 11:34 a.m.

The minutes list trustees present and invited administrators and include the full roster of personnel actions and contract award details; the minutes do not record individual roll-call votes for the approvals beyond noting unanimous approval.