Welcome Our Newest HRSTM Team Members
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Ariana Gaillard-Cohen, talent acquisition and employment manager, brings 13 years of HR experience to her new role. Most recently, she was manager of HR consulting at Justworks, where she led a team of six consultants and launched DEI-focused hiring initiatives that increased representation by 21%. Before that, as director of human resources at Jazz at Lincoln Center, she managed full-cycle recruitment, implemented benefits reforms, and used data-driven strategies to boost employee engagement.
Ariana holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, an MBA in Ethical Leadership from Marist University, and a BBA in Marketing from Temple University.
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Joseph "Joe" Shore, employee and labor relations specialist, brings more than 10 years of employee and labor relations expertise from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Throughout his career, he's conducted workplace investigations, coached managers through complex employee situations, and interpreted collective bargaining agreements to ensure fairness across organizations.
A U.S. Army veteran, Joe earned his bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in labor and employee relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Outside of work, you'll likely find Joe with his wife, Christy, and their two kids at baseball, golf, or soccer tournaments during most weekends. He also loves cooking, rooting for the Chicago Bears, Cubs, and Fighting Illini (Go Illini!), and catching up on Netflix.
Please join us in giving Ariana and Joe a warm Montgomery College welcome!
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This Week: Final Onsite Open Enrollment Benefits Events
This is the final week to take part in onsite Open Enrollment benefits events and wellness activities before the enrollment window closes.
Employees have until close of business Friday, November 7, 2025, to submit their 2026 benefit elections in Workday, effective, Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Open Enrollment Benefits Fair
Meet with plan vendors, explore coverage options, and access wellness and financial resources.
• Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Germantown (GT), Bioscience Education Center (BE) 151 and 152
Open Enrollment and Wellness Support at ECEC
Join HRSTM and MC Wellness at the East County Education Center (ECEC) Community Room for Halloween line dancing and open enrollment assistance.
• Thursday, October 30, 2025, East County Education Center (ECEC)
• Noon–12:25 p.m. - Halloween line dancing led by Megan Cooperman (costumes welcome, not required)
• Noon–1:30 p.m. - Open Enrollment assistance with Sue Redding
• 12:30–2:30 p.m. - Free chair massage
Evening Session for Shift Employees
An evening session will be held for 2nd and 3rd shift employees on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 8 to 10 p.m., at the Germantown Campus.
Check out the Open Enrollment Schedule of Events for the remaining virtual information sessions, and to sign up for a personal benefits session or retirement check-in.
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Deadline for 2025 EAP Taxable Tuition Benefits: November 28
If you plan to use Educational Assistance Program (EAP) tuition benefits for the rest of 2025, take note of this critical deadline: Friday, November 28, 2025.
All 2025 EAP tuition benefit requests, including direct payments via supplier invoices and employee reimbursements for undergraduate and graduate tuition, must be submitted by this date.
What you need to know:
• Submit by November 28: All 2025 EAP tuition benefit requests must be submitted by Friday, November 28, 2025, including direct payments to suppliers and employee reimbursements for undergraduate and graduate tuition.
• Taxable amount: Tuition benefits exceeding $5,250 are taxable and will be reported as income on your W-2.
• Payment processing: Requests fully approved by your supervisor and HRSTM will be processed on Friday, December 5, 2025.
• Paycheck impact: Taxable income will appear on your Friday, December 12, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, paychecks.
• Late submissions: Requests received after Friday, November 28, 2025, will not be processed until January 2026.
For complete details about taxable tuition requirements and IRS compliance, read the full Deadline for 2025 EAP Taxable Tuition Benefits memo.
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Student Worker Extension and Separation Reminder
As the Fall 2025 semester concludes, managers and supervisors are reminded to plan for student worker extensions and separations for the Spring 2026 semester. All updates must be completed in Workday.
Key Reminders:
• Eligibility: Students must be registered for at least six (6) credits (12 credits for international students) for the Spring 2026 semester.
• Extension date: Use May 22, 2026, as the end employment date when extending assignments.
• Automatic separation: If no action is taken before the current end date, the student worker’s employment will automatically end.
For additional details, review the Student Worker Extension and Separation memo dated October 27, 2025.
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MC Wellness
Join us this week for Halloween-themed fitness classes and wellness webinars to support your health.
Healthy Halloween Events
Celebrate Halloween with festive fitness activities across campus. Costumes are welcome but not required. Prizes will be awarded.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
• Halloween Line Dancing, East County Education Center, Noon–12:25 p.m.
• Halloween Yoga, Germantown Campus, Paul Peck Academic and Innovation Building (PK) 106, 12:15–1 p.m.
Friday, October 31, 2025
• Halloween Dance Fitness Party, Rockville Campus, Physical Education Center (PE), 12:15–1 p.m.
• Halloween Yoga, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, Pavilion Four (P4), 12:15–1 p.m.
• Line Dancing and Costume Catwalk, Central Services, 2:30–3:15 p.m.
Wellness Webinar Series
• Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
The Truth About Sugar. Register here.
• Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Noon–1 p.m.
Sleep: An Essential Component of Health and Well-Being. Register here.
• Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 2–3 p.m.
Thriving with Prediabetes and Diabetes. Register here.
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Join CTL for a Day of Professional Learning
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) Fall Staff Professional Development Day, on Friday, November 7, 2025, offers practical sessions to streamline your work and boost your skills. Each 45-minute session offers practical strategies you can apply right away.
Morning Courses:
• 9 a.m.: ChatGPT time-savers, workplace mindfulness, Word styles
• 10 a.m.: PowerPoint accessibility, form tricks, feedback techniques
• 11 a.m.: To-do list management, Microsoft 365 hidden gems
Afternoon Courses:
• 1 p.m.: Microlearning mastery, Microsoft Bookings, Teams tips
• 2 p.m.: Team communication skills, Microsoft 365 tools (repeat)
• 3 p.m.: Excel pizza challenge, ChatGPT collaboration, YuJa basics
Register through Workday by selecting your preferred session titles.
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Important Dates October 1–November 13
Wednesday, October 29
Thursday, October 30
Friday, October 31
Payroll Zoom Office Hours,
8:30–10:30 a.m. Join the Waiting Room here.
Saturday, November 8
Timesheets for non-exempt (hourly) employees and Period Activity Pay for all
part-time faculty and WDCE instructors are due in Workday by Noon.
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Staff and Administrators:
- Planetarium Lab Coordinator
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Visit Careers at MC to view the current academic and staff openings.
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Workday Support for Employees
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Become a Contributor for Employee MattersAre you interested in submitting an employee-related article for publication or becoming a regular columnist for Employee Matters?
We’d love to collaborate with you and hear your story. Please submit your article to Tiffani Smith, Wednesdays by noon.
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Emergency Evacuation Accommodation In the event of an emergency, all employees should have an emergency evacuation plan. Those needing assistance during an evacuation due to a disability should inform their employers and building managers to aid in the planning process.
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MC Wellness provides free fitness classes, workout videos, wellness challenges, health events, and campus gym access for MC employees, spouses, and retirees to support your physical and mental well-being.
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Join the MC Employees Facebook Group
Join. Like. Comment. Share.
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Stay in the Know! Use this list for quick access to the information, resources, and updates every employee should have at their fingertips. Staying informed means staying empowered, so check your inbox and consider bookmarking these pages for easy reference.
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