Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

As we begin Black History Month, especially in the wake of troubling recent events across our nation, we are reminded of the importance of celebrating the contributions and achievements of Black Americans throughout history. At the same time, it is important for us to acknowledge the injustices that Black Americans have faced, and continue to face, as we work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive community here at Monmouth.

I invite you to participate in the various events and activities planned by our Intercultural Center, as well as other departments and student organizations, to commemorate Black History Month. I also encourage you to reflect on ways in which we can all realize our mission of preparing students to become engaged citizens in a diverse and increasingly interdependent world.

By deepening our understanding of Black heritage, and acknowledging that everyone has a history to tell, we can work to create a present and future grounded in equity and inclusion. Thank you for your efforts during this Black History Month and beyond to become a stronger Monmouth community where all are welcome and all belong.  

Dr. Patrick Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community: 

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his extraordinary example of nonviolent resistance and social activism. Dr. King’s commitment to social justice and racial equality should inspire all of us at Monmouth as we work towards a more just and more inclusive community where all are welcome and enjoy a true sense of belonging. 

As we celebrate Dr. King’s legacy today—and every day—I am grateful to our Social Justice Academy for bringing his daughter, Dr. Bernice King, to campus last October. She has dedicated her life’s work to advancing her parents’ legacy of nonviolent social change, and in a wonderful twist of fate, her visit was almost exactly 56 years after her father addressed Monmouth students in our very own Boylan Gymnasium to share his thoughts on “The Future of Integration.” 

Dr. King’s historic 1966 visit to Monmouth is commemorated in our “Waves of Change” interactive exhibit, currently displayed on the second floor Leon Hess Champions’ Hall in the OceanFirst Bank Center. If you have not yet seen it, I hope you will make every effort to experience this exhibit. I also hope you will set aside time on Wednesday, January 25 for the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Lecture on Social Justice, featuring Dr. Anthony Jack, assistant professor of education at Harvard and author of The Privileged Poor. 

Each of us can take inspiration and courage from Dr. King’s example to ensure that his dream of equality and justice lives on. Thanks to the many ongoing and robust efforts across our campus to foster a truly welcoming and inclusive community—dedicated to learning, service, and excellence—I am hopeful for the semester and year ahead.  

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

It is with sadness that I share the news that our dear friend and former Monmouth University trustee, Thomas I. Unterberg ˈ08HN, passed away on January 10, 2023.

Tom was a respected financier and businessman, launching and running several successful investment firms bearing the Unterberg family name. He was a pioneer investor in the emerging technology industry and helped take public such notable companies as Intel, Compaq, Applied Materials, and over 200 others over the course of his 65 years on Wall Street.

Perhaps even more significant was Tom’s philanthropy and commitment to service which impacted numerous institutions in New Jersey and New York, including Monmouth University. Tom served loyally on our Board of Trustees for nearly a decade from 1995-2003 and he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in 2008 in recognition of his notable achievements in business, his countless contributions to charity, and his exceptional commitment to Monmouth University.

Thanks to the generosity of the Unterberg family, the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies at our university bears the name of Tom’s late mother. The Unterberg family was also instrumental in the construction of the OceanFirst Bank Center, and has been hugely supportive of expanding performing arts partnerships and enhancing academic facilities at Monmouth. Tom and his wife, Ann—who is also a former trustee—have supported the growth of Monmouth for many decades, and we are indebted to their kindness and commitment to our university.

There is no doubt that Tom’s influence and remarkable legacy will be felt by our university community for generations to come. As a tribute to Tom’s extraordinary life, the Monmouth University flag will be flown at half-staff for the next few days.

Please join me in keeping Tom, Ann, and the entire Unterberg family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

With our calendar year coming to an end, I want to share a short video featuring some of the highlights and milestones you helped make possible for our students and our University in 2022. Looking back, these collective accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable.

We have enriched our academic programs, made great strides in athletics, and expanded our influence beyond our campus borders, while staying healthy and safe. I am grateful for your continued efforts and wish each of you a restful break, and good health and happiness in the new year.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

With our Thanksgiving break nearly upon us, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the efforts of our students, faculty, and staff who engage and support our University and our neighbors. Your hard work continues to shine a spotlight on the achievements that have helped to define our semester.

We can all take pride in the collective contributions of our University community. Once again, our students have continued the great tradition of the Big Event, serving as ambassadors by giving back through active service. They have continued to distinguish themselves in Model UN and Debate Team competition, as Peace Corps Prep and Fulbright scholars, and as conference speakers and authors of peer-reviewed papers. Our student-athletes have made the transition to the Colonial Athletic Association, demonstrating that they are ready for the challenges of the next level of competition – even if not every contest goes our way.

I recognize that supporting these achievements—as well as many daily unsung victories along the way—depends upon the hard work and dedication of our entire campus community. I am grateful for your contributions to the success of our students and for enriching the life of our University.

I wish you a safe and restful holiday in the company of your loved ones and look forward to an energetic and productive push toward the end of the academic semester when we return.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

As you know, the University selectively bestows honorary degrees at formal campus events. We have recently begun the process for selecting an honorary degree recipient for our spring commencement, and I would like to invite you to recommend individuals for consideration of this prestigious honor. The honorary degree recipient will also be invited to deliver a commencement address to our graduating students at our spring ceremony.

Nominated individuals should have made outstanding contributions in their particular fields of endeavor, or accomplished some distinguished achievement for the betterment of society. When considering prospective honorees, please keep the following broad categories in mind: the arts and sciences; business and commerce; the healing professions; government and public service; communications/entertainment; education; sports; or service to or in support of Monmouth University. Please note that current Monmouth University employees are not eligible for nomination.

To recommend an honorary degree recipient, please visit the employee portal and complete a nomination form by Wednesday, December 7. All nominations must include a biography or resume, and some form of personal contact or introduction to the nominee. Once received, the Honorary Degree Advisory Committee will review all submissions and provide their recommendations directly to me. I will then submit candidates for final approval by the Board of Trustees. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Miller-Gonzalez, chair of the Honorary Degree Advisory Committee, at emillerg@monmouth.edu or 732-263-5393.

Thank you for your consideration and thoughtful response to this invitation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, in the 11th month of the year, we pause and recognize our veterans – past and present – who have defended our freedom and constitutional rights. On this Veterans Day 2022, the Monmouth University community honors all service members for their selflessness, duty, and courage.

Today, especially, we thank the veterans who are part of Monmouth University, including the students, faculty, staff, and alumni whose public service continues to enrich the character of our community. In recent years our veterans have inspired new academic and outreach efforts including: our Military Bridge Program; a long collaboration with Frontline Paper; and the Coming Home Project, grounded in our School of Social Work. I am proud of these initiatives and so many more that support our military and veteran students in meaningful ways.

I encourage you to join today’s ceremony at 11 a.m., honoring those within our own University community who have served in the military. Please also join me in thanking all members of the armed forces whose heroism protects our great nation. May their selfless acts inspire our own, and may the star-spangled banner wave proudly this Veterans Day – and every day in the future.

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

I am writing with an update to the University’s policy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC and the FDA recently approved the administration of a new bivalent booster which has demonstrated effectiveness against the Omicron variants now in circulation. Based on current CDC guidelines and the recommendation of the Crisis Management Team, the University will implement the following change to our vaccination policy, effective immediately:

• The bivalent booster is highly recommended, but not required in order to be in compliance with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.

We will continue to require all members of the community to get the COVID-19 vaccine primary series and highly recommend the bivalent booster. We will also continue to allow for individual exemptions on the basis of approved medical or religious reasons. All students and employees will be required to inform the University of their COVID-19 vaccination status on the health portal to ensure that the University can respond appropriately to any outbreak situation on campus, consistent with prevailing CDC guidelines. Please note, if the CDC guidelines change, the University will revisit this policy and may change its requirements.

In order to provide ease of access to the bivalent booster, as well as the COVID-19 vaccine primary series, the University will host vaccination clinics on Thursday, November 10 and Wednesday, December 7 in Anacon Hall. As additional variants continue to surface, and instances of COVID-19 remain prevalent in our university and local communities, we encourage you to protect yourself with the bivalent booster.

Thank you for your continued cooperation as we work to keep our campus healthy and safe. If you have specific questions about our COVID-19 protocols, please contact Health Services at health@monmouth.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

On behalf of the senior leadership team, I am writing with updates from our recent employee healthcare discussions in an effort to clarify the administration’s position on proposed changes to our healthcare plan choices.

For the past three years, all new employees, including me, have been offered only one healthcare plan—the EPO—originally designed to simplify our healthcare offerings in a very volatile market. During this time, my colleagues and I have heard from numerous employees seeking expanded healthcare options, with a particular interest in out-of-network coverage, additional mental health care options, and greater flexibility to tailor plans to individual employee needs.

In response to these inquiries, the University set out one full year ago to develop a healthcare working group – comprised of a dozen representatives from all employee categories at Monmouth – to consider additional plan options to possibly offer employees at the next open enrollment cycle (November 14-30, 2022). I insisted that this group include representation from union and non-union employees alike, consistent with the administration’s position that any plans developed for one employee category would be offered to all employee categories with the understanding that we would work with the unions to make these options available to all represented employees as well. Once established, the healthcare working group immediately began assessing possible plan options with the aid and guidance of a healthcare consultant of the working group’s choosing.

Earlier this fall, the healthcare working group proffered its plan recommendations to the senior administrative team for review. After thoughtful consideration, the administration has decided the following:

• To offer all employees three new healthcare plan designs at varying price points. These new choices – all of which include out-of-network coverage and additional mental health care options – afford our employees maximum flexibility to tailor a plan to their individual circumstances and family healthcare needs.
• To keep employer/employee cost-sharing splits unchanged since thorough benchmarking establishes that Monmouth University offers some of the most comprehensive and affordable plans among our peer institutions.
• To allow interested employees to remain with whichever of the existing plans in which they are now participating for the current enrollment period.
• To continue to look for ways to ease the cost-of-living burden for our employees at the lower end of the pay scale, consistent with the most recent contract negotiations.

In sum, the University would like to offer the choice among five total plans to employees during the upcoming open enrollment cycle. I am hopeful that the opportunity to select one of three new plans, as well as the ability to remain in one of two existing plans, if preferred, satisfies a major concern of our employees about healthcare choice.

I recognize the complexity of these types of discussions and decisions affecting employee health, wellness, and overall quality of life. I thank the members of the healthcare working group for their diligent efforts throughout the past year to provide sound recommendations to the administration, which we are adopting for the benefit of our workforce. We will be offering the three new plans immediately to all non-union employees, and we are actively working with our five unions to make these options available to all represented employees, as well.

I encourage you to attend one of the upcoming healthcare benefits information sessions hosted by the Office of Human Resources. If you are unable to make one of these sessions, please reach out directly to our colleagues in Human Resources at 732-571-3470, who are standing by to answer any individual questions.

We are pleased to offer these enhanced healthcare options for our employees and their families, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, and hope that these offerings demonstrate our ongoing support of our exceptional employees. As always, feel free to reach out to me directly with questions or concerns at patrick.leahy@monmouth.edu.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

As we turn the calendar to November, the senior leadership team and I appreciate that many are thinking ahead and making plans for Thanksgiving. To aid in your planning efforts, we have decided to provide an additional day off on Wednesday, November 23.

We recognize that essential employees may need to work on this day, and these individuals will receive an alternate day off in the future. Please expect to hear directly from your area Vice President with more information in the coming days. If you have any immediate questions, please direct them to the Office of Human Resources.

I look forward to being together with you once more before the Thanksgiving break at my next open call.

Sincerely,

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President