February Events Round – Up

If you and your family are looking for events in February, you have come to the right place! February holds many opportunities on campus and in the Greater Lansing area for you to check out. Visit the links below to explore upcoming events and register if required.

Campus Events

February 1Family Day: Grow: The first Saturday of the month means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum! Join from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to make creative connections, explore sculpting art, and learn about how food grows at this free event! Registration for this event is highly encouraged

February 1 – 21 – These Are For You, I Hope This Helps: Ring Shouts and Standards: Join us at the RCAH LookOut Gallery on the 2nd floor of Snyder Hall for the 14th Annual Perspectives in African-American Experience: Emerging Visions Residency and Exhibition featuring the work of artists Darryl D’Angelo Terrell and Samiya Bashir. 

February 10 – 14Love Data Week: Celebrate all things data during Love Data Week, Feb. 10-14. Michigan State University is participating in Love Data Week by hosting data events and educational opportunities geared toward faculty, staff, and students. Learn more on the Institutional Research website.

February 8, 11 and 18MSU Men’s Basketball at Home:  Join us at the Breslin Center to watch MSU Men’s Basketball play. Visit the website for ticket information and to see the full season schedule.

February 11 – 16 – MJ The Musical: Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry is coming to the Wharton Center! Join us to see this multi Tony-Award winning new musical centered around the 1992 Dangerous World Tour to get a rare view of the creative mind and spirit that launched Michael Jackson’s career into legendary status. Tickets are available for purchase here.

February 13, 20, and 27 Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey: MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine Annual Dr. Willian G. Anderson Lecture Series gives the community the chance to interact with multicultural leaders from all areas. Hear from three distinguished speakers at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts and be sure to secure your tickets here.

February 15 – June 29Nabil Kanso: Echoes of War Exhibition: This exhibit, located at the MSU Broad Art Museum, follows the artist Nabil Kanso’s mission to create awareness about historical events and show solidarity with those suffering globally. Read more about the exhibit and get your free tickets here. 

Family – Friendly Events 

February 1 – 28Snow Tubing at Hawk Island County Park: The Hawk Island Snow Tubing Hill is excited to welcome families and friends to embrace the winter season and enjoy some tubing! Warm-up stations, concessions, and rental tubes are available for purchase. Check out ticket pricing and available sessions here!

Recurring Sundays February 2 – 23 Abrams Planetarium February 2025 Children’s Feature Show: Join children’s entertainer Fred Penner in exploring things from the colors of the rainbow to the reason for the seasons through song and immersive environments. Children are encouraged to participate while learning about the planets, constellations, the moon, and more. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online here. 

Greater Lansing Area Events 

February 21 – 23 – Michigan Nordic Fire Festival 2025: The Michigan Nordic Fire Festival, held in Charlotte, Michigan, is an event held during the last weekend of February featuring fun activities including battles, combat performances, archery, sled races, and more. There will also be chances to participate in contests, try new foods, and more for the whole family. Check out our website for times, parking information, and location details.

February 27th – Lansing Symphony Orchestra at the Robin Theatre: Visit the Robin Theatre in Lansing for the unique, intimate concerts of contemporary chamber music from the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Visit the website for more information on the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and to secure tickets now! 

February 22ndOld Town Chocolate Walk: At the Old Town Chocolate Walk, you will travel the neighborhood and collect chocolates at each location to support the Old Town Commercial Association and contribute to keeping Lansing’s Old Town revitalized. With your ticket you receive a custom box, punch card, map, and chocolates at every stop! Secure your tickets here.

 Farmers Markets

Recurring SaturdaysHolt Farmers Market: Visit the Delhi Township Fire Department for one of Michigan’s premiere indoor farmers markets. The Holt Farmers market serves as a space to support local farmers and food growers, local artisans, and provide locals the opportunity to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods. Be sure to check out the website for more information! 


Every Other SaturdayMeridian Farmers Market: Visit the Meridian Farmers Market inside the Meridian Mall! The market vendors offer farm, food, and crafts, and a majority of the products sold are locally grown or made.

Job of The Week: Event Coordinator

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Project and Event Coordinator for the College of Engineering (job posting 1015740). If you are interested in event coordination, national travel, administrative support, payment and registration management, and logistical support, this may be the role for you.

The MSU College of Engineering prides itself on developing practice-ready engineers and computer scientists, solving complex transdisciplinary problems, driving economic development, and providing innovative and engaging teaching and a culturally rich and inclusive environment. With many research, educational, outreach, and engagement goals on the horizon, the College of Engineering is recognized as a leader in solving global problems and supporting students and alumni. 

In this position, you will plan and execute logistics for conferences, workshops, and seminars, collaborate with planning committees and hotels to manage travel and vendor exhibits and provide on-site support. You will arrange air travel and car rentals, process reimbursements, manage office supplies, coordinate payments for events and training, and assist with processing conference registrations and payments. You may travel up to four to eight times per year to support NCPP conferences and training programs. 

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a degree in Public Relations, Communications, Business, or a related area, as well as one to three years of related and more expansive work experience in managing and planning special events. Experience in word processing, database, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, and presentation software is required. You should be organized, skilled at managing events, and have experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders and MSU financial systems. 

Learn more about the College of Engineering. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume, cover letter, and three professional references, and should be submitted by February 18.

Q&A: Vacation/Personal Paid Time Off (PTO)

Do you have a plan for using your vacation/personal paid time off (PTO) this year? According to this  Forbes article, “American workers are notorious for being workaholics. Since March of 2020, an overwhelming majority of U.S. employees have shortened, postponed, or canceled their vacation time.” While most of us are aware that time away from work is crucial to maintaining mental health and supporting our relationships, we sometimes have a hard time truly disconnecting. 

While it may seem harmless to check in a couple of times while you’re away, to really benefit from a vacation you need to disconnect entirely. Review these tips for setting boundaries so you can get adequate rest and reset. Having a plan for setting boundaries with your team before, during, and after your vacation will help reduce pre- and post-vacation stress. 

We encourage everyone to work with their supervisor to schedule a well-deserved break. And don’t forget, employee discounts for travel are available through MSU Benefits Plus and the HR website

Your Top PTO Questions 

The following are the most common questions HR receives regarding PTO and answers vary based on the employee’s personal details. These answers are only applicable to regular, benefit-eligible employees working half-time or more. Please make sure to reference the appropriate policy page for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension

  1. How do I find out how much PTO I currently have? 

    Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Balances tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Balances help page. 

  2.  How do I find out how much PTO I have used? 

    Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Usage Monthly Report tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Usage Monthly help page. 

  3.  How do I enter my PTO in EBS for supervisor approval? 

    Login to the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Entries & Statement tile. Enter the number of hours in the cell for the correct date in the row with the appropriate absence type. For support using the application, please review the Time Entries and Statement help page. 

  4. What is the difference between personal leave, personal observance days, and vacation PTO? 

    Eligible support staff are granted both personal leave and vacation PTO. Eligible faculty and academic staff are granted vacation PTO.  

    For support staff, up to 24 hours of personal leave PTO is granted each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The amount granted is proportional to the employment percentage. You may not carry these hours over to the next year, so make sure you use this PTO before the fiscal year ends. Please review the support staff personal leave policy page for more details. Please note: POAM employees should review the POAM union contract for their unique personal leave policy. 

    Vacation PTO is granted to eligible employees and varies based on employee type, union affiliation, employment percentage, length of employment, and new hire status. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension. 

    Personal Observance Days are two additional days (16 hours, prorated based on the start date and percent time) of personal time that eligible faculty, support, and academic staff employees will be able to use each calendar year. As of January 2024, employees will be able to use the two additional days of personal time between January 1 and December 31. Please refer to the Personal Observance FAQ page for further details. 

  5. I’m a new employee. Do I have immediate access to my vacation PTO? 

    This depends on your employee type. Eligible faculty, academic, and support staff have access to vacation PTO after 6 months of service. Eligible librarians and MSU Extension employees have access immediately upon employment. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension. 

  6. What happens to my unused PTO if I leave the university – such as through retirement or termination?

    Employees will receive payment for unused vacation PTO when they leave the university. Support staff will not receive payment for unused personal leave PTO.
     
  7. How much vacation time can I use at once? 

    It is up to each department to determine what is an appropriate amount of vacation time to be taken at once. Departments should make sure to consistently approve vacation requests fairly.  

  8. For Time Entry Roles Only: What are the absence and attendance codes? 

    Please review the Absence and Attendance Codes page for specific employee groups for more information. 

  9. Support Staff Only: How do I accrue vacation days? 

    Eligible support staff accrue vacation days monthly. The amount accrued depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details. 

  10. Support Staff Only: Is there a maximum amount of vacation PTO I can accrue? 

    Yes. The maximum amount eligible support staff can accrue depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details. Support staff cannot earn vacation time beyond the accrual limit. You are encouraged to use your PTO so you don’t lose out on valuable vacation time. 

  11. Faculty Only: Where can I learn more about sabbaticals?
    Faculty can learn more about sabbaticals on the Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs Tip Sheets webpage.

    More information about PTO for eligible employees can be found on the HR website (support staff and faculty/academic staff). We encourage you to review the appropriate policy pages thoroughly to help answer any questions you may have. If you need further assistance, please contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434. 

                  Job of The Week: VDL Client Service Center Supervisor

                  This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (VDL) Client Service Center Supervisor for the College of Veterinary Medicine (job posting 1015732). If you are interested in supervising and managing the VDL and its support staff, this may be the position for you.

                  The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine prides itself on diversity, innovation, integrity, compassion, and collaboration. Their vision states, “Together we will be the destination for teaching, innovation, care, and service,” with a mission of learning, discovering, healing, and protecting. The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, a service unit in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is a full-service and accredited laboratory for all species. Additionally, the lab performs more than one million tests per year on samples submitted from all around Michigan, the United States, and more than 25 countries. 

                  In this position, you will manage a workload of five support staff and one temporary on-call employee who answers phones, provides clerical support for laboratory sections, and rotates through the reception areas. You will also provide high-quality, consistent customer service internally and externally and manage VDL client complaints. Additionally, you will monitor call volume, create monthly schedules, manage time off requests, interview, hire and train temporary personnel, and collect and maintain records and data. 

                  The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include two to three years of college or technical school experience with coursework in a field related to the job and one to three years of related work experience. You should be organized, detail and team-oriented, relaxed, customer service focused, and a problem solver. Experience in a laboratory setting requiring specific safety procedures is desired. 

                  Learn more about the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the MSU Careers website for more information. Applications require a resume, cover letter, and three professional references, and should be submitted by January 28.

                  Your Benefits: New Year Checklist

                  For benefits-eligible employees, the start of a new year is a great time to review all the MSU benefit options available to make sure you’re fully utilizing them throughout the year. The following list of tips and resources to consider will help you get the most out of your employee benefits:  

                  1. Schedule Wellness Check-ups: If you’re enrolled in an MSU health, dental, and/or vision plan, you’ve just entered a new plan year. Even though an annual check-up is usually recommended by doctors, many people miss out each year because they forget to schedule an appointment. Set your family up for success by scheduling any annual or wellness check-ups now.  
                  2. Prepare for Illness: Teladoc is an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a health care professional via web, phone, or mobile app in minutes. A doctor can even write you a prescription if necessary. Enroll in Teladoc now so you’re prepared when illness strikes.  Available to employees and their dependents that are enrolled in an MSU health plan.  
                  3. Review Retirement Contributions: The IRS sets new retirement contribution limits each year. Make sure you’re saving as much as you can by reviewing the 2025 IRS retirement contribution limits and adjusting contributions if needed.  
                  4. Note Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Deadlines: If you’re enrolled in an FSA for the 2024 and/or 2025 plan year, please note important deadlines and resources for utilizing your FSA funds.  
                  5. Use Educational Assistance Funds: Support staff and academic specialist employees have access to educational assistance funds to use towards professional development opportunities. These funds reset each fall, so make sure you don’t miss out. If you’re looking for learning opportunities, we recommend checking out courses offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development department.  
                  6. Note Mental Health Resources: The MSU community offers a variety of mental health resources to employees and their dependents.  
                  7. Schedule Vacation/Personal PTO: Taking time to rest and reset is important to maintain mental health. Make sure you’re using all your PTO by planning out and scheduling your time off in advance.  
                  8. Employee Discounts: Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website for deals and discounts on everything from travel and experiences to electronics and toys. Additional discounts can be found on the MSU Human Resources website.  
                  9. Voluntary Benefit Options: You may enroll in, change, or cancel auto, home, and pet insurance benefits at any time through the MSU Benefits Plus website.  Legal, critical illness, and vision insurance only allow benefit changes during Open Enrollment in October.  
                  10. Register for a Free Diabetes Management Program: If you or a dependent are living with diabetes, Livongo by Teladoc Health can help by providing free necessary medical supplies and optional coaching.  Employees or dependents enrolled in Medicare are not eligible.  
                  11. Get a Second Medical Opinion: If you are facing a serious medical diagnosis, Teladoc Medical Experts can review your case and offer a second medical opinion from leading health care specialists. Coaching and online educational tools are also available.  Employees with mandated insurance under the ACA are not eligible.  

                  We hope this list will help keep you on track as you plan out how you and your family will use your employee benefits this year. You can learn more about all these benefit options on the HR website

                  Employee Discounts to Support Your 2025 Goals

                  Another new year means new resolutions, and MSU Benefits Plus wants to make those goals and tasks more achievable than ever. Below, you can learn more about these exclusive health, wellness, and other helpful discounts for MSU employees and start your journey to a happy new year today! 

                  To access these discounts and more, login to MSU Benefits Plus today. If you haven’t used MSU Benefits Plus previously, register using your employee email address and set up an account.  

                  Health & Wellness 

                  • Mindfulness App – Reduce stress, calm anxiety, and sleep better with the Mindfulness.com app. Use code for 40% off: EASEANXIETY.  
                  • Active and Fit Direct – For just $28/month you can find your perfect gym from 12,700+ options nationwide, including 24 Hour Fitness®,  EĹŤS Fitness®, Crunch Fitness®, Anytime Fitness®, and more. Use code: FITNESSFIRST
                  • Home Chef – 50% off your first four boxes. Use code: CS50
                  • Nutribullet – Enjoy 21% off sitewide on NutriBullet.com! Use code: CORENB2025

                  Travel 

                  • AVIS Care Rental – You can save up to 35% off your next car rental when you provide your Avis Worldwide Discount Number! Use code: X199700
                  • Great Wolf Lodge – Save up to 30% year-round. Use code: CORESTREAM
                  • Going – Going helps over 2 million members travel the world. We monitor thousands of flights so you can save an average of $550 on tickets. Save 50% off your first year of premium membership. Use code: CORE50

                  Education 

                  • Rosetta Stone – Get a lifetime subscription with unlimited languages for $149 with no renewal fee (normally $299). 
                  • Blinkist – Get 45% off Blinkist Annual Subscription. Use code: CORESTREAM45

                  Tech 

                  • Apple – Get preferred pricing on iPhones, iMacs and more. 
                  • Dell – Get the best pricing available on all Dell PCs, electronics, and accessories. 

                  The HR website also offers other deals you can find on-campus through the MSU Tech Store, MSU Bakers, and the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, among others. You can check out some of those deals through the MSU HR Website. For more information on discounts from MSU Benefits Plus, visit the MSU Benefits Plus website. If you have any questions about the discounts, please contact MSU Benefits Plus via email at msubenefitsplus@corestream.com or by phone at 888-758-7575. 

                  Job of The Week: Career Services Coordinator

                  This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Career Services Coordinator for the Student Development and Leadership Department’s Career Services Network (job posting 1013039). If you are interested in providing career advising to students and recent alumni from all areas of campus, this may be the role for you.

                  Career Services Network’s mission is to lead MSU in providing valued career resources and connections that empower students and allow them to grow professionally. The Career Services Network helps students and recent alumni (within 2 years of graduation) declare their major, explore career fields and industries, apply for part-time jobs and internships, prepare for interviews, and more through one-on-one virtual and in-person advising sessions.

                  In this position, you will support the development of early-stage career planning and education through tabling events, programs, presentations, and resource development. You will provide career advising to Spartans and administer career assessments in individual and group settings utilizing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory, and Focus 2. Additionally, you will partner with colleagues across campus to deliver joint programming including general and career exposure workshops, and provide referrals to specific college career staff as students progress in their career paths. The Career Services Coordinator will promote the Career Services Network at large-scale events, including orientation and admissions, and connect students and alumni with staff and administrators for further resources.

                  The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a master’s degree in education, counseling, or a related field, as well as one to three years of related work experience with university students in an advising role or human resources. You should have excellent communication and customer service skills and the ability to build relationships with other units and departments at MSU. You should be willing to take initiative and function as a team player with a common goal in this role. 


                  Learn more about the Career Services Network here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the MSU Careers website for more information. Applications require a resume, cover letter, and professional references, and should be submitted by January 28.

                  Did You Sign Up for an FSA for 2025? Find Tips and Resources to Get Started.

                  Welcome to 2025 and your flexible spending account (FSA) funds! If you signed up for a 2025 FSA during Open Enrollment last October, you’re on your way to saving money on out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses. MSU’s FSA plan administrator is HealthEquity/WageWorks. If this is your first time participating in an FSA, make sure you register for your online HealthEquity/WageWorks account.

                  If you have a Dependent Care FSA, you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as child or adult daycare, preschool, and before/after school programs. Find a complete list of eligible dependent care expenses here.

                  If you have a Health Care FSA, you can purchase various products and services with pre-tax dollars – which means it’s like a 30% off sale on eligible expenses. 1Find a complete list of eligible health care expenses here. Some items2 you may not know about include:

                  • Allergy medication
                  • Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
                  • Bandages
                  • Braces
                  • Breastfeeding classes
                  • Cough syrup
                  • Eyeglasses
                  • Feminine Care Products
                  • First-aid kits
                  • Hearing aids
                  • Humidifier/air filter
                  • Pain relievers
                  • Pregnancy tests
                  • Prescriptions
                  • Smoking cessation drugs
                  • Sunscreen
                  • Thermometer

                  To make shopping for eligible health care FSA expenses easier, visit the online FSA Store for the largest selection of guaranteed FSA-eligible products.

                  Managing Your FSA Account

                  Managing your HealthEquity/WageWorks account is quick and easy with the EZ Receipts App. You’ll love the convenience of submitting claims, uploading receipts, and checking account balances directly from your phone.

                  What if I still have funds left over from my 2024 FSA?

                  Not to worry – if you still have funds left over from your 2024 FSA, you have until March 15, 2025, to use these funds and until April 30, 2025, to submit receipts to substantiate these claims.

                  How Do I Sign Up for an FSA?

                  Benefits-eligible employees are eligible to enroll in an FSA during Open Enrollment in October each year or if they experience a qualifying life event.

                  Questions? For more detailed information contact HealthEquity customer service directly at 877-924-3967 or visit the HealthEquity/WageWorks website.

                  1 Assumes a combined tax rate of 30%, including FICA, state, and federal income taxes. Actual amounts may vary.

                  2 Some items may require a doctor’s prescription or other documentation from your doctor. Please see your account details for more information.

                  Announcing the 2025 New Leader Development Series and Course Catalog

                  As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to set your professional development goals—and we’ve got exciting opportunities to help you thrive this year.

                  The 2025 New Leader Development Series is Here!
                  Registration for our signature leadership program opens this Thursday, January 9, at Noon, and closes Tuesday, January 14, at 3 PM. If you’re ready to take your leadership skills to the next level, this program is for you.

                  Acceptance announcements will be made on January 15, and we’ll kick things off together on Tuesday, January 21. Spaces are limited, registration applications will be completed via a link posted on the course web page.

                  Explore the 2025 Course Catalogue
                  We’re also excited to share that our 2025 course catalog is now live. While only courses running January through June are currently listed, more offerings will be added throughout the year. Whether you’re looking to sharpen specific skills or explore something entirely new, our courses are designed to support your growth. Check out what’s available now here and remember, the Educational Assistance Program may be available to you.

                  Notable upcoming January opportunities

                  Start Planning Your 2025 Journey
                  This is the perfect time to reflect on your goals and plan for the year ahead. What skills do you want to build? What challenges are you ready to tackle? With so many opportunities on the horizon, we’re here to help you make 2025 your most impactful year yet.

                  Course announcements will continue to be shared monthly via the OPD Newsletter.

                  We hope to see you in one of our programs soon.

                  Retirement Planning: 2025 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 

                  Whether your retirement is on the horizon or a faraway goal, it’s important that you continue to monitor and adjust how much you’re saving if you want to have a comfortable retirement. The IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year and recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2025: 

                  • The annual employee contribution amount increased from $23,000 to $23,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans. 
                  • The age 50 catch-up contribution amount remains the same at $7,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans. 

                  If you want to save as much as possible for your retirement, a tool in the EBS Portal called the Max Savings Contributions Calculator is available to assist you. This tool automatically displays the remaining amount of retirement contributions you have available before reaching one of the limits, and the equivalent percentage of your pay to help you spread that out for the year. 

                  To access this tool: 

                  1. Login to the EBS Portal with your MSU NetID and password. 
                  1. Click the My Benefits tab at the top. 
                  1. Click the Benefit/Retirement tile. 
                  1. Select Enroll/Change my Retirement/Health Savings Account Options in the drop-down menu and then click Next in the bottom right. 
                  1. Navigate in the bar graph to the Savings Plans screen by clicking Next in the bottom right. 
                  1. The Max Savings Contributions Calculator screen will display. This display will automatically show the remaining amount of retirement contributions you have available (if any) before reaching the IRS limit. 
                  1. You can adjust the percentage of your contributions to any retirement plans you participate in by clicking on the pencil icon, and then choosing Select to make the change. 
                  1. If you want to enroll in a new plan, begin by clicking on the paper icon next to the plan and vendor of your choosing, and then enter the percentage of your new contribution and choose Select to enroll. 
                  1. Make sure to click on Save in the bottom right to complete and save any changes/enrollments. 

                  If you are an academic year faculty or academic staff employee, or a Voluntary 403(b) Base participant aged 50 and over, contact the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu for further assistance in calculating your maximum contribution percentage. 

                  Learn More About MSU’s Retirement Plans 

                  The following articles contain more detailed information about MSU’s retirement plan options and preparing for retirement: 

                  The  HR website  also contains a wealth of information about the different types of retirement plans offered, retirement investment vendors, and planning tools available.