September 15 is National Online Learning Day! Online
learning provides convenience, flexibility,
and personalization for all learners. Did you know
MSU offers FREE online learning opportunities for all faculty
and staff? Get access to online resources including books, videos,
courses, and more via elevateU.
Access elevateU here or log into EBS and look for the “elevateU” tile under the “My Career & Training” tab. You can access elevateU from your computer or through the Skillsoft Learning App for Android and iOS devices.
There are programs that cover leadership, IT & desktop,
business, finance, human resources, change management, project management,
interpersonal skills and so much more. Resources are available in a variety of
formats:
Video-based and interactive courses
Videos
Books
Resources to prepare for various professional certifications
Watch the following video for a general overview of the resources available to you and how to access them:
Need help navigating elevateU? Click here for an additional video on how to use the search function and navigate through the resources available.
Utilize the resources as reference tools to help answer your
day-to-day job questions or as part of your ongoing personal and professional
development. Many of the courses are even approved for Continuing Education
credits! Remember, all courses are available to current staff and faculty at no
charge. 
This week’s job of the week is a Medical
Laboratory Technician (#607197) for The College of Veterinary
Medicine, specifically in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. This position
is seeking an individual with excellent verbal communication
skills to provide support to technical and professional staff by preparing
specimens for diagnostic analysis.
The
responsibilities for this role include processing/testing specimens from
animals and the environment to detect the presence of inorganic and organic
chemicals, as well as preparing media/reagents for use by several laboratory
sections. Additional duties associated with this position involve walking,
lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, climbing and working with unfixed
animal tissues.
The ideal
candidate would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be
acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in science or a
two-year associates degree program in Applied Science Medical Laboratory
Technician including a six-month internship at an approved institution
laboratory; up to six months of related and progressively more responsible or
expansive work experience in basic laboratory techniques; or an equivalent
combination of education and experience. The job may require specialty
certifications, approvals, or training.
For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and
to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal
applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.
The MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period is around the
corner. Benefit-eligible employees can enroll in, change or cancel benefit
selections from Oct. 1-31. Is this your first time participating in MSU’s Open
Enrollment and you’re not sure where to start? Or have you done this before but
have some questions you just want a real-life person to help with?
Either way, MSU HR has a number of opportunities for you to
get in-person assistance during the Open Enrollment period.
Benefits Fair
Stop out to the MSU Benefits Fair to talk with knowledgeable
HR staff and benefit vendors. The fair will be held at the Breslin Center on:
Tues., Oct. 8, 2019
Noon – 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 9, 2019
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can check out more information on which vendors will be at the fair, as well as info about parking, flu shots and chair massages on the HR website.
Site Labs
MSU HR will host site labs throughout the month of October
where you can stop in and work with HR staff to get your questions answered.
Site labs will be held at the Nisbet Building (1407 S. Harrison Road, East
Lansing) on:
Fri., Oct. 4, 2019
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 22, 2019
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 28, 2019
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 31, 2019
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can check out more information on the site labs, including parking info on the HR website.
If you miss one of these opportunities, the MSU HR Solutions Center team is always happy to assist. Stop by the Nisbet Building, Suite 110, Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. or contact 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu. Make sure to get your questions answered and feel confident in your benefit selections for 2020!
October is here, which means the Benefits Open Enrollment period (October 1-31, 2019) has officially begun for benefits-eligible employees. Make sure you enroll in the best benefits plans to fit the needs of you and your family for the 2020 plan year (Jan.–Dec.). Use the following checklist to help guide you through Open Enrollment and be sure to make your selections now through October 31, 2019.
1.Double Check Your Benefits Needs During Open Enrollment, you may enroll in, change, or cancel coverage for the following benefits:
Some voluntary benefits, like vision, legal or critical-illness insurance
Make sure you review the Open Enrollment guides carefully and choose the best benefits plans for your family. Remember, you also have access to various voluntary benefits, like vision insurance. Find the Open Enrollment guides on the HR website.
Need help deciding which health plan is right for you? Try asking ALEX, the virtual benefits counselor. This tool is designed for MSU employees and allows you to enter your personal family needs and info (completely confidential) and then provides you with an easy-to-understand summary of your best benefits options. Find links to the ALEX tool on the HR website.
2.Do you cover a spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) on your benefits? Complete the Affidavit.
Increase to the premium threshold for spousal affidavit: If your spouse/OEI has access to health care coverage through their own current or former employer, they must purchase the coverage their own employer offers if the annual employee premium cost for single-person coverage is $1,400 or less. You may still cover your spouse/OEI on your MSU health coverage as a secondary plan.
Aetna DMO co-pay changes for dental: Support staff employees should note that some Aetna DMO co-pays, including orthodontics, have increased to ensure employees eligible for the plan continue to receive the full MSU contribution to the monthly premium rate. Co-pays have not changed for the Aetna Premium DMO plan. Find co-pays by plan in the Support Staff Open Enrollment Guide.
4. Make Your Changes Online Before the October 31 Deadline
If you want to make changes to your benefits selections – or you cover a spouse or Other Eligible Individual (OEI) on your benefits plan – you must do so during the Open Enrollment window: October 1 – 31, 2019. If you don’t make the deadline, you won’t be able to make any changes to your benefits unless you experience a qualifying life-changing event (like a marriage, divorce, birth, etc.). NOTE: instructions for completing Open Enrollment this year have changed. Find instructions for completing Open Enrollment here.
5. Come Visit Us for In-Person Assistance
We want you to feel confident that you’re making the best choices for you and your family. Consider attending one of the in-person site labs this October to talk to a Human Resources (HR) representative, understand your benefits options and even enroll in your benefits on-site.
HR Site Labs – HR staff are available to answer your benefits questions and help you enroll on-site! Visit us between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 22, 28, and/or 31 at the Nisbet Building, Room 125. Find parking info on the HR website.
We hope this checklist is helpful! Remember, everything you need to know about Open Enrollment is available on the HR website Open Enrollment page, including links to the appropriate benefits guide, ALEX virtual benefits counselor, and detailed benefits information.
Questions? We’re happy to help! Call or email the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu.
This week’s job of the week is a Hub Project Manager (#602040) for The Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology. This position is seeking an individual with strong problem-solving and communication skills, who possesses a broad understanding and experience planning and managing a portfolio of product and/or service design projects.
The
responsibilities for this role include providing project management strategy
and guidance for The Hub, managing changes to projects’ scope, schedule, and
costs using appropriate verification techniques, assisting in the development
of project objectives and project plans, and working with Hub management on
resource planning, availability and allocation to project objectives. Other
responsibilities include conducting research and data analysis, preparing
reports, and performing project close assessments to identify opportunities for
growth, to maximize operational effectiveness, amend processes and procedures,
and assess work performance.
The ideal
candidate would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be
acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in design, business
administration, research, education or field related to the employing unit;
three to five years of related and progressively more expansive work experience
in product and design project management, business analysis,
facilitating/training with a focus on business management; experience working
with multiple high-level stakeholders, work flow process analysis and
implementation of strategic initiatives, or an equivalent combination of
education and experience.
For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.
This week’s job of the week is an Editorial Assistant II (#602934) for the Vice President for Student Affairs & Services, specifically for the Service Learning Center. This position is seeking an individual to edit and proofread materials, research and compose articles, develop printing specifications, oversee production schedules and provide clerical support in order to facilitate the production and distribution of marketing materials. Other responsibilities for this role include creating content for and coordinating the center website and social media accounts.
The ideal candidate would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired from the first two or three years of college, technical, vocational or business school with coursework in journalism, English, and writing; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience including familiarity with printing processes, publication design; word processing, desktop publishing, database, spreadsheet, web design and maintenance, and presentation software; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.
Welcome to a new academic year at MSU! Organization and
Professional Development (OPD) is offering new courses this fall to help you
reach your personal and professional development goals.
NEW Upcoming
Courses:
Managing Meetings – Tuesday, October 15 With company resources tighter than ever, and staff and management busier than ever, frivolous meetings are simply not an option. Yet they continue to occur more often than ever. And too many unproductive, wasteful meetings create a major drag on staff morale and motivation, thus affecting productivity, turnover, and the corporate “bottom line”. And, if you are the organizer or leader of meetings, you simply cannot afford to look unprofessional when you are “on stage” in a competitive or political environment. Use this program to better plan, lead, and follow through on your meetings and enhance team productivity, coordination, and cohesion.
Communication Strategies for Supervisors – Thursday, October 24 One of the non-negotiables for successful leadership is being an effective communicator. Many leaders believe they do communicate effectively, but what most leaders do not understand about communicating with their team is that it is not just about what is said. To lead successfully today, leaders must be able to persuade, inspire, listen, articulate the big picture, and create teams of people who buy into and trust the sender.
Manager as Coach – Thursday, October 24 Successful managers today understand the importance of coaching in the workplace to improve productivity, loyalty, and results. Instead of telling team members what to do, or just expecting them to perform, it is important to guide, discuss and encourage – in other words, coach.
Presentation Skills 101 – Wednesday, November 20 You may have a great deal of knowledge or important information to share, but if your presentation is not engaging, you may lose your audience and opportunity for influence. Whether you’re a training professional, an executive, a manager who leads meetings, or anyone who needs to communicate clearly to more than one person at a time, this workshop will show you strategies to create and deliver effective presentations with confidence and enthusiasm.
Support staff should note that their Educational Assistance benefit resets with the fall semester – be sure to use these funds to help cover costs for any registration fees.
This week’s job of the week is a Senior Purchasing Agent (#600044) for the Department of Purchasing. This position is seeking an individual to use extensive knowledge and expertise to execute or negotiate complex, large dollar purchases that support multiple operations, as well as to use advanced analytics to evaluate spend and activity data and determine sourcing opportunities.
The responsibilities for this role include utilizing performance
measurement tools, partnering with MSU legal and risk management offices, and developing
and reviewing complex RFPs, among other duties. Other responsibilities for this
role include negotiating supplier contracts, managing supplier relationships
and evaluates proposals. The Senior Purchasing Agent will also develop and
maintain awareness of changing commodity-related business trends in the market
and their impact to the university.
The ideal candidate
would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by
a four-year college degree program in Business Administration with relevant
coursework in marketing, business law, finance, public relations and computer
science; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or
expansive work experience in sales, purchasing/buying and accounting; or an
equivalent combination of education and experience.
For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.
The Surplus Store receives most of its items from the university when items are no longer needed; Surplus Store team members go out and collect items from the residential halls, offices, and lounge areas. The Surplus Store is connecting surplus operations with recycling operations on campus. They take multiple steps before throwing an item out. The first step is to try to resell the item or give it away; if it can’t be sold or given away, then they will recycle it. If the item does not sell or can’t be recycled, then it will eventually go to landfill. However, the long-term goal is to help the university get to a zero-waste policy with these actions.
Cash register at the Surplus Store
MSU Shadows Corner
Arts and crafts section
The Surplus Store is open year-round, Monday through Friday,
to the public, MSU departments and employees. If you’re an MSU employee, you
can purchase items with your account number. Just grab the item you’re looking
for, head to the counter and give them your account number. If you purchased a
large item, they also offer an on-campus delivery service to your office or
department.
If you don’t have time to stop at the store, you can always look online at the MSU Surplus Store website. You can also find items on eBay from the store. Did you know that you can find textbooks at the Surplus store? Whether you’re using you’re continuing your education or have a student in your house who needs to buy their books, the Surplus Store may have what you need. You can also find textbooks available through the Surplus Store on Amazon.
If you’re looking for unique
items, the Surplus Store also partners with MSU Forestry and Infrastructure
Planning Facilities (IPF) to turn downed trees into products called the MSU
Shadows. They have a variety of items from custom tables, wall art, diploma
frames and more!
The Surplus Store has also partnered
with MSU Dairy, MSU Meat Labs and MSU Horticulture Farm. You can find a variety
of items from fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. By shopping at the
Surplus Store, you’re supporting students and helping the university reach its
goal of zero waste.
If you have a request, don’t be afraid to reach out! With over 4,000 items collected from campus each week, the Surplus Store is your one-stop-shop. Want to know more? Just visit their website at MSU Surplus Store or stop by in-person at 468 Green Way, East Lansing.
This week’s job of the week is a Training Program Developer (#600097) for the Associate Provost for Academic Services, specifically for the Student Information Systems (SIS) Modernization Project. This position is seeking an individual to consult with the Office of the Registrar senior leaders, managers and staff on instructional needs for technology training, as well as designing instructional development classes, seminars, and workshops. Other responsibilities for this role include producing courseware including manuals, quick reference guides, FAQs, PowerPoint presentations and web-based materials.
The ideal candidate
would possess knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by
a four-year college degree program in Educational Systems development,
instructional Technology Systems, Instructional Science or a related
educational programs development area; three to five years of related and
progressively more responsible or expansive work in the design, development and
presentation or instructional programs using software or tools related to the
educational programs being conducted; or an equivalent combination of education
and experience.
For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.
