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Happy National Online Learning Day!

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Since 2016, September 15 has been marked as National Online Learning Day. There has been no shortage of online learning these past few years– and MSU doesn’t plan to stop. Michigan State offers a wide variety of online options for faculty and students alike, expanding the definition of work location, accessibility and redefining the realms of learning. 

Available Online Courses

A new way of learning requires a whole new set of skills. Learn how to further advance your career with virtual literacy, gain confidence in online applications and access virtual opportunities through MSU: 

IT Training Classes: Take advantage of free sessions designed to help you successfully utilize critical digital applications like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and OneDrive. Multiple classes are offered, including an overview of Spartan (Microsoft) 365 products and sessions dedicated specifically to individual applications.

Organization and Professional Development Classes: A wide variety of courses are available for registration in EBS around topics including Leadership, Communications and Customer Service.

WorkLife Office Webinars:  MSU’s WorkLife Office offers informative webinars on any shifts in the workforce, helpful tips for working Spartans and how to find a work-life balance. 

elevateU Resources

Get 24/7 access to self-paced 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. Recent enhancements to the elevateU platform include live events and webinars, live instructor-led bootcamps and certification programs. To learn more about updates to elevateU, click here or watch a recorded demonstration here 

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 

Learn more about ElevateU on the HR website.  

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 elevateU courses are available to current staff and faculty at no charge.  

Happy National Online Learning Day!

Open Enrollment events include the Benefits Fair at the Breslin Center on October 12 from noon to 7 p.m., a virtual HR Site lab on October 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., an HR site lab at the International Center on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and an HR site lab at the HR building on October 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Open Enrollment Events

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With MSU’s Benefit Open Enrollment period rapidly approaching (October 1–31), you may have questions about your benefit options for the 2024 plan year. We are ready to answer your questions and help you enroll in your 2024 benefit options.

Mark your calendars and join us at the following events:

MSU Benefits Fair

Visit the fair to enroll in your benefits on-site or speak with MSU benefits providers and HR staff. Delta Dental will be offering presentations during the fair about the new Delta Dental PPO Premium plan option, and the MSU Pharmacy will provide flu shots from Noon to 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.

When:

  • Benefits Fair: Thursday, October 12 from Noon to 7:00 p.m.
  • Delta Dental Presentations: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. AND 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Flu Shots: MSU Pharmacy will provide flu shots from Noon to 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.

Where:

The MSU Benefits Fair will be held at the Breslin Student Events Center Concourse. Fair attendees should use Parking Lot 63.

Learn more about the MSU Benefits Fair on the HR website, including how to make an appointment for your flu shot, Delta Dental presentations, parking information, and participating providers.

HR Site Labs

MSU HR will be available to answer questions and help you enroll in your benefits at the following site labs.

When and Where:

  • October 18 | 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Virtual (see HR Site Lab webpage for virtual link)
  • October 24 | 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | International Center, Spartan Rooms A and B
  • October 31 | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | HR Building, Room 125

Learn more about the HR Site Labs on the HR website, including directions, parking information, and how to join the virtual site lab.

As always, you can find information on all things Open Enrollment on the HR website. In addition to the events above, the HR Solutions Center is available to answer your questions at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

2024 Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award Call for Nominations!

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Remarkable, dedicated and hardworking are just some of the words used to describe the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award Recipients. The Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award is presented annually to six university support staff members, hand-selected by the Selection Committee from nominations received by the recipients’ colleagues.

The award is named in honor of Jack Breslin, who served Michigan State University as a student leader, honored athlete, top administrator and steadfast advocate. His strong and innovative leadership played a pivotal role in MSU’s growth and development as the nation’s premier land grant institution.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 award and the nomination form and accompanying materials are due November 3, 2023. Selection criteria for recipients include overall excellence in job performance, supportive attitude and contributions to the unit or university that lead to improved efficiency or effectiveness, and valuable service to the university. Nominees must be regular, active employees with at least five years of service in a support staff role at MSU or an approved affiliate of MSU. Please review the nomination form and the HR website for further details. Do not notify the nominee before or after submitting your nomination. The nominee’s supervisor must approve the nomination. Approval includes ensuring the nominee meets eligibility requirements, is in good standing with a recent performance review and has not previously received the award. The nomination form, supervisor approval, and accompanying materials are due November 3, 2023. Contact MSU Human Resources with any questions at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu. 

Job of the Week: Environmental Technologist / Safety Technologist

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This week’s featured job is an Environmental Technologist/Safety Technologist for the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (posting 894599). The Department of Environmental Health and Safety oversees University efforts to protect occupational health and the environment, assisting faculty and staff in maintaining safe, compliant workplaces. 

This position will serve the Department of Environmental Health and Safety by assisting the Environmental Compliance Team to support environmentally-friendly practices in the workplace. This effort would include conducting indoor/outdoor inspections of various work sites, buildings, outdoor areas, storage areas, including all of main campus and its satellite facilities around the state. The future Environmental Technologist/Safety Technologist will also collect samples of suspected hazardous building materials (including asbestos, lead, PCBs), in addition to soil, and water. 

The Environmental Technologist/Safety Technologist should have a four-year degree and six to 12 months of work experience in an employment-related environmental specialty. They should also have knowledge of local, state and federal environmental regulations along with experience in environmental sampling, including hazardous building materials.

To learn more about the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, visit their website. To apply for the position, please provide a resume and the name and contact information of at least three professional references on the MSU Careers Website. 

Time to Choose Your Benefits for 2024: Your Open Enrollment Checklist

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October is just around the corner, which means the MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period (October 1-31) is about to begin for benefit-eligible employees. Please use the following checklist to help guide you through Open Enrollment and be sure to make your benefit selections for the 2024 plan year between October 1-31.

1. Determine your benefit needs

During Open Enrollment (October 1-31), you may enroll in, change, or cancel coverage in the following benefits:

  • Health
  • Dental
  • Flexible spending accounts (health and/or dependent care)
  • Life or accidental death and dismemberment insurance
  • Some voluntary benefits, including vision, legal, and critical illness insurance.

Make sure you review your Open Enrollment guide carefully and choose the best benefit plans for your family. You may not make changes to the above benefits outside of the Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event, so be sure to review your options and take action in October.

2. Complete the spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) affidavit

If you want to cover a spouse/OEI on your health care plan in 2024, you MUST complete the affidavit online through the EBS Portal every year. Find instructions to complete the affidavit as part of Open Enrollment. After you complete Open Enrollment in the EBS Portal successfully, you should receive a confirmation email. To receive the confirmation email, you must complete all the Open Enrollment prompts in the EBS Portal and then review and save your plan selections (even if you made no changes); you cannot simply answer the affidavit question and then exit the portal.

3. Review updates for the 2024 plan year

Updates for the 2024 plan year include:

  • We are pleased to offer a new dental plan option, Delta Dental PPO Premium, in addition to the existing dental plan options. Be sure to attend this year’s MSU Benefits Fair so you can listen to a Delta Dental presentation about the new plan option.
  • Employees who live outside the state of Michigan but within the U.S. will now have the option to enroll in the new BlueCard Out-of-State plan. Coverage for this plan is similar to the Blue Care Network plan but allows individuals who live outside the state of Michigan to enroll.
  • Due to recent contract negotiations, eligibility for the Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) has expanded to include APSA and CTU employees who live outside the state of Michigan. POAM, non-union support staff, faculty, and academic staff are still eligible to enroll.

Find all new and notable information on page 5 of your Open Enrollment guide.

4. Make your changes online before October 31

If you want to make changes to your benefit selections and/or cover a spouse/OEI on your benefit plans, you must participate in Open Enrollment between October 1-31 (view enrollment instructions).

5. Participate in the MSU Benefits Fair or an HR Site Lab

  • MSU Benefits Fair: We will be having an in-person benefits fair on Thursday, October 12 from Noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Breslin Student Events Center on campus. MSU benefit providers and HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help you enroll in your benefits on-site. 

    The MSU Health Care Pharmacy will be offering flu shots during the fair between Noon at 5:00 p.m. by appointment only. The appointment calendar (managed by MSU Health Care Pharmacy) will close when all appointments are filled or 48 hours prior to the event. Make an appointment here.

    Delta Dental will be offering presentations about the new Delta Dental PPO Premium plan during the fair from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and again from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • HR Site Labs: MSU HR will offer site labs on October 18 (virtual), October 24 (in-person at the International Center), and October 31 (in-person at the HR building). Consider attending if you have questions about your benefit options or need assistance with enrollment. 

We hope this checklist is helpful as you prepare for and participate in Open Enrollment this year. You can find all the details about Open Enrollment on the HR website, including links to the appropriate benefits guide, enrollment instructions, and detailed benefits information from our providers.

Questions? We’re happy to help! We encourage you to attend the MSU Benefits Fair or an HR Site Lab to ask questions. You may also contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

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September is Self-Improvement Month

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September is Self-Improvement Month! Self-improvement can be related to many things, whether it’s learning something new, maximizing a strength or focusing on your physical or emotional wellbeing. Celebrate this month by taking some time for yourself, growing and using these MSU resources to help get you started.

Ready, Set, Change!

Take advantage of this personal development course on September 12. Learn from Amazon best-selling author of Ready, Set, Change! on how to streamline the changing process. For more information, click here. 

Take a Walk Around MSU

Utilize our beautiful campus or take a stroll through the East Lansing area. Taking a walk is great exercise, but can also improve your mental and emotional well-being.

Finding Peace in a Chaotic World 

Feeling worried, stressed or anxious? Learn strategies to help navigate our increasingly complex world and how you can change your own perspective. For more information, click here. 

Spartan Clothing Swap

Work on your self-improvement by cleaning out your closet, helping the planet and giving back to others in the community. The Surplus Store and Recycling Center are hosting a clothing swap where you can swap your clothes in good condition with others and keep them out of the waste stream. For more information, click here. 

Sleep: Understanding and Optimizing Your Nightly Reboot 

This September, MSU Health4U will be hosting Sleep: Understanding and Optimizing Your Nightly Reboot to help Spartans learn about “sleep hygiene.” For more information on the sleep science course, click here. 

“Medusa’s Vines”: 2023 Music and the Garden Series

Take in the natural beauty of the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden, relax, and enjoy some music at the 2023 Music and the Garden Series. For more information, click here. 

Strengths Based Leadership

Looking to maximize your strengths and become a stronger leader? Understand manager-specific strengths using the newly released CliftonStrengths for Managers Report in this in-person course. For more information, click here. 

Active Office Workshop 

If you work in an office setting, it can be hard to get enough physical activity throughout the day. In this free course, learn the best exercises for the workplace and develop a culture of movement. For more information, click here. 

Share your favorite self-improvement tips and comment below!

Job of the Week: Security Operations Coordinator/Crime Analyst

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This week’s featured job is for a Security Operations Coordinator/Crime Analyst for MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety (posting 891495). The Department of Police and Public Safety makes an active effort to maintain an environment where all people on campus feel respected, protected and heard. 

This position will serve the Department of Police and Public Safety by monitoring access control systems and intrusion detection systems, including building safety or automation systems related to infrastructure safety and personal security. The future Security Operations Coordinator/Crime Analyst will need to access and review security video while also fielding calls in support of campus security operations.

The Security Operations Coordinator/Crime Analyst will also oversee MSU DPPS’s Cadet Desk.. The Cadet Desk is staffed by all MSU students who are passionate about criminal justice and law enforcement. They must also train all cadets to ensure they possess the ability to multitask and be able to perform their job duties during emergency situations.  

The ideal candidate should have a four-year college degree in intelligence analysis, criminal justice or related field or equivalent education. One to three years of related experience is also recommended.

To learn more about the Department of Police and Public Safety, visit their website. To apply for the position, please provide a resume, cover letter and at least three professional references on the MSU Careers Website. 

September Events Round-Up

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Are you looking for activities for you and your family in the upcoming month? There are events (in-person and virtual) on campus and in the Greater Lansing community. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the links to learn more.

Campus Events

September 1- MSU Football Season Opener: The Spartans kickoff their first game of the season at 7 PM against Central Michigan University. 

September 8- Fall Opening Party at the Broad Art Museum: Experience the many offerings of your campus art museum! You’re invited to explore our newest exhibitions while enjoying food, music, special guests, and activities for all. Registration for this free event is encouraged.

September 14- Masterworks 1: Dvorak New World Symphony: The 94th season at the Wharton Center begins with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Ticket prices are available on the Wharton Center website.

Learning Opportunities

September 7- Engaging Teams for Maximum Performance: Developing a shared vision of success is a critical factor in boosting team performance. Methods of building trust, setting goals and providing feedback to help enhance employee engagement and working relationships will be shared in this virtual session.

September 14- Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Restoration of the Red Cedar River:  Join Beal Botanical Gardens Director, Dr. Prather, for a lunchtime tour to learn about the Red Cedar River’s restoration efforts.

September 20- Family Employee Resource Group: Family Resources for Learning Disabilities in K-12: Join this virtual session with Andrea Beachneau, Regional Parent Mentor with the Michigan Alliance for Families, and Greg Molenda, Director of Technical Assistance for the Ingham Intermediate School District to learn about resources for K-12 students with learning disabilities. 

Health and Wellness 

September 6: Fresh Air Fitness: Yoga in the Beal Garden: The fall series of Yoga in the Beal Garden begins, stretching throughout the month of September. Registration is recommended for this free event. 

September 7: Ergonomic Best Practices for Work-Station Comfort and Safety: Identify common workplace stressors and learn the best practices for developing an ergonomically friendly workspace. This zoom seminar requires registration. 

September 12: Understanding Sleep and Optimizing Your Nightly Reboot: Discuss the physiological importance of sleep through this free virtual course with MSU Health4U. 

September 25- Active Office Workshop: Learn about the best practices for physical activity in the workplace and develop a culture of movement through this virtual seminar. 

Family-Friendly Activities

September 2- Family Day: BALANCE: Make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the Broad Art Museum. All ages are welcome. Registration for this free event is encouraged.

September 23-25- Spartan Family Weekend: The MSU and Spartan Family Connections is hosting its inaugural Spartan Family Weekend Presented by MSUFCU Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 25. The weekend will include social and academic opportunities to explore campus and the MSU community with your Spartan and to celebrate with families from across the country and around the world! Registration for this event is required. 

Job of the Week: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Practitioner

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This week’s featured job is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Practitioner through the College of Human Medicine (posting 891932). The College of Human Medicine is committed to educating physicians and scholars, discovering and disseminating new knowledge and providing primary and specialty care for all. 

This position will serve the College of Human Medicine by assessing and planning medical care in collaboration with MSU neonatologists, accurately reporting patient care and collaborating with the health care team to coordinate care for patients and their families. The future Neonatal Nurse Practitioner will also attend high-risk deliveries and resuscitate/stabilize newborn patients.

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner will also provide leadership and open communication through clinical supervision and resident education. They must also contribute to research by supporting and participating in research activities along with applying their findings in practice and teaching.

The ideal candidate should possess knowledge equivalent to one or two years of post-bachelor degree work such as a Masters in Nursing. The position also requires possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse and specialty certification as a Nurse Practitioner in the State of Michigan. 

To learn more about the College of Human Medicine, visit their website. To apply for the position, please provide a resume and cover letter on the MSU Careers Website by September 5. 

Job of the Week: Extension 4-H Program Coordinator

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This week’s featured job is an Extension 4-H Program Coordinator for the Michigan State University Extension (posting 887434). MSU Extension helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge of MSU directly to individuals, businesses and communities. 

This position will serve MSU Extension by working alongside the 4-H staff to ensure alignment of program goals and promote the visibility of 4-H. The future Program Coordinator will also recruit and train volunteers who will conduct direct programming with youth. 

The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in program development and management in 4-H or other youth development programs. It also recommended that they have volunteer management experience.

To learn more about MSU Extension, visit their website. To apply for the position, please provide a resume, cover letter and at least four professional references on the MSU Careers Website by August 29.