Work-Related Goals with Resources to Help You Achieve Them

Updated December 2023

For many, the start of a new year brings a desire to set new goals – both professionally and personally. As you think about the past year, try to pinpoint areas you’d like to work on. Check out What’s Your Plan: Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You if you don’t know where to start. You’ll learn how creating a personal strategic plan can provide a “vision and structure for your professional life and an anchor for you to connect with during periods of change.”

Review the following common work-related goals below to see if any resonate with you and use the articles and learning opportunities provided by HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department to help you reach them.

As you think about what you want to work on in the coming year and beyond, consider tying them to your Performance Excellence goals (for support staff). For more information about how to set yourself up for success as you identify goals, check out this When SMART Meets HARD: Setting Goals that Matter article.

Job of the Week: Extension Specialist – Fixed

This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from MSU Extension Director’s Office for an Extension Specialist (posting 828709). MSU Extension aims to be part of community conversations, maintain positive environments and foster inclusivity. For more information about MSU Extension, click here

MSU Extension works to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups. The Extension Specialist cultivates training programs, resources, materials and learning opportunities for MSU Extension staff members, community partners and other organizations and agencies across the state. 

Working as the MSU Extension Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, this role is a resource, in collaboration with the MSU Extension Director of Human Resources, on issues related to civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion that occur across the organization and within our community programs. They will report directly to the Director of Extension in coordination with the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For a list of all responsibilities, click here.  

The future Extension Specialist should be a multitasker with a Master’s degree in social services, cultural or ethnic studies or a related field. Their work knowledge should include three to five years of experience in DEI strategy and civil rights and equal opportunity laws and policies. The candidate should demonstrate drive, initiative and the ability to work productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles. 

To learn more about MSU Extension, visit www.canr.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter, four professional references and apply here by January 5.

Register Today! Spots Still Available in Professional Development Courses

HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department has spots open in the following courses to support your learning and development in December and January:

  • Performance Management for Hybrid Teams | December 6 | In-person
    This class will share best practices and identify tips and strategies for developing strong and high-performing hybrid teams using MSU’s Performance Excellence process.
  • Conflict Management and Non-Escalation | December 6 AND 7 | In-person
    The primary goals of this course are conflict resolution, de-escalation, crisis management, and everyone’s safety. This training will prepare participants to apply the taught skills to real-life situations and to retain those skills over time.
  • Writing Policies and Procedures | December 7 | Virtual
    Learn proven strategies and methods for successfully writing policies and procedures in clear terms that can be understood by all.
  • Introduction to Process Mapping | January 11 | Virtual
    Learners in this course will be able to define key process improvement terminology, identify common elements of process maps, reduce barriers to success by adopting best practices, and create a process map.
  • Maximizing the Spartan Experience | January 17 | Virtual
    This engaging training provides a foundational perspective related to enhanced customer service delivery.
  • Everything DiSC: Behavior Styles at Work | January 18 | Virtual
    Everything DiSC® helps you build more effective working relationships based on an understanding of different behavioral styles.
  • New Leader Development Series | Starts January 24 | Virtual
    Designed for supervisors new to their roles or new to MSU, this nine-session series equips new leaders with a toolkit of crucial knowledge and resources.
  • The Power of Habit | January 25 | Virtual
    Learn how to spot your habit loop, turn bad days into good data, and create habits that get the results you want.

You can find all the current Organization and Professional Development courses on the HR website. Class enrollment is completed within the EBS Portal. Employees may use available educational assistance funds towards course fees (if any). 

Giving Tuesday at MSU

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known as Giving Tuesday, and Michigan State wants to support you in your service this holiday season.

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 to encourage people to give back. It’s now a global movement that inspires millions of people around the world to collaborate for good and celebrate generosity.

Sign up now to serve with your fellow Spartans in states like Texas, Indiana, and Minnesota through Serve MSU. Join the tradition that is already 14,000 Spartans strong and has raised over $1 million and spent 61,000 hours volunteering, all since 2013.

You can also serve the local community this Giving Tuesday by supporting Spartan impact projects such as campus sustainability, diversity research and veterans resources. All of these campus initiatives and more can be found here.

To give over the phone, call (517) 884-1000. You can also email University Advancement at uadv.msuannualfund@msu.edu with any questions about Giving Tuesday or service throughout the year.

For additional community service opportunities this year, click here.

Celebrate Giving Tuesday however it works for you and your loved ones. Make someone’s day brighter with a smile, help out a neighbor or stranger, or get involved in a cause you are passionate about.

This Giving Tuesday, find the service project or need that is perfect for you and give what you can. Spartans Will…give back to the community!

Winter Events, Activities, Holiday Shopping and Courses

As the weather gets colder and holidays are fast approaching, check out the following opportunities on campus or in the Greater Lansing area. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the links to learn more.

Campus Events

December 3 Alton Brown Live: Beyond The Eats – The Holiday Variant: See the Food Network and Netflix star cook and experiment live at the Wharton Center.

December 7 Night of a Thousand Donuts (free): Enjoy coffee and donuts in the Main Library and Gast Business Library.

December 15 International Employee Resource Group: Potluck Lunch (free): Share your favorite food and recipe card with other international employees at Linton Hall. 

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts December 1 Lansing Holiday Light Show: Enjoy dozens of dazzling, larger-than-life holiday themed displays to delight the entire family.

Starts December 2 Season of Light: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn how familiar traditions have an astronomical connection.

Starts December 4George and Oatmeal Save Santa: Celebrate the winter season at the Abrams Planetarium with this fun show.

December 10 Cocoa and Collection (free): Bring the whole family to the MSU Broad Art Museum to warm up with hot cocoa and art-making activities inspired by wintery works of art.

December 17 Kids Cookie Decorating Class w/ Michigan Made Treats: Brink the kids to this cookie decorating class at the Allen Neighborhood Center.

Music 

December 10 MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series: Telling the Story: Christmas Oratorios by Bach & Saint-Saens: Listen to inspiring and uplifting holiday sounds from the MSU Choral Union, University Chorale and State Singers with the MSU Symphony Orchestra.

December 11 Holiday Pops: Seasons Greetings: Listen to American Idol finalist, LaKisha Jones, sing your favorite holiday tunes and traditional carols. 

December 17 MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series: A Jazzy Little Christmas: Enjoy a performance of festive favorites from MSU Professors of Jazz with special guests.

Holiday Shopping

Starts December 1 Michigan Made Holiday Art Exhibition: Showcasing established and emerging artists, enjoy holiday shopping and opportunities to support makers in the local economy.

December 3 Holiday Art/Craft/Farmers Market: Enjoy the annual South Lansing holiday market featuring holiday gifts from a variety of vendors. 

Learning Opportunities

Starts December 6 MSU Grief and Loss Support Group (free): Learn about available resources and connect with other grieving community members every Tuesday. 

Starts December 8 Deepening Your Essential Skills (free): Connect with others in the MSU community to ask questions and raise topics.

Starts December 12Understanding Shame and Building Shame Resilience (free): Gain skills to understand shame and build skills to bounce back from it every Monday.

December 13 Family Employee Resource Group: Safe Infant Sleep (free): Learn how to create a safe sleep environment for your infant(s) from the Infant Safe Sleep Program Coordinator, Colleen Nelson. 

December 21 Explorations in Eating (free): Learn from an MSU Health4U registered dietician for a conversation about nutrition.

December 29 Adult Caregivers Employee Resource Group: Caring for the Caregiver (free): Connect with other adult caregivers to discuss how to take care of yourself.

Job of the Week: Administrative Business Professional

This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from the Office of Research and Innovation for an Administrative Business Professional (posting 826872). The Office of Research and Innovation is responsible for recruiting outstanding faculty through MSU’s Global Impact Initiative, maintaining synergy between research and creative scholarship, and the education of graduate students through The Graduate School.

With more than 500 employees, the Office of Research and Innovation supports MSU’s research and creative activity by administering research funding, ensuring research integrity for both faculty and students, providing grant support services, fostering collaboration, licensing university inventions, and overseeing regulatory compliance. The Administrative Business Professional plays an important role in supporting the management of finance functions within the office and for reporting units. As a supervisor, this role will serve as Fiscal Officer on department general, gift endowment, and revolving fund accounts, and will also support the MAU Budget Officer. For a list of all responsibilities, click here

The future Administrative Business Professional should be a self-starter with a four-year degree in a business related field. Their work knowledge should include three to five years of experience in office procedures and administration. The candidate should excel with creative thinking and problem solving in a deadline-oriented environment.

To learn more about the Office of Research and Innovation, visit research.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter, three professional references and apply here by November 29.

Job of the Week: Software Applications Developer/Information Technologist I

This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from the College of Engineering for a Software Applications Developer (posting 825724). The College of Engineering is one of the oldest and largest colleges on MSU’s campus and a constituent of a major research and teaching university. 

The candidate will participate in all parts of the application development cycle. This will consist of client meetings to collect and analyze requirements, application preparation and implementation,  as well as database design and maintenance throughout the life of the application. They will be joining the Division of Engineering Computing Services. For a list of all responsibilities, click here

The College of Engineering is seeking a team-oriented individual with a four-year degree in information technology or computer science. Their work knowledge should include support for internet and web applications and the ability to analyze and solve complex problems. The candidate should thrive in a collaborative environment and have a willingness to seek out new technologies to stay ahead of the curve. 

To learn more about the College of Engineering, visit egr.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume and apply here by November 22.

2022 Clerical-Technical Recognition Award Winner!

The Clerical-Technical Recognition Award is presented annually to a Michigan State University support staff member performing clerical-technical duties. The recipient is selected from nominations received by the CT Recognition Award Selection Committee. The award is sponsored by the Thomas and Concettina Gliozzo Endowment Fund to recognize outstanding MSU clerical-technical employees.

This year’s winner is Jessica Thelen! Watch this video to learn more about Jessica:

Jessica is a Healthcare Assistant within the MSU Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic where she provides quality care for patients and families affected by cancer and blood disorders. Exceeding expectations, Jessica has been described as a critical link between the clinic, laboratory and radiology offices. 

Jessica goes above and beyond for patients by making the clinic fun, organizing and fundraising events and connecting them with organizations like Make-A-Wish, Children’s Special Health Care Services and more. Jessica’s coworkers describe her as an enthusiastic, caring and dedicated employee who provides the best possible care that the patients deserve.

The photos above were taken at a special reception held in Jessica’s honor. Congratulations to Jessica!

Don’t Forget Your MSU Discounts this Holiday Season!

As a benefit-eligible MSU employee, you have access to various discounts and savings that can help you during the holiday season. On the MSU Benefits Plus website, you will find special offers on products such as electronics, toys, and more!

To access all the discounts, visit the MSU Benefits Plus website and enter your MSU email, click Get Started and then enter your password. First-time users will need to enter their email, click Get Started, and fill out the form. You will need your MSU ZPID number for the form, which is located on your MSU Spartan ID Card or in the EBS Portal.

The following are a few of the deals you will find (please note these discounts are frequently updated):

  • Apple: save with employee pricing on iPhones, iMacs, and more.
  • Bombas: new users get 20% off their first order.
  • CanvasWorld: turn photos into art with 25% off plus free shipping.
  • Chordify: 60% discount on a Chordify Premium yearly subscription to access unlimited songs to learn for guitar, piano, or ukulele.
  • Dell: save up to 30% on select PCs.
  • Garmin: 20% discount on wearables and smartwatches.
  • GE Appliance Store: save up to 35% on small appliances with free delivery over $499.
  • Harry and David: 20% off your order.
  • HP: up to 52% off computers and accessories.
  • Kiwi Crate: 40% off your first month’s subscription.
  • Lenovo: laptops start under $400 with savings on top tech up to 70% off.
  • Sam’s Club: save over 55% on a new club membership.
  • Scott’s Cheap Flights: 50% off a premium membership.
  • Tickets At Work: save on movie tickets at dozens of participating theater chains.

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.

For more information on discounts through MSU Benefits Plus, visit the HR website. If you have any questions about the discounts, please call MSU Benefits Plus at 888-758-7575.

Job of the Week: Communications Coordinator

This week’s featured job posting from MSU Human Resources is for a Communications Coordinator (posting 824939). Human Resources supports the university’s strategic imperatives by anticipating and meeting the needs of a changing community through high-quality, innovative services designed to advance student success and cutting edge research.

The Communications Coordinator will support the development and execution of strategies, campaigns, publications, web content and other materials for the Organization and Professional Development HR office. A successful candidate will be an organized and positive team member. For a list of all responsibilities, click here

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in communications or a related field. Their work knowledge should include internal communications, broadcasting, news, print media and creative services. They also need experience with Adobe, Illustrator and Indesign, and graphic design skills would be ideal.

To learn more about MSU HR, visit hr.msu.edu. Apply to this position here by November 15.