Educational Assistance: Fall Reminders

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With this year’s Educational Assistance, or “Ed Assist”, support staff benefit resetting with the start of the fall semester, now’s a perfect time to refresh your Ed Assist knowledge and take advantage of this opportunity for your learning and development. Here are a few important reminders regarding this benefit. New to Ed Assist? Start here for an overview.

Educational Assistance Balance Reset

If you are eligible for Educational Assistance, your Ed Assist funds reset each year with the start of the fall semester. You may check your current Ed Assist balance within EBS.

  1. Log in to EBS.
  2. Access the My Career & Training section.
  3. Select the Educational Assistance System tile.
  4. Hover over My Account in the top menu.
  5. Choose EdAssist Balance.

Credit and Non-Credit Options

You may receive financial assistance for both credit and non-credit courses, which may include training, seminars, workshops, conferences, or other educational opportunities. Use this benefit to enhance your professional skill set or help you reach Performance Excellence goals.

For non-credit courses, like professional development courses available through HR, support staff employees have up to $800 per year to use toward course registration fees. The course must be considered job-related and from an approved institution/program to receive assistance.

For credit courses, you can receive up to 14 credits per academic year. Your financial assistance level is determined by your union group, the type, of course, you’re taking (graduate or undergraduate), and where you’re taking the course (MSU or another university). The course must be considered job-related, degree-related, or career/professional development-related.

Taxation Information for Graduate-Level, Degree-Related Coursework

When using Educational Assistance funds toward graduate-level, degree-related classes for credit, it’s important to remember and plan for IRS tax exemption rules. The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provides an exemption of up to $5,250 in a tax (calendar) year for graduate-level, degree-related courses reimbursed/waived through employer educational assistance programs, such as the one at MSU. Any amount of the benefit over $5,250 for degree-related, graduate-level courses is considered taxable income by the IRS.

If you utilize Ed Assist benefits for graduate-level, degree-related courses for credit over the $5,250 exclusion amount, appropriate tax withholding will be made, and the amount will be added to your gross wages. If a tax liability is determined, the deductions must be completed within the same calendar year. If this tax situation applies to your Ed Assist usage, you will receive notification via email in the fall, typically around September. This notification will indicate the amount of Educational Assistance received in the calendar year, how much of that amount is taxable, and on which paychecks withdrawals will occur to cover the outstanding tax liability.

Keep in mind: This tax liability, dictated by the IRS, applies ONLY to any Ed Assist benefit usage over the $5,250 limit when applied to graduate-level, degree-related courses for credit. For example, if you received $6,250 in eligible Ed Assist benefits in a year, then you would only be taxed on the $1,000 amount that is more than the exclusion limit and owe a percentage of that $1,000 as your tax liability.

Find detailed information about Educational Assistance – including how to apply – on the HR website. Contact Organization and Professional Development at prodev@hr.msu.edu with questions.

Sources

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HR Welcomes Colleagues and Students Back to Campus

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Dear Spartan Colleagues,  

As your new Chief Human Resources Officer, I am pleased to welcome faculty and staff to a new academic year. We spent the last two years facing unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic and being vigilant in our efforts toward employee wellbeing, health, and safety. Spartans met these challenges with great care, resilience, and Spartan will. Let’s continue to work through this together and be sure to utilize available resources. The Wellbeing at Work guide, the Employee Assistance Program, vaccine verification, exemption forms, and more information can be found on the Together We Will site. 

In preparation for our largest student enrollment, we look forward to seeing you back on campus while employing flexible work options. Herein lies our next challenge of navigating paradox and competing priorities. The future of work involves innovation, agility, and commitment to excellence. We strive to balance instructional imperatives, business operations, and new work modalities including hybrid and remote schedules. We prioritize employee and student engagement and promote equity and fairness while addressing individual needs. I have every confidence in our campus community to tackle this challenge. Take some time and read our mission, values, and strategic plan for inspiration and guidance: 

By 2030, we envision a Michigan State University that has significantly expanded opportunity and advanced equity, elevated its excellence in ways that attract vital talent and support, and has a vibrant, caring community. – MSU 2030 Strategic Plan

I look forward to my first fall as a Spartan—enjoying Michigan State’s gorgeous campus as the colors set in and students arrive with renewed energy and excitement for everything it means to be part of the Spartan community.

Thank you for your continued work and dedication to the University, our students, and our land-grant mission. These are challenging times, but Together We Will. We wish you a safe, healthy, and successful academic year. 

Go Green!

Christina K. Brogdon, PHR
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Michigan State University

Job of the Week: Culinary Services Retail and Events Manager

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a job posting from the Division of Student Life and Engagement for a Culinary Service Retail and Events Manager (801943). The Division of Student Life and Engagement engages students in active learning, ensures students are prepared for leadership roles and enhances educational environments.

The Culinary Service and Events Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating concessions, retail, cash, food sales, novelties and other areas related to the Culinary Services department. They will hire, train, schedule and review the performance of support staff. They will also coordinate with community service groups to provide work at athletic and special events. For a list of all responsibilities, click here.

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in hospitality business or business administration. They should also have three to five years of experience in management, retail, cash food operations and overseeing multiple operation sites.

To learn more about the Division of Student Life and Engagement, visit studentlife.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a cover letter, resume, three professional references and apply here by August 17.

MSU Surplus Store

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With the school year approaching fast, it’s the perfect time to check out the best-kept secret on campus, the MSU Surplus Store! You can visit online here or shop in person on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center helps keep MSU green by innovating the community’s used materials. Last year, the center was able to divert 13 million pounds of material collected from the landfill. 

The store also prides itself on their zero waste policy, meaning that if they collect something that cannot be resold, they recycle it for parts at their onsite recycling center. If you are interested in learning more about the center, visit their website here. 

The store sells a wide variety of products with anything from school supplies to furniture. In addition to the store and website, the surplus store has an Amazon Storefront, eBay account and Etsy account. The best part of these online resources are the textbooks, so if you are a student or have a student at home, check out these sites before buying your textbooks at full price somewhere else. 

You can visit the MSU Surplus Store at 468 Green Way, East Lansing. While in-person shopping is only open on Fridays, the store offers curbside pickup Monday through Friday. To shop or learn more about the store, visit msusurplusstore.com. 

Back to School 2022

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Whether you have one of those families that loves shopping for back to school, or they dread it every year, MSU Benefits Plus has you covered. All benefit-eligible employees can log into the MSU Benefits Plus portal with their ZPID, which can be found on EBS, and find dozens of discounts to get you and your family heading back to school in style without paying full price. 

Below are just a few examples of what might be useful this time of year. 

Computer & Electronics

Technology is now an essential part of the school supply list so enjoy extra savings on those investments through a variety of retailers, even here at MSU. 

  • Apple: Employee pricing on everything you purchase
  • HP: Up to 52% off computers and accessories
  • Dell: Up to 30% off using the Member ID PS113067902
  • Lenovo: Back to School savings of up to 70% off until August 21!
  • MSU Tech Store: Purchase all kinds of tech with prices exclusive to MSU staff, faculty, and students

Family and Dependent Care

Back-to-school season is busy so it’s a great time to make sure you have the best childcare for all-day service, after school, tutoring, or even date night. 

  • KinderCare: 10% off with code CORESTREAMCLIENTS
  • Learning Care Group (includes TutorTime of Okemos and DeWitt): 10% off childcare and free registration
  • Care.com (available through MSU WorkLife Office): FREE premium membership (savings of $156 per year)! 
  • Eat at State: While they can’t watch your kids for you, they can provide the whole family with a convenient dinner option that includes choices sure to please everyone, and at a discount for faculty and staff!

Clothing and Apparel

Everyone wants a great outfit for their first day of school, whether you’re a student, an educator, or even if it’s just another day at the office. 

  • Bombas: 20% off with code CORE20 (plus a pair is donated with every pair purchased!) 
  • Forever 21: 20% purchases of $65 or more with code BMSM20
  • JCPenney: Save an extra 15% with code AFFSHOP1
  • Spartan Spirit Shops: Visit any Shop in person and show your Faculty/Staff ID for 20% off!

Education 

Learn a new skill, stock up on textbooks for those fall courses, and show your Spartan spirit, all at a discount through these local organizations. 

For all of these discounts and more visit the HR Website or the MSU Benefits Plus portal. Employees can also call Benefits Plus at 888-758-7575 with any questions. Back to School is on at Michigan State!

Job of the Week: Administrative Business Analyst

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a job posting from the College of Music for an Administrative Business Analyst (799595). The College of Music is designed to foster innovation and creativity while helping every student achieve professional success. 

The Administrative Business Analyst is responsible for the accounting processes and financial reports for the Community Music School, including budget development and forecasting. They will monitor and analyze accounting records for the directors of the East Lansing and Detroit Community Music School programs. They will also communicate plans, objectives, policies and procedures to faculty and staff. For a list of all responsibilities, click here. 

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in a business-related field. They should have one to three years of experience in office work or operational activities. They should also have experience with word processing, database, spreadsheet, presentation, desktop publishing and web page software.

To learn more about the College of Music, visit music.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, letter of interest, contact information for three professional references and apply here by August 23.

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Leadership Blog Series: Learning & Development Resources for Supervisors

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Whether new to a supervisory role or a long-time manager, the best leaders are lifelong learners adaptable to change and flexible in their leadership style. The rapid changes and unknowns of the past couple years have made it particularly clear that supervisors must embrace the complexity of their roles, which demands new ideas and strategies to stay fresh and ahead of the curve. HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department has resources to help.

NEW LEADER DEVELOPMENT SERIES (NLDS)

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. Registration is available in EBS for the next NLDS cohort, beginning August 30, 2022.  

Sessions cover a variety of topics, including:

  • Leading in a Union Environment
  • Workforce Management and Strategic Staffing
  • Fostering an Inclusive Culture
  • Budget Responsibilities and Ethical Finance
  • Conflict Management
  • and more

Learn more about NLDS.

LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

Looking to learn or strengthen specific leadership skills? OPD has both in-person classes and virtual courses to provide expanded options and best meet your learning needs and preferences.*

View all upcoming OPD course offerings.

SELF-DIRECTED LEADERSHIP RESOURCES

elevateU

On-demand, self-paced courses, videos, audiobooks and more are available to MSU employees via the free elevateU platform, including a Leadership Development section covering a wide range of leadership topics.

Access elevateU leadership resources.

Leadership Library

Created by a cross-departmental workgroup to assist leaders in navigating challenges and handling their responsibilities with confidence, the online Leadership Library highlights curated content related to timely topics.

Visit the online Leadership Library.

Have questions regarding the above resources and opportunities? Contact OPD at prodev@hr.msu.edu for additional information.

*MSU HR Organization and Professional Development follows all applicable state and public health guidance and university-wide directives. If deemed necessary or advisable to refrain from in-person learning, courses scheduled as in-person will instead be hosted in a virtual format.

August Events Round-up

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

Campus Events

Starts August 3 – 25th Annual Muelder Summer Carillon Concert Series (free): Enjoy the bells of Beaumont Tower, for free, every Wednesday.

August 6 – Family Day: Grow (free): Enjoy Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum. There will be hands-on, interactive activities throughout the museum.

August 14 – Architecture Tour (free): Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MSU Broad Art Museum by learning more about the building’s unique architecture.

Starts August 18 – Tuesdays with Morrie: Come see the play based on the best-selling memoir of all time, Tuesdays with Morrie at the Wharton Center.

August 18 – Vince Gill featuring Wendy Moten: Enjoy music from recording artist Vince Gill and singer from The Voice, Wendy Moten at the Wharton Center. 

August 27 – Public Making Hours (free): Join fellow community members in working on creative projects.

Lansing Events

Starts August 2 –  Michigan Princess Lunchtime Cruise: Enjoy lunch and music from Dixieland Jazz Band on a cruise down the river on August 2 and 18. 

August 3 – Concert in the Park (free): Enjoy music from Global Village at parks all over LansingAugust 18 – Zoo Night: Come see the Potter Park Zoo after hours with drinks and food. For guests 21 and over. 

August 20 – Art Feast (free to enter): Enjoy this arts and craft festival in the heart of Old Town Lansing. 

Health and Wellness

Starts August 3 – Explorations in Eating (free): Learn what “normal eating” looks like with registered dietician, Abby Richey, on Teams August 3, 17 and 31. 

Starts August 3 – Fresh Air Fitness: Pilates in the Garden (free): Enjoy the outdoors and pilates in the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden on August 3, 10 and 17. 

August 21 – Wellness Weekend Series: Movement Workshop (free): Move, converse and interact in a low pressure environment meant for all people.

Family-Friendly Activities

August 1 – Sensory Friendly Hours: Visit the Impression5 Science Center for their sensory friendly hours.

August 2 – National Night Out: Touch-a-Truck (free): Bring the whole family to explore fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles and more.

Starts August 5 – Chasing the Ghost Particle: From the South Pole to the Edge of the Universe: Learn about Earth’s most remote locations at the Abrams Planetarium every weekend.

Starts August 5 – Summer Concert Series (free): Enjoy live performances on Friday nights in the Ann Street Plaza.  

Starts August 5 – SkyTellers: Seasons and Moon: Hear from Native American Master Storytellers at the Abrams Planetarium every Sunday.

August 6 – 49th Annual Art Fair (free): Enjoy a fine arts and craft show in historic downtown Grand Ledge.

August 8  – MSU Bug House Monday Night Open House (free): View insects from all over the world at the MSU Bug House.

Job of the Week: Athletic Trainer I

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a job posting from the Division of Student Life and Engagement for an Athletic Trainer (posting 799902). The Division of Student Life and Engagement engages students in active learning, ensures students are prepared for leadership roles and enhances educational environments.

The Athletic Trainer is responsible for providing first-responder services for Club Sports, Intramural Sports and other participants. This includes injury care, evaluations, referrals, record keeping and follow-up. They will participate in athletic training education programs and serve as a liaison with Intercollegiate Athletics Athletic Training and the Olin Health Center. They will also collaborate with MSU Recreational Sports staff and the university community. For a list of all responsibilities, click here. 

The ideal candidate should have a Masters degree in Physical Education and relevant coursework in athletic training. They should also have three to five years of experience in athletic training and certification by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). 
To learn more about the Division of Student Life and Engagement, visit studentlife.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a cover letter, resume, three professional references and apply here by August 9.

Job of the Week: Educational Program Coordinator I

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a job posting from the College of Education for an Educational Program Coordinator (posting 797486). The College of Education has established a reputation for excellence and visionary thinking in its efforts to improve teaching and learning across our nation and world, particularly within the contexts of urban and global education.

The Educational Program Coordinator is responsible for organizing educational materials to inform participants of innovations, resources and offerings. They will develop agendas and coordinate dates and logistics for events like speakers, conferences, courses, etc. They will also gather information from meetings, evaluation forms and input to help design programs and materials. For a list of all responsibilities, click here. 

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in Educational Theory and Methodology or a related field. They should have six months to 1 year of experience in planning and overseeing conferences. They should also have experience in database, word processing and knowledge of website development.

To learn more about the College of Education, visit education.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a cover letter and resume and apply here by July 26.