Mental Health Matters: Resources from MSU

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Health is no longer seen solely as a way to measure how often you go to the gym and how many veggies you eat each week. Now, in today’s world and workplace, mental health is recognized as one of the biggest players in your overall health. That means resources to support mental health are more important and more available than ever before, but they can be hard to navigate. Here are some resources you can use at MSU to improve or keep up your mental health and improve your overall health along the way. 

MSU Health 4 U

MSU Health 4 U is part of the Office of the University Physician and is a way to get resources for all aspects of your health through Michigan State and with other employees. 

Employee Assistance Program Counseling Services

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counseling service provided at no cost to MSU faculty, staff, retirees, graduate student employees, and their families. Learn how to make an appointment on the EAP website. These appointments are offered virtually through Zoom or in-person if you are comfortable. This is the only direct-through-university program offered for employees currently, so the wait time for an appointment is higher than normal. If you are in need of support earlier than EAP can offer, check out the offsite resources below.

Teladoc and Best Doctors Service

As a reminder, benefit-eligible employees also have access to Teladoc and Best Doctors Behavioral Health Navigator for mental health services. Teladoc offers 24/7 access to a healthcare professional via web, phone or mobile app for employees enrolled in an MSU health plan. Employees and their dependents over 18 can also receive medical care for behavioral health (depression, anxiety, grief counseling, addiction, etc.). If deemed medically necessary, a prescription will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice. The Behavioral Health Navigator can help you get a second opinion on any medical decisions and access to coaching and online educational tools.

Your mental health matters and MSU resources and benefits are available to get you—or keep you—on the path to a healthy body and healthy mind.

Job of the Week: MSU Extension District Director

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring two Extension District Director positions (internal posting 738242) through MSU Extension.

The MSU Extension (MSUE) District Director is part of MSUE’s administrative team. Two districts, District 4 and District 6, have director openings. District 4 supports the counties of Alcona, Arenacc, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda, and Roscommon. District 6 supports the counties of Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Mecosta, Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford. The role of the district director is to develop and maintain relationships between MSU Extension and community partners, provide oversight and mentoring to MSUE educators, paraprofessionals, and support staff, and to employ entrepreneurial efforts to secure resources with partners. In this role, you will join the MSUE administrative team and collaborate regularly with colleagues across MSUE. You will lead efforts to recruit staff and work with Institute Directors to develop, coach and mentor staff, and when applicable, address personnel matters. This role entails the responsibility to develop, maintain and enhance relationships with the district. You will work closely with county boards of commissioners on budgets and other matters relative to the work MSUE does. You will help partners understand the mission and impacts of MSUE by telling a story to community partners and organizations.

The minimum qualifications for this position include a completed Master’s degree by the date of hire and demonstrated experience in building relationships with community partners, resource development and budget management. The applicant must also be able to demonstrate interpersonal skills, outstanding oral and written communication skills, proficiency in technology for day-to-day work and educational program delivery and success in program development for diverse audiences and communities. Experience with marketing and promotion of education programs, demonstrated skills and professional development from the last five years related to cultural competency, inclusive excellence and the understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and standards are also required.

The office location for the district director is negotiable. The Ogemaw County office in D4 and the Clare County office in D6 would provide a central location with easy driving access to all countries supported by the position.

Learn more about MSU Extension here. More information about the position and how to apply is available within the EBS portal by selecting the “My Careers and Training” menu at the top and clicking the “Careers @ MSU” tile. The job closes on October 19th and you must submit a resume, cover letter and four professional references including two current or previous supervisors to apply.

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What’s Your Plan: Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You

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Updated December 2023

Hopefully, you’ve had the opportunity to look at MSU’s strategic plan. The plan, MSU 2030: Empowering Excellence, Advancing Equity and Expanding Impact, provides a framework and vision for the university that puts people first, prioritizing the success of students, staff, and faculty while focusing on key areas of growth:

  • Expanded opportunity.
  • Advanced equity.
  • Elevated excellence.
  • Strengthened community.
  • Strengthened stewardship. 

Most units and departments at MSU also have strategic plans in place to guide their work—perhaps you’ve led or been a part of creating one of these plans. The next step is to make a personal strategic plan to guide you as an individual.

Why Have a Personal Strategic Plan?

One way we measure success at MSU is through goal setting and attainment, often using the Performance Excellence framework. Creating a personal strategic plan can be an extension of this goal-oriented process, providing a vision and structure for your professional life and an anchor for you to connect with during periods of change and as new opportunities arise. A personal strategic plan will help ensure your professional goals and actions are aligned with what matters most in your life.

Six Steps to Strategic Success

Your personal strategic plan will likely include career goals (e.g., ongoing development in your current position or preparing for a different role), finances, health, and professional relationships. The Center for Association Leadership recommends a six-step process that can serve as a starting point for creating your individual plan.

  1. Find time. Even if it’s just ten minutes you set aside each day, take a step away from your day-to-day duties and responsibilities and envision what you want to accomplish.
  2. Clarify your values. What matters most in your life? Many of us find it easy to identify the first few priorities—perhaps family, health, happiness—but you may need to dig deeper for the purposes of a personal strategic plan. Think carefully about everything you truly value and want to honor. Consider areas such as relationships and connectivity at both personal and professional levels, recognition or greater influence, time, flexibility, life/work integration, personal growth, new challenges, and meaningful work.
  3. Create your mission statement. No need to overthink or be intimidated by this step. Simply write a brief statement—just a sentence or two—based on the values you want to honor. This is not intended to redefine who you are or remain static as time goes on. Rather, it serves as a reminder of your life’s and your work’s purpose and can be a touchstone you can use to help guide your behavior and inform your decisions.
  4. Do a SWOT analysis on yourself. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis is typically done in conjunction with a new project or goal, but we don’t always take the time to examine these aspects of ourselves as individuals. What are your personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? Can a close colleague or mentor provide you with honest feedback regarding these areas? In our current environment of rapid, ongoing change, what are the opportunities and threats that may apply to your plan?
  5. Create your goals. Identify SMART and HARD goals that align with the core values you identified. Your goals can be broad, but your action steps should be specific and time-limited. Be realistic about what you can accomplish and prioritize what’s most important to you. Typically, three or four goals with one or two action steps for each is a manageable target each year.
  6. Determine the support you need to stay accountable. Identify a friend or colleague as an accountability partner to help you stick to your plan, and agree on a regular time to check-in. Schedule a time weekly, biweekly, or monthly to review your personal strategic plan on your own and modify it as needed.

Align Your Personal Plan with the Larger Picture

Take the time to compare your personal strategic plan with the plans of the university and your unit. Where do they intersect? Where do they diverge? Are there ways they could better align, leading to greater job satisfaction and performance?

Focus on what is within your control, as opposed to things you cannot control, such as the economy or what your coworker does or does not do. Take daily actions, no matter how small, to create real, meaningful change and be sure to celebrate your successes! Realize that some changes happen quickly, while others take much longer. The key is to be patient with yourself and know you are moving in the right direction.

Below are upcoming Organization and Professional Development (OPD) courses that can help you better identify your key values and goals to create a personal strategic plan that’s right for you. OPD is also available at prodev@hr.msu.edu for additional information and resources.

Useful Courses for All Employees (Session dates for 2024 will be released soon)

Courses Designed for Supervisors and Managers (Session dates for 2024 will be released soon)

Sources
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/create-your-personal-strategic-plan-six-steps-ashka-wirk

https://www.asaecenter.org/association-careerhq/career/articles/career-management/create-your-personal-strategic-plan

Job of the Week: Transportation Services Motor Pool Manager

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a Transportation Services Motor Pool Manager position (posting 736792) through Infrastructure Planning and Facilities.

This support staff position will manage the human resources, operational and financial activities of the Motor Pool. The individual is also responsible for maintaining accurate licensed vehicle records for the university fleet and verifies compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations pertaining to vehicle ownership and operation. The Motor Pool Manager must understand and follow all IPF and University guidelines, rules, and policies governing personal conduct of employees, as well as all  policies related to licensed vehicle operation and ownership as documented in the Manual of Business Procedures. The position will engage in high performance, leading edge practices, which are innovative in their approach to increased stewardship and service excellence. The goal is to foster the mission, vision, and values of IPF and MSU. For a full list of responsibilities, click here. 

Applicants interested in this role must have knowledge normally acquired in the first two or three years of college, technical, or vocational school in business administration or a related area. Five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in supervising operational activities in an automotive or transportation service area is also required. Some related combination of education and experience may also be accepted. The applicant must also possess a valid vehicle operator’s license and must meet MSU safe driving standards. The desired qualifications for this role include experience and knowledge of facilities and municipal transportations operations, processes, and procedures as well as knowledge of University policies and practices. Effective oral and written communication skills, collaboration and problem solving skills, and familiarity with Asset Management systems, Microsoft Office 365, and a CAFM/CAFS fleet industry certification are also desired for applicants. The applicant should also be a creative and innovative learner with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population and collaborate well within a team environment. 

To read more about the department of this position, visit https://ipf.msu.edu/service-billing/service-catalog/transportation. Learn more about the position and apply with a cover letter and resume by September 29 here. Find all the latest job postings at careers.msu.edu. 

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2022 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 2022 award and the nomination form and accompany materials are due October 30, 2021. 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. 

Please review the nomination form and the HR website for further details. Do not notify the nominee before or after submitting your nomination. The nomination form and accompanying materials are due October 30, 2021. Contact MSU Human Resources with any questions at 517-353-4434.

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Motivational Monday Round-Up

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Todd Bradley, HR’s Senior Learning and Organization Development Specialist, has been keeping us motivated all spring and summer with his short videos full of insight. For a motivational boost, check out this round-up of Todd’s latest videos.

These videos were designed to motivate and inspire MSU employees, exploring topics like rational thinking skills, emotive skills and more for both professional and personal development. Visit the MSU HR YouTube channel to view Todd’s full series of Todd Talk videos.

Motivational Monday: Stress Management

Todd helps us take some deep breaths and offers some tips on how to handle stress.

Motivational Monday: Motivation and Engagement

Todd asks us about our motivations and brings them into our jobs.

Motivational Monday: Navigating Change

Todd shares his tips to help thrive through change

Motivational Monday: Effective Team Work

Todd reflects on MSU’s teamwork through the pandemic.

Visit the MSU HR YouTube channel to view Todd’s full series of Todd Talk videos.

Job of the Week: Culinary Platform Attendant

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a Culinary Platform Attendant position (posting 727321) through Residential and Hospitality Services.

This support staff position is located in Akers and Hubbard Halls and has various tasks assigned. These include performing basic food preparation functions while interacting directly with guests and assembling food ingredients to create a unique customer experience. You will also assist cooks in food preparation as needed, use proper preparation and culinary techniques to prepare food including chopping, cutting, slicing, thawing, marinating and sautéing and using culinary knowledge of proper garnishing and plate presentations. Other parts of the position are interacting and improvising dishes directly with customers, maintaining a clean, sanitary and safe working environment and using good sanitation and safety practices. For a full list of responsibilities, click here. 

Applicants interested in this role must have graduated from high school or have an equivalent combination of education and experience. One year of full time experience in food preparation and use of kitchen equipment, knowledge of kitchen safety practices, ability to read weights and measures and the ability to weigh and measure ingredients. The applicant should also be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole number and fractions.Knowledge of various methods of food preparation are also required. Final requirements include the ability to properly use knives, the ability and skill to prepare items using proper methods and production timing to assure freshly cooked products are ready for continuous service and the occasional lifting of 26 to 75 pounds. The desired qualifications of the position are: a demonstrated ability to work with staff at all levels; experience working as part of a successful team; strong organizational and interpersonal skills; good verbal communication skills; a commitment to and enthusiasm for the organization’s mission and respect for our core values: people, practice and purpose. 

To read more about the department of this position, visit https://rhs.msu.edu/. Learn more about the position and apply by September 29 here. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in a job through Residential and Hospitality Services, there are limited full time positions and multiple part time positions available. All positions will be advertised at the RHS hiring fair, September 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more here. 

Find all the latest job postings at careers.msu.edu. 

photo of woman working at her laptop.

Leadership Blog Series: Positive Boundaries

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Written by Sharri Margraves, HR Associate Director for Organization and Professional Development 

What are your “hard and fast” boundaries, and which are those that are easier to slip up on? Although maintaining healthy boundaries of all varieties is a critical component of a leader’s well-being and success, time is perhaps the most common boundary because of its fluidity, with demands changing daily.

While even the most effective leaders will have to make hard choices from time to time, the hallmarks of weak boundaries can be challenging to rein in. Reflecting on my career thus far, I can see that I made too many value trade-offs between my time, my family and my hobbies over the years.

I worked over two solid decades before I had a supervisor who expressly set positive boundaries around time. She was leaving for vacation and made a point of turning off her email and her phone during our staff meeting, saying she expected the same from all of us when we left the office.

Two powerful points were made with her simple actions: 

  1. The behavior of a supervisor sets the tone and culture. Leaders need to talk about boundaries as part of norms and culture. We need to recharge to be effective, and we need to help others do the same.
  2. Your staff can handle it. Develop your staff and your trust in them. They will make the best decisions they can with the information they have.

Leaders can enhance their authenticity by maintaining positive boundaries. An easy way to start? Do what you say you will do and don’t do what you say you will not do. One leader I know is clear about not doing anything “illegal, immoral, unsafe, or unethical, and I get to decide what that is.”

Additional ways you can establish and encourage positive boundaries for your team:

  • Model behaviors that demonstrate healthy boundaries.
  • Help employees identify and communicate boundaries.
  • Have conversations about boundaries; normalize discussions on the topic.
  • Reward and recognize employees who set and maintain boundaries.
  • Acknowledge when boundaries are overstepped.
  • Communicate to your team the importance of boundaries.

Find recommended live, online courses below to assist with establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries for you and others, and reach out to MSU HR’s Organization and Professional Development department at prodev@hr.msu.edu if you’d like additional guidance or resources.

UPCOMING OPD COURSES (LIVE, ONLINE FORMAT)

Sources

https://www.boundariesbooks.com/blogs/boundaries-blog/why-leaders-need-to-set-boundaries-in-the-workplace

https://www.workplaceoptions.com/blog/management-tip-taking-the-lead-on-setting-boundaries/

MSU: The Gold Standard for Sustainability

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Michigan State University is and has always been at the forefront of sustainability in higher education. With programs set up to improve our impact on the planet around every part of campus, it is no surprise that the University received a Gold Rating for sustainability from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education in 2019. Even after MSU earned that ranking, which you can read more about here, Spartans continue to innovate and create new ways to be sustainable. 

But what does sustainability mean? Sustainability is the practice of adjusting how we live, learn, and work so that we limit and eventually cut out our uses of limited resources on this earth. Basically, we partake in practices that can be sustained over time, reducing our personal impact on the environment. The MSU Department of Community Sustainability helps the whole University do this. 

The Department of Sustainability is a great resource for staff, faculty and students of the University because of the weekly events it puts on to encourage sustainability in daily life and the resources it provides for members of the community interested in implementing more sustainable practices into their life and work. Through weekly programs, staff certifications, support for student-run gardens, recycling programs and much more, MSU Sustainability has it all.

On Wednesdays, MSU Sustainability and MSU Health Promotion team up for Well-Being Wednesdays. This fall, staff, faculty and students are all getting together on Dem Field to reunite “in Motion” by doing activities like blender bike composting, bringing sustainability into healthy living. On Fridays, MSU Sustainability and MSU Broad Art Labs team up for Spartan Upcycle Fridays, a fun, open-house style event where you can bring your own materials or reuse theirs to create art out of anything. This is a program everyone is excited to see come back in person as it was a fan favorite before the university went all online. Register for upcoming Upcycle Fridays here.

MSU Sustainability also has a certification program just for faculty and staff coordinators. You can get certified in sustainable practices for your unit that reduce your waste impact in the workplace through the Green Office Program while working towards a greener MSU community. Not only does this certification create a better workplace at MSU, but the training can be brought into daily life, making every step you take a step towards a fully sustainable lifestyle. 

One of the best ways to practice sustainability is buying local produce, and this is possible with the MSU Student Organic Farm. Sustainable agriculture is being taught at MSU, and as a consumer of the goods from the farm, you can support the mission to make growing practices better for the environment while enjoying great produce and great prices. Interested in becoming a sustainable farmer yourself? Look no further than the Organic Farmer Training Program, currently registering members of the MSU community for in person training starting in 2022. 

Finally, one of the simplest but most important things you can do to decrease your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future is to recycle. At MSU, learning to correctly recycle is as easy as watching a short video or reading the recycling and reuse guidelines, both located on the MSU recycling website.

With the help of the MSU Department of Community Sustainability, it is easier than ever to change up little parts of your lifestyle and Go Green!

Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring an Alumni and Donor Relations coordinator position (posting 731264) through the MSU College of Education. 

This support staff position will coordinate the alumni activities of the College of Education to help alumni establish lifelong relationships with their alma mater. This is accomplished by engaging alumni in activities and events, keeping alumni informed of events happening in the college and around campus, getting alumni involved in college boards and programs and providing services that keep alumni networking with the college and current students as well as with other alumni. The coordinator will also be responsible for managing the alumni board within each department and the college as a whole and providing these boards with strategies to increase involvement and donations in the college. For a full list of responsibilities, click here. 

Applicants interested in this role must have knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in a related field. Additionally, one to three years of related and progressively more responsible and expansive experience in the planning and production of institutional and fundraising events, experience with contractor and vendor contract negotiations, ability to develop event budget reports and experience in database, spreadsheet, word processing and presentation software is required. Any equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered. The desired qualifications for this role include excellent interpersonal communication skills; volunteer management and organizational development knowledge; strategic planning and operations experience or knowledge; computer skills for data entry, manipulation and database systems management; project management skills; journalistic writing skills; knowledge of internet communications; experience with annual giving solicitation, planning and techniques; ability to work on occasional weekends, evenings and travel locally and nationally; and the flexibility to perform other duties as assigned.  

To read more about the department of this position, visit ​​https://education.msu.edu/. Learn more about the position and apply with a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information for three professional references by September 28 here. Find all the latest job postings at careers.msu.edu.