Happy Cow Appreciation Day!

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It’s Cow Appreciation Day! To celebrate these four-legged friends, take the family to the MSU Dairy Store for a tasty treat or visit the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center south of campus to say hello and share your appreciation in person! 

The MSU Dairy Store sales support the teaching, research and outreach mission of the Dairy Foods Complex, where students interested in a career in the dairy foods industry have access to current equipment, technology and training. MSU’s research aids scientists in addressing food safety and processing issues.

The dairy store serves a wide variety of ice cream flavors that change daily. Through the month of July, they are serving a specialty cotton candy ice cream sundae topped with pop rocks, cotton candy and an MSU Bakery cupcake. For those who like their dairy on the savory side, the dairy store also sells cheese by the block or in gift boxes. 

The MSU Dairy Store summer hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. To learn more about the MSU Dairy Store, click here.

For a fun outdoor family activity this summer, visit the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, located on the university farms immediately south of MSU campus at 4075 N. College Road, between Forest and Jolly Roads. Visitors are welcome at the farm during daylight hours and can visit any animals accessible from outside or with open doors. The Michigan State University dairy herd is maintained for teaching, extension, and research purposes. Learning experiences are provided for classes in both Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine.

Spartans’ Top Tips for Successful Hybrid or Remote Work

Published on by Chelsey Fether2 Comments

With the implementation of MSU’s new remote work policies, many of us are officially working a hybrid or remote schedule or are considering doing so in the future. 

We asked Spartans who work all over campus to share their best tips for their hybrid or remote work schedules. The top tips below cover leveraging Teams, establishing a consistent routine, staying connected with colleagues, and more. 

Tips for a Successful Hybrid Schedule

“Having a docking station at home and work makes things very seamless. A daily morning routine to get yourself focused for work is also helpful.” –Elizabeth V.

“Our team takes turns covering the administrative office, so we are always open, and everyone gets to work from home a few days a week. During our weekly Zoom meetings, we talk through shared tasks and have a few laughs. We also have mini-retreats each semester to plan for big events, projects, and challenges. The hybrid schedule helps us to focus and enhance productivity while giving our staff the flexibility to achieve better life balance.” –Mary Beth G.

“Work with your team to determine the best days for in-person and remote work. Put a sign at your desk letting people know when you are remote or in-person and how to reach you. Add reminders to your calendar at the end of your location transition day to bring your work materials with you for the next morning. When switching from remote to in-office, place your bags by the door the night before to help you remember. Use a laptop with a docking station for an easy transition. When remote, reach out to coworkers to ensure everything is running smoothly and see how their day is going.” –Brooke P.

“I highly recommend using the Microsoft Teams apps: Tasks by Planner and To Do and Remind Myself. Tasks by Planner and To-Do allows me to create a digital list of tasks and arrange them by priority, due date, and active or completed. Remind Myself is for tasks unsuited to my calendar but require attention. The application provides the option to list and snooze your reminders. All reminders appear as a chat notification in Teams. Both applications allow me to remain focused and organized in the office and home!” –Bianca P.

“Wake up at the same time, no matter where you work. Keep a notebook of your daily tasks that is easy to carry back and forth. I have a file on a shared drive to access from both locations. Try to maintain a healthy diet at home and in the office. Exercise daily—podcasts make it fun. Take time when you are in the office to connect with others.” –Sue S.

“To ensure I have the information I need in the office and at home, I have a file folder holder I keep important documents in that I take back and forth. The files stay in the folder until I need them.” –Rhonda B.

Tips for a Successful Remote Schedule

“My team has co-working times–Teams meetings where team members join for a set amount of time. We discuss how we’re doing, what we’ve been working on, and what we want to work on during our time together. The meetings keep us connected and allow us to get help if needed.” –Kelly S.

“When working remotely, put on music you like. I listen to my ‘Liked Songs’ playlist for a happy boost. I also like to put on a video I’ve seen multiple times that I can ignore. As a former teacher, I would often grade papers and write lesson plans with the movie, ‘You’ve Got Mail’ playing in the background.” –Corinne L.

“I think it is important for people working remotely or in a hybrid setting to have a designated office space (not a dining room or kitchen table). Remote work comes with its perks. If I don’t have a Zoom meeting all day, I will usually dress a little more comfortably. On days when I have meetings, I will dress as if I were going to the office. Do what makes you comfortable and productive! Be sure to take breaks too! I will sometimes block my calendar for my lunch break so I don’t forget and others will see that I am away on my calendar.” –Marie G.

“Stay in a routine, utilize your calendar and practice good time management. Stay in touch with your team and if you are caught up, ask your supervisor if you can do more to help. Take your designated lunch hour to maintain your routine. Time management skills are key to working remotely. Set yourself weekly and daily goals to accomplish tasks in an effective and timely manner.”

Christine H.

Thank you to everyone who shared their ideas! If you have more tips, share them in the comments!

Job of the Week: Extension Specialist

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a job posting from MSU Extension’s Agriculture and Agribusiness for an Extension Specialist (posting 793218). MSU Extension of Agriculture and Agribusiness aims to increase farmers’ success while conserving the environment, assuring food safety, finding new markets and progressing agriculture through applied research. For more information about MSU Extension, click here.

The Extension Specialist is responsible for assisting with statewide trends and needs assessment for agriculture and agribusiness related programming and applied research. They will support the Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute (AABI) work team functions, including leadership development, and multi-level and multi-disciplinary program planning, implementation and evaluation. They will also work with the AABI Director, work team members and evaluation specialists to assist in writing AABI action plans and year-end reports. For a list of all responsibilities, click here. 

The ideal candidate should have a master’s degree in an agricultural field or a closely related field. It is preferred that applicants have a doctorate degree in an agricultural field or a closely related field, but not required. They should also have five years of experience in Extension or similar organizations with an emphasis on agriculture or agribusiness related programming. For a list of all qualifications, click here.

To learn more about MSU Extension, visit canr.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter and four professional references and submit your application here by August 8.

Two people are seated next to each other in an office setting. We see a side profile of one individual holding papers and a front view of another individual, who is smiling a the other person

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

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When you think of upskilling — learning new skills — at work, what comes to mind? Perhaps learning new software or working toward a certification or degree. There’s no question that many in-demand skills are technical in nature, but there’s also a critical need for what are sometimes described as “soft” skills, particularly strong emotional intelligence (EI).

EI allows us to build and maintain relationships and influence others — important skills no matter your position and area of work — and research has found people with greater EI tend to be more innovative and have higher job satisfaction than those with lower EI. Using emotional intelligence in the workplace can improve decision-making and social interactions, and enhance your ability to cope with change and stress.

The good news is that, like technical skills, soft skills such as EI can also be learned and improved.

Emotional Intelligence: What It Is

To strengthen your emotional intelligence, it’s important to know what it entails. Most definitions of EI include the following components:

  1. Perception and expression of emotion — Noticing your own emotions and picking up on the emotions of others as well as the ability to distinguish between discrete emotions.
  2. Using emotion to facilitate thought — How you incorporate emotions into your thinking processes and understand when and how emotions can be helpful for reasoning processes.
  3. Understanding and analyzing emotions —The capacity to decode emotions, make sense of their meaning, and understand how they relate to each other and change over time.
  4. Reflective regulation of emotion —An openness to all emotions and the ability to regulate your own emotions and the emotions of others to facilitate growth and insight.

Measuring Your Emotional Intelligence Skills

Do you find you relate to either of these statements?

“I want to improve my EI skills but don’t know where to start.”

“I already have strong emotional intelligence skills. This isn’t an area I need to work on.”

As is the case with any skill, we all have varying levels of aptitude when it comes to EI and may feel overwhelmed about where to begin.

One interesting study found that 95% of participants gave themselves high marks in self-awareness. However, using more empirical measures of self-awareness, the study found that only 10-15% of the cohort was truly self-aware. Consider the following characteristics typical of people with higher and lower EI skillsets as one way to better gauge your skillset:

Potential indicators of higher EI:

  • Understanding the links between your emotions and how you behave
  • Remaining calm and composed during stressful situations
  • Ability to influence others toward a common goal
  • Handling difficult people with tact and diplomacy

Potential indicators of lower EI:

  • Often feeling misunderstood
  • Getting upset easily
  • Becoming overwhelmed by emotions
  • Having problems being assertive

It’s important to note that these potential indicators can also stem from other causes and vary significantly depending on the day and situation.

Learning and Developing Emotional Intelligence

Research indicates that as little as ten hours of EI training (i.e., lectures, role-play, group discussions, readings) significantly improved people’s ability to identify and manage their emotions, and these benefits were sustained six months later.

No matter your current EI skillset, it may be helpful to try the following exercises:

  1. Notice how you respond to people — Are you judgmental or biased in your assessments of others?
  2. Practice humility — Being humble about your achievements means you can acknowledge your successes without needing to shout about them.
  3. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and vulnerabilities and consider development opportunities. Even though it might make you cringe, it’s helpful to get others’ viewpoints on your emotional intelligence. Ask people how they think you handle tricky situations and respond to the emotions of others.
  4. Think about how you deal with stressful events — Do you seek to blame others? Can you keep your emotions in check?
  5. Take responsibility for your actions and apologize when you need to.
  6. Consider how your choices can affect others — Try to imagine how they might feel before you do something that could affect them.

Interested in further increasing your EI skills? Check out the resources below to get you started.

Additional Resources

elevateU Featured Topic: Emotional Intelligence | Short videos, self-paced online courses and more

Essential Skills for Navigating Challenging Times | Free, instructor-led offering from MSU Health4U | Eight-session series begins July 12

Everything DiSC: Behavior Styles at Work | Instructor-led offering from HR Organization and Professional Development | July 20 or October 20

Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace | Instructor-led offering from HR Organization and Professional Development | August 25

Identify and Maximize Your Strengths | Instructor-led offering from HR Organization and Professional Development | September 21

Sources

https://www.ottawa.edu/online-and-evening/blog/october-2020/the-importance-of-emotional-intelligence-in-the-wo

https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-intelligence-eq/

https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence/

July Events Round-up

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

Events on Campus

Starts July 6 – 25th Annual Muelder Summer Carillon Concert Series: Enjoy the bells of Beaumont Tower, for free, every Wednesday.

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

July 14 – Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Toxic Plants That ‘Fly Under the Radar’: Learn from garden curator, Peter Carrington about what plants may be more dangerous than you think.

July 17 – Soft and Sharp Jazz: 2022 Music and the Garden Series: Bring the whole family for art and science activities, followed by a concert featuring the MSU College of Music chamber music and jazz. 

July 30 – Public Making Hours: Join fellow community members in working on creative projects.

Lansing Events

July 8 – Comedy Murder Mystery Cruise aboard the Michigan Princess: Let the detective in you come to life with a buffet and a trip down the river. 

July 8 – Live Music with Darin Larner Band: Enjoy a wide range of music from Lansing’s own Darin Langer Band. 

July 9 – REO Town Marketplace Celebrates Mardi Gras: Enjoy all the festivities of Mardi Gras  right in Lansing. 

July 14 –  Michigan Princess Lunchtime Cruise: Enjoy lunch and music from Dixieland Jazz Band on a cruise down the river. 

July 21 – Zoo Night: Come see the Potter Park Zoo after hours with drinks and food. For 21+ guests only.

Health and Wellness

July 12 – Good Form Walking/Good Form Running Clinic: Learn injury avoidance practices and improve efficiency of movement while running or walking. 

July 23 – Wellness Weekends Series: Meditation Tour: Utilize meditation and mindfulness techniques to deepen your experience of art. 

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts July 1 – Bad Astronomy: Myths and Misconceptions: Come debunk astronomy myths at the Abrams Planetarium every weekend. 

Starts July 1 – A Teenager’s Guide to the Galaxy: Learn about different science topics at the Abrams Planetarium every Sunday. 

Starts July 8 – Summer Concert Series: Enjoy free live performances on Friday nights in the Ann Street Plaza. 

July 10 – Brunch on the Lawn: Bring a blanket and enjoy brunch from Whipped and Tin Cup Cafe & Creamery Trailer. 

Starts July 11 – Eaton County Fair: Enjoy live entertainment, rides, contests and more until July 16. 

July 11 – MSU Bug House Monday Night Open House: View insects from all over the world at the MSU Bug House. 

Starts July 12 – Play in the Park: Bring the family for an interactive children’s entertainment series July 12 and July 26. 

July 17 – Abrams Planetarium Sensory Friendly Shows: Enjoy sensory friendly shows where everyone is welcome. 

July 30 – Michigan’s Bacon Festival: Celebrate bacon with food, games and live music for all ages.  

July 30 – Sensory Friendly Hours: Visit the Impression5 Science Center for their sensory friendly hours. 

Learning Opportunities

July 6 – Building, Accessing, and Using Contemporary Anishinabe Collections of Michigan State University Museum: Join this ZOOM presentation and learn about the traditional arts of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. 

July 12 & 13 – The Office of Employee Relations (OER) and the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) Presentation: Join this interactive presentation regarding employees with disabilities and the process for requesting workplace disability accommodations. This program will build awareness of disability as part of diversity, inclusive language, and disability accommodation resources.

July 13 – The Power of Habit™: Learn how to replace bad habits with good ones in this course. 

Starts July 14 – Science Gallery – Youth Symposium “Hot and Bothered”: Learn about climate issues until July 19.

July 28 – 2022 MSU Autism Conference: Come listen to panel discussions at The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Human Development annual event. 

Job of the Week: Professional Aide

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a temporary job posting from MSU Intercollegiate Athletics for a Professional Aide (posting 768131). MSU Athletics gathers and engages the Spartan community to teach, support and celebrate student athletes.

The Student Engagement position is mainly responsible for managing student section groups. They will develop and sell student ticket packages and facilitate student entry on game days. They will also advertise and promote events through social media, and track attendance data analytics. This position may also entail providing help to the sales and marketing office with marketing plans and executing promotions. For a list of all responsibilities, click here.

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in marketing, communications, sports management or a related field. It is preferred that they have prior experience working with student sections. Additionally, candidates should be able to manage multiple projects with minimal supervision and work with a large and diverse population. 

This position is temporary and requires non-traditional work hours and weekends.
To learn more about MSU Athletics, visit msuspartans.com/index.aspx. To apply for this position, submit your application here by August 31. 

Make More Time for Fun with These Summer Health Tips

Published on by Josh WorleyLeave a comment

Whether you’re planning a road trip, family picnic, or trip to the lake, there is so much to do in Michigan during the summer months. And while these types of events can provide a ton of fun for your family, there are ways to make Summer safer, too.

Tips for a Healthy Summer

Here are some tips to help keep you safe, stay informed and keep the fun times rolling:

  • Sun Protection: Utilize shade when you can, wear a hat, and don’t forget about the sunscreen (at least SPF 15 is recommended for sun protection).
  • Stay Hydrated: Beat the summer heat and drink a lot of water.
  • Insect Protection: The best way to prevent mosquito bites and ticks is to wear insect repellent and to wear long sleeves or pants. Make sure to check your clothing, body and pets when you go inside!
  • Keep Cool: Take breaks from being in direct sunlight and utilize fans or air conditioning when needed. Take note of weather forecasts and plan events accordingly.

In addition to these tips, if you participate in a flexible spending account (FSA) you can use your funds to help pay for common summer necessities and/or camps for your kids.

Tips for Health Care FSA Funds

Save an average of 30% by using your Health Care FSA funds on the following eligible expenses that double as travel necessities:

  • Allergy medications
  • Blister care kits
  • Bug bite treatments
  • Orthotics/insoles
  • Sun reader eyeglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • SPF lip balm
  • Travel first-aid kits
  • Traveling neck pillows
  • UV detection stickers
  • And more!

Worried about buying something that isn’t considered an eligible expense? Consider shopping at the online FSA Store for worry-free purchases since everything on the FSA Store website is a guaranteed eligible expense. Be sure to check out their monthly coupons and promo codes for additional savings.

If you don’t have an FSA and are wondering if you should participate in one, learn more about the two types of FSAs available to benefit-eligible MSU employees on the HR website and consider enrolling in one or both types during the benefits Open Enrollment period in October this year.

Sources:

Your Mid-Year Benefit Wellness Check-up

Published on by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

Article updated June 2023

National Insurance Awareness Day (June 28) encourages us to review our insurance options to make sure we’re enrolled in the best plans for our families. As an MSU employee, you have a variety of benefit options available to you beyond just health care and dental plans. While many of these benefits allow you to enroll in or make changes at any time, several require you to sign up, change or cancel enrollment during the Open Enrollment period in October. If you’re interested in a benefit but unable to sign up right away, review the plan options and make a list of changes you’d like to make so you’re prepared for the upcoming Open Enrollment period in October.

Benefits without an Enrollment Period

The following benefits are available to enroll in, change or cancel at any time. You’ll find a brief description of each benefit below and you can click on the benefit name for more details and information on how to enroll/register.

  • Auto: find special pricing on insurance for your vehicle through Farmers GroupSelect (formerly MetLife) or Liberty Mutual Insurance.
  • Home: find special pricing on insurance for your home through Farmers GroupSelect (formerly MetLife) or Liberty Mutual Insurance.
  • Livongo by Teladoc Health: employees and their dependents enrolled in an MSU health plan can receive diabetes management supplies and coaching for free.
  • Pet: find special pricing on pet insurance through Nationwide.
  • Teladoc Health: an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a healthcare professional via web, phone, or mobile app. Use Teladoc to get help for a range of conditions including cold/flu, bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, dermatology and more.
  • Teladoc Medical Experts: get medical advice from leading medical experts. Whether you need medical questions answered, a diagnosis double-checked, help deciding on a treatment plan or guidance about a surgery, Teladoc Medical Experts can help.
  • TruHearing: Some benefit providers offer discounts on hearing aids. Please contact the providers directly to learn more about the discounts they offer.
  • Educational Assistance: support staff have access to educational assistance funds to help pay for credit and non-credit professional development opportunities.

Benefits with an Enrollment Period

The following benefit options have an enrollment period. This means you can only enroll in, change or cancel the benefit during Open Enrollment in October each year. We encourage you to review the plans you’re currently enrolled in along with the options available and make a plan to make any necessary changes this October. Please note that updates for the 2024 plan year will be shared this September prior to Open Enrollment in October:

  • Critical Illness: MetLife gives you extra cash in the event you or a covered family member experiences a covered illness.
  • Dental: various plans are available based on your employee type. We encourage you to check which dentists are available in your area before enrolling in a new plan.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): there are two FSA options available for employees – Dependent Care FSA and Health Care FSA. Be sure you know the difference before you enroll.
  • Health Care (including prescription): various plans are available based on your employee type and work location.
  • Legal: ARAG currently offers several plan options to help cover a wide range of legal needs.
  • Life/Accident Insurance: several types of life insurance are available for you to enroll in, along with voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.
  • Vision: two plan options are available through VSP for vision care.

Please visit the HR website to learn more about all the benefit options available to you. For questions about enrollment and eligibility, please contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

Job of the Week: Unit Human Resources Administrator I

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a job posting from the Eli Broad College of Business for a Unit Human Resources Administrator position (posting 790472). The Broad College of Business values collaboration and aims to develop global transformational leaders who positively impact society.

The Human Resources Administrator is responsible for managing HR duties for faculty and academic staff employees. They provide leadership in strategic management and advise administrators on human resources procedures and policies. They will also facilitate the hiring process for faculty and academic staff personnel actions for the Broad College. They supervise staff performance appraisal processes and procedures. For a list of all responsibilities, click here.

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field. Three to five years of experience in managing human resources functions, implementing training programs and computer applications is preferred.

To learn more about the Eli Broad College of Business, visit broad.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter and three professional references and submit your application here by July 5.

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Summer Organization and Professional Development Courses

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Updated May 2023

The Organization and Professional Development (OPD) team in MSU Human Resources is proud to offer a variety of courses to support you in achieving your goals. Since Educational Assistance benefits for support staff reset with the fall semester, use your remaining benefits this summer on a personal or professional development course from OPD. 

Please note that courses vary between virtual and in-person, so be sure to check the format before enrolling.

Business Analysis Courses

Communication Courses

Customer Service Courses

Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Courses

Finance And Accounting Courses

Human Resources Courses

Leadership Courses

Management Courses

Operations Courses

Personal Development Courses

You can find all current OPD courses on the HR website. Sign up through the EBS Portal. Questions? Contact Organization and Professional Development at prodev@hr.msu.edu.