Author: Megan MacGregor

Time to Choose Your Benefits for 2023: Your Open Enrollment Checklist

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October is just around the corner, which means the MSU Benefits Open Enrollment period (October 1-31) is about to begin for benefits-eligible employees. Please use the following checklist to help guide you through Open Enrollment and be sure to make your benefit selections for the 2023 plan year between October 1-31, 2022.

1. Determine your benefit needs

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

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

Make sure you review the Open Enrollment guide carefully and choose the best benefit plans for your family.

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

If you want to cover a spouse/OEI on your benefits plan, you MUST complete the affidavit online through the EBS Portal every year. Find instructions to complete the affidavit as part of Open Enrollment.

3. Review notable information for the 2023 plan year

Notable information for the 2023 plan year includes:

  • Monthly premiums for voluntary legal insurance through ARAG have increased for the 2023 plan year. Visit MSUBenefitsPlus.comto view updated rates. Find instructions to enroll, change or cancel coverage in the Open Enrollment guide.
  • Many MSU employees are now working in a remote or hybrid situation. If this includes you, please review the important guidance on health care and dental plan options in the Open Enrollment guide (see page 5) prior to enrolling in a plan.

Find all notable information on page 5 of the Open Enrollment guide.

4. Make your changes online before October 31

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

5. Participate in the MSU Benefits Fair and HR Site Labs or use the online benefit provider resources

Please Note: events are subject to change at any time. Please review the most updated details on the HR website prior to attending.

  • MSU Benefits Fair: We will be having an in-person benefits fair on October 19 from Noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Breslin Student Events Center on campus. MSU benefit providers and MSU HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help you enroll in your benefits on-site. The MSU Health Care Pharmacy will be offering flu shots during the fair by appointment only. The appointment calendar (managed by MSU Health Care Pharmacy) will close when all appointments are filled or 48 hours prior to the event.  Learn more about the fair and how to make an appointment for the flu shot.
  • HR Site Labs: MSU HR will offer site labs on October 6 (in-person and virtual) and October 31 (in-person). Consider attending if you have questions about your benefit options or need assistance with enrollment. Learn how to participate in a site lab on the HR website.

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

Questions? We’re happy to help! We encourage you to get in touch via phone or email. Limited in-person help will be available by appointment only. Please call or email the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu to make an appointment or ask a question.

Your Mid-Year Benefit Wellness Check-up

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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.

June Events Round-up

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Are you looking for activities for you and your family to join this month? You’ll find plenty of events, courses, and activities (in-person and virtual) on campus and in the surrounding area. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the link if you’re interested in learning more.

Events on Campus

  • June 16 – Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Native Plant Strategies for Attracting Great Insects: whether we’re talking about butterflies or mosquito eaters, join Beal Garden curator Peter Carrington to learn about a host of insects that can make our outdoor lives more interesting, colorful, and safe if we allow them to participate.
  • June 17 – MSU Juneteenth Celebration: join the second annual MSU Juneteenth Celebration from 5-9 p.m. at the Breslin Center. Juneteenth (abbreviation for June 19th) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
  • June 18 – Unconditional Love Fund 5K: the Unconditional Love Fund 5K is a run, walk, stroll or roll to raise funds to support the MSU Gender and Sexuality Campus Center.
  • June 21 – Come Out! In Detroit: a conversation with illustrator Isabel Clare Paul and historian Tim Retzloff who teamed up to create the comic “Come Out! In Detroit,” in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Christopher Street Detroit ’72, the first LGBTQ+ pride celebration in Michigan. Grab a free copy of the comic and don’t forget to stop by the exhibit showcasing the materials used for research to create the comic.

Health and Wellness

  • Every Wednesday – Pilates in the Garden: come stretch, meet friends, and enjoy an outdoor lunch hour exercise class at W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. Admission is free.
  • Starts June 1 – Self-Compassion – An Essential Skill for Success: based on the research of Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. BrenĂ© Brown, this course will provide an overview of the research on self-compassion, define what self-compassion is and challenge the myths about self-compassion that lead people to be overly harsh and critical with themselves.
  • June 14 – Sleep: Understanding and Optimizing Your Nightly Reboot: this class will explore the science of sleep, the impact sleep has on overall health and wellbeing, and how to improve your sleep quality.
  • June 20 – Rest with Music: enjoy a live musical performance to listen, relax, reflect and rest with music. Join in-person or virtual.
  • June 29 – Intro to Ergonomics: this session will explore the basics of ergonomic aides, injury prevention, how to set up a workstation, and stretches/exercises for keeping work-related pain at bay.

Family-Friendly Activities

  • Various June Dates – Summer Circle Theatre: after a two-year hiatus the mid-Michigan tradition is back for its 60th Anniversary celebration of FREE theatre. 
  • June 4 – Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum: join friends from the Potter Park Zoo and take a closer look at art inspired by animals in the MSU Broad collection. All ages are welcome.
  • June 15 – Wild Wednesdays: Frogs: families with children under 7 are invited to our Wild Wednesday summer programs! Join a naturalist along the trail for a fun, interactive activity.  Each week will have either a nature-themed craft or a chance to explore more of our natural world! This week’s feature: FROGS!
  • June 17 – “Scrap Hat” Craft-In: for this drop-in craft-in, Spartan Upcycle staff will be joined by puppet artists and MSU faculty Steve Baibak and Pia Banzhaf, who will help us bring our visions to reality! Swing by, see what strikes you, and have fun exploring what’s possible when we rethink fashion and try on the unconventional! 

Learning Opportunities

  • Starts June 7 – The Parent Talk System Webinar Series: a parenting workshop designed to improve communication and provide practical strategies for raising confident, caring, and responsible children.
  • Starts June 7 – Conflict Management and Non-Escalation: 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.
  • June 7 – Welcome to MSU: if you are new or returning to Michigan State University, the Greater Lansing area, Michigan, or the United States, the WorkLife Office can help connect you to campus and community resources.
  • June 9 – Facilitating Process Improvement: participants will identify leading process improvement frameworks, develop a project plan using RAPID methodology, adopt facilitation best practices, and identify key elements of project success.
  • June 14 – (TIAA Webinar) Financial Finishing Touches for Women: am I ready to retire? How do I know if I have enough? How do I plan my income? What should I look out for as I plan and even after I am retired? Financial success can often complicate your life, and we are going to try to help you answer these questions and more.
  • June 14 – Identify and Maximize Your Strengths: the CliftonStrenths Assessment identifies your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving so that you can discover what makes you exceptional and maximize your potential.
  • June 16 – (TIAA Webinar) Saving for Your Ideal Retirement: find out how retirement savings, planning, and the real benefit of time are essential features of retirement investments.
  • June 17 – Engaging Teams for Maximum Performance: methods of building trust, setting goals, and providing feedback to help enhance employee engagement and working relationships will be shared.
  • June 22 – Performance Management for Hybrid Teams: 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.
Quote from President Stanley: In addition to the great work you do every day, I am grateful for your dedication and flexibility over the past couple of challenging years.

Congratulations to Service and Retirement Recognition Program Awardees!

Published on by Megan MacGregor7 Comments

The MSU Retirement and Service Recognition Award recognizes support staff employees celebrating a 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50th work anniversary or a retirement falling between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. This shortened date range is to support a transition from recognizing employees based on the fiscal year to the calendar year. Next year, we will recognize employee years of service between January 1 and December 31, 2022. This year, we recognize over 450 employees celebrating long-term work anniversaries and retirements.

While we are not able to hold an in-person celebration this year, we are no less thankful for our employees’ dedicated service to MSU. We are incredibly disappointed that we cannot celebrate our employees at an in-person event for their talent, loyalty, and contributions to MSU. Our university’s development and growth have been, in large part, due to the contributions made by staff members who have chosen to remain in the service of the university.

MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.

President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. acknowledged awardees and expressed his gratitude:

“Service and Retirement Award recipients, congratulations on this milestone in your career or retirement from MSU. In addition to the great work you do every day, I am grateful for your dedication and flexibility over the past couple of challenging years. Together, we have maintained the university’s momentum across our key missions of education, research and outreach — a great accomplishment. I am proud to be your colleague. Thank you for all you do for MSU.”

For a full list of employees celebrating a milestone or retirement, please review the program here.

Thank you to these employees for their years of dedicated service to MSU! If you recognize any names from the program, we encourage you to reach out to these individuals and offer your congratulations.

Nominate an Employee for the 2022 Clerical-Technical Recognition Award Today!

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Do you work with an outstanding MSU employee performing clerical-technical duties? Acknowledge their hard work and dedication to MSU by nominating them for the Clerical-Technical (CT) Recognition Award! Nominations are now being accepted through Friday, July 29, 2022, at 5p.m.

The winner of this annual award is selected based on the following criteria:

  • Respect of their peers and continuous diligence in attending to their daily responsibilities.
  • Concern for students, faculty, staff, and colleagues in their respective units, particularly (but not limited to) those assisting overseas U.S. students and faculty, international students, international faculty, etc.
  • Extraordinary and significant contributions to the community or public service.
  • Innovative thinking in facilitating unit tasks and responsibilities.

Individuals may be nominated by any member of the MSU community, and the recipient will be selected by the CT Recognition Award Selection Committee. The winner will be profiled in the HR Source monthly newsletter and will receive a monetary award of $1,000 from the endowment fund in recognition of their outstanding service.

This award is given by the Thomas and Concettina Gliozzo Endowment Fund. Charles Gliozzo is director emeritus of MSU’s Study Abroad program. Thomas and Concettina Gliozzo were immigrants who became U.S. citizens and valued the importance of education throughout their lives.

How to Nominate an Employee

To nominate an individual:

  1. Complete a nomination form
  2. Collect a minimum of two support letters (maximum of five) by MSU colleagues. You may include additional information if it supports the applicant’s nomination.

Please Note: nominees must be part of the CT Union.

Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 29, 2022. Email the PDF nomination form with a minimum of two support letters to bracamontes@hr.msu.edu with the subject line: CT Recognition Award Selection Committee.

Answers to Your Top Questions on Preparing for Retirement

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Updated April 2023

Have you worked at MSU for at least 25 years in a benefit-eligible position? Or are you at least 62 years old and worked at MSU for at least 15 years in a benefit-eligible position? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may be thinking about retiring from MSU someday (or even soon).

To help you prepare for retirement, we’ve compiled a list of the top questions we receive as employees think about transitioning to retirement:

Q1: What will be the retiree health care plan?

A1: This depends on whether you, your spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) or any covered dependents are eligible to enroll in Medicare when you retire. Review the Effect of Retirement on Benefits for details about your situation and the applicable year Open Enrollment Guide for Retirees for health plan information.

Q2: How much will retiree health care cost?

A2: Most retirees are eligible to receive the full university contribution level towards retiree health and dental benefits. To determine your level of university contribution, please review the Retiree Benefits Policy to understand your “Retirement Calculation Date” and your level of “FTE Service Months” (both can be viewed in your Personal Profile tile in the EBS Portal), and how they will affect the amounts that you pay in retirement. Then check the appropriate health care Monthly Plan Premiums chart in the applicable year Open Enrollment Guide for Retirees to determine the cost.

Q3: Am I eligible to cover my spouse/OEI or dependents on my retiree health care plan?

A3: Your “Retirement Calculation Date” (which can be viewed in your Personal Profile tile in the EBS Portal) will determine the university’s contribution for your spouse/OEI and dependents toward retiree health and dental coverage based on university policy. To see which contribution you will qualify for, please review the Retiree Benefits Policy. Even if you’re not eligible to receive a university contribution toward retiree health care for your spouse/OEI or other dependents, you can still enroll them in the university’s group retiree health care plan by paying the full premium cost.

Q4: How is retiree health care different from my current coverage?

A4: Please review the Health Plan Coverage Summary in the applicable year’s Open Enrollment Guide for active employees (faculty or support staff) and retirees to compare the benefits offered.

Q5: What does retiree health care cover?

A5: Please review the Retiree Open Enrollment Guide to view the Health Plan Coverage Summary for benefits offered.

Q6: Does the retiree health care plan include prescription drug coverage?

A6: Yes. Your retiree health care plan and prescription drug coverage is bundled together in one plan. To learn more about the prescription drug coverage, please review the Summary of Health and Prescription Plan Provisions in the Retiree Open Enrollment Guide.

Q7: Is Medicare necessary?

A7: Yes. If you, your spouse/OEI, or any other covered dependent are eligible for Medicare by being age 65 or older, or due to disability (SSDI), the eligible individual must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B (please do NOT enroll in Part D). Please review this Medicare and Social Security Information for more details about enrolling. Once you’re enrolled, you will need to send MSU Human Resources your MBI number from your Medicare card to enroll in MSU’s retiree health care plan.

Q8: Which parts of Medicare do I need?

A8: You must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B (please do NOT enroll in Part D). Please review this Medicare and Social Security Information for more details about enrolling. Once you’re enrolled, you will need to send MSU Human Resources your MBI number from your Medicare card to enroll in MSU’s retiree health care plan.

Q9: When should I sign up for Medicare?

A9: You should enroll in Medicare Parts A & B at least 2-3 months in advance of the effective date, as it will take time for Medicare to process your application and send you your Medicare card (which you will need in order to send MSU Human Resources your MBI number to enroll in the MSU retiree health care plan). If you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period with Medicare, contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434 to complete the required form.

Q10: How early do I have to request retirement from MSU?

A10: We suggest you submit your MSU Retirement Form at least 90 days prior to your planned retirement date so we can ensure your enrollment in Medicare and/or the MSU retiree health care plan is completed smoothly and timely. You can submit your completed form up to 120 days in advance of your planned last day of work (for support staff positions) and up to 365 days in advance of your planned retirement date (for faculty, academic staff and executive management positions). You will submit your Retirement Form in the EBS Portal. Instructions to complete and submit the form are available.

Q11: How do you request retirement?

A11: You will submit the MSU Retirement Form via the EBS Portal. Instructions to complete and submit the form are available for your assistance.

Q12: As a support staff employee, what are my options regarding my unused vacation, personal and compensatory time?

A12: There are 3 options:

  1. Receive payment after your retirement date.
  2. Use all your time before your retirement date. After you indicate your last day worked on the Retirement Form, Human Resources will review your form and your available unused vacation, personal and compensatory time to determine your official retirement date.
  3. Combination of the options listed above: On the Retirement Form, please fill in the Notes section with the number of hours and type of hours (vacation, personal, and/or compensatory time) that you would like to use after your last day worked.

For more information on preparing to retire from MSU, please review the retirement resources on the HR website. These include a Roadmap to Retirement webinar, the effect of retirement on your benefits, information about Medicare and Social Security, a retirement checklist and much more.

Three photos placed side-by-side. First an image of a sailboat with the MSU helmet, then a photo of a group doing yoga, and lastly an image of a tennis racket and tennis balls with the MSU logo.

Get Active this Spring: Fitness Resources for MSU Employees

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Updated March 2023

Warmer weather on the horizon means more opportunities to get outside! If you need some ideas to help you and your family get active this spring, the following resources and opportunities are available for MSU employees:

In-person Opportunities

  • Biking: One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with a variety of commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. If you’re working remotely, there are a variety of Greater Lansing area biking groups you could join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service.
  • Sailing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, and Kayaking: The MSU Sailing Center is located on Lake Lansing in Haslett just east of campus. The Sailing Center strives to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environment for all participants. Consider participating in one of their many programs, including a learn-to-sail course, paddle sports, group outings, and private lessons. MSU employees can receive a discounted rate for membership.
  • Tennis: At the MSU Tennis Center you can book a court for singles or doubles or participate in one of their adult instructional classes or drill sessions. There’s something for everyone with classes geared toward both beginners and pro-level players.
  • Golf: MSU Forest Akers offers teaching programs for golfers of all ages and abilities, including adult group classes and private instruction, and a casual golf league for all skill levels. MSU employees can also access the golf range and courses at discounted rates.
  • Swimming: Present a valid staff or faculty ID to use one of the pools available on campus for laps or open swimming during designated pool hours.
  • Group Fitness Classes: MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness offer a variety of group fitness classes with membership pricing for MSU employees.

Virtual Opportunities

  • MSU Benefits Plus offers a bunch of health and wellness discounts, including a virtual gym membership through GlobalFit. After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, select Employee Discounts from the top navigation, then Health and Wellness – GlobalFit will be one of the options.
  • Sign up for a virtual Chair Yoga or Good Form Walking/Running class through MSU Health4U.

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Don’t Forget Your Optional MSU Benefits and Resources

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Updated March 2023

MSU is committed to offering valuable benefits to support you and your family. As a benefits-eligible employee, you’re probably aware of MSU’s health and dental care benefit options. However, on top of those, there is a range of optional benefits we’d like to remind you about as well.

Beyond meeting your health care needs, these optional benefits can help you save money on needed products and services. We realize keeping track of all these different resources can be overwhelming. To help, we’ve created the following recap to jog your memory with links to more detailed information to learn more.

This graphic provides a quick summary of these optional benefits (click the image for a PDF version):

Benefit Highlights Infographic

Optional benefit programs available:

You might not always need or think of these resources but keeping them tucked away can make it easier and more cost-effective to manage your family’s health. As always, if you have any questions about these benefits options, please visit the HR website to learn more or contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

photo of students working together.

Nominations are Open for the Student Employee of the Year Award!

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If you work at MSU, you know how important student employees are to the success of your department and the university. Do you know a student who consistently goes above and beyond in their work? Supervisors have the chance to recognize these exemplary Spartans by nominating them for the Student Employee of the Year award by February 11, 2022.

Find more details and the nomination form on the Department of Student Life website.

Eligible nominees must be:

  • Currently registered in an MSU degree-granting program.
  • Employed on student employee payroll for a minimum of three months between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022.
  • Nominated by their supervisor. Only one student employee may be nominated per supervisor. Complete an online nomination form here.
    Note: Graduate assistants, residence hall staff and other student employees who do not fall under the jurisdiction of MSU Student Employment or the Student Employee Payroll may not be nominated for this award. They are eligible for other recognition programs.

All nominees will be honored with certificates. The MSU Student Employee winner’s name is submitted for consideration for the State of Michigan competition. All nominees will be acknowledged at a reception on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, Big Ten A. Learn more about the award on the Department of Student Life website.