Author: MSU Human Resources

5 Financial Goals to Consider with Help from Fidelity and TIAA

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As a benefits-eligible employee, you may know about the generous retirement savings programs and resources MSU offers to help set you up for a successful retirement. However, MSU’s retirement plan vendors, Fidelity and TIAA, can help you with more than just retirement planning. Whatever your financial goals – such as funding a big purchase, paying down debt, or creating a sustainable budget – Fidelity and TIAA can help you create a plan to achieve them. 

Fidelity and TIAA are financial professionals who can provide strategies and advice to help you take charge of your finances. Review the goals below and then contact your vendor using the following information. 

1. Create a Budget: Many people only have a vague understanding of their spending habits or financial situation. Between trying to comprehend financial jargon, figuring out your goals, and understanding how to balance debt, saving, and investing, it’s no wonder people often bury their heads in the sand. Luckily, Fidelity and TIAA have tools, resources, and advice to help us make a plan and stay on track. 
More Information: 

2. Build an Emergency Fund: Setting aside money for an emergency – such as unemployment, surprise medical or vet bills, or unplanned home repairs – is a key element of basic financial planning and often the first step advisors will recommend. According to TIAA, “it’s good to maintain an emergency fund that would cover three to six months of living expenses” (Waltenberger, 2024). These living expenses include the things you absolutely must pay for each month, such as food, housing, utilities, child care, health care, transportation, debt payments, or similar. 
 
The latest report released by the Federal Reserve found that 37% of adults would not be able to afford a $400 emergency expense (2024, Federal Reserve), which means they would have to use credit cards, personal loans, early retirement withdrawals, or ask family/friends for assistance. Saving towards an emergency fund – even if it’s only a small amount each month – can help you build a safety net to keep you out of debt. 
More Information: 

3. Pay Down Debt: The average American owes $105,056 in debt across mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, student loans, auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans (Experian, 2024). While it’s important to note that having debt isn’t necessarily bad – a mortgage loan, for instance, can help you build wealth and eventually own a home – having too much debt or high-interest debt can lead to financial stress. Fidelity clarifies, “Good debt is generally considered any debt that may help you increase your net worth or generate future income. Importantly, it typically has a low interest or annual percentage rate (APR), which experts say is normally under 6%” (Fidelity, 2023). 
 
If you’re only able to make the minimum payment on your credit card, have trouble paying your monthly bills, or have debt payments that are more than 35% of your gross income, you may need help managing your debt (TIAA, 2024). Luckily, TIAA and Fidelity have actionable steps to help you move in the right direction. Review the resources below for advice on managing debt and contact your vendor directly to receive personal financial advice. 
More Information: 

4. Maximize Your Retirement Investment: Most benefit-eligible employees1 are enrolled in the 403(b) Base Retirement Program, which consists of a 5% employee contribution of your eligible compensation and a generous university matching contribution of 10%. That’s an immediate two-for-one match of your investment for a total contribution of 15%. While this provides a great foundation for your retirement savings, you may eventually want to consider additional options. It’s important to note that the IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to their retirement savings accounts each year. However, many people may discover there is a lot of room before their current contributions reach that limit. Fidelity and TIAA can help you determine what your retirement contributions should be to help you reach your personal retirement goals – whether that date is 30 years in the future or just around the corner. 
More Information: 

5. Plan Your Estate: According to TIAA, “Pondering your incapacity or mortality, and what might happen to your loved ones when you are no longer with them, can be tough to face. It’s what keeps most people from starting the estate planning process” (TIAA, 2024). Despite the challenging nature of the topic, creating a solid plan can give you and your family peace of mind and the confidence that your wishes will be carried out as desired. 
More Information: 

Questions? We encourage you to reach out to Fidelity  (800-642-7131) or TIAA  (800-732-8353) with your financial or retirement planning questions. 

1 Certain types of employees are excluded from participating in the 403(b) Retirement Plan. Please see the 403(b) Base Retirement Program Eligibility Chart for more details.  

Sources: 

Five Essential Estate planning questions to ask. TIAA. (n.d.-a). https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/retirement-planning-and-beyond/important-estate-planning-questions 

Good debt vs bad debt. Fidelity. (2024, February 14). https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/good-debt-vs-bad-debt Horymski, C. (2024, March 22). Experian study: Average U.S. consumer debt and statistics. Experian. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/research/consumer-debt-study/ 

How to make a financial plan. Fidelity. (2024, February 21). https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/wealth-management-insights/how-to-make-a-financial-plan-video 

Report on the economic well-being of U.S. households in 2023 – May 2024. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2024, May). https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2024-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2023-executive-summary.htm  

Tips for managing and reducing your debt. TIAA. (n.d.). https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/personal-finance-101/debt-consolidation 

Waltenberger, A. (n.d.). 5 must-have financial goals. TIAA. https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/personal-finance-101/5-must-have-financial-goals 

Opening photo by Freepik.

5 Ways to Engage with Your Performance Evaluation Beyond an Annual Review

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Part of MSU’s appeal as a residential, land-grant institution is our vast array of programs, specializations, and priorities — not just for students but for staff and faculty. This diversity makes us great, and it also requires a need for case-by-case definitions of success and achievement from unit to unit and from person to person. 

One way to ensure you, your supervisor, and the university recognize and record your efforts is to tell your story through the Performance Excellence (PE) process. When many of us in non-supervisory, support staff roles discuss PE at MSU, we think of a supervisor-led annual review. In reality, PE encompasses an ongoing cycle of: 

  1. Performance Planning — Goal Setting and Development Planning 
  2. Continuous Feedback, Coaching, and Development 
  3. Annual Review — Collaborative Meeting with Employee and Supervisor Contributions 

Below are suggestions for ways to engage as an employee in the PE process and tell your story with confidence. 

1) Set SMART, HARD Goals and Find Ways to Measure Them 

On one hand, we know each employee’s experience and accomplishments extend well beyond quantitative data and one review each year. On the other hand, we also know that specific measurements — especially those backed by accurate numerical data — are a powerful and widely accepted way to determine success. 

One way to ensure the full picture of your story is told during the PE process is to take the lead when it comes to your own goal setting and measurement. Setting SMART, HARD goals is a great place to start. Consider the following: 

  • Your personal goals 
  • The goals of your department/unit goals 
  • Organization-wide goals/university strategic plan 

Goals are not something that should be determined solely by a supervisor and then assigned and evaluated once a year during your review discussion or performance planning session. Generating and adapting goals throughout the year is a collaborative process and one way you can contribute toward the narrative of your achievements. 

Read related article: When SMART Meets HARD: Setting Goals that Matter 

2) Track and Document Your Accomplishments 

Setting and measuring goals is a great place to start, but tracking and documenting your progress toward these goals is key. Block off some time on your calendar to regularly check results, generate data and document your progress in a way that makes the most sense for you and your role. You know your work, efforts, and accomplishments better than anyone else, which makes you the ideal person to collect and report this information. 

Read related article: What’s Your Plan? Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You 

3) Schedule Regular Check-ins 

In this environment of rapid change, it’s more important than ever to regularly check in with your supervisor to discuss progress, review and reevaluate goals, and receive feedback. Regular, continuous coaching allows an opportunity for you to reconnect to your unit’s and the university’s mission and ensure your goals continue to be aligned with this larger vision and objectives. 

As a university, we are working to shift the perception of PE from one yearly review to a wider focus on ongoing coaching, feedback, and goal setting. There’s no need to wait for your supervisor to schedule a meeting for you to touch base on these topics. You have the option of reaching out to your supervisor and setting up check-ins on a schedule that works for both of you. Even a brief 15-minute check-in can go a long way toward staying on track with goals and sharing the story of your work. 

TIPS 

  • Go to these meetings prepared with the documented progress and accomplishments mentioned above. 
  • Bring questions to help guide the conversation and make the time as useful as possible for both you and your supervisor. 

4) Contribute Toward Your Review 

Did you know that, as support staff, you have the opportunity to contribute toward all your PE discussions and submit documentation to include along with your official review forms? 

Review documentation that is imaged and kept on file with central HR includes your reviews (annual, probationary, and interim) and performance improvement plans. You have the option to include a self-review and/or other statements along with your documents on file. On an ongoing basis, this may be a summary that features the data you’ve been tracking throughout the year to share specific achievements and outcomes. 

TIPS 

  • Keep it brief. Unless documenting extraordinary circumstances, a 1–2-page document will be impactful and share the story of your performance. Due to system storage limitations, submitting a large quantity of documents with your review could possibly lead to some documents being excluded from imaging. 
  • Reference any additional documents on the official PE forms. Include a statement within the “Employee’s comments” section of the Annual Review to “See attached ______” (e.g., self-review, list of achievements) and indicate the number of additional documents. This helps central HR know an employee’s wishes for those documents to be imaged alongside their review. 

5) Utilize Your Resources 

HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department offers online PE resources and documents geared toward both employees â€Żand supervisors that can help guide and support you in all components of the PE process. OPD is in the process of reworking this online content for greater accessibility, inclusivity, and usefulness for all support staff, and we look forward to sharing these changes with you later this year. 

Additional recommended resources are listed below. Your MAU’s HR representative, central HR and OPD, and your union representatives are all available to work with you and help you share your story should you need specific guidance or assistance at any point during the PE cycle. 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES 

Opening photo provided by Disability:IN.

photo of the Livongo diabetes welcome kit, which includes a glucose monitor, case, strips, and other medical tools.

Don’t Forget Your Optional MSU Benefits and Resources 

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

Beyond meeting your health and dental 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 (view a PDF version).

An infographic displaying the following optional benefits available to MSU employees: 1. Teladoc: speak to a licensed medical professional by web, phone, or app. If needed a prescription can be sent anywhere in the U.S. No co-pay for employees enrolled in BCV, BlueCard, or Community Blue. CDHP enrollees pay the full amount until the deductible is met. 2. Livongo by Teladoc: A free diabetes management program for benefits-eligible employees, their spouse/other eligible individual, and dependents. 3. Teladoc Medical Experts: Expert medical advice for informed medical decisions. Get help to make the right choice with confidence. 4. Voluntary Benefits: options include pet, vision, home, auto, legal, critical illness, along with discounts. 5. On-campus/local services: Find imaging services, such as MRI, X-ray, and more- along with prescription delivery within 30 miles of campus.

Optional benefit programs available: 

  • Teladoc: Virtually speak with a doctor 24/7 via web, phone, or mobile app. They can even write you a prescription if necessary. Employees have described Teladoc as “a game changer” (read employee experiences here). If you haven’t already, we recommend you sign up for Teladoc now so you’re prepared. 
  • Livongo: This diabetes management program provides free supplies delivered right to your door whenever you need them and support with optional virtual coaching. Save time and money on needed supplies. Learn more about Livongo on the HR website. 
  • Teladoc Medical Experts: Get medical advice from experts on your specific medical condition and feel empowered to make the best choice possible for your care. Whether you need medical questions answered, a diagnosis double-checked, help deciding on a treatment plan, or guidance about surgery, Teladoc Medical Experts can help. Learn more about the services Teladoc Medical Experts offers. 
  • Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts: Find insurance offerings such as vision, legal, pet, home/auto, and critical illness (some have enrollment periods) through MSU Benefits Plus. Additionally, you will find MSU Campus Discounts and a variety of other discounts on everything from electronics to home goods, meal delivery services, travel, and much more. 
  • On-Campus/Local Services:

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.

Unlock Your Professional Potential with MSU Development Resources  

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Your Professional Growth Starts Here 

At MSU, we are committed to supporting your professional development through a wide range of learning and professional development opportunities. Whether you’re looking to advance your career, build new skills, or stay up to date with industry trends, our office and partners offer a variety of resources to help you succeed. 

New and Featured Course Announcements 

  • MSU Ethics Certificate (On-Demand in ElevateU): The MSU Ethics Institute is proud to announce the availability of a new on-demand learning certificate program, hosted on the ElevateU platform. The MSU Ethics Certificate Program equips Spartans with the knowledge and skills to navigate ethical challenges in our professional roles. Participants will explore core ethical concepts, approaches to ethical reasoning, and how to align personal values with professional conduct.
  • Spartan Experience Relaunch: Coming this spring is a refreshed and redesigned Spartan Experience learning program. The Spartan Experience program is designed to foster a culture of excellence by prioritizing customer satisfaction and maintaining a strong service mindset. Additional details will be published on the HR website and included in our monthly newsletter as they become available. 
  • New Lunch & Learn: Making the Most of Your Professional Development: Join us for a session focused on making the most of professional growth opportunities at MSU. Topics include an overview of Educational and Tuition Assistance, elevateU, and Organization and Professional Development courses. Registration is available in the EBS Portal.  
    • Thursday, April 24, Virtual, Noon to 1:00 p.m. 
    • Tuesday, June 3, Virtual, Noon to 1:00 p.m. 
  • Mandatory Reporting Obligations for RVSM: Provided by the Prevention, Outreach, and Education Department (POE), presenters will review the university’s Mandatory Reporting for Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Title IX policy, including an overview of prohibited conduct under the RVSM policy.  
    • Thursday, March 27, Virtual, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. 
    • Monday, April 21, Virtual, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. 
    • Thursday, May 29, In-person, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. 
  • Trauma-Informed Leadership: Join the Trauma Services Training Network to learn the definitions of trauma, its signs and symptoms, and the ways that trauma may manifest in the workplace. Review the principles of trauma-informed practices, with an emphasis on approaches for leadership, including practical, trauma-informed strategies for supervisors managing difficult situations. 
    • Thursday, June 12, Virtual, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. 

Explore Our Professional Development Resources 

ElevateU Recommendations 

How to Access elevateU 

Access elevateU via this direct link or via the EBS Portal using the directions below.  

  1. Log in to the EBS Portal with your MSU NetID and password. 
  2. Click on My Career and Training in the top navigation. 
  3. Click on the elevateU tile to open the application in a new window. 

Mobile App Version: Additionally, elevateU is available on your mobile device with the Percipio App. After you download the app, type elevateU into the field and log in with your MSU NetID and password. 

Additional Learning Resources 

Looking for more ways to grow? Many MSU partner offices provide specialized training and development programs. Check out their offerings here: 

Take charge of your professional growth today! Visit the HR website to explore all available learning opportunities. 

Article written by HR’s Organization and Professional Development Team.

Opening Image by FreePik.

Don’t Wait to Create a Retirement Savings Plan

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We are committed to helping our employees prepare for a successful retirement by offering several retirement savings plan options, along with tools and resources to help you reach your goals.

Most benefit-eligible employees are enrolled in the 403(b) Base Retirement Program, which consists of a 5% employee contribution of your eligible compensation and a generous university matching contribution of 10%. That’s an immediate two-for-one match of your investment for a total contribution of 15%. While this provides a great foundation, you may want to consider additional savings options. MSU also offers two additional savings accounts: the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. For more information about these two accounts, read Your Top Questions about MSU’s Optional Retirement Plan Options.

How to Make a Retirement Savings Plan

It’s normal to have many questions when you start to plan for your retirement:

  • How early should I start planning?
  • How much do I need to save to retire comfortably?
  • Which plan(s) should I contribute to?
  • What can I do to maximize my savings?
  • Are my retirement goals attainable?

The answers will depend on your financial situation and retirement goals. We strongly encourage all MSU employees to make an appointment with their retirement vendor – Fidelity or TIAA – to discuss their options and develop a personalized savings plan. Fidelity and TIAA are financial professionals who can provide helpful strategies, tips, and actionable steps that can help you take charge of your finances.

Additionally, both Fidelity and TIAA have numerous resources – including articles, webinars, interactive tools, and more – to help you learn about saving for retirement and other financial goals.

Don’t Wait to Save: The Power of Compounding Interest

For younger MSU employees, creating a comprehensive retirement savings plan may not be a top priority. Between student loans, rent, childcare, and more, it can be difficult to set aside money for a day 30 to 40 years in the future. But the young have a huge advantage when it comes to saving money for retirement: more time. This additional time allows them to potentially benefit the most from compounding interest, which may lead to greater savings down the road.

Compounding interest basically means allowing an investment to earn money while continually reinvesting those earnings over time. The more time you have, the smaller your original investment may need to be. In the hypothetical example below, a 25-year-old starts saving $5,000 annually ($416 per month), and a 40-year-old starts saving twice as much but waits until age 40 ($833 per month).

Compounding Interest Graph

The 25-year-old ends up contributing less money over time – $200,000 versus $250,000 – but ends up with a higher balance: $798,735 versus $566,317. In other words, the 25-year-old contributes $50,000 less but ends up with $232,000 more than the 40-year-old who waited to save. As this example shows, younger investors may benefit from saving as much as possible as soon as possible.

If your retirement date is a bit closer, you can still take advantage of compounding interest. However, you may need to increase your monthly contributions to meet your retirement savings goals. Luckily, the IRS allows people who are aged 50 years or older to contribute an additional “catch-up” amount to their retirement plans each year.

As you determine your contribution amount, please note the IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year. To contribute a certain amount, such as $100 per paycheck, you can use the calculating tool to convert a dollar amount to a percentage.

Of course, remember that investment returns are not guaranteed and will fluctuate — in some years you may have gains, and in other years you may have losses. But over time, any investment with a net gain will benefit from compounding.

How to Change Your Contribution

While your contribution to the 403(b) Base account is fixed based on your income, you can adjust your contributions to the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program and/or the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan at any time. To do this, login to the EBS Portal with your NetID and password. Select My Benefits from the top navigation, then click on the Benefit/Retirement Enrollment and Changes tile. Select Enroll/Change my Retirement/Health Savings Account Options from the dropdown menu and click Next. On the Savings Plan screen, you’ll be able to edit your contributions to the 403(b) Supplemental and/or 457(b) Deferred Compensation accounts. Make sure you click through all the screens and hit Save to finalize the change to your contributions.

Questions? We encourage you to reach out to Fidelity (800-642-7131) or TIAA (800-732-8353) for your retirement planning questions. Visit the HR website for additional information on the retirement plans offered by MSU.

1 Please note, that the example above is a hypothetical illustration only and is not intended to represent the past or future performance of any investment. The example assumes contributions are made monthly at a 6% annual effective rate, compounded monthly, and no withdrawals. Actual performance will vary with market conditions. Investing involves risk. There is no assurance that the goals will be met or that the solution or strategy will be successful. This example was developed in partnership with TIAA.

2 Certain types of employees are excluded from participating in the 403(b) Retirement Plan. Please see the 403(b) Base Retirement Program Eligibility Chart for more details.

With Gratitude on National Employee Appreciation Day

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Dear Colleagues,  

At MSU, we all play an essential part in something bigger, driven by purpose, passion, and our collective dedication to excellence. Your contributions make MSU an environment conducive to innovation, learning, and impactful experiences for students, colleagues, and the broader community alike. Your dedication helps shape that experience! 

National Employee Appreciation Day is an opportunity to appreciate all that our amazing workforce contributes every day. MSU thrives because of you and your hard work, creativity, and unwavering commitment to our shared mission. 

Though our appreciation goes beyond what can be expressed in words, we partnered with university supervisors to share just a few of the words that come to mind when considering the positive qualities of our outstanding teams:

Word cloud with the following words: Collaboration, Team work, Trust, Proud, Integrity, Kind, Spartan, Innovative, Dedications, Super Star, Gidinawendimin, MVP, Strong, Admired, Flexible, Fun, Joy, Talent, Thoughtful, Cherished, Inspired, care, Respect, Positive, Generous, Thankful, Real, Amazing, Selfless, Praise, Compassion, Amazing, Friendly, Creative, Calm, Diligent, Mission-drive, HEart, Partners, Persistent, Unlimited, Supportive, Love, Helpful, Gift, Authentic, Camaraderie, Motivated, Synergistic, Top Notch, Problem Solvers, Bright, Valued, Dynamic, Unwavering, Thrilled, Fantastic, Elite, Solutions Oriented, Humble, Appreciative.

While today marks an official recognition of our appreciation, gratitude is something to express on an ongoing basis. Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments, recognize the achievements of your colleagues, and reflect on the meaningful ways you contribute to MSU’s success. 

Thank you for being part of such an exceptional community! Your participation makes MSU what it is today. 


With Sincere Gratitude,  

Donna Donovan
Interim Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Photo credits: The opening image is a compilation of Spartan Employee Spotlight series photos.
1. (Top left) Landscape Services hosting the “Tree”mendous Care event for students in MSU’s Department of Forestry. Photo by Gabbi Ahlborn. 2. (Bottom Left) Hasina Saraha is an academic specialist teaching chemistry in Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College. Photo by Greg Kohuth. 3. (Middle top left) Jainaba Fall, a buyer on the IT Procurement team, works to strategically source, negotiate, and issue orders for IT products. Photo by Derrick L. Turner. 4. (Middle) Stationary engineer Frank Trout (seated) and Tony Mitchner, the skilled trades supervisor for power plant operations, monitor plant operations. Photo by Gabbi Ahlborn. 5. (Middle bottom) Power plant technicians Carl Kobb (right) and Levi Dysinger review online equipment documentation while working to calibrate a new steam flow transmitter. Photo by Gabbi Ahlborn. 6. (Middle top right) Sara Olsztyn is one of seven neighborhood administrative coordinators at Michigan State University. Photo by Greg Kohuth. 7. (Top Right) Communications Manager Dana Whyte spends game day at the MSU Emergency Operations Center. Photo by Derrick L. Turner. 8. (Bottom Right) Sharod Williams is a research assistant in the Genomics Core. Photo by Greg Kohuth.

Job of the Week: Communications Manager I for the College of Social Science

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This week, we are featuring a job (posting 1025701) for a Communications Manager I in the College of Social Science. In this role you will be responsible for creating communications/marketing related content within the college under the direct supervision of the Director of Communications. This job is considered remote-friendly, with the expectation of regular on-campus presence as mutually agreed upon with your supervisor.

The students, staff, faculty and alumni of the College of Social Science work every day to make our world a better place. From studying how sleep affects our brains to how policies affect our communities to how greenhouse gases affect our planet, social scientists seek to understand and solve the world’s toughest problems.

Your job responsibilities include the development, goal setting, and execution of communication and marketing strategies, campaigns, and other publications (including digital content) for the college. You will have the opportunity to work with faculty to promote research, assist in pitching stories to media outlets, and liaison with other university departments. Additionally, you will create/produce, edit, disseminate, and monitor content for social media, websites, and other publications. Find a complete list of job responsibilities on the MSU Careers website.

This role requires knowledge equivalent to that normally acquired by completing a four-year degree in Journalism, Telecommunications, or Public Relations plus one to three years of related work experience.

Learn more about the MSU College of Social Science on their website. If you’re ready to apply, visit the MSU Careers website and submit your application with a cover letter, resume, and work examples by March 18.

Five people working together at a conference table.

Fostering Excellence: Continuous Learning and Educational Assistance for MSU Support Staff

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Written by Sharri Margraves, EdD, SHRM-SCP, Director of HR Organization and Professional Development

Michigan State University stands as a beacon of educational excellence, not only for its students but also for its dedicated support staff. At the heart of MSU’s commitment to fostering a culture of growth and development is the twin approach of continuous learning and educational assistance benefits tailored for support staff.

Continuous learning is a cornerstone of personal and professional development, and MSU recognizes its transformative power. For support staff, engaging in ongoing education and using it on the job brings many benefits to the individual and helps create a dynamic and adaptable workforce that contributes significantly to the university’s success.

  • Career Development: Continuous learning helps open doors to career advancement opportunities. MSU support staff have access to many professional development opportunities, from workshops to specialized training sessions, allowing us to enhance our skills in preparation for future positions. According to Gallup, 41% of employees consider career development a very important aspect of job satisfaction.
  • Enhanced Job Performance: Staying current with industry trends and best practices is essential for optimal job performance. MSU’s commitment to continuous learning ensures that staff are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills, directly impacting their ability to excel in their roles and contribute to the university’s operational excellence. Individuals can chart their path using educational assistance or elevateU, the free on-demand source for technical and essential skill development and certification prep.
  • Increased Engagement: 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the manager, according to Gallup. Continuous learning fosters a sense of achievement and personal satisfaction with a person’s job, and while resources are always slim—supporting continuous learning is essential for supervisors. Staff who feel supported in their educational pursuits are more likely to experience higher engagement, leading to a positive work environment and a deepened commitment to MSU’s mission. Gallup finds that engaged employees have 78% less absenteeism, 63% less safety accidents, and a 10% increase in customer loyalty.
  • Adaptability to Change: Adaptability is a key attribute in the ever-evolving professional landscape. Continuous learning instills resilience and the ability to navigate change effectively. Those empowered to participate in ongoing education will be well-positioned to embrace new challenges and contribute to the university’s culture of innovation.

Educational Assistance Programs at MSU

MSU exemplifies its commitment to the educational journey of support staff through robust educational assistance programs designed to remove financial barriers to learning. Educational assistance benefits and eligibility are governed by an employee’s respective collective bargaining unit agreement. Non-union employees and Academic Specialists also have educational benefits available to them.

Educational assistance benefits are available to help achieve educational and career development goals. There are two different aspects of educational assistance: non-credit courses and credit courses.

  • Non-Credit Courses: Eligible employees can take programs offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development or IT Services, non-credit programs, seminars, and conferences. Most staff employee groups have $800 or $900 available annually for non-credit programs. APA members can utilize this amount to pay for credit classes.
  • Credit courses: Eligible employees can take courses at MSU or a non-MSU accredited institution, provided it is located in the state of Michigan. MSU courses are eligible for and processed as a tuition waiver, while non-MSU courses are processed as a reimbursement. Institutions that are considered to be primarily online only (such as the University of Phoenix) or institutions that are not Michigan-based are ineligible.

Please review the Educational Assistance webpages and Educational Assistance Eligibility by Employee Group summary for more details about Educational Assistance programs, eligibility, and the available benefit coverage. For questions, contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

References

Gallup. (2024, November 18), “How to improve employee engagement in the workplace.” Gallup.com. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/285674/improve-employee-engagement-workplace.aspx

Juyumaya, J., Torres-Ochoa, C. and Rojas, G. (2024), “Boosting job performance: the impact of autonomy, engagement and age”, Revista de GestĂŁo, Vol. 31 No. 4, pp. 397-414. https://doi.org/10.1108/REGE-09-2023-0108

Q&A: Vacation/Personal Paid Time Off (PTO)

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Do you have a plan for using your vacation/personal paid time off (PTO) this year? According to this  Forbes article, “American workers are notorious for being workaholics. Since March of 2020, an overwhelming majority of U.S. employees have shortened, postponed, or canceled their vacation time.” While most of us are aware that time away from work is crucial to maintaining mental health and supporting our relationships, we sometimes have a hard time truly disconnecting. 

While it may seem harmless to check in a couple of times while you’re away, to really benefit from a vacation you need to disconnect entirely. Review these tips for setting boundaries so you can get adequate rest and reset. Having a plan for setting boundaries with your team before, during, and after your vacation will help reduce pre- and post-vacation stress. 

We encourage everyone to work with their supervisor to schedule a well-deserved break. And don’t forget, employee discounts for travel are available through MSU Benefits Plus and the HR website. 

Your Top PTO Questions 

The following are the most common questions HR receives regarding PTO and answers vary based on the employee’s personal details. These answers are only applicable to regular, benefit-eligible employees working half-time or more. Please make sure to reference the appropriate policy page for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension. 

  1. Support Staff Only: How do I find out how much PTO I currently have?

    Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Balances tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Balances help page. 

  2.  Support Staff Only: How do I find out how much PTO I have used?

    Log into the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Quota Usage Monthly Report tile. For support using the application, please review the Time Quota Usage Monthly help page. 

  3. Support Staff Only: How do I accrue vacation days? 

    Eligible support staff accrue vacation days monthly. The amount accrued depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details. 

  4. Support Staff Only: Is there a maximum amount of vacation PTO I can accrue? 

    Yes. The maximum amount eligible support staff can accrue depends on union affiliation, employment percentage, and length of employment. Please review the support staff vacation time policy page for more details. Support staff cannot earn vacation time beyond the accrual limit. You are encouraged to use your PTO so you don’t lose out on valuable vacation time.

  5.  Support Staff Only: How do I enter my PTO in EBS for supervisor approval?

    Login to the EBS Portal and select My Time & Payroll from the top navigation, then select the Time Entries & Statement tile. Enter the number of hours in the cell for the correct date in the row with the appropriate absence type. For support using the application, please review the Time Entries and Statement help page. 

  6. What is the difference between personal leave, personal observance days, and vacation PTO? 

    Eligible support staff are granted both personal leave and vacation PTO. Eligible faculty and academic staff are granted vacation PTO.  

    For support staff, up to 24 hours of personal leave PTO is granted each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). The amount granted is proportional to the employment percentage. You may not carry these hours over to the next year, so make sure you use this PTO before the fiscal year ends. Please review the support staff personal leave policy page for more details. Please note: POAM employees should review the POAM union contract for their unique personal leave policy. 

    Vacation PTO is granted to eligible employees and varies based on employee type, union affiliation, employment percentage, length of employment, and new hire status. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension. 

    Personal Observance Days are two additional days (16 hours, prorated based on the start date and percent time) of personal time that eligible faculty, support, and academic staff employees will be able to use each calendar year. As of January 2024, employees will be able to use the two additional days of personal time between January 1 and December 31. Please refer to the Personal Observance FAQ page for further details. 

  7. I’m a new employee. Do I have immediate access to my vacation PTO? 

    This depends on your employee type. Eligible faculty, academic, and support staff have access to vacation PTO after 6 months of service. Eligible librarians and MSU Extension employees have access immediately upon employment. Please review the appropriate policy for further details: support staff, faculty and academic staff, librarians, and MSU extension. 

  8. What happens to my unused PTO if I leave the university – such as through retirement or termination?

    Employees will receive payment for unused vacation and personal PTO when they leave the university.

  9. How much vacation time can I use at once? 

    It is up to each department to determine what is an appropriate amount of vacation time to be taken at once. Departments should make sure to consistently approve vacation requests fairly.  

  10. For Time Entry Roles Only: What are the absence and attendance codes? 

    Please review the Absence and Attendance Codes page for specific employee groups for more information. 


    Resources

    More information about PTO for eligible employees can be found on the HR website (support staff and faculty/academic staff). We encourage you to review the appropriate policy pages thoroughly to help answer any questions you may have. Support staff may contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434 with questions. Questions from faculty and academic staff may be directed to FASAffairs@msu.edu.