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October Events Round-Up

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October Events Round-Up

If you and your family are looking for upcoming events to celebrate the beginning of the fall season, you’ve come to the right place. October holds many event opportunities in the Greater Lansing area for you to check out. Click the links below to explore future events and register if required.

Campus Events

Benefits Open Enrollment – MSU Benefits Open Enrollment is October 1-31. Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review your coverage options and ensure you have the benefits that are best for you and your family as you head into the new year. Learn more on the HR Website and plan to visit the Benefits Fair on October 3 or one of the several Site Labs available throughout October.

October 2 –  Drawing Marathon: From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., stop by this annual non-stop drawing event at the MSU Broad Art Museum with the MSU Department of Art, Art History, and Design. All skill levels and ages are welcome, and registration is encouraged for this free event. 

October 13th – Black Botany Weeds Tour: Join Angelica Bajos, Community and Sustainability Coordinator of the MSU Beal Botanical Garden for a deep-dive into the botanical exhibit, Complex Dreams. From 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., learn what weeds can tell us about our perspective on the values of plants and people as a part of the deep-rooted collaboration where art and plants intertwine. Learn more and be sure to register for this free event.

October 14th – 19th – MSU Homecoming: MSU will celebrate Homecoming 2024 with many activities for students, staff, alumni and friends of the university. This year’s theme is “Welcome Home, Spartans” to recognize that no matter where you come from, you have a home within the Spartan Community. The Homecoming parade is October 18th at 6:00 p.m., and the football game at Spartan Stadium against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes is Saturday October 19th. Single-game tickets are available for purchase on the MSU Athletics Website. There are also volunteer opportunities for those 18 and older, so be sure to register by October 3rd if you are interested in volunteering or looking to be in the parade!  

Learning Opportunities

October 15th – Cultural Competency: MSU prides itself on leading inclusivity and promoting full participation and a sense of belonging for all employees and staff. Join us in building cultural awareness and inclusivity skills that will last a lifetime, and learn about intent vs. impact, how to de-escalate tension, and identify self-awareness in the workplace. Enroll through EBS and join us from 1:00 pm. to 3:30 p.m. at the in-person class in the MSU HR building… 

October 3rd, 17th, & 31st – Implicit Bias Certificate Series: This Implicit Bias Series allows participants to examine the different factors of implicit bias through a series of models. Module one will go over identity, and discuss how we view the world. Module two will cover microaggressions, implicit bias, explicit bias and how we can address bias. Module three addresses systemic race in the U.S. context, and modules four and five discuss inclusive environments and taking action. Register for this three part course through EBS. 

Family – Friendly Events

October 5th – Family Day: FLY: The first Saturday of the month means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum, and this month we are inviting you to make creative connections with our exhibits through a hands-on experience with interactive family fun. Explore Complex Dreams, an exhibit that places the experience of young Black girlhood center stage while forwarding a refreshing and resilient view of the power of Black women today. Registration for this free event is highly encouraged. 

October 6th – Totally Rad Vintage Festival: Join us at the Lansing Center from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to enter a time warp into the 80s, 90s and 2000s through vintage clothes. There will be vendors selling clothes, records, home goods, and more, and is open to all ages. There will be a free-play vintage arcade set up, Rad Relic Museum, nostalgic photo ops to fully immerse yourself into the recreated scenes of the 80s and 90s. Kids under 12 enter free, and you can visit our website for tickets and more information. 

October 25th – Trick or Treat on the Square: Save the date for Downtown Lansing’s annual Trick or Treat on the Square Event on Friday, October 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Local businesses will be passing out sweets, hosting fun games, and you will have the chance to get creative with Halloween crafts and activities. Be sure to dress up in your best costume and bring your candy bag!

October 1-31st – Michigan’s 4-H Children’s Garden Undersea Exhibit: If you are looking for something fun to do with your family, you should stop by the 4-H Children’s Garden to experience the Undersea Exhibit brought on by MSU AgeAlive! The gardens are open sunup to sundown until October 31st with free admission. Take a look at our website for more information on the 4-H Gardens and the exhibit. 

Farmers Markets Farmer’s markets are beloved events in many local communities allowing us an opportunity to support local farmers and small businesses and enjoy delicious produce, baked goods, and even homemade crafts and personal care items. Many Greater Lansing communities offer seasonal farmer’s markets. Find one near you at https://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/

Job of The Week: Assistant Director of Annual Giving

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as an Assistant Director of Annual Giving for University Advancement (job posting 992411). University Advancement is seeking an experienced assistant director, so if you are interested in fundraising for the Cultural Arts including the Beal Botanical Gardens, MSU Broad Art Museum, and the MSU Museum, this may be the role for you! 

University Advancement looks to the future with optimism and a growth mindset, and their mission is to advance the Spartan impact. By securing support through talent, service, gifts, advocacy and more, University Advancement’s main goal is to create long-lasting connections with the Spartan community, building a better tomorrow for MSU. 

In this position, you would report to the Senior Director of Development and work actively with University Advancement’s Annual Giving Team and Cultural Arts Unit to collaborate on the best strategies. You will maintain and develop annual giving membership plans that ensures a positive donor experience while supporting year-over-year fundraising growth. Some tasks include overseeing event follow-up to promote giving, creating digital and print annual giving campaigns to encourage new donors, and implementing member renewal processes. You will work in partnership with the UA events team to create special fundraising events, leverage existing campus-wide events to encourage donors, and oversee donor recognition events and gifts. 

The education, experience and skills desired for this role include a degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing/Business, and one to three years of previous experience in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing, or a related field. You should have great organizational and customer service skills, a valid driver’s license, and the ability to work effectively in a complex higher education system. This role also may require some in and out-of-state travel, as well as some evenings and weekend requirements throughout the year. 

Learn more about University Advancement here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information. Applications require a resume and cover letter, and should be submitted by October 24th. 

September is Self-Improvement Month

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September is Self-Improvement Month! Self-improvement can be related to many things, like learning something new, maximizing strength or focusing on your physical or emotional wellbeing. Celebrate this month and the months ahead by taking time for yourself, growing and using these MSU resources to help get you started.

Ready, Set, Change!

Take advantage of this personal development course on Thursday, October 10th. Learn from Amazon best-selling author of Ready, Set, Change! on how to streamline the changing process. For more information, visit the HR Website here. 

Take a Walk Around MSU

Explore our beautiful campus or take a stroll through the East Lansing area. Walking is great exercise, but it can also improve your mental and emotional well-being. Take in the fall scenery and relax on campus.

Finding Peace in a Chaotic World 

Feeling worried, stressed, or anxious? Learn strategies to help navigate our increasingly complex world and how you can change your own perspective. For more information, visit MSU Human Resources.

Strengths Based Leadership

Looking to maximize your strengths and become a stronger leader? Understand manager-specific strengths using the newly released CliftonStrengths for Managers Report in this in-person course. Join us November 7th from 8:30 a.m. to noon to learn new ways to improve your time management skills and achieve your goals. For more information, check out the Strengths-Based Leadership course.

Desk Decompress

Join us every Thursday from September 12th through December 12th and take a few minutes to decompress while stretching and strengthening your neck, spine, wrists and shoulders all at your own desk! These virtual classes focused on gentle upper body movements can help counter the effects of sitting at a desk, and you don’t even have to leave your seat! For more information or to register, visit University Health and Wellbeing.

Virtual Chair Yoga

While yoga may just seem like a form of exercise, it can also be a huge stress reliever, a way to improve focus and concentration, and can reduce your anxiety. MSU offers free, virtual chair yoga for faculty and staff. These 30-minute sessions are every Tuesday from September 10th to December 10th, and all you need is a chair. For more information or to register for a class, visit University Health and Wellbeing.

WorkLife Wellbeing: Caring for the Caregiver

This webinar highlights the various ways informal caregiving affects mental and physical health, and allows you to learn the importance of self-care and some strategies to improve your overall well being. In order to improve your work performance, it is crucial to focus first on your personal wellbeing. Join us November 12th to take the first steps towards you and your team’s WorkLife Wellbeing. To register or for more information, visit the Webinar Registration page.

Share your favorite self-improvement tips and comment below!

Job of The Week: Greenhouse Coordinator

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Greenhouse Coordinator for MSU AgBioResearch (job posting 985817). MSU AgBioResearch is seeking an experienced professional to play a huge role in the Plant Science Research Greenhouse at Michigan State University. If you are interested in overseeing the care and maintenance of greenhouse facilities, this may be the role for you!

MSU AgBioResearch engages in innovative and leading-edge research that generates economic prosperity, sustains natural resources, and enhances the quality of life not only in Michigan, but around the world. With approximately 300 researchers from 6 colleges across MSU, AgBioResearch prioritizes food safety and security, climate adaptation, water conservation, resilient and profitable agriculture and natural resource systems, and more. 

Michigan State University greenhouses are home to over 100,000 square feet of research space and serve over 70 faculty across eight different academic departments at MSU. In this role, you would oversee all maintenance at the greenhouses and advise researchers on the use of greenhouse facilities and plant care. The MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension work together to make discoveries in the area of genomics, breeding, pest management, and disease management, as well as reaching out to growers to learn about the most recent findings. This would be another part to oversee in your role of Greenhouse Coordinator. 

The education, experience and skills desired for this role include a four-year degree in horticulture and up to three years of similar or more advanced work in greenhouses and supervising. This role may also require certification as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator before the end of the applicable trial.

Learn more about MSU AgBioResearch here. To learn more about the position or if you are interested in applying online, visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information! Applications require a resume, cover letter, three professional references and should be submitted by October 1st. 

Job of the Week: Social Worker

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Social Worker for MSU’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) with University Health and Wellbeing (job posting 988182). CAPS is seeking a full-time outpatient therapist to provide evidence-based, short-term therapeutic interventions to students. You will play a large role in supporting students in groups and one-on-one therapy sessions. 

The mission of Michigan State University’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services is to connect students with the most available and appropriate care and services to optimize their health and wellbeing. CAPS works under University Health and Wellbeing, whose purpose is to support the MSU community with health and wellbeing equitably woven throughout all aspects of staff and student campus life. CAPS and University Health and Wellbeing are working together to improve the overall health of our campus, staff, and students.

In this position, you will provide crisis response services, participate in CAPS training, facilitate group therapy, and serve students experiencing significant psychopathology. You will provide multiculturally responsive and evidence-based individual and group services, as well as single-session crisis intervention to students in need on campus. 

The education, experience and skills desired for this role include a degree in Social Work and one to three years of related work experience in a counseling/mental health environment. You will also need a State certification of Social Work, and ACSW may be required to provide primary supervision of social work to students. You should also have experience in an interdisciplinary setting with a diverse college student population from various multicultural backgrounds.

Learn more about MSU CAPS here and about University Health and Wellbeing here. To learn more about the position or if you are interested in applying online, visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information! Applications require a resume, letter of interest, a proof of licensure, and are due by September 24th. 

Job of the Week: On-Call Technical Aide

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting for an on-call Technical Aide with the MSU College of Human Medicine and the Mott Department of Public Health (job posting 984176). MSUCHM is seeking a Community Health Worker to assist with a clinical trial to evaluate the MI MOM app, supporting pregnant and postpartum women. You will play a large role supporting patients and assisting with technical operations.

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is dedicated to educating exemplary physicians, discovering new knowledge, and providing service both at home and abroad. By providing outstanding care and promoting the inclusion and needs of all people, the College of Human Medicine fosters an environment that enhances their community. The Mott Department of Public Health focuses on the population’s health from its home base in Flint, Michigan, and its mission is to eliminate health disparities in diverse populations with the ultimate goal of attaining the highest level of health for all individuals and groups.

In this position, you would provide online patient support through live chat sessions, develop location-based resource lists, and maintain connections with local agencies. You will also facilitate appointments, conduct home visits, and find resources such as transportation all while doing so in a respectful manner, handling sensitive subjects with kindness and compassion. You may also be in charge of data entry and collection. 

The education, experience and skills desired for this role include a high school diploma, experience working with clients in pregnancy and postpartum, and strong computer and technological skills. It is also important that you have a current Community Health Worker certificate, strong communication skills, respectful problem-solving abilities, and excellent organizational skills. 


Learn more about the MSU College of Human Medicine here and about the Mott Department of Public Health here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information! Applications require a resume and cover letter, and should be submitted by September 30th.

September Events Round-Up

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If you and your family are looking for activities in the upcoming month, you’ve come to the right place. September holds many virtual and in-person opportunities in the Greater Lansing area for you to check out. Click the links below to explore future events and register if required.

Campus Events

September 7: Family Day: PAINT: Join us at the MSU Broad Art Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Family Day. You and your family can pick up a paintbrush and create paintings inspired by the artwork of Samia Halaby: Eye Witness. Registration is required for this free event. 

September 9: Monday Night Open House: Visit the MSU Bug House in the Natural Science Building for a bug-themed evening! From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., come to room 147 to meet live insects and arachnids from around the world. Visit our website for directions! 

September 29: Collage Making for Liberation with Rebel Betty: From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., join Chicago-based artist Rebel Betty for a collage-making workshop at the MSU Broad Art Museum. Explore the exhibit in collaboration with Diasporic Collage: Puerto Rico and the Survival of a People, and be sure to register for this free event.

Learning Opportunities

September 12 & 26: Deepening Your Essential Skills: If you have completed a Spartan Resilience Education course, you are eligible to continue learning at this webinar. Here you can ask questions, raise topics, and build community with your peers. Be sure to register for this free course through the link above! 

Family Friendly Events

September 12: BealFest2024: The Apple of MSU’s Eye: Come to the Beal Botanical Garden from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to attend their annual fall celebration. This year’s theme highlights trees, and the event will include activities, performances, demonstrations, and trees to adopt for everyone. More information to come, so stay tuned!

September 13: 1920s Murder Mystery Dinner: Michigan Princess is hosting a brand new and immersive Murder Mystery Dinner experience from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Enjoy live music, interactive murder mystery entertainment, buffet-style dinner, and more all while cruising down the Grand River. The roaring twenties theme allows you to immerse yourself in the experience and play your own unique storyline for the evening. Tickets are $85/person and can be purchased at the link above. 

September 14: Lansing Princess Day: Experience a fun-filled day with your favorite princesses at Lansing Princess Day at the Ramada Lansing Hotel. Here you can experience 10 performances and activities with your little ones, including a meet-and-greet session with photos, hugs, and autographs. This event runs for approximately 90 minutes and all guests must purchase a ticket to attend. Little ones are encouraged to dress up as their favorite princess. Be sure to purchase your tickets soon, and check out the website for more information. 

September 19–22: 517 Hispanic Heritage Festival: Join us for a weekend of celebration this Hispanic Heritage Month for a weekend of fun, education, and entertainment in the Downtown District of Michigan’s State Capital! Come observe the largest display of Hispanic cultures, art, food, music, dancing, and more. On Saturday, September 21, the main event “A Taste of Hispanic Heritage Festival,” will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will be closing the 100 and 200 blocks of Downtown Lansing. Check out the website for more details and parking information. 

Farmers Markets

Farmer’s markets are beloved events in many local communities allowing us an opportunity to support local farmers and small businesses and enjoy delicious produce, baked goods, and even homemade crafts and personal care items. Many Greater Lansing communities offer seasonal farmer’s markets. Find one near you at https://mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/

Open Enrollment

Save the Date for October 3: The Open Enrollment Benefits Fair is early this year on Thursday, October 3 at Breslin Center. MSU benefit providers and MSU HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help employees enroll in their benefits on-site at the Breslin Student Events Center. More information will be shared closer to the event date. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details!

New Academic Year, New Professional Development Opportunities

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Fall is here, and the Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department in MSU Human Resources has spots open in the following courses to support your learning and development. All the current  Organization and Professional Development courses are on the HR website. Class enrollment is completed within the  EBS Portal, and employees may use available educational assistance funds towards course fees (if any).

Getting Things Done | Starting September 24-26 | Virtual 

This Personal Development course teaches skills needed to manage busy work days, high task demands, and interruptions that employees face on a daily basis. This will ultimately teach you how to organize incoming requests, handle stress in the workplace, decrease missed deadlines, and more in terms of personal development at work. 

Everything DiSC: Productive Conflict | August 28 | In-Person 

This course provides learners with techniques to work on self-improvement around conflicts in the workplace. After the course, you will have a better understanding of how to better recognize your own response to certain conflicts and how to curb destructive responses. Pre-work will be sent to you and will need to be completed before you take the class. 

Resilient Leadership Series | Starting October 30 | Virtual 

This four-part course will highlight essential resilience skills crucial for effective leadership, emotional intelligence, emotional resilience, psychological flexibility and mindfulness and more. Here you will develop practical grounding skills, learn about systems of power and privilege and cultural narratives in the workplace, and receive an overview of the MSU Spartan Resilience Training Program. 

Crucial Influence | Dates Coming Soon 

Targeting mid to high level-leaders responsible for leading change and improving efforts in the workplace, this last course teaches the Crucial Influence Model and explains why people do what they do. Here you will also learn how you can influence behaviors to encourage efficient teamwork and focusing on working well both as a team and as individuals. 

MSU Surplus Store

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

The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center helps keep MSU green by innovating the community’s used materials. Last year, the center was able to divert 13 million pounds of material collected from the landfill. Michigan State University was recently ranked among the top 25 globally for sustainability in the Times Higher Education and there is no doubt the Surplus Store plays a large role in this accomplishment. 

The store also prides itself on its zero waste policy, meaning that if something is collected that cannot be resold, it is recycled for parts at the onsite recycling center. To learn more about the recycling center, visit their website here. 

The store sells a variety of products ranging from school supplies to bicycles to furniture, appliances and more. In addition to the store and website, the surplus store has an Amazon Storefront, eBay account and Etsy account. The Surplus Store holds many auctions on larger items such as lawn mowers and satellites. One of the most useful parts of these online resources are the textbooks, so if you are a student or have a student at home, check out these sites before buying your textbooks at full price somewhere else. You can visit the MSU Surplus Store at 468 Green Way, East Lansing. While in-person shopping is only open on Fridays, the store offers curbside pickup Monday through Friday. To shop or learn more about the store, visit msusurplusstore.com.

Job of the Week: Office Coordinator

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as the Office Coordinator for International Studies and Programs at MSU (job posting 971859). If you are interested in supporting operations at the Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen), coordinating projects and programs, planning events, and providing first-level support for student employees, this may be the job for you. You will play a vital role in GenCen production, operation, communications and more.

The Center for Gender in Global Context serves as Michigan State’s hub for gender and sexuality research, as well as engagement and teaching resources with a global perspective. GenCen prides itself on connecting scholars, students, and community stakeholders with feminist knowledge to encourage social change. 

This in-person role’s main responsibilities include preparing reports and promotional materials for GenCen, maintaining the website, creating graphic standards, and implementing communication strategies and executions – all while adhering to university and GenCen’s core values and policies. You will also oversee communications targeted towards GenCen’s community, including but not limited to the annual magazine, emails, newsletters, social media, flyers, brochures, presentations, podcasts, annual reports, and GenCen’s website. On the administrative side, you will monitor and support all facilities, complete computer tasks, answer phones and emails, seminars, and provide first-level supervision for designated student employees through goal-setting and check-ins.

The education, experience and skills desired for this role include two or three years of college or related technical school, and six months to a year of related work experience including using social media platforms and customer service. You will be using Qualtrics, Adobe, Microsoft Office applications, and copyediting, so it is important to have background knowledge in these areas. You should also have experience in event planning, supervising, communicating, and working collaboratively.  
Learn more about MSU’s Center for Gender in Global Context here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers at MSU website for more information! Applications require a resume and a letter of interest, and should be submitted by August 20th.