Category: Fun & Resources

Remarkable, dedicated and hardworking are just some of the words used to describe the 2017 Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award Recipients. The Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award is presented annually to six university support staff members. They are hand selected by the Distinguished Staff Awards Selection Committee based on nominations received.

The award is named in honor of Jack Breslin, who served Michigan State University as a student leader, honored athlete, top administrator and steadfast advocate. His strong and innovative leadership played a pivotal role in MSU’s growth and development as the nation’s premier land grant institution.

To see who was awarded last year, and what their colleagues had to say about them. Check out the video series.

Nominations are now open for 2018! The nomination form and accompanying materials are due October 25, 2017. Please contact MSU Human Resources with any questions at 517-353-4434.

This is a guest post written by the WorkLife Office. Visit their website for more information.

Do you ever feel like all of your work and life duties are conspiring to make it seem like you have no time management skills whatsoever? We’ve felt that way before too. Don’t let the start of a new academic year wear you out. The WorkLife Office is here to help.

As we embark on a new semester, we recognize that there have been many changes across campus and that the work world seems like it is often in flux. The theme of this year’s WorkLife Office research and programming will be “The Changing World of Work,” in order to honor those feelings of change and uncertainty.

Demands of work, technological advances, transitions in the workplace, and even trends in retirement are changing, but the WorkLife Office is dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date information and resources to navigate these shifts. Join us at our annual conference on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, titled (no surprise) “The Changing World of Work” and featuring Ellen Galinsky – one of the founders of the work-life field – to learn skills and tactics for increasing productivity in new work worlds.

The WorkLife Office has several other events and programs planned – check the website for all upcoming events.

Be encouraged knowing that during those times of feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. That’s part of the reason the WorkLife Office exists – to help create a work environment where all staff and faculty are respected and supported toward well-being in your work and personal lives. Also, when life’s little responsibilities feel particularly daunting, new research has shown that paying someone else to do those chores can create increased happiness. That’s just another reason to sign up for your free access to Care.com with your MSU NetID.

Never hesitate to contact the WorkLife Office at 517-353-1635 or worklife@msu.edu.

Is your high-school aged child interested in learning computer coding? Would they love to spend a week with other students learning how to code and gaining hands-on experience? The Spartan Coding Bootcamp is exactly what you’ve been looking for!

This week-long bootcamp will teach students how to code and develop an application to solve a technical problem that they choose themselves. Students aren’t required to have prior coding knowledge to participate; the camp is for high school students entering grades 10 through 12 this fall.

As an added bonus, the first 30 enrolled children of MSU employees will receive a discounted rate of $500 dollars for the commuter (non-residential) program. This program fee includes the one-week bootcamp, a daily lunch and 60 hours of self-paced online work after the camp is finished.

There is also a discounted residential option available for $750, which covers housing, food, all coding instruction and extracurricular activities during the summer camp. If you are interested in receiving the discount, contact Martin Toomajian at toomaji5@msu.edu for information on how to enroll.

The Spartan Coding Bootcamp will take place Monday, July 17 – Friday, July 21. You can find more information about the camp and enroll your child by visiting their website.

Did you know that honey bees are responsible for pollinating around 80% of all the fruit, vegetable and seed crops in the U.S? For such a small insect, they have a huge impact on our lives.

To celebrate the hard working honey bee, the MSU Department of Entomology is hosting Bee Palooza. This family friendly event will take place on Sunday, June 18 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the MSU Horticulture Gardens.

At the event, people of all ages can take part in interactive activities that teach them about pollinators. As guests visit the different stations set up around the gardens, they can learn about honey bee and bumble bee colonies, plant and gardening practices to support pollinators, how bee bodies work and more!

Not only do bees pollinate our crops, but they also produce delicious honey. At MSU, the Department of Entomology keeps several hives that produce pure, natural honey. This honey is made on MSU’s campus from native wildflowers, alfalfa, clover and basswood. The best part is, you can buy MSU honey at the Surplus Store! All of the proceeds from honey sales go back to the Department of Entomology to support teaching and research.

To learn more about MSU honey and the bees that create it, visit bees.msu.edu.

It’s easy to get caught in the same mundane routine. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of change to put back that pep in your step. On April 28, MSU students, faculty and staff are invited to the first ever Day of Play. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to encourage the MSU community to take a break from their everyday activities and simply have fun.

The Day of Play will take place outdoors at four campus locations: the Brody Square area, Adams Field, the Rock and IM East Fields. Locations will feature a fun obstacle course, healthy snacks, chair massages, pet therapy, limited free shirts and more.

The MSU Day of Play is brought to you by the MSU Healthy Campus Initiative in collaboration with several campus partners including SHS Health Promotion, SHS State of Relaxation, Office of the Provost, Health4U, MSU Bikes, MSU Bike Polo, Recreational Sports and Fitness Services, MSU Food Stores, KIND Snacks, and volunteers from Therapy Dogs International.

10 minutes of fun is all you need to make a difference. Take a break and relieve some stress at the MSU Day of Play. Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information.

“Who will make an impact all over the world? SPARTANS WILL.” This year, The SPARTANS WILL. POWER Global Day of Service will take place on April 8. The day brings together Spartan alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends around the world to work in their local communities, demonstrating the power of the Spartan network.

Spartans, past and present, can organize and register service projects, or volunteer for an already established project. There are several projects close to East Lansing, and all over Michigan, including Potter Park Zoo Spring Clean Up, Recycle Livingston in Howell, and Invasive Species Removal in Haslett.

The SPARTANS WILL. POWER Global Day of Service has been very successful. Throughout the years, the event has averaged nearly 16,000 hours of service donated by more than 3,700 people in hundreds of locations around the world. The deadline for registering projects is March 24, and volunteer registration closes on April 2. Join the movement of Spartans and help your local community by creating or signing up for a project today! For more information visit serviceday.msu.edu.

The 23^rd annual Race for the Place Walk/Run is on Sunday, April 9, 2017!

This race is the largest annual fundraiser for MSU Safe Place, a program that provides advocacy, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, safety planning, information and referrals to survivors of violence and their minor children.

This is a family-friendly event with plenty of fun activities for kids of all ages! Additionally, all race participants will receive free admission to the MSU baseball and softball games on Sunday, April 9 that are scheduled at 1:05 p.m.

The course begins and ends at Jenison Fieldhouse and encompasses MSU’s beautiful campus. Group discounts are available. If you want to join the fun, you can register online.

In addition to registering for the race, MSU Safe Place is encouraging supporters to chip in $20 more. Want a reason to donate? MSU Safe Place has put together 20. If those reasons aren’t enough, every donation of $20 enters you into a drawing for awesome prizes!

So if you are looking to support a good cause and have some fun, register today and participate in this year’s Race for the Place!