Category: Fun & Resources

Learn about fun and/or interesting things to do around MSU or interesting bits of MSU trivia.

Protect Yourself When Shopping Online

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smartphone
Exercise caution when shopping on your smartphone. tablet or computer.

Smartphones and tablets are some of the most popular shopping tools this holiday season. At any given time you may have your financial information, family photos and contact information on one or several devices you carry daily. It’s important to protect yourself against digital pickpockets, hackers and identity thieves by following some basic safely rules:

  • Protect your device first and its contents second. Update your apps and operating system frequently. Updates often contain security patches to help protect you. Install anti-virus and malware protection on your device.
  • Enable locks on all electronic devices requiring a password to unlock. The default lock codes are generally only four digits (Apple calls this a simple passcode), select the ‘password’ option to use at least an eight character alphanumeric password. Most devices will also allow you to limit the number of attempts before the phone locks.
  • Disable Bluetooth if you are not using it, others can discover your device without your knowledge. Remember when you paired it with your car and the password was 0000?
  • Turn OFF Location Services or Tracking; this allows apps to know where you are, where you shop or even where you work.
  • Limit online shopping to when you are on a secure Wi-Fi network, like your home. If you must do business while out, turn OFF wifi and use your phone’s 3G or 4G network, it is far more secure than a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Continue Reading… Protect Yourself When Shopping Online

My smartphone can do that?

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Nearly 72 percent of the cell phones currently in use are smartphones.   But do you know how smart your phone really is? Here are a few things you might find useful. Note: there are many versions of Android so these may not work on every phone.smartphones

You can take a screenshot just like on your computer. On an iPhone – press and hold the Home button along with the Sleep/Wake button, you’ll hear a shutter click and the image will appear in your Camera Roll or Photos section. For Android, pressing the Power and Home buttons at the same time will grab an image of the screen and save to your Gallery. Remember to press both buttons at the same time, and hold them until the shutter sound is heard. (You need to hold the Power button slightly before pressing the Home button, then hold them both down.)

Listen to music on your phone with a sleep timer. Many people use their phone to listen to music as they go to sleep, but you don’t want it running all night and draining your battery. On an iPhone, go to the Clock app and click on “Timer”, then “When Timer Ends”. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select “Stop Playing”. For Android, open the music player settings. Find “Music auto off” and set it to however long you want the music to play.

Block calls and texts. Have you ever had someone get your number and continually call or text even if you tell them to stop? To block calls on an iPhone with iOS 7 or later, open the Phone or FaceTime app. If the person is already a contact, tap his/her name, scroll to the bottom of the page and tap “Block This Caller”. Then tap “Block Contact”. If the person isn’t a contact, tap the “Info” button, then scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Block this Caller. Then tap Block Contact. If you want to block texts, open the Messages app and tap a message from the person you want to block. Tap “Contact” in the upper right and then tap the “Info” button. Scroll to the bottom and tap “Block this Caller”. Then tap “Block Contact”.   You can edit your blocked contacts later at these locations: Settings>>Phone>>Blocked, Settings>>Messages>>Blocked or Settings>>FaceTime>>Blocked. On Android, go to Settings>>Call settings>>Call block. Under “Incoming calls” tap “Call block list” and then tap “Create”. You can enter a number, or tap the picture icon to find the number in your Contacts list or in your call logs.

Take better pictures. You can take photos by tapping the screen but it’s hard not to shake when you tap. On an iPhone, the volume up button can be used as your shutter button. Android has Voice Control in the camera app settings letting you take pictures with commands like “smile” and “cheese”.

elevateU Contest Winners

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If you attended this year’s HR benefits Fair, you may have noticed that Professional Development Services ran a contest. Everyone who completed a class between October 14 and October 31 in elevateU was entered into a drawing to win one of two prizes. The winners are:

Contest Winner Jamie Lake
elevateU Contest Winner Jamie Lake poses with her State Room gift card and elevateU headphones.

Dennis Bond, Manager of Web Services, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, who won a basket full of MSU items, including a beautiful stadium blanket.

Jamie Lake, Payroll, Residential and Housing Services, who won a $50 gift certificate to the State Room.

Dennis has been making the most out of his elevateU access. “I’ve really enjoyed using elevateU. It’s quick and easy to jump into a course, and it’s also easy to return if you have to put it down. I’d definitely recommend trying it and have already started assigning courses to my own team.”

Many others have found elevateU helpful as well, both in building skills for their current job, as well as positions they may aspire to. Here are the top 10 classes that MSU employees have taken so far:Continue Reading… elevateU Contest Winners

2014 Outstanding Supervisor Awards

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The Outstanding Supervisor Award was established by the Family Resource Center in the spring of 2001 to draw attention to MSU supervisors who are highly regarded by their employees for their consistent support of the work/life (professional/personal) needs of their employees. Various academic and support staff units submitted excellent nominations this year. The nominees and nominators represent a wide variety of departments and position levels.The recipient selections were based on the testimonies such as those quoted below from their employees’ nomination letters. This year’s five winners include:

Mike Gardner- Rivertrail Dining Manager gardner

  • “Mike has an uncanny ability of making every person that he comes in contact with feel like they are his close and personal friend.”
  • “He supports each and every member of our team by creating and fostering a supportive environment and encouraging a happy and healthy work/life balance.”
  • “He always cared about me as a person, not just an employee.”

Shawn Kelly- Supervisor-Project Services –Infrastructure Planning and Facilitieskelly

  • “Shawn is a family man and very sensitive to one’s family needs and is very understanding when one has to leave work due to a family emergency, illness.etc
”
  • “I commute from Grand Rapids on a daily basis and Shawn has allowed me to adjust my work schedule so that I could join a vanpool to help with my work/life balance, save on the cost of commuting and remove some of the wear and tear of driving daily.”
  • “Shawn’s management style is one of empowerment and personalized support.”

Judy McMillan- HRPP Manager-Human Research Liaison Programmcmillan

  • “Judy routinely encourages our team to work flexible hours if needed so that we are able to not only excel at our jobs, but also allowing for us to have a life outside of work with our families.”
  • “I have always felt that Judy respects me as a person first!”
  • “Judy holds us accountable for our scheduled work hours but also knows that they may be atypical for a given work day to allow for family commitments and what I like to term “hiccups”.”

 Gary Roloff- Associate Professor-Fisheries and Wildliferoloff

  • “Gary is much more than the person who oversees my work; you could say he is the reason I work.”
  • “Gary ensures that the work we are doing for him aligns with our greater goals for the future.”
  • “Anyone who has ever worked with Gary would agree that this award was created to recognize people like Gary.”

Holly Rosen- Director -MSU Safe Placerosen

  • “By employing a philosophy of teamwork Holly works to teach and empower our staff, helping everyone to be invested in the process.”
  • “She was flexible with prenatal appointments, provided advice and guidance and encouraged me to take time off from work after the birth of both of our children.”
  • Holly sets the tone for a respectful, inclusive, and client centered work environment.”

All the nominators claim to have the “Best Boss” on campus!Continue Reading… 2014 Outstanding Supervisor Awards

America Recycles Day

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Sparty will be recycling for America Recycles Day- will you?
Sparty will be recycling for America Recycles Day- will you?

This year, America Recycles Day will take place on Saturday, November 15. This nationally-recognized event works not only to promote recycling in the United States but to celebrate the act itself. Recycling is no new concept yet many, due in part to limited time and living in a “disposable” society, do not always recycle as often as possible. America Recycles Day hopes to raise awareness and to illustrate that, although recycling may take a few extra minutes and is not always the easiest option, it more than pays off in the long run.

So what can you do? First, take the American Recycles Day pledge.  The three-part pledge emphasizes the importance of learning, acting and sharing in order to expand recycling. Second, recycle!  Michigan State is a highly sustainable university and has recycling bins located throughout campus. Bins accept a wide range of materials including white paper, mixed paper, newspaper, cardboard, boxboard, household metal and plastics #1 through #7. Familiarize yourself with what exactly is encompassed by these materials- odds are, you can recycle more than you think!

You can also take recycling a step further by visiting MSU’s very own Public Drop-Off Center. The Public Drop-Off Center is entirely free, open 24/7, LEED-certified and conveniently located at the south end of campus on the corner of Farm Lane and Green Way. The center accepts most materials. For a comprehensive list, please visit MSU Recycling’s Recycle Guide. Also, to learn more about recycling operations at MSU, visit the Sustainability Guidebook. Take advantage of these incredible resources so that you can be not only green, but Spartan green!

Transfer Historical ANGEL Content to the University Archives

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Did your unit conduct university business using ANGEL Groups? Have you used ANGEL to store meeting minutes, policy documentation, or other business records? Do you have course syllabi or other content on ANGEL that’s not being migrated to Desire2Learn?

If you conducted university business using ANGEL Groups, your ANGEL content may be of historical value and eligible for transfer to the University Archives. The University Archives has a mission and mandate to collect, preserve, and provide access to the university’s institutional historical and scholarly records, including digital material.

With the permanent decommissioning of ANGEL set for May 15, 2015, it’s important to ensure that your business and curricular records of historical value are transferred to the Archives, particularly for content that will not be migrated to Desire2Learn.

Records of historical value potentially stored in ANGEL include:

  • Meeting agendas and minutes
  • Policy documents
  • Course syllabi
  • Curriculum documentation
  • Instruction notes
  • Research Data

If you think your ANGEL Group includes historical business records or curricular content, please contact Lisa Schmidt or Ed Busch at the University Archives, archives@msu.edu or 517-355-2330, with any questions and for assistance in identifying and transferring these records.

Fall Color Tour

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Fall-Shaw-Lane
Take a walk on MSU’s beautiful campus!

Are you interested in enjoying the beautiful fall foliage? Have you been searching for a way to integrate light exercise into your daily routine? If so, drink in the colors of the season and get your heart pumping by taking a walk on one of MSU’s numerous walking loops!

If you aren’t quite sure what route to take, check out the Campus Walking Loops interactive map. Developed through a partnership between MSU’s Health4U and Campus Planning and Administration, the map identifies various paths that snake through MSU’s campus. Additionally, the mileage of each path is labeled, allowing you to select your route based on your available free time.

Walking offers a wealth of benefits, and the gorgeous scenery you’ll spot along the way is a definite bonus. To hold yourself accountable, try organizing a group of interested colleagues or friends. Adding a walk to your schedule is sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated, alert, and in love with the season!

Want to enjoy the fall colors on Wednesday? Consider attending the Rock Walk ‘n Roll! Details here: http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2014/its-time-to-rock-walk-n-roll-msu-moves-u-mile-set-for-oct-15/.

Autumn is Here!

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It’s the first day of fall! You know what that means- colorful leaves, cooler weather, and pumpkin-spiced everything!  Make the most of the season by participating in any of these fall-themed festivities.

  • Visit an apple orchard, cider mill, haunted house, or pumpkin patch.

    Fall Tree
    One of the best parts of fall is the beautiful change in scenery.

All four of these destinations are the epitome of the autumn season and provide the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends and family.

  • Get crafty with leaves!

As leaves are in abundance during the fall months, take advantage of their beauty by creating art projects for your home. Decoupage leaves on poster board to create a collage, coat them in paint to use as a stamp, or make a festive wreath using chicken wire; the possibilities are endless!

  • Enjoy the flavors of the season.

Whether it be brewing some hot apple cider, creating your own caramel apples, or roasting pumpkin seeds, set aside some time to make and enjoy fall goodies.

 

Homecoming 2014

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Homecoming Parade band members
MSU’s annual Homecoming Parade is always entertaining to watch!

MSU will celebrate Homecoming next week, September 22-27. A wealth of exciting activities have been planned in observation of Homecoming, including campus hayrides, a craft night, and a golf outing to name a few. The annual Homecoming Parade is scheduled for next Friday, September 26, beginning at 6 p.m. Be sure to come out to watch MSU’s finest, including the marching band and other student organizations, snake their way through downtown East Lansing and campus. The week will reach culmination in the form of the Homecoming Football Game. The Spartans will take on the Wyoming Cowboys at Noon in Spartan Stadium.

Participate in the MSU tradition of “glowing green” for Homecoming week by replacing the light bulb on your front porch with a green bulb. Submit a photo of your participation to the MSU Alumni Association’s Facebook and you could win a $100 gift card to the Spartan Bookstore.

As you enjoy next week’s festivities, be sure to celebrate safely. For a more detailed itinerary and additional information, click here.  Go Green!

Michigan Bluesfest 2014

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Michigan Bluesfest
Add a little soul to your life by attending the Michigan Bluesfest this weekend!

Interested in listening to original compositions that are sure to evoke feelings of inspiration and nostalgia? Then the Michigan Bluesfest is for you! The festival will take place this weekend, September 19-20, in Old Town Lansing. Performances begin at 5 p.m. on Friday.

The Michigan Bluesfest showcases an exciting array of blues musicians, featuring artists from all over the country. To view a comprehensive list of this year’s talented and dynamic performers, click here. To supplement the soulful lyrics and brassy instruments generally associated with the blues genre, a food court will be available to serve patrons. There will also be a variety of vendors, selling everything from jewelry to world gifts.

If you’re still in need of convincing, the festival is completely free to the public. That’s right, immerse yourself in the sultry world of blues music for no cost at all! In the event of inclement weather, the festival will still run- plan accordingly and check the forecast before leaving.