Category: News Flash

This category is for general news and announcements.

The WorkLife Office is Here to Help!

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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.

scientists-collaborating_sm
Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

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.

Campus Construction Update: What you need to know before the new academic year

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Construction of the FRIB project on Thursday May 16, 2013.
Get updates about current construction projects on the IPF website!

As we prepare for the upcoming academic year, you may have noticed that some of the summer construction projects are starting to wrap up. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of the projects that are completed, those that will be finished by the end of the summer and those that will continue into the academic year.

Parking Lot Projects

  • Lots 83, 89, 91 and 100 will have portions closed over the summer for solar carport installation. Construction will be completed December 2017.
  • Lots 86, 93 and 104 will have portions closed over the summer for utility installations. Construction will be completed December 2017.
  • Lot 92 will have portions closed through the Fall 2017 semester for solar carport installation. Construction will be completed December 2017.
  • Lot 90 is offline.
  • Lots 79 and 63E will be closed entirely until August 21.
  • Lot 63W is now open.

Building Construction and Renovations

  • Construction has begun on the new Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building. Construction traffic will be heavy on Service Road.
  • Construction of the Business College Complex Pavilion is underway. Sidewalks to the south side of the Eppley Center have been closed to pedestrians.
  • Installation of windows in Hubbard Hall is complete.
  • The IM West HVAC replacement project is underway and will be completed September 2017.
  • Engineering Research Complex construction is underway. There will be increased construction traffic and noise in the area (South Academic District).
  • Renovation of room E100 and the corridor in the Veterinary Medical Center is underway. Through August, the west corridor will still be closed to through pedestrian traffic and there will be increased construction traffic at the northwest drive.
  • Bessey Hall first and second floor renovations are underway and will be completed mid-August.
  • Renovations to Olin Student Health Center are complete.
  • The 1855 Place Project is underway. Retail spaces opened in early August and the office spaces will open October 2017.
  • Construction in the Breslin Center and Spartan Stadium is ongoing.

For more information about construction projects, you can view the August Construction Junction video or visit the IPF website.

Want to Become SPARTANfit?

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Do you want to get in shape this summer? Fitness assessments are available through SPARTANfit for MSU faculty and staff members!

Joggers_Red_Cedar_small
Reach your health goals with half-price fitness assessments through SPARTANfit.

By participating, you will receive a comprehensive assessment to help determine your current fitness level. During this assessment, a series of resting exercise measurements will help establish your fitness baseline to set goals, monitor performance and assess progress throughout your fitness program.

Following the assessment, you will meet with a SPARTANfit staff member to discuss the results of your computerized age-adjusted fitness profile. Additionally, you will work together to establish a tailored, three-month goal-oriented fitness plan.

SPARTANfit assessments cost $40 for faculty and staff members. If you would like more information, visit the SPARTANfit website.

Sign up today so that you can take advantage of this opportunity and reach your fitness goals!

MSU Employees Spend Less for the Spartan Coding Bootcamp

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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!

coding
The Spartan Coding Bootcamp gives students hands-on computer coding experience!

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.

Campus is Buzzing: Learn about Bee Palooza and find out where to buy MSU Honey

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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.

honey bee
Bee Palooza is Sunday, June 18 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the MSU Horticulture Gardens.

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.

Upcoming Deadlines for Award Nominations

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Deadlines are coming up this month to nominate talented faculty and staff members for two major awards: the Clerical Technical Recognition Award and the Outstanding Supervisor Award.

CT-Award-Winner
Dr. Charles Gliozzo with last year’s CT Recognition Award recipient Rebecca Ives.

The Clerical Technical Recognition Award is presented annually to an MSU support staff member who performs clerical-technical duties. Selection criteria include respect and concern for all members of the campus community, diligence in daily work, significant contributions to the community or public service and innovative thinking. Nominations for this year’s award are due Monday, June 26, 2017. 2017 marks the 15th year anniversary of the award, and to commemorate the occasion, two recipients will be selected this year! Learn more about the nomination process for this award here.

 

jessica-nakfour-team
One of last year’s Outstanding Supervisor Award recipients, Jessica Nakfour and her team.

The Outstanding Supervisor Award is presented annually to MSU supervisors who consistently support the personal and professional needs of the employees in their unit. Selection criteria include an understanding of work/life balance, a positive leadership style that empowers others, treatment of employees as people first and sensitivity to individual needs. This year’s nominations are due by Friday, June 30, 2017. Learn more about the nomination process for this award here.

 

Best Places to Visit on Campus that Aren’t Under Construction

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As we head into summer, you may have noticed more and more construction projects popping up around campus. If you want to know exactly where all of that work is happening so you can avoid it as you make your way around MSU, here is an interactive map.

With a campus as large as MSU, even when half of it is under construction, there are still many beautiful and fun places that you can visit. We’ve compiled a list locations you should check out if you want to enjoy campus during the season of road work.

  1. Beal_Garden_Marker
    Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy

    Beal Botanical Garden: Not only is this garden beautiful, but it’s also historically significant as the oldest continuously operated garden of this type in the U.S.!

  2. MSU Observatory: Come study the galaxy at the MSU observatory, located at the edge of campus and far away from any construction!
  3. The River Trail: On the banks of the Red Cedar is a walking and bike path runs through the center of campus. This is the perfect place to walk if you want to get out of the sun and enjoy the soothing sounds of the river (you may also find some friendly MSU ducks and squirrels along the way).
  4. The MSU Dairy Store: The Dairy Store at MSU sells arguably the best ice cream ever.
  5. Beaumont Tower: No trip to MSU would be complete without a trip to this campus landmark.
  6. woodlot_web
    Behold the winding paths within Baker Woodlot.

    Baker Woodlot: This is a little-known sanctuary located on campus that allows you to take a break from civilization and explore nature.

  7. Broad Art Museum: You can stop for a picture outside the futuristic building or head inside to look at their awesome exhibits.
  8. Summer Circle Courtyard: This courtyard hosts Summer Circle Theatre, which is free for anyone who wants to attend. The theme this season is Travel Across America…and Beyond!
  9. AbramsPic-slider-croppedAbrams Planetarium: Have some family friendly fun by taking in one of the featured star shows.
  10. The Gallery at Snyder/Phillips: A contender for best dining hall on campus, The Gallery offers great food and an even better atmosphere.

Careers @ MSU Applicant Resources

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MSU Jobs IconThe new Careers @ MSU job posting websites have been live for about a month now. If you haven’t already, be sure to take a look! There are two sites: one for current MSU employees seeking additional opportunities internally and another for external applicants. Prospective, external applicants will visit the external careers.msu.edu website for job postings, and current MSU employees should visit the internal site via the “Careers @ MSU” tile in the EBS Portal.

As you adjust to this new system, remember that there are many resources available to help. We’ve highlighted a few in this post to get you started!

For both internal and external applicants, there is a tip sheet which details the features of the new system. Additionally, there are tip sheets to walk you through the process of setting up a job alert. External applicants can find that information here and internal applicants can find it here.

If you are a potential MSU employee applying on the external site, more resources can be found here. For current MSU employees applying through the internal site, the video below will provide you with a tutorial.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact MSU Human Resources at 517-353-4434 or email SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu. You can also find more information on the ARO project website.

Clerical-Technical Award Nominations Due June 19!

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Do you work with an outstanding clerical-technical employee? Nominate them for the Clerical-Technical Recognition Award!

CT-Award-Winner
Dr. Charles Gliozzo with last year’s award recipient Rebecca Ives.

This award is presented annually to a clerical-technical support staff member selected from nominations received by the CT Recognition Award Selection Committee. The award is sponsored by the Thomas and Concettina Gliozzo Endowment Fund to recognize outstanding clerical-technical employees. The winner will receive the award at a special recognition reception, and they will also be awarded $1,000 in recognition of their outstanding service.

Individuals may be nominated by any member of the MSU community. To nominate an individual you will need to complete a nomination form and collect a minimum of two support letters (maximum of five) by MSU colleagues. Selection criteria include respect and concern for all members of the campus community, diligence in daily work, significant contributions to the community or public service and innovative thinking. The nomination forms and more details are available on the HR website.

Nominations are due on Monday, June 19. So, if you have a clerical-technical employee in mind for this award, be sure to nominate them before the deadline!

New Careers @ MSU Job Posting Websites!

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Are you an MSU employee looking for additional opportunities internally or an outside candidate looking for a career at MSU? We have good news for you! On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, MSU is launching new job posting websites called Careers @ MSU. These websites will improve the applicant experience and allow the hiring process to run more smoothly.

MSU Jobs IconThere are two different sites: one for external applicants and another for internal applicants. Prospective, external applicants will visit the external careers.msu.edu website for job postings beginning on the launch date. Current MSU employees should visit the internal site via the “Careers @ MSU” tile in the EBS Portal.

The internal site displays internal-only postings, along with postings open to all applicants. The benefit to applying to a posting through the internal site is employee preference over external applicants, where applicable. It also takes into consideration seniority ranking and eligibility for support staff positions.

Below we have included videos for current and prospective employees to walk you through the new sites. There is also a tip sheet available for additional information on the applicant features of the new system.

Current Employees:

Prospective Employees:

If you would like more information about Careers @ MSU please visit the ARO Project website.