Tag: Professional Development

Reframe Failure to Increase Success

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

When was the last time you celebrated failure? We are taught from a young age that failure is bad and something to fear. Because failures may bring negative repercussions, they are often hidden, ignored and downplayed. In reality, failure can be a powerful learning experience and is essential to success. When we embrace the idea of “failing forward”, we develop perseverance, confidence and a new perspective on what it takes to succeed.

Types of Failure

Not all failures are the same, but each has important lessons to teach us.

  • Preventable failure happens in automated processes when a piece of equipment fails, a step is neglected or there is some other kind of malfunction. For this category, it’s important to determine how to best troubleshoot preventable failures. What safeguards are in place regarding people, equipment and environment? Make sure that all precautions have been taken to keep preventable failures from happening in the first place.
  • Complex failure happens when events or situations come together in unexpected ways that cannot be foreseen.
  • Intelligent failure is common in innovative projects and processes, where trial and error are simply part of the experiment.

Organizations and individuals best learn from all types of failures by having procedures in place, along with the willingness and readiness to actively detect, analyze and experiment within the workplace to catch errors quickly, learn from them, and embrace the growth and improvement that can be generated as a result.

Ideas for Action

  • Depending on the type of work you do, one of the three types of failure is probably more common than the others. Consider which is most likely to happen at your workplace and think about how you might handle that type of mistake or failure should it occur.
  • Come up with an example from your life for each type of failure: preventable, complex, and intelligent. Why did they happen, and how were they handled? Were the situations resolved? How did they affect you and others? Take some time to reflect on what you learned from these particular failures.

The Blame Game

If failure is essential to success, why does it feel so terrible when it’s happening? Failure and fault are virtually inseparable in most cultures and organizations. Every child learns at some point that admitting failure means taking the blame, and that pattern may then be reinforced in the workplace. One tremendous benefit of creating and encouraging a culture of psychological safety, in which the rewards of learning from failure can be fully realized, is that greater innovation and individual and organizational growth can occur.

The added challenge when it comes to reframing our ideas of failure is that the experience of failing is more than emotional — it’s also cognitive. We all favor evidence that supports our existing beliefs rather than alternative explanations. We also tend to downplay our responsibility and place undue blame on external or situational factors when we fail, only to do the reverse when assessing the failures of others—a psychological trap known as fundamental attribution error. The courage to confront our own and others’ imperfections with honest reflection and a focus on improvement and learning is crucial.

Ideas for Action

  • List a small number of failures you’ve experienced over recent months. Can you recall how you felt and what thoughts occurred? Make a note of these feelings and thoughts. Can you identify a pattern? Is there a repetitive loop that you repeat every time you fail at something?
  • Take one of the failures from above, which initiated the repetitive loop you have identified. Write an alternative account of what happened.

The Importance of Leaders in Building a Learning Culture

Learning is inherently about failing. Leaders can create and reinforce a culture that counteracts the blame game and makes people feel both comfortable with and responsible for surfacing and learning from failures. They should insist on developing a clear understanding of what happened — not of “who did it” — when things go wrong. This requires consistently reporting failures, small and large, systematically analyzing them and proactively searching for opportunities to experiment. A work culture that recognizes the inevitability of failure in today’s complex organizations and is willing to catch, correct and learn from failure leads to success, employee satisfaction and loyalty. A work culture that wallows in the blame game will not.

It’s imperative for leaders to move beyond the false notion that if people aren’t blamed for failures, they’ll become “lazy” and stop putting in the effort to do their best work. In actuality, a culture that makes it safe to admit and report on failure can coexist with high standards for performance. Not all failures are created equal. Taking the time to analyze the reasons behind why a failure occurred before determining appropriate action will do far more for a team than assuming that assigning blame will lead to improvement in the long run.

One interesting study asked executives to estimate how many of the failures in their organizations were truly blameworthy; their answers were usually in single digits — around 2% to 5%. They were then asked how many failures were treated as blameworthy; they admitted that was closer to 70% to 90%. One unfortunate consequence of this scenario is that many failures go unreported, and their lessons are lost.

Ideas for Action

  • Assess whether your teams offer a sense of psychological safety. Do the members of the team have confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject or punish them for speaking up with ideas? Questions? Concerns? Mistakes? Are each person’s contributions valued? If you answered yes on each measure, that team possesses a strong sense of psychological safety.
  • Leaders and supervisors need to actively create psychological safety because their position of power or status naturally suppresses people’s ability to speak up. This can be done by publicly acknowledging their own fallibility and emphasizing the need for each person’s contributions. They can also respond positively when people do bring things forward. From the results of the preceding exercise, choose a team with a low or mid-level of psychological safety. Develop an action plan for how the team leader or manager can improve the level of psychological safety.

Like everything in life, reframing failure becomes easier with practice. When failures inevitably occur, remind yourself and others that failure is temporary, and failure is good even if, undeniably, it feels really bad when it happens. When something goes wrong, practice saying, “Something good is happening here.” Look for the greater message of the experience and expect it to, eventually, turn out for the good.

Sources

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/18/a-psychologist-says-the-most-successful-people-reframe-failure-by-doing-4-things.html

https://elevateu.skillport.com/skillportfe/main.action?path=summary/VIDEOS/12581

https://elevateu.skillport.com/skillportfe/main.action?path=summary/VIDEOS/146739

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2015/05/14/why-failure-is-essential-to-success/?sh=11e953df7923

https://hbr.org/2011/04/strategies-for-learning-from-failure

Are You Procrastinating? Increase Motivation and Become More Productive with These Simple Steps.

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

There are countless reasons to put off working on a project. Maybe you’re daunted by the size of it, or the deadline is far off, so you don’t feel the urgency to get moving. Whether your procrastination is the result of perfectionism, negative thought patterns, or even boredom, there are easy changes you can make to increase your motivation and complete high-quality work without missing deadlines.

Take charge of your day

It’s easy to find excuses to not take action. I don’t have time. I’m too busy. I’ll do it later when things calm down. To move beyond procrastination, you need to take charge of your time.

  • Don’t let external demands control your time. Deadlines and mundane tasks are likely a part of your days. Take charge of your schedule.
  • Minimize interruptions. Turn off your Teams, Outlook, and text notifications if you can. Block off time on your calendar. Prioritize your tasks. Ask yourself: What needs to be done now? What can wait until later?
  • Figure out and respect your preferred working methods and energy levels. Consider when you’re most productive and schedule your day accordingly.

Set small deadlines

If you sometimes feel like you’re accomplishing nothing, it may be because your idea of getting something done is too big.

  • Focus on the wins, no matter how small. Set small goals and interim deadlines throughout the day.
  • As you hit each small target, you’ll build momentum and feel motivated to strive toward the next goal.

Achieve an optimal level of positive stress

We all face stress at work — deadlines to meet, unexpected problems to solve. It may sound counterintuitive, but a little stress can be a good thing. Positive stress can give you the energy you need to stay motivated. The key is to achieve an optimal level of healthy stress.

  • Know your limits. Find a challenge you can realistically take on.
  • Don’t be complacent. Push yourself to achieve great things, one step at a time. Remember that a challenge should stretch you without breaking you.

Collaborate to stay engaged

When we pool our resources and expertise to work on a task with others, we share ideas, discuss options, and develop ideas as a team. One person’s enthusiasm might inspire you. New eyes bring new perspectives, which may help you look at a task in a new way.

  • To ensure your collaboration is effective, be sure you have a diverse group to offer different perspectives.
  • Allow some quiet space to build on the ideas that emerge.
  • Effective collaboration can be structured or informal.

Try these techniques to help you take action and leave procrastination behind, and look into self-paced, online elevateU resources for further motivation and guidance.

Job of The Week: Marketing Communications Manager I

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This week, we are featuring a job posting as a Marketing Communications Manager I for MSU Health Care (job posting 1047090). If you are interested in leading a digital-first marketing communications strategy, managing projects and vendors, and supporting clinics in meeting their communication goals, this may be the position for you. 

From joint ventures and partnerships to leveraging expansive clinical research and expert educational strengths for patients, MSU Health Care focuses on providing healing and caring to all. MSU Health Care spans 46 adult and pediatric specialties committed to high-quality patient care. Their mission is to deliver a personalized experience and a safe environment for all, train the next generation of clinicians, ensure equitable access, and provide the highest quality of care. MSU Health Care remains dedicated to providing an exceptional experience and enhancing life. 

In this role, you will create compelling content to add value to multi-channel marketing communication plans, including brand-journalism style articles, MSU website content, advertising materials, social media posts, infographics, and more. You will review content, implement brand identity, assist in project management with outside vendors, and help drive engagement through coordinated events and promotions. Find a complete list of job responsibilities on the MSU Careers website. 

This position requires a degree in journalism, telecommunications, public relations, or similar, and one to three years of work experience in public and media relations, composing, editing, and publication production, news, broadcasting, or marketing/advertising. You should also be well-versed in word processing, internal and external communications, social media, content management, and digital communication strategy development. 

To learn more about MSU Health Care, visit the MSU Health Care website. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume, cover letter, a sample of a detailed marketing communication plan, at least three writing/other work samples, three professional references, and should be submitted by June 3.

June Events Round-Up

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Summer is here, and there are many in-person and virtual events on campus and in the Greater Lansing area this June. Check out upcoming events for you and your family to celebrate and embrace the start of summer! Visit the links below to explore upcoming events and register if required. 

Campus Events

June 7 – Family Day: SUSTAIN: The first Saturday of the month means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum, and this month we are exploring how we are connected to the land. You and your family can stop by the museum to make prints using local nature materials in connection with  Farmland: Food, Justice, and Sovereignty. 

June 8 and 29 – Music and the Garden: The MSU College of Music and Beal Botanical Garden invite you to a celebration of nature, music, and imagination, and explore this year’s theme of “Understanding Our World.” Take this opportunity to see plant collections in new ways and see how MSU gardens are being reimagined for the future. 

June 12 – MSU Juneteenth Celebration: Attend the 5th annual MSU Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration on Thursday, June 12, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. This year’s theme is A Juneteenth Renaissance: Bridging Freedom’s Legacy and Tomorrow’s Vision. 

June 15 –  Museum Tour: Deep-Rooted with Beal Botanical Garden  Join Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Director of the Beal Botanical Gardens, Maeve Bassett, to learn about the social, historical, and political narratives within plants in the garden and artwork in the MSU Broad Art Collection.

June 21 – Growing Queer Care: Join Morgan Doherty (Ph.D. Candidate, Community Sustainability, Michigan State University) and Taylor Hartson (Ph.D. Candidate, Sociology, University of Notre Dame) to learn more about the work of queer farmers in the midwest for a Talk + Listen session. 

Family-Friendly Events

June 4 – Motivated by Nature 2.25-mile Trail Run/Walk:  Celebrate Global Runners Day and immerse yourself in a 2.25-mile trail loop through the 100-acre Harris Nature Center and Eastgate Park. Proceeds go to the Harris Nature Center Foundation to help fund the Nature Exploration Area expansion and for bus scholarship programs that help get students in the Greater Lansing area to attend education programs at the center. 

June 7 – Old Town Chalk of the Town: Visit Old Town Lansing to watch live as chalk art is created on the sidewalks by artists, visit unique boutiques, try a new restaurant, and more. 

June 16 and 23 – Sensory Friendly Hour at Bath Township Library: On the third and fourth Mondays of each month, visit the Bath Township Library for sensory-friendly hours. Staff will dim lights, provide sensory-friendly toys, fidgets, and noise-canceling headphones for those seeking a calming environment to explore books. 

June 18 – Family Night Cruise-In: Bring the kids to the cruise-in at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum! There will be a bounce house, games, and goodies for kids, plus popcorn and popsicles for all ages!

Greater Lansing Area Events

Select dates in June – Lansing Lugnuts Home Games: “Go Nuts” and cheer on your local Lansing Lugnuts baseball team at Jackson Field this month! Check out their website for themes, promotions, tickets, and dates for June games.

June 14 – East Lansing PRIDE: Come celebrate the fourth annual East Lansing PRIDE! The event will feature an open floor drag show, live music, art activities, vendors, giveaways and more. Be sure to follow Downtown East Lansing on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on this event!

June 19 –  Lansing Fiesta & Carnival: Visit Adado Riverfront Park in Downtown Lansing for a celebration of music, culture and community with a carnival, food trucks, and live entertainment!

June 5, 12, 19 and 26 – Summer Concerts on the Square: Summer is almost here, which means Summer Concerts on the Square in Charlotte! New bands will play recurring weekly on Thursdays until the end of August. 

June 20, 21, 27 and 28 – Pride and Prejudice On Stage: Whether you are a lifelong fan of Jane Austen or are new to the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, don’t miss experiencing one of the most beloved romantic comedies live on stage this June!  

Learning Opportunities

June 4 – Crucial Influence: Leaders must be able to influence behavior to achieve team goals and organizational objectives, and the Crucial Influence Model reveals why people do what they do and how leaders at every level can influence behavior for lasting results. If you are a mid to high-level leader who is responsible for directing change and improving efforts, this is a great course for you! 

June 17 – Cultural Competency II: Building Respect in the Workplace: Participants will engage in deep dialogue around power and privilege, positionality, intersectionality, and how these dynamics impact relationships in the workplace. 

June 19 – Identify and Maximize Your Strengths:  Tap into your unique talents and complete the CliftonStrengths Assessment. Learn more about your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and how they apply to your role in the workplace. Use your research to express what you do best and grow your overall confidence.

June 26 – Mandatory Reporting Obligations for RVSM: MSU’s Prevention Outreach and Education (POE) presenters will review the University’s Mandatory Reporting for Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Title IX policy and employees’ expectations under the policy. This training will also provide attendees with practices and support for those affected by RVSM. 

Farmer’s Markets

Beginning June 1 – The East Lansing Farmers Market: Visit Valley Court Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Sunday in June for some shopping and fresh air at the East Lansing Farmers Market (ELFM). Here you can purchase a variety of fresh goods, farm-grown here in Michigan, including vegetables, fruits, bread, cheese, honey, flowers, and so much more. No registration needed. 

Beginning June 3 – Downtown Dewitt Farmers Market: Come to the Downtown Dewitt Farmers Market for an evening of exploring small businesses, home-grown foods, treats, and more! Every Tuesday in July, join us from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for some shopping, food trucks and fun in Downtown Dewitt on a warm summer night.

Beginning June 5 – South Lansing Farmers Market: The South Lansing Farmers Market is open Thursdays, and is located at the corner of Jolly and S. MLK in Lansing! Stop by for farm fresh fruits and veggies, fresh cut flowers, arts and crafts, natural body and household products, and a food court featuring Mexican, Chinese, Lebanese, and Southern Soul food – a little something for everyone!

Job of The Week: Research Technologist II

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This week, we are featuring a job posting as a Research Technologist II for the College of Social Science  (job posting 1037763). If you are interested in assisting in a wet lab and animal experiments conducted in the Veenema laboratory, this may be the role for you.

The Veenema Lab, working in MSU’s Neuroscience Program and Department of Psychology, explores the neural basis of social behavior. The Veenema lab’s research uses rats and mice as model organisms to understand the roles of neuropeptides, vasopressin and oxytocin in regulating social behavior such as social play, recognition, and investigation. The Veenema lab’s goal is to identify more effective treatment of social behavior deficits.   

In this position, you will primarily assist in wet lab and animal experiments conducted by other lab members. Additionally, you will analyze data including behavioral videos, digitized microscope or lightbox images, research literature to maintain knowledge of the current field, and attend scheduled lab meetings and lab journal club meetings. 

This role requires a degree in neuroscience or a related field, six months to one year of related or more extensive work experience performing basic research techniques, including laboratory animal handling and husbandry, behavioral testing in rodents, and wet lab techniques. You should be well-versed in database and desktop publishing software, and have experience handling potentially dangerous research animals. Find a complete list of required and desired qualifications here.

Learn more about the Veenema Lab and the College of Social Science. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume, cover letter, at least one letter of recommendation, and should be submitted by June 3.

Job of The Week: Anatomy Resource Manager

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This week, we are featuring a job posting as the Anatomy Resources Manager for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (job posting 1041146). If you are interested in being a key resource for the Division of Human Anatomy and medical education programs across four campuses and overseeing the Willed Body Program (WBP), this may be the position for you.

The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s mission is to provide world-class osteopathic, student-centered graduate and medical education and research to foster community across patient-centered medical care. MSU’s Willed Body Program (WBP) allows hundreds of medical students at MSU to continue their studies in anatomy through generous donations of one’s body for educational assistance.  

In this role, you will primarily supervise and direct the operation of the Human Gross Anatomy Lab and oversee the donations from the WBP. You will work closely with families, agencies, and medical staff to facilitate body donations, prepare cremation forms, maintain the collection and shipment of cremations, and maintain confidential records. Additionally, you will plan and oversee the annual WBP Memorial Service, schedule the Gross Anatomy Lab procedures, order supplies and equipment, and work with the administrative team, faculty director, and department administrators to develop policies and procedures to maintain lab usage. Find a complete list of job responsibilities on the MSU Careers website. 

This position requires a degree in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, or Social Science, and three to five years of work experience related to business or public contact. Experience working in a medical school and with medical records, experience with Microsoft Excel and data development and maintenance, strong communication skills, and strong interpersonal skills are desired. 

Learn more about the Willed Body Program and the College of Osteopathic Medicine. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume, cover letter, and three professional references, and should be submitted by May 27. 

Job of The Week: Assistant Director of Annual Giving – Telemarketing

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This week, we are featuring a job posting as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving-Telemarketing with the MSU Alumni Office of University Advancement (job posting 1038890). If you are interested in supervising student staff and managers of a student-run telemarketing program, Greenline, and increasing alumni engagement, this may be the role for you.

University Advancement looks to the future with optimism and a growth mindset, and its mission is to advance the Spartan impact. MSU Greenline, one of the largest programs in the Big Ten, is a student-run program that aims to reach 10,000 to 15,000 alumni and friends each shift, resulting in personal contact with over 175,000 alumni each year! In 2024, MSU Greenline secured more than $500,000 from over 6,000 pledges. 

In this position, you will primarily oversee student employees and managers at MSU Greenline and ensure the call center software (VanillaSoft) is working effectively and efficiently. You will develop and maintain comprehensive training, pledge processing procedures, and procedures to handle concerns and questions over the phone. You will also serve as the primary liaison for telemarketing issues regarding vendors, systems, and inquiries from other institutions. Additionally, you will create and monitor student work schedules, meet regularly with student managers, oversee hiring a diverse range of students, and update scripts, acknowledgement letters, and information for student callers. Find a complete list of job responsibilities on the MSU Careers website.

This position requires a degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or Business, and one to three years of related work in professional fundraising, public relations, marketing, higher education fundraising, or similar. The ability to foster a good working environment, recognize the importance of teamwork, and have excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills is desired. 

Learn more about University Advancement and MSU Greenline. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter and resume, and should be submitted by June 3.

Your Mental Health and Wellbeing Matter

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MSU is committed to supporting employees by providing benefits, programs, and a workplace culture that prioritizes mental health and employee wellbeing. However, according to a 2024 SHRM study, “Employees are not taking full advantage of the benefits already being provided. Nearly 70 percent of U.S. workers said they are unaware or only somewhat aware of the available resources.” We want to ensure you know the resources available to support you and your family’s well-being and mental health. Check out these resources to help you prioritize and invest in your care and well-being.

Trained Mental Health Professional Benefit Resources: 

  • MSU faculty, staff, retirees, graduate and student employees, and their benefits-eligible dependents have access to the Employee Assistance Program, which provides confidential counseling at no cost. MSU offers Zoom and in-person appointments to best fit your work schedule. Due to licensing regulations, individuals must be in the state of Michigan to access services.
  • MSU employees and their dependents (age 18+) currently enrolled in an MSU health plan have access to Teladoc. This online medical care service gives you 24/7 access to a healthcare professional via web, phone, or mobile app in minutes. Teladoc’s services extend to behavioral health (anxiety, depression, grief counseling, etc.). 
  • If you are enrolled in an MSU health plan, refer to the Mental Health Care section of the health care plan summary (support staff or faculty/academic staff) for specific details about mental health benefits.

Wellbeing Tools and Resources:.

  • The Spartan Resilience Education Program, through various media and seminars/webinars, seeks to ensure that resilience education is accessible, inclusive, and ever-present as part of the “Spartan Experience.” They aim to provide opportunities for any Spartan to develop (or strengthen) the skills needed to respond effectively to their unique collection of challenges.
    • Learning the basic principles presented in the Breaking Free from Stress course will help you experience less day-to-day stress and more joy and satisfaction as you increase your capacity to live your life in alignment with your deepest wisdom and greatest sense of purpose. 2025 session dates are out now!
    • Mindful STATE is a university-wide, collaborative initiative to further the practice of mindfulness and other contemplative practices among members of the MSU community. Join fellow Spartans Lisa Laughman, Meg Moore, or John Taylor for a brief meditation to help you return to a more mindful state. Meditation videos are available when you’re feeling overwhelmed, worried about someone, or stressed.
    • The MSU Grief and Loss Support Group meets weekly (virtually) to support individuals grieving the loss of a friend, loved one, pet, co-worker, or family member.
  • University Health and Wellbeing creates an inclusive, responsive work environment that respects and supports all employees’ wellbeing in their work and personal lives.
    • Abrams Planetarium is holding Rest with Music live musical performances featuring a variety of musical styles and genres. 
    • Set for Success: A 45-minute virtual webinar focusing on three key health topics—Sleep, Ergonomics, and Time Management. This series provides valuable insights and practical tips to help participants make positive lifestyle changes at work and at home.
  • Review the Well-being at Work Guide to learn how to create and maintain healthier and happier workspaces and teams.
  • The Beal Botanical Garden is a favorite place for campus and community members to unplug from the chaos of their everyday lives and enjoy the beauty of nature.
    • The Nurture Your Roots program invites you to connect mind, body, and nature with practices to enrich well-being.
    • Explore mindfulness through journaling with their Pocket Journal designed by Beal Scholar Elliot Pancioli. During the warmer season, they offer Yoga in the Garden. These classes are free, but registration is required. Watch the events page for more information. 
    • They also offer a Campus Meditation Map, which highlights places across campus where you can take a moment to center yourself and practice self-care or enjoy a beautiful view.

Local Resources: 

Work should never interfere with maintaining good mental health. If we missed any resources, let us know in the comments below!

Sources:

Agovino, T. (2024, May 3). Mental health, HR and the Workplace. Welcome to SHRM. https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/all-things-work/mental-health–hr-and-the-workplace

May Events Round-Up

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If you and your family are looking for events in May, you have come to the right place! May holds many opportunities on campus and in the Greater Lansing area. Visit the links below to explore upcoming events and register if necessary. 

Campus Events

May 3 – Family Day: RESEARCH: First Saturday means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum! Investigate art materials as playful research and see what different things art materials can do, inspired by the MSU students in the 2025 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition. 

May 8 – Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Spring Ephemerals:  Join Arboretum and Invasive Species Coordinator Carolyn Miller for a garden walk to enjoy the spring ephemerals in their floral display and maybe even spot some birds on the way! 

May 10 – Museum Tour: Deep-Rooted with Beal Botanical Garden  Join Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Director of the Beal Botanical Gardens, Maeve Bassett, to learn about the social, historical, and political narratives within plants in the garden and artwork in the MSU Broad Art Collection.

May 19—Rest With Music: Music can heal, calm, and regenerate our mind, body, and spirit. Hosted by Health Promotion and Engagement, Abrams Planetarium is holding Rest with Music, live musical performances featuring a variety of musical styles and genres. Visit the website for available dates and times.

May 28 – Beal Footprints Walking Tour Series: Join Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum for lunchtime guided tours beginning at the Beal Pond. May’s tour is “Plant identification for everyone” by Director Alan Prather.

May 21 to June 1 – Hamilton: A revolutionary story of passion, ambition, and the dawn of a new nation, Hamilton is coming to the Wharton Center. Visit the Wharton Center website to read more about the musical and check out dates and ticket pricing. 

Greater Lansing Area Events

May 2—Teens and Adults with Disabilities Social Night: Teens and adults with disabilities can visit the Valley Farms Community Center for an evening of dancing, refreshments, and friends—old and new!  

May 17 – The Best of Lansing Festival: Celebrate the best of the best of downtown Lansing! This free event transforms Lansing into a playground of people of all ages coming together for huge inflatable obstacle courses on the Capitol Lawn, over 100 vendors featuring Lansing’s finest creations, and showcasing the Lansing City Pulse’s Top of the Town winners. 

May 17 and 18—East Lansing Art Festival: Visit the East Lansing Art Festival to celebrate its 62-year tradition of bringing high-quality art to the streets of East Lansing. Immerse yourself in the art, creativity, and culture of the Greater Lansing area community.  

May 22 – Thursday Night Live! Mason Outdoor Concert Series: “Thursday Night Live!” is a summer series of free musical entertainment hosted by the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce to bring various musical experiences and the community together. All ages are welcome to bring chairs and blankets to sprawl on the lawn and enjoy free entertainment with crafts, concessions, and more available. 

Family-Friendly Events

May 11 and 21—Impression 5’s Sensory Friendly Hours: You and your family can visit the Impression 5 Science Center’s select exhibits, which have been altered to reduce sounds, scents, and lighting stimuli. Guests can expect a small group capacity, pop-up activities, and maps designated for these select areas.

May 29 – The Spongebob Musical: Visit the Riverwalk Theatre in Lansing to see The Spongebob Musical – a cartoonish romp by Kyle Jarrow and Tina Landau. 

Select Dates in May – Lansing Lugnuts Home Game: Cheer on your local Lansing Lugnuts at a home game this season at Jackson Field! 

Recurring Fridays and Saturdays – Toddler Time at Launch Lansing: Visit Launch Lansing Trampoline Park during select times to enjoy children’s music, visits from Joey the kangaroo, and a special toddler section with your little ones. 

Learning Opportunities

May 1 – Conflict Management:  Learn how to resolve conflict, de-escalate situations, and manage crises in the workplace. This training will help you apply these tactics to real-life situations. 

May 6—Grammar Refresher: This virtual workshop will strengthen your grammar and usage skills and help you present a more professional image in the workplace. 

May 7 – Webinar – How Can I Afford College for my Kids or Grandkids? Hosted by TIAA, register for this webinar for helpful insights into how to make the best decisions when saving for a child’s future education. Learn why saving for college is essential, how to get started, how to avoid debt, and more. 

May 8—Identify and Maximize Your Strengths: Part 2 Unlock the Full 34: In this series, you will learn to identify personal talents through the CliftonStrengths Full 34 Report, evaluate how these talents impact work relationships and performance, and determine how to develop further natural talents through the given tools. 

May 8, 15, 22, and 29 – Breaking Free from Stress: This four-part virtual series explores how awareness of your thoughts can bring your personal and work life together. Become a wise leader of your personal and work life, move beyond anxiety and depression, stay steady in difficult times, embrace change, and more in this webinar. 

May 13 – Records Management and Retention at MSU: Learn the rules, regulations, and strategies to help manage university records. 

May 14, 21, and 28—Setting Healthy Boundaries: This webinar teaches signs to know when it is time to set a boundary, the different types of boundaries we need to set, how to manage negative emotions that may come up when discussing boundaries, and more. 

May 15 – Webinar: Financial Wellness and Mental Health:  Learn the relationship between mental and financial well-being in this webinar hosted by the TIAA. Gather insights on how financial problems can impact mental health, how mental health impacts decision making, the importance of developing a personal wellness plan, and resources that are available to help. 

May 28 – Maximize Your Concur Travel Skills: Recommended for new-to MSU employees, this course teaches how to understand the Concur systems, create a travel request, book travel, reconcile travel expenses, and more. 

May 29 – Mandatory Reporting Obligations for RVSM: MSU’s Prevention Outreach and Education (POE) presenters will review the University’s  Mandatory Reporting for Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Title IX policy and employee expectations under the policy. This training will also provide attendees with practices and support for those affected by RVSM. 

Job of The Week: Human Resource, Operations and Facilities Manager

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week, we are featuring a job posting as a Human Resources, Operations, and Facilities Manager for the MSU College of Law (job posting 10095517).  If you are looking to provide HR expertise as a member of the leadership team of the College of Law, this may be the position for you.

The MSU College of Law is a driving force for justice and excellence rooted in equitable opportunity. It has a mission to transform legal practice and policymaking and apply legal expertise for the greater good. With 2,500+ graduates fighting crime and advocating for social justice, MSU College of Law gives students hands-on opportunities and fosters like-minded communities to learn to be leaders in the legal profession. 

In this position, you will manage and provide human resources expertise within the College of Law and partner with central and unit HR representatives to ensure alignment with all policies and procedures. You will represent the college in grievances, arbitrations, and workers’ compensation hearings, and you will resolve complex problems with staff and faculty. The manager will develop and oversee training programs and organize/conduct orientation programs, tours, and related activities for incoming employees. Additionally, you will maintain employment data to analyze and provide recommendations to employees, collaborate with the College of Law units on Talent Management, and address issues and develop strategies to address them, including internal complaints. Find a complete list of job responsibilities on the MSU Careers website.

This position requires a degree in Human Resources or similar and three to five years of work experience in accounting, management, budget preparation, and database system analysis and maintenance. It is desired that you are knowledgeable of faculty and support staff hiring processes, have a strong ability to maintain confidentiality, the ability to foster a cooperative work environment, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to enter, manage, track, and maintain sensitive data and manual records. 

Learn more about the MSU College of Law here. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter, resume, and three professional references, and should be submitted by May 6.