Tag: msu

Spring 5k Races on MSU’s Campus!

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Shamrock 5k Graphic
One 5k you can check out is the Shamrock 5k, benefiting the Tower Guard.

There’s no better way to kick that cabin fever than lacing up those running shoes and participating in a 5k for a great cause. There are plenty of 5k races taking place right here on MSU’s campus in East Lansing this spring.

Measure Value with These Courses!

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How do you know the functions and services you offer are providing what your “customer” needs? And, if so, do you have the data to back that up? MSU leadership is promoting and supporting data-driven decision making. How do you know what to measure and who to ask? Attending two upcoming Professional Development Services (PDS) courses offered will help you decide what you should measure and then create a plan to do it.

Business Presentation
Assessments and surveys can help you better present your programs and services’ value to MSU leadership!

On Wednesday, March 25, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. you can attend Proving Value: Introduction to Assessments, for free. How do you know the programs you offer are adding value? Assessments provide a method for determining what to measure, how to measure and who to ask. This session will cover a wide range of assessment topics such as, developing an effective assessment plan, collecting data, and interpreting and reporting your results.

The second class, Proving Value: Designing Effective Surveys,  will be held on Monday, April 20, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and is also free. This course will discuss the best ways to get feedback from your customers to ensure your programs and services are adding value. This interactive session will help you in developing surveys that are useful, informative, and contribute to data-informed decision making. You will also discuss how to make your surveys user-friendly and increase survey response rates. The presenter for each of these courses is Paul Goldblatt of the MSU Residential and Hospitality Services Assessment Office.

For more information about these courses please visit the PDS site or download their catalog which details many more professional development courses offered throughout this year!

Beat Cabin Fever

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With temperatures crawling below zero, it can be easy to feel stir crazy during winter’s most brutal months. Luckily, there are many activities that you can do in order to defeat the dreaded symptoms of cabin fever.

Although the weather is chilling, campus venues, such as Abrams planetarium, provide an escape.
Although the weather is chilling, campus venues, such as Abrams planetarium, provide an escape.

Get lost in space at the Abrams Planetarium. 

The Abrams Planetarium plays shows featuring the Digistar 5 Project. The planetarium is open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Sunday afternoons. All tickets are $4 or less, however, electronic payment is not accepted. Stop by to marvel at One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure or Ice Worlds.

Enjoy live entertainment at the Wharton Center.

The Wharton Center is a beautiful venue that hosts a wealth of interesting acts. Performances are eclectic and include plays, dance and concerts. Watch the Phantom of the Opera, The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet or 2 Cellos, among other talent.

Learn how to cook, relax and more with MSU Health4U classes.

What better way to spend a chilling day than to improve your skills? Health4U can teach you how to make breakfast for dinner or show you the calming nature of acoustic flamenco music.

Enhance your professional skills using elevateU.

Available in EBS for all faculty and staff, the elevateU platform offers a sweeping array of classes for your benefit.

Drink in some culture at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum.

The Broad is a wonderful museum specializing in modern and contemporary art. Take advantage of the free admission and view stunning exhibitions including modern art from China and an artful display about student loan debt.

Take the edge off at the State Room.

The Kellogg Center’s State Room often has events, such as wine tastings, that are sure to entice you to leave the house. Keep up-to-date with the latest events.

Heart-Healthy Habits

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The American Heart Association has dubbed February as American Heart Month. There are several things that you can do to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle:

Eat heart-healthy foods.

A nutritious diet plays a vital role in heart health. Fruits, veggies, fibrous whole grain foods and fish are best for your heart. Be conscious of food labels in order to limit your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar. Additionally, eat only as many calories as you need and drink in moderation.

heart-health-month
Are you doing what it takes to maintain a healthy heart?

Exercise

The American Heart Association suggests moderate activity for 2 1/2 hours a week to keep your heart healthy. Your exercise regiment can vary based on a number of factors. Talk to your doctor and set a target heart rate to exercise safely. Choose an activity that you enjoy.

Implement therapeutic lifestyle changes.

While diet, exercise and weight loss are all self-explanatory and fundamental pillars of a heart-healthy lifestyle, there are certainly other therapeutic lifestyle changes to consider. For example, quitting cigarettes and reducing stress are affirmative actions that aid in overall heart health.

The MSU community will recognize heart health in a variety of ways. Consider buying your Valentine’s Day sweets from MSU Bakers. Patrons can donate money to the American Heart Association with the purchase of baked goods.

To learn more about American Heart Month, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.

 

Job of the Week 2/6/2015

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This week we are highlighting a Residence Education & Housing Services Outreach Assistant (Posting #0803) in Residence Education and Housing Services Administration. The successful candidate will plan, coordinate, assemble, and distribute information pertaining to a department or program in order to develop strong connections and achievement between departmental goals and alignment with globalization and international goals. Also, develops and implements programs and materials in order to inform participants of department and/or university’s innovations, resources, and offerings.

For a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search. MSU Jobs Icon

2015 Founders’ Day Awards Convocation

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Upon Governor Kinsley S. Bingham’s signing of state legislation on February 12, 1855, Michigan Agricultural College was founded. The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan became America’s first agricultural college and “mother” of all land-grant colleges in the United States. The college became a university on July 1, 1955, and received its last of six name changes on January 1, 1964, becoming Michigan State University.

MSU Laboratory Row in 1912
MSU’s Laboratory Row in 1912: Horticulture, Bacteriology, Botany, Dairy, Entomology, and Agriculture. All but Agriculture Hall have since been renamed.

In honor of Michigan State University’s founding in February of 1855, the university honors its faculty and staff in a yearly awards ceremony around the time of its original founding. This ceremony, known as Founders’ Day, recognizes the hard work, dedication and achievements of its faculty and staff. The primary focus of this event is on the people and the accomplishments of this great university. Thus, Founders’ Day provides us with an opportunity to highlight our strengths, particularly the academic strengths of the institution. In past years, students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, private sector partners and other constituents, along with representatives from communities, government and other universities from across the state and around the country, have all been a part of this university event. The 2015 Awards Convocation ceremony, along with President Simon’s State of the University address, will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Pasant Theatre of the Wharton Center. For more information about this event, please visit this website.

Schedule an Office Clean-Out for Recyclemania

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RecycleMania is an annual competition that encourages college campuses to rally together in order to increase recycling rates. This year, the event will take place from February 1 to March 28. During the eight-week competition, students are encouraged to be adamant in their recycling efforts. MSU Sustainability will make appearances on campus in order to award those “caught” green-handed.

Exercise your impact and go green for RecycleMania!
Exercise your impact and go green for RecycleMania!

The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center is encouraging faculty and staff to participate in the festivities by scheduling an office clean-out. Office clean outs include a morning delivery of two hampers to your work space; one for confidential shred, one for everything else including paper, cardboard, boxboard, plastics, books and electronics. The hampers will be available for the entirety of your scheduled clean-out and will be picked up the following morning. Surplus items can also be picked up simultaneously if this need is vocalized in advance.

Office clean-outs present a wonderful opportunity to be Spartan green and to organize your work space. To schedule a clean-out, call MSU Sustainability at 517-355-1751.

For additional information visit http://msusurplusstore.blogspot.com/2013/02/office-clean-outs.html or view the Office Clean-out PDF.

A Look Into the Past: MSU Retirement Traditions

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The tradition of presenting a book to retiring employees is one that MSU HR has carried on for years. Recently, a current HR employee brought in her great-grandfather’s retirement book, circa 1969, to share. Tucked inside the book’s pages were old employee photographs, images depicting the timeless beauty of MSU’s campus and a letter from President John Hannah. Also included was a pamphlet distributed at MSU’s Seventh Annual Retirement and Service Award Ceremony. This recognition program, an integral part of MSU’s dedication to honoring hardworking employees, still occurs annually each spring. Now, employees are able to select a personal gift that fits their unique preferences.

While many years have passed since the first retirement books were passed out (53, to be exact) it is important to note that MSU has stayed true in its values. Technology, fashion and the community are things that change with time, yet MSU’s dedication to employee appreciation is something that will not falter.

President's Letter
A letter from MSU President John A. Hannah
Seventh Annual Retirement Program pamphlet.
Seventh Annual Retirement Program pamphlet
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MSU’s campus circa 1960

Breathe Easy and Embrace Your Health

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Do you want to quit smoking but aren’t quite sure what course of action to take? While smoking can be one of the most difficult health behaviors to change, it doesn’t have to be.  MSU Health4U has the perfect solution. Breathe Easy, a totally free tobacco and nicotine cessation program, offers behavioral support and medical evaluation to help you kick your bad habits to the curb—for good. One of the best attributes of Breathe Easy is the fact that the program can be tailored to fit the needs of each participant. For example, participants can elect to enact a medication-free quitting plan. In order to participate in Breathe Easy, an employee needs to be benefits-eligible or be the adult, benefits-eligible family member of an MSU faculty, staff, graduate student assistant or retiree.

If you qualify and are ready for the challenge, please register to attend this spring’s pre-enrollment information session on January 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 247, Olin Health Center. Being present at this session does not obligate employees to enroll. Rather, attendees can expect a thorough overview of the program. You may register in person at 330 Olin Health Center, by phone at 517-353-2596 or by email at health4u@msu.edu.

For more information, view the entire Breathe Easy PDF.

The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.
The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.

New on the Human Resources Website

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It’s been a busy month for new items on the HR website.

MSUSpartans_Logo.svg
Regularly visit MSU HR on the web to keep up-to-date with the latest news.

There’s a new university-wide policy on Relationship Violence & Sexual Misconduct that replaces the policy on Sexual Harassment. Information surrounding Guidelines for Maintaining Critical Functions and Services at MSU is also now available. The electronic I-9 system is fully implemented and a new page with information about the Form I-9 process, compliance training and system access guidelines has been created.

To help new employees understand the benefits available to them, we have created a Benefits Overview toolkit, a quick reference about benefits available to MSU employees. There is also a complete 27-page presentation that provides information previously given at the benefits/retirement orientations.