Announcing the 2025 New Leader Development Series and Course Catalog

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to set your professional development goals—and we’ve got exciting opportunities to help you thrive this year.

The 2025 New Leader Development Series is Here!
Registration for our signature leadership program opens this Thursday, January 9, at Noon, and closes Tuesday, January 14, at 3 PM. If you’re ready to take your leadership skills to the next level, this program is for you.

Acceptance announcements will be made on January 15, and we’ll kick things off together on Tuesday, January 21. Spaces are limited, registration applications will be completed via a link posted on the course web page.

Explore the 2025 Course Catalogue
We’re also excited to share that our 2025 course catalog is now live. While only courses running January through June are currently listed, more offerings will be added throughout the year. Whether you’re looking to sharpen specific skills or explore something entirely new, our courses are designed to support your growth. Check out what’s available now here and remember, the Educational Assistance Program may be available to you.

Notable upcoming January opportunities

Start Planning Your 2025 Journey
This is the perfect time to reflect on your goals and plan for the year ahead. What skills do you want to build? What challenges are you ready to tackle? With so many opportunities on the horizon, we’re here to help you make 2025 your most impactful year yet.

Course announcements will continue to be shared monthly via the OPD Newsletter.

We hope to see you in one of our programs soon.

Retirement Planning: 2025 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 

Published on by Megan MacGregor1 Comment

Whether your retirement is on the horizon or a faraway goal, it’s important that you continue to monitor and adjust how much you’re saving if you want to have a comfortable retirement. The IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year and recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2025: 

  • The annual employee contribution amount increased from $23,000 to $23,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans. 
  • The age 50 catch-up contribution amount remains the same at $7,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans. 

If you want to save as much as possible for your retirement, a tool in the EBS Portal called the Max Savings Contributions Calculator is available to assist you. This tool automatically displays the remaining amount of retirement contributions you have available before reaching one of the limits, and the equivalent percentage of your pay to help you spread that out for the year. 

To access this tool: 

  1. Login to the EBS Portal with your MSU NetID and password. 
  1. Click the My Benefits tab at the top. 
  1. Click the Benefit/Retirement tile. 
  1. Select Enroll/Change my Retirement/Health Savings Account Options in the drop-down menu and then click Next in the bottom right. 
  1. Navigate in the bar graph to the Savings Plans screen by clicking Next in the bottom right. 
  1. The Max Savings Contributions Calculator screen will display. This display will automatically show the remaining amount of retirement contributions you have available (if any) before reaching the IRS limit. 
  1. You can adjust the percentage of your contributions to any retirement plans you participate in by clicking on the pencil icon, and then choosing Select to make the change. 
  1. If you want to enroll in a new plan, begin by clicking on the paper icon next to the plan and vendor of your choosing, and then enter the percentage of your new contribution and choose Select to enroll. 
  1. Make sure to click on Save in the bottom right to complete and save any changes/enrollments. 

If you are an academic year faculty or academic staff employee, or a Voluntary 403(b) Base participant aged 50 and over, contact the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu for further assistance in calculating your maximum contribution percentage. 

Learn More About MSU’s Retirement Plans 

The following articles contain more detailed information about MSU’s retirement plan options and preparing for retirement: 

The  HR website  also contains a wealth of information about the different types of retirement plans offered, retirement investment vendors, and planning tools available. 

An icy and snowy close of a walkway on MSU's campus.

January Events Round-Up

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

If you and your family are looking for upcoming events to ring in the new year, you have come to the right place! January holds many opportunities virtually, on campus, and in the Greater Lansing area. Click the links below to explore future events and register if required.

Campus Events

January 9, 15, 19, and 28 – MSU Men’s Basketball @ Home:  Join us at the Breslin Center to watch MSU Men’s Basketball play. Visit the website for ticket information and to see the full season schedule.

January 16-24 – MLK Jr. Commemorative Celebration: Join us for a variety of exciting and educational opportunities being offered to the MSU community in celebration of the legacy of Dr. King and historical events that took place in our nation and on our campus.

January 24 – Winter Opening Party:  Come explore MSU Broads newest exhibitions while enjoying food, music, special guests, arts and crafts, and more at this free event! All ages are welcome to this museum-wide event. 

February 2 – Lunar New Year Celebration Concert: Lunar New Year is on January 29 this year; join us at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 2 for an evening of music and cultural celebration. Tickets for MSU’s fourth annual Lunar New Year concert are available for purchase now. 

Family-Friendly Events

January 4 – Family Day: BELONG: First Saturday of the month means Family Day at MSU Broad Art Museum! Join us from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family-fun throughout the museum. Be sure to register for this free event. 

Open Through January 19 – Barbie Exhibit at Impression 5: This exciting exhibit showcases the Barbie doll and encourages imaginative play and teaches that regardless of your background, you can be whoever you want to be and make the world a better place. Visitors can explore 15 different careers including a doctor, archeologist, pilot, designer and more! Be sure to visit the website for more information. 

January 21-26 – Shucked at The Wharton Center: Tickets are now on sale for “Shucked,” the Tony Award-winning musical comedy about a young farmgirl on a quest to save her town. The Wall Street Journal calls it, “flat-out hilarious,” and is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.  

Learning Opportunities

January 15, 22, and 29 – Informal Mindfulness: This class will teach you some basic, informal mindfulness skills that can help you center and find a sense of balance while you move through your busy days.

January 15 – The Power of Habit: Habits are predictors of long-term performance, but we struggle to manage our habits and achieve the outcomes we want. Brought to you by Vital Smarts (Crucial Conversations™, Crucial Accountability™, and Influencer™) and based on “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg, in this course, you will learn how habits are created and how to replace undesirable habits with productive ones. You will learn how to spot your habit loop, turn bad days into good data, and create habits that get the results you want.

January 21 – Cultural Competency I: One of MSU’s guiding principles is to lead inclusively, actively, and intentionally to promote full participation and a sense of safety and belonging for all employees and staff. Join us in building cultural awareness and inclusiveness skills that strengthen cultural competence!

January 28 – Intro to Gender, Names, and Pronouns: Participants will learn appropriate and respectful ways to use names and pronouns to promote gender inclusivity in the workplace. Participants will understand why safety and privacy around gender, names, and pronouns matter, as well as how to recover when mistakes happen.

Greater Lansing Area Events

January 23 – Time for Three: From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. experience Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three’s captivating sound, which merges classical, pop, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles catered to all. Tickets are available for purchase now. 

Recurring Saturdays—Holt Farmers Market: Visit the Delhi Township Fire Department for one of Michigan’s premiere indoor farmers markets. The Holt Farmers Market supports local farmers and artisans and provides locals with the opportunity to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods. Be sure to check out the website for more information! 

Every Other Saturday – Meridian Farmers Market: Visit the Meridian Farmers Market inside the Meridian Mall! The market offers many farm, food, and crafts vendors, and most of the products sold are locally grown or made.

Job of the Week: IT Analyst

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting for an IT Analyst with the MSU IT Campus IT Experience and Executive Support Team (job posting 1010758). MSU Information Technology provides the primary leadership for strategic, financial, and policy initiatives affecting information technology (IT) across MSU. MSU IT offers technology resources that support MSU’s mission of providing education, conducting research, and advancing engagement.

The Campus IT Experience team drives communication and training efforts that raise awareness of IT services available to the MSU community, support positive user experiences, and promote utilization to realize return on institutional investment. If you are interested in providing high-level front-line support for MSU’s Executive areas, this may be the role for you.

In this position with the MSUIT Executive Support team, you’ll be responsible for workstation setup, support, management, and all support needs including AV support setup, mobile device, presentation support, and meeting support. You’ll be a team player reporting to the Executive Support manager, triage incoming customer requests, and handle customer escalations. This may include working with university stakeholders to configure and distribute assets to meet business objectives; tagging, managing, and decommissioning assets.

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a college degree or equivalent training and one to three years of experience in a related information technology area. You would ideally have experience with imaging, asset management, backup software, working with vendors, and exceptional customer service values and skills.

Learn more about Technology at MSU here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the MSU Careers website for more information. Applications require a resume, cover letter, and three professional references and should be submitted by January 7.

Job of The Week: Farm to Youth Network Coordinator

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Farm to Youth Network Coordinator for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (job posting 1008512). If you are interested in collaborative work with the Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) to develop regionally integrated and sustainable food systems, this may be the role for you.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources provides students with an academically challenging environment where they put their knowledge and skills into practice not only on campus but around the globe. The Center for Regional Food Systems’ vision is a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the country, and the planet with a mission of engaging the people of Michigan in applied research and education to develop sustainable food systems. 

In this position, you will collaborate with statewide stakeholders both virtually and in-person to grow partnerships in early care and education and farm-to-school programs. You will actively engage in outreach, technical assistance, and collaboration with CRFS colleagues and partners. You will manage newsletter communications across networks, work with the Communications Team to manage social media, write grant proposals and reports, pursue future grant funding, and attend quarterly staff retreats and workshops. Additionally, you will build connections to improve school spaces in partnership with the Lake Michigan School Food Systems Innovation Hub Grant Technical Assistance Fund.  

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a degree in Educational Theory and Methodology or a similar area and one to three years of work experience. You should have experience overseeing conferences, organizing training materials, budgeting and maintaining records, and supervising.. Experience in Farm to Youth, Farm to Institution, or food systems-related programming is desired. You should be willing to do minimal traveling, demonstrate strong leadership and teamwork skills, and have a high ability to self-direct and balance a combination of these tasks. 

Learn more about the College of Agriculture here and the Center for Regional Food Systems here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information. Applications with a resume, cover letter, and references should be submitted by December 3rd. 

Professional Goals and the Resources to Help You Reach Them

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

For many, the start of a new year brings a desire to set new goals – both professionally and personally. As you think about the past year, try to pinpoint areas you’d like to work on. Check out What’s Your Plan: Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You if you don’t know where to start. You’ll learn how creating a personal strategic plan can provide a “vision and structure for your professional life and an anchor for you to connect with during periods of change.”

Review the common work-related goals below to see if any resonate with you and use the articles and learning opportunities provided by HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department to help you reach them.

As you think about what you want to work on in the coming year and beyond, consider tying them to your Performance Excellence goals (for support staff). For more information about how to set yourself up for success as you identify goals, check out this When SMART Meets HARD: Setting Goals that Matter article.

Job of the Week: Development Associate

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Development Associate for University Advancement (job posting 40001226). The Development Associates Program in University Advancement provides entry-level positions allowing the university to recruit and hire individuals with the skills to be successful fundraisers. If you are interested in fundraising, 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. By securing support through talent, service, gifts, advocacy, and more, University Advancement’s main goal is to create long-lasting connections with the Spartan community, building a better tomorrow for MSU. 

In this position, you will work within an environment heavily concentrated on mentorship and professional coaching to teach the art and science of fundraising at MSU. You will coordinate prospect identification efforts with college and unit teams, annual giving, and alumni engagement officers while building and managing a development portfolio. You will cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership annual and entry-level major gift prospects, and meet first-year fundraising benchmarks. Additionally, you will collaborate with the annual giving team to follow up on leads and ensure timely and efficient engagement with potential donors. You will also be responsible for developing personalized fundraising approaches to achieve goals and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders. 

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a degree in communications, public relations, or marketing and up to six months of progressively more responsible work in professional fundraising or related fields. You should have strong organizational, interpersonal, written, oral, and communication skills. Additionally, both in-state and out-of-state travel is required throughout the year. 
Learn more about University Advancement here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the MSU Careers website for more information. Applications require a resume and cover letter and should be submitted by January 2nd.

Job of the Week: Executive Assistant and Administrative Coordinator for MSU Human Resources

Published on by Abigail Miller1 Comment

Come work with us! This week, we are featuring a job posting as an Executive Assistant and Administration Coordinator for the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at MSU Human Resources (job posting 1002586). If you are looking to make a true difference in the day-to-day lives of MSU employees and serve as a critical resource for the Vice President and MSU Human Resources, this may be the role for you.

At MSU Human Resources, our mission is to provide strategic human resources expertise, counsel, support, and services for the MSU community. We have a firm commitment to serve the university with thoughtfulness and professionalism. The person in this position will support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in every aspect and responsibility associated with the job.

In this position, you will manage an extremely active calendar of appointments and ensure the Vice President’s schedule is followed and respected. You will create win-win situations for effective time management, implement improvements to enhance operations, arrange complex and detailed travel plans, and coordinate hiring, onboarding, and other HR duties for the Vice President and other HR executives. Additionally, you will oversee departmental parking, badge access, key distribution, and space allocation requests. View the job listing for a more complete list of job duties.

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. You should have a comprehensive customer service background, with significant experience in providing administrative support. Experience in maintaining account ledgers, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation and editing software is desired. You will thrive in this role if you have proficiency in Microsoft editing software, strong organizational and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, the ability to maintain relationships in the workplace, commitment to the organization’s mission and values, and the ability to handle confidential information.. 

Learn more about MSU Human Resources Here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information. Applications require a resume and cover letter, and should be submitted by December 3rd. 

Take Action Now to Reduce End of Year Stress

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Ready or not, December is almost here. When you think about the remainder of the year, how do you feel? If thoughts of work deadlines, family get-togethers, or planning for the holidays and new year ahead have you feeling overwhelmed or anxious, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there are practices and resources we can utilize to help us center ourselves and approach this time of year with a healthier mindset. 

Consider Your Sphere of Influence 

We all know allowing worry to grow uninhibited can lead to a number of negative consequences, be it with our health, work performance, or relationships. So, why do we allow our minds to spend so much time in a state of worry?  In a previous blog post, Jennie Schaeffer, Director of MSU Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs, discussed how worry can seem very active — spending time in that mindset can feel like you are working on something productive — but in reality, you are burning through energy that could be better spent. 

When you notice yourself worrying about what might happen, stop and ask yourself, “What can I do about it now?” One way to visualize this is the Sphere of Influence. 

Three circles on top of each other. The inner circle is labeled "control," the middle circle is labeled "possible influence, but no control," and the outer circle is labeled "no control."

Within the Sphere, there are three areas: 

  • No Control. If there is absolutely nothing you can do to change or influence a situation, you can only assess whether you can learn from it, then let it go and refocus on something else. This would apply to things like the weather, supply chain issues this season, or flight cancelations. To reduce feelings of worry and improve your well-being, spend minimal time and energy regarding any matters that fall within this area of the sphere. 
  • Possible Influence but No Control. If there is a step you can take that may influence an outcome, person, or situation, determine what action you can take to maximize that influence, follow through, and then let it go. Resist the temptation to convince yourself that worrying about it means it is within your control. 
  • Control. If the issue you are wrestling with is completely within your control, then you have control over your decisions, attitude, and behavior. What action can you take that you’ve been putting off? What self-care practice can you initiate to support your well-being? When you practice shifting your focus and attention to what is within your control rather than allowing what is out of your control to consume your time and thoughts, feelings of helplessness and overwhelm decrease significantly. 

Make Yourself a Priority 

When asked why we don’t make our well-being a higher priority, the most common answer is: not enough time. Although we can’t add more hours to the day (No Control area of the Sphere of Influence), we can take actionable steps to better manage our time and carve out space to improve our overall wellness (Control area of the sphere). 

Here are a few ideas to help you focus your energy on areas you can control when it comes to your well-being this time of year. 

  • Schedule downtime. Block downtime off on your Outlook calendar like you would for a meeting or other work engagement. 
  • Set positive boundaries. Check out the following articles as a starting point: 
  • Be selective. Most of us have an extraordinary number of demands placed on us, and this time of year often brings on even more. Before you commit to anything additional, give yourself a little time to consider: do I really need to do this right now? 
  • Get back to the basics. Consider your current relationship with sleep, physical activity, and eating. What are one or two simple steps you could take to improve your physical health? Even something as small as not having your cell phone next to your bed at night or scheduling short blocks of time on your calendar to stretch at your desk can have a tremendous impact. Ensuring your basic, physical needs are met helps ensure a solid foundation for all aspects of your well-being. 

Utilize Your Resources 

One major goal within MSU’s strategic plan is to support the “well-being of staff, faculty, and postdoctoral research associates at MSU, focusing on creating a best-in-class workplace culture and environment in which excellence and opportunity thrive.” From one-on-one counseling to self-paced learning opportunities, many resources are available to you as an MSU employee to improve your well-being and take care of yourself this year and beyond. Recommendations to get you started are listed below, along with contact information for specialists at MSU who can provide extra support. 

Spartan Resilience Programs  |  Spartan Resilience sees to provide opportunities for any Spartan, anywhere to develop (or strengthen) the skills needed to effectively respond to their unique collection of challenges. Courses include Informal Mindfulness, Developing Emotional Resilience, Navigating Hard Times with Empathy and Self-Compassion, and much more. 

elevateU  | Free, self-paced resources including short videos, online courses, and books around a wide variety of topics. Highlighted topics include: 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  | Free, confidential counseling for all faculty, staff, retirees, graduate student employees, and their families. 

Opening Image Credit: Centre for Aging Better Age-Positive Image Library 

Job of The Week: Overnight Emergency Veterinary Clinic Receptionist

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as an Overnight Emergency Clinic Receptionist for the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (1003806). If you are interested in working the front desk and assisting clients and their pets, this may be the role for you. 

The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine prides itself on diversity, innovation, integrity, compassion, and collaboration. Their vision states, “Together we will be the destination for teaching, innovation, care, and service,” with a mission of learning, discovering, healing, and protecting. 

In this position, you will be greeting and directing clients at the reception desk, creating, reviewing, and updating electronic client and health records, and organizing appointments in the electronic scheduling system. You will also collect payments at the time of the patient’s discharge and be responsible for accurately logging the payments into electronic records. You should be prepared to work 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shifts as this is an overnight position. 

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a high school diploma, one year of customer service experience, and related/progressively more expansive work in a medical office, clinic, or mental health office. You should have excellent communication and computer skills, as well as grammar and spelling. You must be able to work in a fast-paced work environment and have proven empathy skills. 

Learn more about the College of Veterinary Medicine Here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers @ MSU website for more information. Applications require a resume and cover letter, and should be submitted by November 19th.