Tag: Professional Development

Job of The Week: VDL Client Service Center Supervisor

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (VDL) Client Service Center Supervisor for the College of Veterinary Medicine (job posting 1015732). If you are interested in supervising and managing the VDL and its support staff, this may be the position 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. The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, a service unit in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is a full-service and accredited laboratory for all species. Additionally, the lab performs more than one million tests per year on samples submitted from all around Michigan, the United States, and more than 25 countries. 

In this position, you will manage a workload of five support staff and one temporary on-call employee who answers phones, provides clerical support for laboratory sections, and rotates through the reception areas. You will also provide high-quality, consistent customer service internally and externally and manage VDL client complaints. Additionally, you will monitor call volume, create monthly schedules, manage time off requests, interview, hire and train temporary personnel, and collect and maintain records and data. 

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include two to three years of college or technical school experience with coursework in a field related to the job and one to three years of related work experience. You should be organized, detail and team-oriented, relaxed, customer service focused, and a problem solver. Experience in a laboratory setting requiring specific safety procedures is desired. 

Learn more about the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. 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 28.

Job of The Week: Career Services Coordinator

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Career Services Coordinator for the Student Development and Leadership Department’s Career Services Network (job posting 1013039). If you are interested in providing career advising to students and recent alumni from all areas of campus, this may be the role for you.

Career Services Network’s mission is to lead MSU in providing valued career resources and connections that empower students and allow them to grow professionally. The Career Services Network helps students and recent alumni (within 2 years of graduation) declare their major, explore career fields and industries, apply for part-time jobs and internships, prepare for interviews, and more through one-on-one virtual and in-person advising sessions.

In this position, you will support the development of early-stage career planning and education through tabling events, programs, presentations, and resource development. You will provide career advising to Spartans and administer career assessments in individual and group settings utilizing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory, and Focus 2. Additionally, you will partner with colleagues across campus to deliver joint programming including general and career exposure workshops, and provide referrals to specific college career staff as students progress in their career paths. The Career Services Coordinator will promote the Career Services Network at large-scale events, including orientation and admissions, and connect students and alumni with staff and administrators for further resources.

The education, experience, and skills desired for this role include a master’s degree in education, counseling, or a related field, as well as one to three years of related work experience with university students in an advising role or human resources. You should have excellent communication and customer service skills and the ability to build relationships with other units and departments at MSU. You should be willing to take initiative and function as a team player with a common goal in this role. 


Learn more about the Career Services Network 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 professional references, and should be submitted by January 28.

Did You Sign Up for an FSA for 2025? Find Tips and Resources to Get Started.

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Welcome to 2025 and your flexible spending account (FSA) funds! If you signed up for a 2025 FSA during Open Enrollment last October, you’re on your way to saving money on out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses. MSU’s FSA plan administrator is HealthEquity/WageWorks. If this is your first time participating in an FSA, make sure you register for your online HealthEquity/WageWorks account.

If you have a Dependent Care FSA, you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as child or adult daycare, preschool, and before/after school programs. Find a complete list of eligible dependent care expenses here.

If you have a Health Care FSA, you can purchase various products and services with pre-tax dollars – which means it’s like a 30% off sale on eligible expenses. 1Find a complete list of eligible health care expenses here. Some items2 you may not know about include:

  • Allergy medication
  • Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
  • Bandages
  • Braces
  • Breastfeeding classes
  • Cough syrup
  • Eyeglasses
  • Feminine Care Products
  • First-aid kits
  • Hearing aids
  • Humidifier/air filter
  • Pain relievers
  • Pregnancy tests
  • Prescriptions
  • Smoking cessation drugs
  • Sunscreen
  • Thermometer

To make shopping for eligible health care FSA expenses easier, visit the online FSA Store for the largest selection of guaranteed FSA-eligible products.

Managing Your FSA Account

Managing your HealthEquity/WageWorks account is quick and easy with the EZ Receipts App. You’ll love the convenience of submitting claims, uploading receipts, and checking account balances directly from your phone.

What if I still have funds left over from my 2024 FSA?

Not to worry – if you still have funds left over from your 2024 FSA, you have until March 15, 2025, to use these funds and until April 30, 2025, to submit receipts to substantiate these claims.

How Do I Sign Up for an FSA?

Benefits-eligible employees are eligible to enroll in an FSA during Open Enrollment in October each year or if they experience a qualifying life event.

Questions? For more detailed information contact HealthEquity customer service directly at 877-924-3967 or visit the HealthEquity/WageWorks website.

1 Assumes a combined tax rate of 30%, including FICA, state, and federal income taxes. Actual amounts may vary.

2 Some items may require a doctor’s prescription or other documentation from your doctor. Please see your account details for more information.

Announcing the 2025 New Leader Development Series and Course Catalog

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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.

Job of The Week: Farm to Youth Network Coordinator

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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

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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

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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

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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. 

Job of The Week: Overnight Emergency Veterinary Clinic Receptionist

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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.

There’s still time! Take a professional development course this year.

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It’s not too late to take a professional development course this year! Find learning opportunities offered through HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) and our campus partners below.  Did we miss a training opportunity for employees? Let us know in the comments.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Throughout November – Native American Heritage Month Events and Educational Programs: As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month throughout November, MSU kicks off the month with back-to-back events, amplifying the voices of Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and organizations on campus. Events include lectures from MSU or invited speakers, craft workshops and participation in discussions, and social lunch events that will help attendees learn more about North American Indigenous people, culture, history, and customs and help build community among each other.

November 19 – Trans Allyship Practices: In this 90-minute workshop, learn in-depth information about gender diversity at MSU. This session is intended for cisgender students, faculty, and staff who want to improve their understanding and allyship practices in working with transgender and nonbinary community members. Participants will learn about intersecting oppressions; key definitions of gender terms; information about changing identities, demographics, and political contexts; and promising practices for supporting transgender and nonbinary students, coworkers, family, and community members. Fall 2024 Open Trans Allyship Practices Workshop: Tuesday, November 19 from 1:30-3:00, 110 Student Services Building. Register here.

Personal Development 

November 19 –  Identify and Maximize Your Strengths Part 2 Unlock the Full 34: Unlock your 34 strengths report and learn more about yourself through a series of reflective and interactive exercises in this two-hour workshop. This section is intended for those who have previously attended the Identify and Maximize Your Strengths course through OPD. 

December 3rd – 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 it applies to your role in the workplace. Use your research to express what you do best and grow your overall confidence.

Communication

December 10 – Business Writing for Results: This course is designed to increase the productivity, efficiency, and quality of your writing and make a big difference in your overall career success. Improve your readability, strengthen your writing with active voice, conquer commonly misused word pairs, and more in this in-person workshop.

December 11 & 12 – Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue: This course teaches techniques that allow you to learn how to understand different opinions, find mutual respect, and work openly through disagreements. You will also learn ways to help foster inclusivity, psychological safety, and inclusion in this two-day course. 

December 12 – 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. 

Leadership

December 3-5 – Crucial Influence: This course targets mid to high-level leaders who are responsible for leading change in the workplace. It is designed to enlighten you on why people do what they do and how leaders can impact those at any level. 

Faculty and Academic Staff-Specific Opportunities

Review the events available on the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development website. OFASD is a unit within the Office of the Provost that facilitates cross-institutional connections among individuals and entities in support of the advancement of academic careers.

Opening Image Credit: The Vice Gender Spectrum Collection