Performance Excellence Strategic Goal Setting: Tips for Supervisors

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

With everything you juggle as a supervisor, it’s easy to fall into a rut of viewing the performance management of your team as only consisting of completing an annual review form and a once-yearly review of upcoming goals. However, making the time to examine the potential opportunities within the Performance Excellence process can lead to much higher yields both in the short and long term — for you, your team, and the university.

A primary goal of Performance Excellence should be connecting individuals to the organization’s greater purpose and helping develop employees to be better able to achieve the university’s goals. Although perhaps requiring a more significant investment of time upfront, creating a unifying vision for your team and establishing regular, ongoing check-in sessions to align goals will then serve as a touchstone for all performance evaluation and planning sessions.

Here are some tips and best practices to better align the goals and priorities of your team with the strategic objectives of your unit and MSU’s strategic plan.

1. Create a unit vision statement.

If your unit doesn’t already have a shared vision, now is a great time to formalize this and bring your team on board. Consider creating a one-page plan to outline your unit’s initiatives and the alignment of resources (i.e., time, people, funding) to achieve results and align with this vision.

Ask yourself:

  • Why does our unit exist?
  • What do we do that helps the university achieve the overarching strategic priorities?
  • How do we know we are successful?

2. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

As a supervisor, you should be regularly communicating your unit’s vision with your team, both one-on-one and with the team as a whole. Be sure everyone is fully aware of the vision, what it means, and why they should care.

3. Help employees understand how their work impacts the vision.

When we can clearly connect our daily work with a larger picture of the unit’s and the university’s goals and objectives, job satisfaction and productivity almost always improve. Employees should be able to see how their individual contributions are critical to the university’s continued growth and success.

4. Have your employees consider goals and priorities for themselves that align with the unit vision.

Allow your team to feel ownership over their goals to prioritize what’s important to them about their work while understanding that some employees will need more guidance and support with this process than others. Goals should be clear and measurable — think SMART and HARD goals â€” with a clear connection to your unit’s vision statement.

5. Ensure an ongoing feedback loop is maintained.

Aligning the goals and efforts of an individual with the larger team and organization cannot be a “one and done” activity. Regular, ongoing communication via one-on-one check-ins provides brief but powerful opportunities to touch base on objectives, realign priorities and clarify expectations. Strive to provide prompt, actionable feedback to your team, tying everything back to your unit’s vision and making sure each person understands how their work is important to the bigger picture.

Additional resources to support you through this process can be found below, and HR’s Organization and Professional Development department is available at avphr.hrdmail@msu.edu if you would like further information or guidance.

Related Resources

MSU Performance Excellence: Supervisor Tips and Tools (Collection of resources including sample goals for different roles, goal setting tips, and conversation starters for high performance)

Instructor-led OPD Workshops

Performance Management for Hybrid Teams

Strategic Planning

HR SourceLive Blog Posts

Adapting Your Goal-Driven Approach During Times of Change

Common Work-Related Goals with Resources to Help You Achieve Them

Leadership Blog Series: Performance Excellence During Periods of Uncertainty and Transition

What’s Your Plan: Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You

Sources

https://www.rhythmsystems.com/blog/how-the-best-ceos-align-employees-with-company-goals

https://www.hrfuture.net/strategy/staff-planning/five-best-practices-for-aligning-employees-with-corporate-goals/

Job of the Week: Associate Director of Development, College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting from University Advancement as an Associate Director of Development for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences (posting 966376). From their headquarters in Spartan Stadium Tower to our fundraising offices across campus and regions across the United States, University Advancement is working to build lasting relationships with alumni, friends and donors who care about MSU as much as they do. 

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences is vibrant and eclectic, examining communication from neurons to nations. Their smart, passionate people and collaborative culture empower the opportunity to create an extraordinary impact on how they communicate and connect for a better, more inspired world.

This remote-friendly role includes the possibility of travel while identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding alumni and friends of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. The ideal individual for this role is a dedicated, collaborative, enthusiastic, creative, and results-oriented fundraiser who thinks and acts strategically. 

As Associate Director of Development for ComArtSci, you will manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major donor prospects, focusing efforts on prospects whose philanthropy capacity is $100,000 to maximize the fundraising potential on behalf of the university. You will travel as needed to engage with donors and secure major gift solicitations, playing a pivotal role in cultivating and soliciting major donor prospects for MSU’s upcoming capital campaign. As a member of the ComArtSci Advancement team, you’ll assist the Senior Director of Development in planning for the capital campaign, which includes developing funding priorities, identifying and cultivating leadership gifts and recruiting volunteers.

The education, experience and skills desired for this role include a four-year degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or Business and three to five years of experience in public relations, volunteer administration, fundraising, or marketing. It is also helpful to have a collaborative team-oriented work style, experience in public speaking and excellent interpersonal skills including written and verbal communication. 

Learn more about University Advancement at advancement.msu.edu and the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at comartsci.msu.edu. If interested in this role, apply with your resume and cover letter at careers.msu.edu by August 15.

Thank You MSU Dairy Store!

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

You scream, I scream, we all scream for National Ice Cream Day! July 21st, National Ice Cream Day, is coming up soon, and Spartans know that some of the best ice cream around can be found right within Michigan State’s campus at the MSU Dairy Store. However, there is much more history to the MSU Dairy Store than you may know. 

In 1867, the first cow was brought to MSU, leading what would become a renowned dairy program. The first Dairy Barn at Michigan State would be assigned in 1900, however, in 1913, the Dairy Building was constructed. The Dairy Building contained practical training equipment for students and instructors. 

A new dairy plant would find its home in Anthony Hall, named after Ernest L. Anthony, the former head of the Dairy Department. This plant would then provide milk and numerous other dairy products to Michigan State residence halls. The deep history of dairy products and education being provided to students continues on at Anthony Hall at the MSU Dairy Store. 

The MSU Dairy Store offers 13 ice cream flavors on their menu including unique specialty treats you can only find here. Izzo’s Malted Madness, for one, was created in 2018 after MSU basketball coach, Tom Izzo. This is a malt-based ice cream with crushed Whopper pieces and fudge swirl, and a Spartan favorite! 

The Dairy Store doesn’t end at Anthony Hall. You may spot the Dairy Store truck out and about during special events or MSU games. They also cater events and sell a variety of Michigan-made products at the store!

The MSU Dairy Store is located at 1140 S. Anthony Hall. Visit their website for their current hours.

Thank you MSU Dairy Store for your friendly service, amazing ice cream flavors and delicious treats!

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

When you think of upskilling — learning new skills — at work, what comes to mind? Perhaps learning new software or working toward a certification or degree. There’s no question that many in-demand skills are technical in nature, but there’s also a critical need for what are sometimes described as “soft” skills, particularly strong emotional intelligence (EI).

EI allows us to build and maintain relationships and influence others — important skills no matter your position and area of work — and research has found people with greater EI tend to be more innovative and have higher job satisfaction than those with lower EI. Using emotional intelligence in the workplace can improve decision-making and social interactions, and enhance your ability to cope with change and stress.

The good news is that, like technical skills, soft skills such as EI can also be learned and improved.

Emotional Intelligence: What It Is

To strengthen your emotional intelligence, it’s important to know what it entails. Most definitions of EI include the following components:

  1. Perception and expression of emotion â€” Noticing your own emotions and picking up on the emotions of others as well as the ability to distinguish between discrete emotions.
  2. Using emotion to facilitate thought â€” How you incorporate emotions into your thinking processes and understand when and how emotions can be helpful for reasoning processes.
  3. Understanding and analyzing emotions â€”The capacity to decode emotions, make sense of their meaning, and understand how they relate to each other and change over time.
  4. Reflective regulation of emotion â€”An openness to all emotions and the ability to regulate your own emotions and the emotions of others to facilitate growth and insight.

Measuring Your Emotional Intelligence Skills

Do you find you relate to either of these statements?

“I want to improve my EI skills but don’t know where to start.”

“I already have strong emotional intelligence skills. This isn’t an area I need to work on.”

As with any skill, we all have varying levels of aptitude for EI and may feel overwhelmed about where to begin.

One interesting study found that 95% of participants gave themselves high marks in self-awareness. However, using more empirical measures of self-awareness, the study found that only 10-15% of the cohort was truly self-aware. Consider the following characteristics typical of people with higher and lower EI skillsets as one way to better gauge your skillset:

Potential indicators of higher EI:

  • Understanding the links between your emotions and how you behave
  • Remaining calm and composed during stressful situations
  • Ability to influence others toward a common goal
  • Handling difficult people with tact and diplomacy

Potential indicators of lower EI:

  • Often feeling misunderstood
  • Getting upset easily
  • Becoming overwhelmed by emotions
  • Having problems being assertive

It’s important to note that these potential indicators can also stem from other causes and vary significantly depending on the day and situation.

Learning and Developing Emotional Intelligence

Research indicates that as little as ten hours of EI training (i.e., lectures, role-play, group discussions, readings) significantly improved people’s ability to identify and manage their emotions, and these benefits were sustained six months later.

No matter your current EI skillset, it may be helpful to try the following exercises:

  1. Notice how you respond to people â€” Are you judgmental or biased in your assessments of others?
  2. Practice humility â€” Being humble about your achievements means you can acknowledge your successes without needing to shout about them.
  3. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and vulnerabilities and consider development opportunities. Even though it might make you cringe, it’s helpful to get others’ viewpoints on your emotional intelligence. Ask people how they think you handle tricky situations and respond to the emotions of others.
  4. Think about how you deal with stressful events â€” Do you seek to blame others? Can you keep your emotions in check?
  5. Take responsibility for your actions and apologize when you need to.
  6. Consider how your choices can affect others â€” Try to imagine how they might feel before you do something that could affect them.

Interested in further increasing your EI skills? Check out the resources below to get you started.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

elevateU Featured Topic: Emotional Intelligence | Short videos, self-paced online courses and more

Identify and Maximize Your Strengths | Instructor-led offering from HR Organization and Professional Development | September 12

Sources

https://www.ottawa.edu/online-and-evening/blog/october-2020/the-importance-of-emotional-intelligence-in-the-wo

https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-intelligence-eq/

https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence/

Job of the Week: Medical Assistant

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week’s featured job is a Medical Assistant for University Health and Wellbeing (job posting 965463). University Health and Wellbeing takes pride in working as a team to advocate for the well-being of all Spartans, both students and employees. They work to create a safe and accessible environment where Spartans can thrive and become the best versions of themselves on Michigan State’s campus. 

University Health and Wellbeing is looking for a Medical Assistant to perform a range of duties for Campus Health Services. Some of these tasks include rooming patients, obtaining basic patient information, screenings, and documenting medications, allergies and medical history before patients’ appointments. In this position, you will be performing lab work and preparing equipment, for example, sterilization for minor surgeries. 

The Medical Assistant position holds typical work hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are interested in the position, you should have knowledge of Microsoft products including Outlook, and be familiar with HIPPA/Fraud compliance and Athena EHR. You must be able to work well under stress and exude excellent interpersonal skills to work well with patients, physicians and the nursing staff.

To apply for this position, six months to one year of related work experience in a medical/clinical setting is required. Experience conducting routine health assessment tasks and a high school education is necessary. The Medical Assistant job may also require knowledge of online scheduling and medical records, as well as experience in word processing and database software learned in medical courses such as  Nurse Health Aid and Phlebotomy, or Medical Billing and Medical Terminology. 

Learn more about University Health and Wellbeing here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers at MSU website for more information! Applications require a letter of interest, resume, and verification of licensure, and should be submitted by July 23rd.

a person putting money in a pink piggy bank.

Your Top Questions About MSU’s Optional Retirement Plans

Published on by Megan MacGregorLeave a comment

Whether this is your first job out of school, or you’ve been working for 40+ years, it’s important to make sure you’re taking advantage of every opportunity to prepare for your eventual retirement. Most benefit-eligible employees* are aware of and enrolled in the 403(b) Base Retirement Program (BRP) offered by MSU, which consists of a 5% employee contribution of your eligible compensation and a generous university matching contribution of 10% – an immediate two for one match of your investment – for a total contribution of 15%. While this provides a great foundation for your retirement savings, most employees will eventually want to consider additional savings options for their retirement.

In addition to the BRP, eligible employees also have the option of enrolling in two additional retirement programs: the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Enrollment in one or both optional programs can help employees meet their retirement savings goals so they can more easily transition to retirement.

We’ve compiled a list of the top questions we receive as employees think about enrolling in these optional plans:

  • Q: Is there a minimum amount that must be contributed to one of the optional plans? What about a maximum amount?

    A: Employees may elect any percentage contribution, as all contributions are based on a percentage of eligible pay. For example, 1.50% would be an acceptable contribution election. Employees wishing to contribute a certain amount, such as $100 per paycheck, can use the calculating tool for converting a dollar amount to a percentage.

    Maximum contribution amounts are set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year. Information on current IRS limits, including Age 50 Catch-up contributions, can be reviewed at maximizing your retirement plan contributions.
  • Q: Does contributing a small amount – such as $25 a month – make a difference in the long run?

    A: We encourage employees to work with their financial advisors or retirement vendors for assistance in deciding how much more to contribute. You may be surprised how a small contribution over a long period of time can impact your retirement account balance and may want to take advantage of compounding earnings as you save for retirement.
  • Q: What are the main differences between the 403(b) Supplemental and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan?

    A: Generally, the differences are when an individual can access the funds and the loan provisions. Also, the 403(b) Supplemental contributions must be added with the Voluntary 403(b) Base contributions when calculating the IRS maximum contributions, whereas the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan has a separate IRS maximum limit. A more detailed comparison of the two different optional accounts can be found in the Retirement Plans Comparison chart.
  • Q: Can I enroll in an optional retirement plan account at any time?

    A: Yes, retirement plan elections can be made at any time. This includes beginning or canceling enrollment, increasing or decreasing contribution percentages, and changing vendors. Depending on payroll schedules and deadlines there may be a delay when the contributions start/stop. More detailed information can be found on the HR website at Enroll or Make Changes to Retirement Plans.

For more information about available retirement plans from MSU, please review the retirement resources on the HR website and the MSU Retirement Plans Enrollment Guide. Find instructions to enroll in these optional retirement plans at any time throughout the year. Please contact the HR Solutions Center with any questions at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

*Note: Certain types of employees are excluded from participating in the 403(b) Retirement Plan. Please see the 403(b) Base Retirement Program Eligibility Chart for more detail. 

person sitting in front of their laptop wearing headphones, speaking during a virtual meeting

Spartans’ Top Tips for Successful Hybrid or Remote Work

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

Since MSU has a Remote Work Policy, many of us work a hybrid or remote schedule or are considering doing so in the future.

We asked Spartans who work all over campus to share their best tips for their hybrid or remote work schedules. The top tips below cover leveraging Teams, establishing a consistent routine, staying connected with colleagues, and more.

Tips for a Successful Hybrid Schedule

“Having a docking station at home and work makes things very seamless. A daily morning routine to get yourself focused for work is also helpful.” –Elizabeth V.

“Our team takes turns covering the administrative office, so we are always open, and everyone gets to work from home a few days a week. During our weekly Zoom meetings, we talk through shared tasks and have a few laughs. We also have mini-retreats each semester to plan for big events, projects, and challenges. The hybrid schedule helps us to focus and enhance productivity while giving our staff the flexibility to achieve better life balance.” –Mary Beth G.

“Work with your team to determine the best days for in-person and remote work. Put a sign at your desk letting people know when you are remote or in-person and how to reach you. Add reminders to your calendar at the end of your location transition day to bring your work materials with you for the next morning. When switching from remote to in-office, place your bags by the door the night before to help you remember. Use a laptop with a docking station for an easy transition. When remote, reach out to coworkers to ensure everything is running smoothly and see how their day is going.” –Brooke P.

“I highly recommend using the Microsoft Teams apps: Tasks by Planner and To Do and Remind Myself. Tasks by Planner and To-Do allows me to create a digital list of tasks and arrange them by priority, due date, and active or completed. Remind Myself is for tasks unsuited to my calendar but require attention. The application provides the option to list and snooze your reminders. All reminders appear as a chat notification in Teams. Both applications allow me to remain focused and organized in the office and home!” –Bianca P.

“Wake up at the same time, no matter where you work. Keep a notebook of your daily tasks that is easy to carry back and forth. I have a file on a shared drive to access from both locations. Try to maintain a healthy diet at home and in the office. Exercise daily—podcasts make it fun. Take time when you are in the office to connect with others.” –Sue S.

“To ensure I have the information I need in the office and at home, I have a file folder holder I keep important documents in that I take back and forth. The files stay in the folder until I need them.” –Rhonda B.

Tips for a Successful Remote Schedule

“My team has co-working times–Teams meetings where team members join for a set amount of time. We discuss how we’re doing, what we’ve been working on, and what we want to work on during our time together. The meetings keep us connected and allow us to get help if needed.” –Kelly S.

“When working remotely, put on music you like. I listen to my ‘Liked Songs’ playlist for a happy boost. I also like to put on a video I’ve seen multiple times that I can ignore. As a former teacher, I would often grade papers and write lesson plans with the movie, ‘You’ve Got Mail’ playing in the background.” –Corinne L.

“I think it is important for people working remotely or in a hybrid setting to have a designated office space (not a dining room or kitchen table). Remote work comes with its perks. If I don’t have a Zoom meeting all day, I will usually dress a little more comfortably. On days when I have meetings, I will dress as if I were going to the office. Do what makes you comfortable and productive! Be sure to take breaks too! I will sometimes block my calendar for my lunch break so I don’t forget and others will see that I am away on my calendar.” –Marie G.

“Stay in a routine, utilize your calendar and practice good time management. Stay in touch with your team and if you are caught up, ask your supervisor if you can do more to help. Take your designated lunch hour to maintain your routine. Time management skills are key to working remotely. Set yourself weekly and daily goals to accomplish tasks in an effective and timely manner.” Christine H.

Thank you to everyone who shared their ideas! If you have more tips, share them in the comments!

Unplugged: How to Disconnect from Work and Enjoy Your Vacation

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

As summer heats up, there is no better time to take a vacation or staycation. Taking time away from work has many health benefits including improving your connection to yourself and loved ones and resetting from or avoiding burnout.

The Benefits of Taking a Vacation

Vacationing and taking time away from your job promotes a long, healthy life and has tremendous benefits to your mind. Taking a break from routine in fun and different ways can have the same benefits as consistent meditation exercises and help you build connections with not only your loved ones but yourself, too. In addition, taking a vacation has been scientifically proven to boost brain power. Taking time off from learning, working and gaining new information every day allows your brain to consolidate existing knowledge, resulting in improved learning after vacation.

The benefits go beyond just your mind — they affect your body too. Through reduced stress, vacations can improve heart health and decrease the chances of metabolic diseases or conditions. Vacation time also improves sleep as poor sleep habits can be broken when sleeping in a new place. Coming home after vacation feels like sleeping in another new place, allowing those improved habits to continue.

Using vacation time is one of the best ways to reset from or avoid burnout. Check out this video from the MSU Worklife Office on how to recognize and minimize burnout. Learning the signs and how to work toward health is a positive way to promote workplace well-being.

Before Going on Vacation

To take full advantage of these benefits, you should consider fully unplugging from work — those emails and phone calls won’t go anywhere.

Before you head to the airport or hit the road, set up automatic email replies with your out-of-office details including when you will be back, who to contact in the meantime, and how to contact you in case of an emergency. If you use a shared calendar with your team, add your out-of-office dates as early as possible and notify your team verbally and/or by email. If you have ongoing projects, consider asking a coworker, supervisor, or team member to check up on them while you are away and plan to share updates when you return. If possible, leave work-related things at home or at the office to prevent the temptation to focus on work. Finally, prepare for the day you return from work before you leave by keeping your schedule as clear as you reasonably can on your first day back.

Returning from Vacation

Returning to work can often be stressful and sometimes undo the rest you achieved on vacation. To avoid getting immediately burned out, take time to ease back into your work routine. Try to avoid scheduling several meetings on your first day back and try not to set or meet big deadlines during your first week back in the office. The more time you spend away, the more time you should give yourself to get back to your normal work pace and routine.

In addition to easing into your normal work routine, it’s important to unplug from work at the end of each day. It’s easy to get burned out if you are mentally on the clock 24/7, answering emails and catching up during nights and weekends. You can use Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Google Calendar and other work team services to set out-of-office messages at the end of your workday. Finally, avoid stress by taking the necessary steps to be productive and engaged as shared in this earlier post about avoiding and reducing burnout.

All these tips and more are available through these links:

Job of the Week: Sous Chef at Akers Dining Hall

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week’s featured job is a Sous Chef position for Culinary Services at Akers Dining Hall (job posting 962522). MSU Culinary Services prides itself on putting employees first, building great skills, and creating a fun and safe work environment. The Culinary Services Team works alongside Student Life and Engagement to ensure that the Spartan Journey is embraced through all aspects of the MSU experience, including the dining hall experience.

Culinary Services is looking for someone to oversee food production and menu development, ensuring that quality food meets all student dietary needs. In this position, you will coordinate meal prep and recipes with the team, monitor food inventory, ensure allergens are properly tagged, and work with the Executive Chef to modify menus based on customer feedback. You will also supervise the floor while redirecting and assessing employee placements based on dining hall needs. This will include conducting biweekly one-on-one meetings and annual performance evaluations.

As the Akers Dining Hall Sous Chef, you will train and direct your team to Deliver Outstanding Spartan Experiences. You will also maintain proper storage and communicate expectations of leftover food to the team. As the head of staff development, you’ll provide structured training to your staff and create a “Cooks Training Program” for student and on-call staff. Work hours are 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. with rotating weekends.

To apply for this position, you should have 2–3 years of culinary school experience and 3–5 years of related work experience in food production and supervision. You should have experience working with people of all social backgrounds and skills communicating with multiple cultural environments and identities.

Learn more about Culinary Services here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers at MSU website for more information! Applications require a resume and cover letter and must be submitted by July 2.

Your Mid-Year Benefit Wellness Check-up

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment


National Insurance Awareness Day (June 28) encourages us to review our insurance options to make sure we’re enrolled in the best plans for our families. As an MSU employee, you have a variety of benefit options available to you beyond just health care and dental plans. While many of these benefits allow you to enroll in or make changes at any time, several require you to sign up, change or cancel enrollment during the Open Enrollment period in October. If you’re interested in a benefit but unable to sign up right away, review the plan options and make a list of changes you’d like to make so you’re prepared for the upcoming Open Enrollment period in October.

Benefits without an Enrollment Period

The following benefits are available to enroll in, change or cancel at any time. You’ll find a brief description of each benefit below and you can click on the benefit name for more details and information on how to enroll/register.

  • Auto: find special pricing on insurance for your vehicle through Farmers GroupSelect (formerly MetLife) or Liberty Mutual Insurance.
  • Home: find special pricing on insurance for your home through Farmers GroupSelect (formerly MetLife) or Liberty Mutual Insurance.
  • Livongo by Teladoc Health: employees and their dependents enrolled in an MSU health plan can receive diabetes management supplies and coaching for free.
  • Pet: find special pricing on pet insurance through Nationwide.
  • Teladoc Health: an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a healthcare professional via web, phone, or mobile app. Use Teladoc to get help for a range of conditions including cold/flu, bronchitis, allergies, pink eye, dermatology and more.
  • Teladoc Medical Experts: get medical advice from leading medical experts. Whether you need medical questions answered, a diagnosis double-checked, help deciding on a treatment plan or guidance about a surgery, Teladoc Medical Experts can help.
  • TruHearing: Some benefit providers offer discounts on hearing aids. Please contact the providers directly to learn more about the discounts they offer.
  • Educational Assistance: support staff have access to educational assistance funds to help pay for credit and non-credit professional development opportunities.

Benefits with an Enrollment Period

The following benefit options have an enrollment period. This means you can only enroll in, change or cancel the benefit during Open Enrollment in October each year. We encourage you to review the plans you’re currently enrolled in along with the options available and make a plan to make any necessary changes this October. Please note that updates for the 2025 plan year will be shared this September prior to Open Enrollment in October:

  • Critical Illness: MetLife gives you extra cash in the event you or a covered family member experiences a covered illness.
  • Dental: various plans are available based on your employee type. We encourage you to check which dentists are available in your area before enrolling in a new plan.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): there are two FSA options available for employees – Dependent Care FSA and Health Care FSA. Be sure you know the difference before you enroll.
  • Health Care (including prescription): various plans are available based on your employee type and work location.
  • Legal: ARAG currently offers several plan options to help cover a wide range of legal needs.
  • Life/Accident Insurance: several types of life insurance are available for you to enroll in, along with voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.
  • Vision: two plan options are available through VSP for vision care.

Please visit the HR website to learn more about all the benefit options available to you. For questions about enrollment and eligibility, please contact the HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434.

Article Updated June 2024