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Celebrate Earth Day at MSU!

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

Earth Day is April 22 – a perfect reminder that every day is a chance to show our planet some love! While there are many eco-friendly things we weave into our daily lives already, Earth Day is a great opportunity to promote sustainability. Whether you’re working remotely or commuting into the office, take a look at these tips and resources to go green:

Use the MSU Recycling Center: The MSU Recycling Center always leads the charge for reusable materials at MSU. The center is open seven days a week for drop-off of materials. These materials can be anything and everything, including books, cardboard, glass, plastics, and more! Read the Public Drop-off Recycling Center Guide to find their hours and what and how to drop things off. 

Join the Waste Warriors: The Surplus Store & Recycling Center’s Waste Warriors program cultivates waste reduction and the utilization of waste as a resource by training and empowering the MSU community to promote these practices among their peers. By becoming a Waste Warrior, you join a group of like-minded staff and faculty from across campus who each pledge to be part of the solution that will lead MSU down the path to zero waste.

Meridian Township Spring Recycling Day: On April 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., stop by the Meridian Mall to safely recycle your unwanted items at the Meridian Township Farmers’ Market. Visit the Meridian Township website to see what items are accepted. 

Shop at the MSU Surplus Store: The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center rethinks the way the MSU Community disposes of its used materials. Our innovative program allows us to reduce the amount of university material that goes to landfills, keeping MSU green. Shop from a variety of items, including books, electronics, furniture, office equipment, vehicles, and more. Additionally, check out the Community Reuse Program to drop off a wide variety of items for reuse and recycling.

Join MSU Arbor Day: On April 25 at noon, join the MSU Landscapers installing native plant material along the riverbank, creating a new pollinator garden. Volunteer along the banks of the Red Cedar River between Kellogg Ramp and Jenison Field House in lot 67 for the annual Arbor Day planting. Free trees from the campus nursery will be given away to the first 100 volunteers who attend.

Pack Up, Pitch In: The Student Life and Engagement Sustainability Office is looking for volunteers to help collect and pack non-perishable foods from the residence halls during move-in and move-out weeks. These efforts will directly benefit the MSU Food Bank, MSU Safe Place, and the sustainability of the MSU community. 

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

Volunteer at the Beal Botanical Garden: Volunteer opportunities with the Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum span far beyond Earth Day. Explore gardening, training opportunities, and ambassadorships to help benefit the campus and our Earth. 

Use MSU Bikes on Campus: MSU Bikes provides support with commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service, which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. MSU Bikes also rents bikes to departments for staff to use during the work day through their Department Fleet Services.

Limit Car Use: While there is no getting around long commutes, take any opportunity to walk or use MSU Bikes or CATA buses to limit emissions from your vehicle. No destination in mind? Explore these campus walking maps to find your new favorite trail!

How else can we get involved? 

While Earth Day is just one day out of the year, it can serve as a reminder to jumpstart your sustainability efforts and connection with our planet. Go Green!

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Job of The Week: Nurse Clinician I

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as a Nurse Clinician I for MSU Health Care  (job posting 1033014). If you are looking to work as a registered nurse with patient care as a top priority, this may be the role for you. 

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

In this position, you will evaluate patient status and implement care within the facility. You will work closely with the multidisciplinary team and are expected to uphold ethical and safe processes while keeping patient care as a top priority. Additionally, you will provide safe, effective, and culturally competent patient care while aligning with organizational policies and procedures. This position requires significant physical effort, involving lifting and maneuvering patients, extensive walking and standing, and visual and hearing acuity to communicate with patients. 

This role requires a degree in Nursing and one to three years of related or progressively more expansive work experience in nursing. This role also requires the possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Michigan. Experience in surgery, heart and vascular, or urology practice setting is preferred. 

Learn more about MSU Health Care here. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter, resume, and proof of a valid State of Michigan RN license and should be submitted by April 22.

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5 Financial Goals to Consider with Help from Fidelity and TIAA

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As a benefits-eligible employee, you may know about the generous retirement savings programs and resources MSU offers to help set you up for a successful retirement. However, MSU’s retirement plan vendors, Fidelity and TIAA, can help you with more than just retirement planning. Whatever your financial goals – such as funding a big purchase, paying down debt, or creating a sustainable budget – Fidelity and TIAA can help you create a plan to achieve them. 

Fidelity and TIAA are financial professionals who can provide strategies and advice to help you take charge of your finances. Review the goals below and then contact your vendor using the following information. 

1. Create a Budget: Many people only have a vague understanding of their spending habits or financial situation. Between trying to comprehend financial jargon, figuring out your goals, and understanding how to balance debt, saving, and investing, it’s no wonder people often bury their heads in the sand. Luckily, Fidelity and TIAA have tools, resources, and advice to help us make a plan and stay on track. 
More Information: 

2. Build an Emergency Fund: Setting aside money for an emergency – such as unemployment, surprise medical or vet bills, or unplanned home repairs – is a key element of basic financial planning and often the first step advisors will recommend. According to TIAA, “it’s good to maintain an emergency fund that would cover three to six months of living expenses” (Waltenberger, 2024). These living expenses include the things you absolutely must pay for each month, such as food, housing, utilities, child care, health care, transportation, debt payments, or similar. 
 
The latest report released by the Federal Reserve found that 37% of adults would not be able to afford a $400 emergency expense (2024, Federal Reserve), which means they would have to use credit cards, personal loans, early retirement withdrawals, or ask family/friends for assistance. Saving towards an emergency fund – even if it’s only a small amount each month – can help you build a safety net to keep you out of debt. 
More Information: 

3. Pay Down Debt: The average American owes $105,056 in debt across mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, student loans, auto loans, credit cards, and personal loans (Experian, 2024). While it’s important to note that having debt isn’t necessarily bad – a mortgage loan, for instance, can help you build wealth and eventually own a home – having too much debt or high-interest debt can lead to financial stress. Fidelity clarifies, “Good debt is generally considered any debt that may help you increase your net worth or generate future income. Importantly, it typically has a low interest or annual percentage rate (APR), which experts say is normally under 6%” (Fidelity, 2023). 
 
If you’re only able to make the minimum payment on your credit card, have trouble paying your monthly bills, or have debt payments that are more than 35% of your gross income, you may need help managing your debt (TIAA, 2024). Luckily, TIAA and Fidelity have actionable steps to help you move in the right direction. Review the resources below for advice on managing debt and contact your vendor directly to receive personal financial advice. 
More Information: 

4. Maximize Your Retirement Investment: Most benefit-eligible employees1 are enrolled in the 403(b) Base Retirement Program, which consists of a 5% employee contribution of your eligible compensation and a generous university matching contribution of 10%. That’s 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, you may eventually want to consider additional options. It’s important to note that the IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to their retirement savings accounts each year. However, many people may discover there is a lot of room before their current contributions reach that limit. Fidelity and TIAA can help you determine what your retirement contributions should be to help you reach your personal retirement goals – whether that date is 30 years in the future or just around the corner. 
More Information: 

5. Plan Your Estate: According to TIAA, “Pondering your incapacity or mortality, and what might happen to your loved ones when you are no longer with them, can be tough to face. It’s what keeps most people from starting the estate planning process” (TIAA, 2024). Despite the challenging nature of the topic, creating a solid plan can give you and your family peace of mind and the confidence that your wishes will be carried out as desired. 
More Information: 

Questions? We encourage you to reach out to Fidelity  (800-642-7131) or TIAA  (800-732-8353) with your financial or retirement planning questions. 

1 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 details.  

Sources: 

Five Essential Estate planning questions to ask. TIAA. (n.d.-a). https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/retirement-planning-and-beyond/important-estate-planning-questions 

Good debt vs bad debt. Fidelity. (2024, February 14). https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/good-debt-vs-bad-debt Horymski, C. (2024, March 22). Experian study: Average U.S. consumer debt and statistics. Experian. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/research/consumer-debt-study/ 

How to make a financial plan. Fidelity. (2024, February 21). https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/wealth-management-insights/how-to-make-a-financial-plan-video 

Report on the economic well-being of U.S. households in 2023 – May 2024. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2024, May). https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2024-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2023-executive-summary.htm  

Tips for managing and reducing your debt. TIAA. (n.d.). https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/personal-finance-101/debt-consolidation 

Waltenberger, A. (n.d.). 5 must-have financial goals. TIAA. https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/personal-finance-101/5-must-have-financial-goals 

Opening photo by Freepik.

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Job of The Week: Assistant Director of Production

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting for an Assistant Director of Production for the Department of Athletics (job posting 1031692). If you are interested in leading high-end cinematography, working in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment, and taking part in producing a new docuseries this fall, this may be the position for you. 

The Department of Athletics is seeking an individual who will help shape the visual identity of MSU Athletics through multiple forms of impactful content across all digital platforms. The Assistant Director’s creativity, technical skills, and storytelling abilities are crucial to bringing to life the stories of Spartan student-athletes and traditions for a diverse audience. You will be the lead producer for one of MSU’s flagship team docuseries under the Spartans All-Access umbrella. Additionally, you will film and edit game recaps and highlights, collaborate with producers to shoot, edit, and produce digital content, and mentor and support student employees engaged in post-production roles. You will deliver high-quality content under tight, sometimes “day of” deadlines, ensure brand consistency, and uphold color standards for Spartan Vision’s post-production workflow across all produced content. 

This role requires knowledge that is normally acquired by completing a degree in TV production, telecommunications, digital media, film production, or similar, and a minimum of three years of experience in producing video content for an athletic department, team, agency, or media brand. Additionally, you should be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and PC environments and have experience with Sony camera systems. This position also requires excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work flexible hours on-site, including nights and weekends.

Learn more about the MSU Department of Athletics here. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter, resume, and portfolio of work, and should be submitted by April 29.

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Job of The Week: Generalist Counselor

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting for a generalist Counselor for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) (job posting 1031414). If you are interested in providing direct mental health services to MSUCOM medical students and are passionate about helping others, this may be the role for you.

The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s mission is to provide world-class osteopathic, student-centered graduate and medical education and research to foster community across patient-centered medical care. The Wellness and Counseling Office is committed to supporting MSUCOM medical students throughout their medical school journey by offering various mental health resources and wellness initiatives in a safe and confidential environment.

MSUCOM’s Wellness and Counseling Office is seeking a compassionate and skilled generalist counselor to provide direct mental health services to MSUCOM students. This part-time, on-call position offers a flexible 20-hour work week, 1039 hours in any twelve-month period. You will provide in-person and telehealth counseling support to students within the medical school throughout their education, clinical rotations, and across many different campuses. This role will provide support for a wide range of personal, academic, and professional struggles, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, burnout, family worries, trauma, grief, and loss. You will implement strategic planning to help students through these individual issues and to enhance their overall health and well-being. 

This position requires maintaining confidential documentation of student sessions and completing case notes in compliance with MSUCOM policies. In addition, you will actively participate in weekly staff meetings and student orientation events, white coat ceremonies, and graduation. You will engage in clinical supervision, professional development opportunities, and other various duties needed to support MSUCOM’s Wellness and Counseling Office’s goals and student support. 

Desired qualifications include completing one or two years of graduate study beyond a bachelor’s degree, such as a Master’s in Social Work or a Licensed Professional Counselor, and one to three years of related experience in a counseling/mental health support setting. It is also recommended to have State certification as a Social Worker, Professional Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist (LMSW, LPC, LMFT). 

Learn more about the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Wellness and Counseling Office here. To learn more or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your current State of Michigan licensure and should be submitted by May 2.

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Your Guide to MSU Resources for Stress Reduction

Published on by Abigail Miller1 Comment

April is Stress Awareness Month! Daily stress can seriously impact both our mental and physical health. Taking control of our stress is key to living a balanced and healthy life. MSU offers a variety of resources designed to help you manage and reduce stress:  

Activities

  • Campus Meditation Map: Beal Scholar Anhad Viswananth created this incredible meditation map to highlight the best spots to meditate around campus. 
  • Staying Active: Watch your stress dissolve as you become more active this spring. Warmer weather is on its way, and it’s the perfect time to get outside and run, kayak, walk, or swim. Join a biking group in the Greater Lansing area or an MSU Recreation group fitness class to stay motivated. 
  • Finals Flex Midday Movement: Stop by the MSU Main Library to wind down from the school year and de-stress. Bring a mat or a towel, and get ready for breathing, stretching, and mobilizing exercises. 
  • Desk Decompress: Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 7 to May 1, join this 15-minute virtual class to relax and decompress while stretching and strengthening the wrist, shoulders, and spine. Register here for Desk Decompress for a midweek pick-me-up!
  • Walking at MSU: There are many things to see and do on MSU’s 2,100-acre campus. Follow these various MSU campus walking tours to make the most of our beautiful campus and gardens. 
    • On April 5, join the Red Cedar River Environmental Walking Tour and learn about the environmental history of the river at the heart of MSU’s campus. This 1.2-mile round-trip walk will start at the MSU Main Library and describe some interesting historical and environmental features of the river.
    • On April 10, join the Beal Botanical Garden for a Sensing Spring tour to learn about the science of nature exposure benefiting physical and mental wellbeing and how plant communities support each other, plus some ways we can be supportive in return.
    • On April 23, join Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum for lunchtime guided walking tours on the fourth Wednesday of each month, April through October.
    • On April 25, join IPF and Landscape Services for Arbor Day and help install native plant material along the riverbank, creating a new pollinator garden along the banks of the Red Cedar River.
  • Rest with Music: Music can heal, calm, and regenerate our mind, body, and spirit. Hosted by Health Promotion and Engagement, Abrams Planetarium is holding Rest with Music – live musical performances featuring a variety of musical styles and genres. Visit the website for dates and times available for you.

Learning Resources

  • Breaking Free from Stress Course: This course will help you become aware of how your own thought world operates to bring you your personal reality of your work and personal life.  Learning the basic principles presented in this course will help you see how to be less reactive to other people and events and how to live your life from a deeper perspective of common sense and wisdom. Eligible employees may use their Educational Assistance funds for this course.
  • Spartan Resilience Education Programs: University Health and Wellbeing provide opportunities for any Spartan, anywhere, to develop or strengthen the skills needed to effectively respond to their unique collection of challenges. Through a variety of media and teaching formats, they seek to ensure that resilience education is accessible, inclusive, and ever-present as part of the “Spartan Experience.”
  • How to Disconnect from Work: Taking time away from work, in the forms of breaks, vacation time, or strengthening boundaries around employees’ workdays, is important. View these resources to learn more about balancing your time and work schedule. 
  • Stress Reduction: MSU Health4U has plenty of resources to help you reduce your stress levels. Learn more in their Stress Reduction series of articles. 
  • Employee Assistance Program: The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential short-term counseling and referral service provided at no cost to MSU faculty, staff, graduate assistants, retirees, and their insurance-eligible dependents who are located within the state of Michigan. Classes and resources to help reduce stress are updated on the EAP website often.
  • Avoiding Burnout: This article will help you learn how to avoid burnout and what to do if you’re experiencing it.

Stress can look different for each individual, so take care of yourself using these resources and beyond. Have another resource you’d like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

Opening photo of the Beal Botanical Gardens by MSU University Communications.

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Job of The Week: Pharmacy Technician I

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting for a Pharmacy Technician I for MSU Health Care Clinical Services (job posting 983065). If you are interested in assisting pharmacists in various tasks, this may be the position for you.

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

In this position, you will be primarily responsible for assisting pharmacists in patient pharmaceutical care through billing, receiving, and preparing prescriptions for pharmacists to review. Additionally, you will provide patient assistance at the point of sale and perform other technical functions to support operations in the pharmacy. This job also requires significant physical effort and involves standing, lifting boxes, bending, and reaching for items. 

The education, experience, and skills required for this role include knowledge typically acquired from specialized training in a pharmacy technician program and six months to one year of similar work experience in a pharmacy setting, including computer and math skills. This role also requires a current State of Michigan Pharmacy Technician license and certification as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. 

Desired qualifications include a work history in a retail pharmacy setting, excellent customer service skills, great written and verbal communication skills, and a vaccine administration certificate. 

Learn more about MSU Health Care here.  To learn more about this position or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume and cover letter and should be submitted by April 8.

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April Events Round-Up

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

Campus Events

April 4 – RCPD Annual Awards and Appreciation Reception:  Each year, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities hosts an annual awards and appreciation reception to honor the outstanding achievements of scholarship recipients, exceptional faculty and staff, and generous donors supporting the RCPD mission.

April 5 – Red Cedar River Environmental Walking Tour: Take a tour on the banks of the Red Cedar and learn about the environmental history of the river at the heart of MSU’s campus. This 1.2 mile round-trip walk will start at the MSU Main Library and loop from the Kalamazoo Street Bridge to Farm Lane and back, with stops to describe some interesting historical and environmental features of the river

April 5 – Family Day: CREATE: The First Saturday of the month means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum, and this month, you and your family have the opportunity to celebrate young artists with hands-on and interactive fun for all. 

April 8 – 13 – Chicago: Chicago is a Broadway classic that has it all: a story of fame and fortune with unforgettable music and dance and a battle for the spotlight. With over 27 years on Broadway, 10,000+ performances, 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, and a Grammy, this show, appearing at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, is not one to miss! 

April 12 – Museum Tour: Deep-Rooted with Beal Botanical Garden: Join Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Director of the Beal Botanical Gardens Maeve Bassett to learn about the social, historical, and political narratives within plants in the garden and artwork in the MSU Broad Art Collection. 

April 12-13 – The MSU Student Horticulture Association Annual Spring Show and Plant Sale: The Spring Show is the MSU Student Horticulture Association’s biggest event of the year! It’s a part indoor garden show and part plant sale, with a different theme every year. It’s perfect for plant lovers, those who are looking for cool garden ideas, or those who would like a small vacation from the cool grayness that is Michigan in early spring.

April 16 – Finals Flex Midday Movement: Stop by the MSU Main Library to wind down from the school year and de-stress. Bring a mat or a towel, and get ready for breathing, stretching, and mobilizing exercises. 

April 18 – Night at the Museum: Discover the journey of your food through hands-on art and science activities at the MSU Broad Art Museum! This event is partnered with themes presented in the Farmland exhibition and explores the questions of food knowledge, security, and justice against the background of MSU’s 170-year history in agricultural tradition. 

April 21 – Rest With Music: Visit the Abrams Planetarium for our once-a-month Rest with Music session. Music is powerful and can heal the mind, calm the body, and regenerate our mind, body, and spirit. Stop by for 40 minutes of healing, relaxation, and peacefulness for a small break from your busy work week.

April 24 – Take Your Child to Work Day: MSU employees are encouraged to bring their child or a special child in their life to work on Thursday, April 24th! Take Your Child to Work Day is open to all MSU faculty, staff, students, and community and highlights the university’s employee support. MSU units and departments will have events aimed towards kids aged eight to sixteen, but all ages are welcome. Be sure to sign up and confirm your participation here. 

April 25 – Arbor Day: Infrastructure Planning & Facilities and Landscape Services welcomes you as our guest to support the promise of keeping MSU green for future Spartan generations. Join the MSU Landscapers installing native plant material along the riverbank, creating a new pollinator garden on April 25th, 2025, at Noon along the banks of the Red Cedar River between Kellogg Ramp and Jenison Field House in lot 67 for the annual Arbor Day planting. 

Learning Opportunities

Recurring Tuesdays – Grief and Loss Support Sessions: If you are a part of the Spartan community and have experienced the loss of a loved one, pet, friend, co-worker, neighbor, or other, we invite you to join us for an online MSU grief and loss support session. Via Zoom, learn some skills and strategies to help you move through your grief process with more ease. 

April 1, 8, 15, and 22 – Navigating Hard Times with Empathy and Self-Compassion: This Zoom session is here to help give you tips and tricks to show up for your coworkers with love and compassion in tough times. Learn what high-quality self-care can look like and how self-compassion can help our healing process. 

April 9 – 12 – 18th Annual Muslim Studies Program Conference:  Join the MSU Broad Art Museum, the MSU Muslim Studies Program, and the Association for Modern + Contemporary Art of the Arab World, Iran, and Turkey (AMCA) to learn more about solidarity and Arab American art histories at this three-day online webinar. 

April 10 and 24 – Deepening Your Essential Skills:  If you have completed a course by Spartan Resilience Education, you are eligible to continue learning at this webinar. Here, you can ask questions, raise topics, and build community with your peers. 

April 11 – Teaching and Learning with ADHD: Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the College of Natural Science, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation, this seminar teaches strategies for addressing the unique challenges of ADHD in academia.

April 16 and 17 – 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. 

April 22 – Building Cohesive Teams: Learn methods crucial to building collaboration within a team and skills for influencing team performance at HR’s Building Cohesive Teams course. Discover strategies to establish positive day-to-day collaboration and team awareness and cultivate trustworthiness in the workplace. 

April 24 – Strategic Planning: Learn how to move from ideas to actions in the workplace and gain a foundational base for implementing strategic planning in a unit in this workshop.  

April 29 – Introduction to Gender, Names, and Pronouns:  Check out this course to learn more about how to practice gender inclusivity with students and staff at MSU. 

Greater Lansing Area Events

Throughout April – MSU Science Festival: Let your curiosity take flight at the 13th annual MSU Science Festival! Visit the official website to view the 200 plus events that will be held!

April 1, 2, 5, and 6 – Puppy Yoga: Join Canines for Change for an adorable Puppy Yoga session the first week of April! Support the mission to train service and facility dogs, connect with adorable puppies and move your body.

April 5 and 19 –  Contra and Square Dance: All dances are taught, and no partner is needed at the Contra and Square Dance class. Wear loose clothes and comfortable shoes, and be prepared to have a good time! Stop by for a quick and fun dance lesson!

Family-Friendly Events

April 11 – Sensory-Friendly Night at Harris Nature Center: Harris Nature Center invites families and those with sensory processing needs to a special after-hours evening event. Friendly staff will have the building open and exhibits altered to reduce sounds and lighting. The center will also provide a quiet room and have sensory kits on hand. 

April 19 – Easter Egg Hunt on the Capitol Lawn and Bunny Hop on the Square: Join Downtown Lansing for the 61st Annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Capitol Lawn and the Bunny Hop on the Square. From events like Egg Scramble to collecting candy and dancing, there is something for the whole family. Street parking is free in Downtown Lansing on Saturdays, and local businesses will be open and have a variety of deals and promotions during the event. 

April 19 – Butterfly Day: Come visit the Indoor 4-H Children’s Garden to celebrate another beautiful season of “Butterflies in the Garden.” Here, you will discover the incredible butterfly life-cycle, create butterfly gardens to take home, and more. 

April 27 – Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Experience: Visit Grewal Hall for a Swiftie party like no other! Immerse yourself in the world of Taylor Swift with live music, photo opportunities, and more for all ages. 

Farmers Markets

Recurring Saturdays – Holt Farmers Market: Visit the Delhi Township Fire Department for one of Michigan’s premiere indoor farmers markets. The Holt Farmers market serves as a space to support local farmers and food growers, local artisans, and provide locals the opportunity to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods. 

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

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Job of The Week: Assistant Director of Development for the Wharton Center

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This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as an Assistant Director of Development/Development Officer I at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts (job posting 1009295). If you have a passion for the arts, success in fundraising, and are interested in making philanthropic connections, this may be the role for you. 

The Wharton Center for Performing Arts, celebrating its 42nd season, was founded with the intent to enrich the lives of Michigan residents through art, music, and entertainment. The Wharton Center engages the community through dynamic programming, outreach, and education, and has a mission of making life more meaningful through experiencing performing arts. 

In this position, you will focus on significant contact with prospects whose philanthropic capacity is between $10,000 and $100,000 and more. Additionally, you will manage a portfolio of 80 major donor prospects and average 12 to 15 strategic contacts per month. Your position will help result in greater engagement and movement toward major gift solicitation at an expected rate of 2 to 3 solicitations per month. You will work in coordination with University Advancement and tend to the needs of the Wharton Center verbally and in writing to better facilitate giving, enhance cross-collaboration amongst departments at Wharton Center and within Michigan State University, and maintain accurate donor/prospect records in the Ascend system. As Assistant Director, you will act as a public goodwill ambassador for MSU and the Wharton Center, prepare annual fundraising goals, and attend workshops and seminars to enhance professional development. Find a complete list of job duties on the MSU Careers website.

The education, experience, and skills required for this role include a degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or Business, and one to three years of related work experience in professional fundraising, higher education fundraising, marketing, or similar. 

Desired qualifications include a strong ability to work collaboratively and individually, a demonstrated track record of financial development, excellent written and verbal skills, and strong interpersonal skills. You should also be available to manage some travel and work some nights and weekends as performance and donor schedules change throughout the events season. 

Learn more about the Wharton Center for Performing Arts here. To learn more about this position or apply, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume and cover letter and should be submitted by April 21.

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Don’t Wait to Create a Retirement Savings Plan

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We are committed to helping our employees prepare for a successful retirement by offering several retirement savings plan options, along with tools and resources to help you reach your goals.

Most benefit-eligible employees are enrolled in the 403(b) Base Retirement Program, which consists of a 5% employee contribution of your eligible compensation and a generous university matching contribution of 10%. That’s an immediate two-for-one match of your investment for a total contribution of 15%. While this provides a great foundation, you may want to consider additional savings options. MSU also offers two additional savings accounts: the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. For more information about these two accounts, read Your Top Questions about MSU’s Optional Retirement Plan Options.

How to Make a Retirement Savings Plan

It’s normal to have many questions when you start to plan for your retirement:

  • How early should I start planning?
  • How much do I need to save to retire comfortably?
  • Which plan(s) should I contribute to?
  • What can I do to maximize my savings?
  • Are my retirement goals attainable?

The answers will depend on your financial situation and retirement goals. We strongly encourage all MSU employees to make an appointment with their retirement vendor – Fidelity or TIAA – to discuss their options and develop a personalized savings plan. Fidelity and TIAA are financial professionals who can provide helpful strategies, tips, and actionable steps that can help you take charge of your finances.

Additionally, both Fidelity and TIAA have numerous resources – including articles, webinars, interactive tools, and more – to help you learn about saving for retirement and other financial goals.

Don’t Wait to Save: The Power of Compounding Interest

For younger MSU employees, creating a comprehensive retirement savings plan may not be a top priority. Between student loans, rent, childcare, and more, it can be difficult to set aside money for a day 30 to 40 years in the future. But the young have a huge advantage when it comes to saving money for retirement: more time. This additional time allows them to potentially benefit the most from compounding interest, which may lead to greater savings down the road.

Compounding interest basically means allowing an investment to earn money while continually reinvesting those earnings over time. The more time you have, the smaller your original investment may need to be. In the hypothetical example below, a 25-year-old starts saving $5,000 annually ($416 per month), and a 40-year-old starts saving twice as much but waits until age 40 ($833 per month).

Compounding Interest Graph

The 25-year-old ends up contributing less money over time – $200,000 versus $250,000 – but ends up with a higher balance: $798,735 versus $566,317. In other words, the 25-year-old contributes $50,000 less but ends up with $232,000 more than the 40-year-old who waited to save. As this example shows, younger investors may benefit from saving as much as possible as soon as possible.

If your retirement date is a bit closer, you can still take advantage of compounding interest. However, you may need to increase your monthly contributions to meet your retirement savings goals. Luckily, the IRS allows people who are aged 50 years or older to contribute an additional “catch-up” amount to their retirement plans each year.

As you determine your contribution amount, please note the IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year. To contribute a certain amount, such as $100 per paycheck, you can use the calculating tool to convert a dollar amount to a percentage.

Of course, remember that investment returns are not guaranteed and will fluctuate — in some years you may have gains, and in other years you may have losses. But over time, any investment with a net gain will benefit from compounding.

How to Change Your Contribution

While your contribution to the 403(b) Base account is fixed based on your income, you can adjust your contributions to the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program and/or the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan at any time. To do this, login to the EBS Portal with your NetID and password. Select My Benefits from the top navigation, then click on the Benefit/Retirement Enrollment and Changes tile. Select Enroll/Change my Retirement/Health Savings Account Options from the dropdown menu and click Next. On the Savings Plan screen, you’ll be able to edit your contributions to the 403(b) Supplemental and/or 457(b) Deferred Compensation accounts. Make sure you click through all the screens and hit Save to finalize the change to your contributions.

Questions? We encourage you to reach out to Fidelity (800-642-7131) or TIAA scheduling (800-732-8353) for your retirement planning questions. Visit the HR website for additional information on the retirement plans offered by MSU.

1 Please note, that the example above is a hypothetical illustration only and is not intended to represent the past or future performance of any investment. The example assumes contributions are made monthly at a 6% annual effective rate, compounded monthly, and no withdrawals. Actual performance will vary with market conditions. Investing involves risk. There is no assurance that the goals will be met or that the solution or strategy will be successful. This example was developed in partnership with TIAA.

2 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 details.