A monarch butterfly that is sitting on a flower. More flowers can be seen in the background.

May Events Round-up

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Are you looking for activities for you and your family in the upcoming month? There are events (in-person and virtual) on campus and in the Greater Lansing community. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the links to learn more.

Campus Events

May 5 – Museum Tour: Deep Rooted with Beal Botanical Gardens: What can art tell us about the relationship between plants and humans? Join Maeve Bassett, Applied Ethnobotanist and Education Program Director of the Beal Botanical Garden, for an immersive tour unearthing the historical, social, and political narratives growing within works of art from the MSU Broad Art Museum collection. Registration for this free tour is encouraged.

May 5 – Piano Monster: In this family-friendly event, four grand pianos share the stage, commanded by multiple pianists whose medley of classical selections highlights multi-artist combinations, including piano four-hands. This year’s program will feature the classic children’s fairytale, Peter and the Wolf, by Sergei Prokofiev, part of an unforgettable musical experience at the Fairchild Theatre. Purchase tickets for this event.. 

May 18 and 19 – MSU Annual Arts and Crafts Show: The Annual MSU Arts and Crafts Show is a seasonal tradition and beloved community event. The Winter and Spring Arts and Crafts Shows are fundraisers for the University Activities Board (UAB). 

Family-Friendly Events

May 4 – Family Day: WEAVE: First Saturday means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum! Make creative connections with our exhibitions through free hands-on and interactive family fun throughout the museum. Join us as we explore many ways you can create art through weaving. No glue, paint, or paper needed!

May 12 – Mother’s Day: Moms Get in Free at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary: Celebrate Mother’s Day with a visit to the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary! Moms get in FREE today!

The Storybook Walk title for May is “Birdsong,” by Julie Flett. Pages from the book will be located along the accessible, ¾-mile Paved Path to read while you walk.

May 17 – Open House with the Ohio State University BUGMobile: The MSU Bug House and the OSU BUGMobile will hold a joint outreach event at the MSU Bug House as part of the Excellence in Insect Science Symposium from 3-5 PM. All are welcome to this free event!

May 18 – Potter Park Zoo Diversity Day: Discover the richness of our community at Diversity Day! Included with general admission, this special event celebrates the diversity of our community. Join us at the zoo for a unique experience featuring local food establishments and service organizations showcasing the best of what they have to offer. Explore the zoo grounds after grabbing a delicious dish from a local food truck vendor in the parking lot. Diversity Day is not just an event; it’s an opportunity to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the unique flavors and services that make our community thrive!

May 18 and 19 – East Lansing Art Festival: Celebrate the 61st year of the East Lansing Art Festival in Downtown East Lansing. Over 180 jury-selected artists from across the state and country be on display. In addition, there will be a full line-up of performers on both days of the festival and an artist demonstration area that will be full of interactive and learning experiences from many different types of artists.

May 24-26 – Cristo Rey Fiesta: Come celebrate Hispanic culture at the annual Cristo Rey Fiesta on Memorial Day weekend and boasting authentic Mexican food, vendors, bands and dance troupes!

May 28 and 29- Bluey’s Big Play: Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series. Tickets are available on the Wharton Center website. 

Learning Opportunities

May 7 and 8 – Building Awareness and Understanding Using the Intercultural COnflict Style Inventory (ICS): The ability to recognize and effectively respond to cultural differences in communication and conflict styles is critically important. Join a group of your peers in attending this workshop to increase cultural self-understanding of communication and conflict resolution approach, cultural other-understanding of diverse approaches used to communicate ideas and resolve conflict to more accurately interpret the statements and actions of the other party. Registration through the EBS Portal is required for this course.

May 15 – Family Employee Resource Group: Alternative Schooling Options- Homeschooling, Online Schooling, and Charter Schools: Are you considering alternative schooling options for your child outside of the K-12 public school system? Join the WorkLife Office as we present Alternative Schooling Options to help provide resources and information in this area. Registration is required for this webinar.

May 21 – Strengths-Based Leadership: Your top strengths — the things you naturally do best — can help you manage more effectively, meet your goals, and improve your team’s success. Registration is required for this online course. 

May 30 – Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy: The Women’s Networking Association welcomes you to join for a presentation by April Clobes, President and CEO of MSUFCU on “Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy.” Register for the in-person event here. 

Health & Wellness

May 6 – The Healing Power of Guided Imagery: Guided Imagery has been shown to alleviate pain, reduce depression, and boost the immune system. Join Jessie Byelich, EAP Counselor, at Abrams Planetarium to learn more. Registration for this free course is required. 

May 15 – Wellness Wednesday: Eating Invasives: Turn an ecological problem into a culinary solution with the Beal Botanical Garden and MSU Museum! This is a free program, but please register in advance for planning purposes.

Starts May 12 – Eastern Ingham Farmers Market: The Market will happen every Sunday from 10-2 at McCormick Park in Williamston, Michigan. The Market will have a variety of vendors including produce, locally raised meats, baked goods, and many items made by local artisans.

Job of the Week: Communications Manager for IPF

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This week’s featured job is a Communications Manager for Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF)  (job posting 940897). IPF builds, maintains, and beautifies MSU’s physical campus environment in support of the university’s education, research, and outreach missions. 

In this position, you will collaborate with team members to plan internal and external strategic communication strategies and tactics related to key initiatives and priorities. You will be responsible for designing, creating, editing, and adapting content while coordinating multimedia components for integrated communication efforts. These could include photography, videography, graphic design, and script writing. You will engage in strategic storytelling through feature writing and article development and manage social media content. 

This is a pool posting for two positions that will require working on campus regularly 2 -3 days per week minimum. It is not fully remote.

Required qualifications for this position include completing a four-year college degree program in journalism, communications, or public relations and one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience. 

IPF desires a candidate with experience using Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premier), website content management systems, and SharePoint. You must have the ability to multi-task with frequent interruptions and re-prioritize work when needed.

To learn more, visit the Infrastructure Planning and Facilities website. To apply for the position, please submit a cover letter, resume, and examples of written and visual communications work to the MSU Careers website by May 7.

Earth Day at MSU

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Earth Day is April 22– there are plenty of ways to celebrate our planet’s special day. While green initiatives such as recycling are a part of our daily routines, take Earth Day as an opportunity to promote living an earth-conscious lifestyle year-round. Whether you work from home or you are heading into the office, use 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 dropping off materials. These materials can be anything and everything from books, cardboard, glass, plastics, and more! Find their hours along with what and how to drop things off at the MSU Recycling Center website. 

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.

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 the landfill, keeping MSU green. Shop from a variety of items, including books, electronics, furniture, office equipment, vehicles, and more.

Join MSU Arbor Day: Can’t make it to campus Earth Day festivities? Join Beal Botanical Garden and IPF Landscape Services as they celebrate Arbor Day and the 150th Anniversary of the Campus Arboretum! Adopt a tree to take home and plant, learn about MSU sustainability resources, and help us plant 150 trees and shrubs along the Red Cedar River. Each planting volunteer will receive a special gift! Meet at The Rock from 11:00-2:00 PM on April 26.

Pack Up, Pitch In: The Student Life and Engagement Sustainability Office is looking for volunteers to help with collecting and packing non-perishable foods from the residence halls during finals week (April 22-26). These efforts will directly benefit the MSU Food Bank, MSU Safe Place, and the sustainability of the MSU community. 

Experience Wellbeing in the Garden: Rest and relax in the Beal Botanical Garden while enjoying nature during the week of April 22. Activities such as guided journaling and plant explorations will be available for all attendees. 

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 with their Department Fleet Services.

Limit Car Use: While there is no getting around long commutes, take any opportunity to walk, and 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!

While Earth Day is just one day out of the year, it can serve as the perfect opportunity to jumpstart your sustainability efforts and connection with our planet. Making your pledge to the planet will benefit you and our Earth greatly. Go Green!

Job of the Week: Intercollegiate Athletics Assistant Director of Production

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This week’s featured job is an Assistant Director of Production for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (job posting 941448). The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics works with MSU’s 23 intercollegiate teams, as well as club and intramural sports.

In this position, you will lead cinematography and serve as one of the primary feature producers for the EMMY award-winning docu-series ‘Spartans All-Access.’ In addition, you will collaborate with Spartan Vision producers to create engaging content for the Michigan State Athletic Department’s social media accounts and marketing initiatives. This includes producing, filming, and editing features for Spartans All-Access online. Other responsibilities include editing recaps, highlights, and player features, as well as defining color standards for Spartan Vision’s post-production workflow. 

You will assist producers in creating content for Michigan State Athletics’ various entities and provide insight to advance the department with emerging trends in social, digital media, and in-venue entertainment. In this role, you will fill network, local, and internal footage requests while meeting quick turnarounds to post high-quality videos the same day as athletic events. Consistency in brand guidelines and messaging related to all content produced is required. There will also be team/production-related travel involved.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a Bachelor’s degree in Television Production or Telecommunications. Three to five years of related work experience in studio and remote television production, editing, and the use of television equipment is required. Experience with long-format documentary production, 360/VR, and a Part 107 license is desired, but not required to apply. 

To learn more, visit the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics website. To apply for the position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and portfolio to the MSU Careers website.

Campus Resources to Help Reduce Stress

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April is Stress Awareness Month! Daily stress has the ability to take an enormous toll on our mental/physical health. Managing our stress levels is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and well-being. MSU has a multitude of different resources to help reduce your stress:

Activities

  • Campus Meditation Map: Beal Scholar, Anhad Viswananth, created this incredible meditation map to highlight the best spots to meditate around campus. 
  • Live Music and Connection: University Health and Wellbeing invites you to join them on April 25, 26, and 28 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to take a break, connect with the community, and enjoy time in the beautiful spaces across MSU. Bring your lunch, relax with colleagues, and enjoy live music from local artists.
  • 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. 
  • 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. 

Learning Resources

  • Taking Time Away 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. 
  • The Importance of Decluttering: Check out this article from the WorkLife Office to learn more about how mess causes stress and the importance of decluttering your space and mind. 
  • 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 be sure to 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!

Job of the Week: Web Content Manager

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This week’s featured job is a Web Content Manager for the Eli Broad College of Business (job posting 939708). The Eli Broad College of Business works to create and disseminate knowledge through collaboration and develop global transformational leaders who positively impact organizations and society. 

In this position, you will oversee projects and platforms that allow the college to communicate via its website and related digital mediums. This position plays a key role in creating and maintaining the college’s digital strategy, balancing the maintenance of existing digital communication platforms while improving the user experience and anticipating future needs. You will also maintain vendor relationships, provide project management, assist in creating appropriate processes and workflows, ensure compliance with university accessibility and branding standards, provide documentation and training needs, and ensure support and customer service are available to platform users. 

You will collaborate with college leadership, marketing and communications staff, and key stakeholders to align actions with MSU and Broad College’s vision and mission. You will regularly review the college’s digital presence and recommend viable best practices to ensure a positive user experience. You will assist with planning and anticipating budget requirements for web platforms and services. You will also attend related MSU meetings such as Web Dev CAFÉ, University Communicators Network (UCN), Digital Accessibility Liaisons, etc. 

You will maintain and enhance digital platforms including WordPress, by identifying needs and working with vendors to meet those needs. You will maintain a relationship with Squiz and ensure proper configuration and use of Funnelback search. You will ensure compliance with MSU branding standards via collaboration with University Communications. You will ensure appropriate infrastructure and metrics are in place for monitoring effectiveness of digital efforts including use of Google Analytics. 

You will manage the website creation process, responding to needs for new websites and web-based resources while enforcing website and content lifecycles, archiving content and websites that are no longer needed. You will manage email lists for newsletters and send them via iModules (Broad Weekly, alumni newsletter, etc). You will also manage product task backlogs and prioritize processing them. 

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s in Computer Science or a related field and three to five years of related work experience. Desired qualifications also include demonstrated experience with content management systems such as WordPress, Imodules, Mailchimp, or other email CRM systems, Google Ad Words and Analytics. Excellent copyediting and proofreading skills with knowledge of AP style is desired. 

To learn more, visit the Eli Broad College of Business website. To apply for the position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to the MSU Careers website by April 23, 2024. 

woman reviewing paperwork with a calculator.

5 Financial Goals to Consider with Help from Fidelity and TIAA

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As a benefits-eligible employee, you may be aware of 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 may be – 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 reach out to your vendor using the following contact information.

Everyone can benefit from having a clear financial plan. Yet, many people need clarity on their goals or the strategies necessary to make them happen. If you’re not sure where to start, the following financial goals with resources from TIAA and Fidelity are recommended for all individuals at any stage of life:

  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 money goals, and understanding how to balance debt, saving, and investing, it’s no wonder people often choose to 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 (2022, 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 that can keep you out of debt.
    More Information:
  3. Pay Down Debt: The average American owes $104,215 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 serious 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 reach out to 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 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 to participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan. Please see the 403(b) Base Retirement Program Eligibility Chart for more detail. 

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. (2023, October 9). 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 2022 – May 2023. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2023, May 22). https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2023-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2022-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

Job of the Week: Student Life and Engagement Chief Financial Officer

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This week’s featured job is a Chief Financial Officer for the Division of Student Life and Engagement (job posting 938618). Comprised of the office of the senior vice president and six departments, Student Life and Engagement (SLE) touches nearly every aspect of the Michigan State University campus by providing support and services to MSU students, the campus community, and guests.

The SLE Chief Financial Officer will provide oversight for budgeting, general accounting, and financial reporting for the Division of Student Life and Engagement while assuring financial internal controls are in place to ensure adherence with GAAP and compliance with all applicable federal, state, and university policies and procedures. This will include oversight of the two BFS units responsible for operational and financial analysis. You will participate in strategic and organizational planning, including formulation of goals and objectives for the division, as well as making recommendations for major business decisions. In this role, you will establish, monitor, and enforce internal controls for multiple business operations with a $272 million dollar budget.

You will be responsible for the planning and maintenance of all financial reserves and will plan, review, direct, and advise division financial liquidity and cash flow requirements. You will also participate in the annual room and board rate setting and approval with MSU Administration and the Board of Trustees. 

In this position, you will be responsible for developing, overseeing, and maintaining appropriate internal controls and conducting process reviews as needed as well as assisting with all staff development. You will interact with management throughout SLE and MSU and explain policies/answer questions pertaining to divisional finances. You will also interact with the Board of Trustees and may be asked to represent SLE at Board meetings. You will oversee third level management in a large, centralized unit and aid units throughout SLE as it relates to financial analysis. 

The ideal candidate will have a master’s degree in business, accounting, or a related field, along with three to five years of related experience in education, government, or industry experience in planning, finance, budgeting processes, and budget development/analysis of audit/financial compliance standards. Desired qualifications also include certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation, or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designation. 

To learn more, visit the Division of Student Life and Engagement website. To apply for the position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to the MSU Careers website by May 2, 2024. 

5 Ways to Engage with Your Performance Evaluation Beyond an Annual Review

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Part of MSU’s appeal as a residential, land-grant institution is our vast array of programs, specializations, and priorities — not just for students, but for staff and faculty. This diversity makes us great, and it also requires a need for case-by-case definitions of success and achievement from unit to unit, and from person to person. 

One way to ensure you, your supervisor, and the university are recognizing and recording your efforts is to tell your story through the Performance Excellence (PE) process. When many of us in non-supervisory, support staff roles discuss PE at MSU, we’re thinking of a supervisor-led annual review. In reality, PE encompasses an ongoing cycle of: 

  1. Performance Planning — Goal Setting and Development Planning 
  2. Continuous Feedback, Coaching, and Development 
  3. Annual Review — Collaborative Meeting with Employee and Supervisor Contributions 

Below are suggestions for ways to engage as an employee in the PE process and tell your story with confidence. 

1) Set SMART, HARD Goals and Find Ways to Measure Them 

On one hand, we know each employee’s experience and accomplishments extend well beyond quantitative data and one review each year. On the other hand, we also know that specific measurements — especially those backed by accurate, numerical data — are a powerful and widely accepted way to determine success. 

One way to ensure the full picture of your story is told during the PE process is to take the lead when it comes to your own goal setting and measurement. Setting SMART, HARD goals is a great place to start. Consider the following: 

  • Your personal goals 
  • The goals of your department/unit goals 
  • Organization-wide goals/university strategic plan 

Goals are not something that should be determined solely by a supervisor and then assigned and evaluated once a year during your review discussion or performance planning session. Generating and adapting goals throughout the year is a collaborative process and one way you can contribute toward the narrative of your achievements. 

Read related article: When SMART Meets HARD: Setting Goals that Matter 

2) Track and Document Your Accomplishments 

Setting and measuring goals is a great place to start, but tracking and documenting your progress toward these goals is key. Block off some time on your calendar to regularly check results, generate data and document your progress in a way that makes the most sense for you and your role. You know your work, efforts, and accomplishments better than anyone else, which makes you the ideal person to collect and report this information. 

Read related article: What’s Your Plan? Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You 

3) Schedule Regular Check-ins 

In this environment of rapid change, it’s more important than ever to regularly check in with your supervisor to discuss progress, review and reevaluate goals, and receive feedback. Regular, continuous coaching allows an opportunity for you to reconnect to your unit’s and the university’s mission and ensure your goals continue to be aligned with this larger vision and objectives. 

As a university, we are working to shift the perception of PE from one yearly review to a wider focus on ongoing coaching, feedback, and goal setting. There’s no need to wait for your supervisor to schedule a meeting for you to touch base on these topics. You have the option of reaching out to your supervisor and setting up check-ins on a schedule that works for both of you. Even a brief 15-minute check-in can go a long way toward staying on track with goals and sharing the story of your work. 

TIPS 

  • Go to these meetings prepared, with the documented progress and accomplishments mentioned above. 
  • Bring questions to help guide the conversation and make the time as useful as possible for both you and your supervisor. 

4) Contribute Toward Your Review 

Did you know that, as support staff, you have the opportunity to contribute toward all your PE discussions and submit documentation to include along with your official review forms? 

Review documentation that is imaged and kept on file with central HR includes your reviews (annual, probationary, and interim) and performance improvement plans. You have the option to include a self-review and/or other statements along with your documents on file. On an ongoing basis, this may be a summary that features the data you’ve been tracking throughout the year to share specific achievements and outcomes. 

TIPS 

  • Keep it brief. Unless documenting extraordinary circumstances, a 1–2-page document will be impactful and share the story of your performance. Due to system storage limitations, submitting a large quantity of documents with your review could possibly lead to some documents being excluded from imaging. 
  • Reference any additional documents on the official PE forms. Include a statement within the “Employee’s comments” section of the Annual Review to “See attached ______” (e.g., self-review, list of achievements) and indicate the number of additional documents. This helps central HR know an employee wishes for those documents to be imaged alongside their review. 

5) Utilize Your Resources 

HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department offers online PE resources and documents geared toward both employees  and supervisors that can help guide and support you in all components of the PE process. OPD is in the process of reworking this online content for greater accessibility, inclusivity, and usefulness for all support staff, and we look forward to sharing these changes with you later this year. 

Additional, recommended resources are listed below. Your MAU’s HR representative, central HR and OPD, and your union representatives are all available to work with you and help you share your story should you need specific guidance or assistance at any point during the PE cycle. 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES 

Deals and Discounts for Mother’s Day

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This Mother’s Day (May 12), show the mom in your life that you appreciate them with a thoughtful gift – whether that’s your mom, mother to your kiddos, stepmom, mother-in-law, or any maternal figure in your life. MSU benefits-eligible employees have access to many discounts and savings through MSU Benefits Plus.

To access all the discounts, visit MSU Benefits Plus and sign in or sign-up for a free account using your MSU email address.

Check out some of these deals that you can find through MSU Benefits Plus:

Flowers

  • 1-800 Flowers: Use code CSTREAM to enjoy 20% off from 1-800 Flowers, including Fruit Bouquets!
  • ReVased: Use code CORESTREAM20 to take 20% off your ReVased flower bouquet or plant purchase.
  • FTD: Save 25% on flowers and gifts from FTD.

Gifts

  • Bonheur Jewelry: Use code CS30% to receive 30% off sustainable jewelry.
  • Tech Perks: Save up to 75% on Bluetooth speakers, headphones, phone cases, and more by using code CORESTREAM.
  • Apple: Get preferred employee pricing on iPhones, iMacs, and more!
  • Tickets at Work: Save up to 60% on hotels, travel, and events through Tickets at Work!
  • Baloo: Use code CORESTREAM to receive 20% off weighted blankets, bedding, and more!

Food

Find these discounts and many more by visiting the MSU Benefits Plus website. For questions, please contact the MSU Benefits Plus customer care team at 888-758-7575.