Tag: Benefits

Job of The Week: Museum Administrative Coordinator

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This week’s featured job is a Museum Administrative Coordinator for the MSU Broad Art Museum (job posting 1111791). If you are interested in providing executive and administrative support for the director and administration, this may be the role for you.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University is a free, public, museum that connects people with art through experiences that inspire curiosity. With a focus on contemporary art in conversation with the historical, the museum features a collection of over 10,000 works and dynamic public programming.

In this position, you will serve as the executive secretary to the director, coordinate travel for artists and guests of the Broad Art Museum, and support daily operations of the museum business office. You will interact daily with a variety of stakeholders, advance the mission, vision, and values of the museum, and serve as an advocate for the museum and MSU at onsite and offsite events. The Museum Administrative Coordinator coordinates the director’s domestic and international travel, serves as department backup for purchasing, schedules meetings, and manages complex calendars. Find a complete list of responsibilities in the job posting.

This position requires knowledge equivalent to a high school education and five to eight years of experience working in maintaining account ledgers, composing correspondence, editing, taking dictation, and more. You should have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and apply critical thinking, along with experience working in higher education, arts, or non-profit organizations, and familiarity with MSU systems. Find a complete list of required and desired qualifications in the job posting.

Learn more about the MSU Broad Art Museum. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter, resume, and three professional references and should be submitted by February 24

Heart Health Made Easier: Everyday Actions and MSU Benefits to Keep You Healthy

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According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease, which refers to several conditions including coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart valve problems, results in one death every 34 seconds (CDC, 2026).

Cardiovascular disease is no longer something people only have to worry about as they get older. The CDC states, “In 2023, about 1 out of every 6 deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) was among adults younger than 65 years old” (CDC, 2026).

The good news is cardiovascular disease is largely preventable by living a healthy lifestyle. The following tips and MSU benefit resources will help keep you and your family healthy:

  • Know Your Numbers: Take charge of your health by knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels and take steps to improve them if needed.
    • Schedule your annual wellness check-up. Many miss their annual check-up because they forget or don’t prioritize it. Schedule your yearly visit so your doctor can check these numbers and other important health metrics. If you’re enrolled in an MSU health plan, you can learn more about your plan and find links to find a provider on the HR website.
    • Use Livongo by Teledoc Health for Diabetes Management. Livongo is a diabetes management program that provides unlimited test strips, connected meter, optional coaching, online records, and more – all FREE for MSU employees and their eligible dependents who are enrolled in an MSU health plan. Learn more about Livongo and how to sign up.
  • Support Your Mental Health: According to the American Heart Association, “Increasing evidence shows that biological and chemical factors that trigger mental health issues may also influence heart disease” (AHA, 2023). These chemical changes can predispose people to other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease. University Health and Wellbeing supports our university community with health and well-being equitably woven throughout all aspects of Spartan life. They offer a variety of resources for employees, including:
    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Available through University Health and Wellbeing, MSU employees or retirees and their benefits-eligible dependents have access to the EAP, which provides confidential counseling at no cost. To best fit your schedule, EAP offers both virtual and in-person appointments. 
    • Spartan Resilience Educational Webinars: From understanding shame and building shame resilience to setting healthy boundaries and navigating hard times, these webinars are here to help!
    • Move More @ Work: An ongoing campaign facilitated by University Health and Wellbeing’s Health Promotion and Engagement office. Browse offerings, learn more about on-campus opportunities, and get moving more at work!
    • Worklife Wellbeing: Check out the Worklife Wellbeing seminar options to see what you might want to learn more about.
    • Mindful State: An emerging university-wide, collaborative initiative to help Spartans learn the benefits of mindfulness and access resources to develop or strengthen their mindfulness practices.
  • Evaluate Your Diet: Eating certain foods may decrease your chances of developing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Avoiding these conditions may decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
    • Eat a Variety of Plants: Try to fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables (American Heart Association, 2025). The AHA also recommends whole grains, beans and legumes, nuts, fish, lean meat, dairy foods, plant-based milk alternatives, healthy fats, and salt-free seasonings.
  • Quit Smoking. Smoking harms almost every part of the body, including your heart (AHA). It’s never too late to quit and there are both short- and long-term benefits to giving up smoking.

Sources:

American Heart Association (2023, Nov 9). Mental Health and Heart Health. Retrieved February 2, 2026, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/mental-health-and-wellbeing/mental-health-and-heart-health

American Heart Association (2025, September 5). Your guide to Healthy Eating Habits that Stick. Retrieved February 2, 2026, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/your-guide-to-healthy-eating-habits-that-stick

American Heart Association (2024, January 19). American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids. Retrieved February 2, 2026, from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

American Heart Association. (n.d.). How can I quit smoking? Retrieved February 2, 2026, from https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/answers-by-heart/how-can-i-quit-smoking.pdf

CDC. “About Sodium and Health.” (2025, Feb. 3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessed 2 Feb. 2026, www.cdc.gov/salt/about/index.html

CDC. “Heart Disease Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessed 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html

FSA Deadline Reminder for 2025 Funds  

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Do you still have funds left over from your 2025 flexible spending account (FSA)? If you signed up for a health care FSA, dependent care FSA, or both in 2025 and still have funds remaining in your account, you have a grace period in 2026 to use these funds. 

The grace period gives you time to purchase eligible products or services before you forfeit unused 2025 funds. Don’t lose your money! Take note of the following important deadlines: 

The IRS requires you to forfeit any unused 2025 funds after the deadline, so be sure to spend your money and submit claims before it’s too late! 

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

If you have a Health Care FSA, you can purchase a variety of products and services with pre-tax dollars. Find a complete list of eligible health care expenses here. If you need ideas for what to use your health care FSA funds on, check out the FSA store.  

How Do I Sign Up for an FSA? 

Benefits-eligible employees are eligible to enroll in an FSA during Open Enrollment in October each year or if they experience a qualifying life event. FSAs are a great way to save money on out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses. Be sure to learn more and take note of which FSA you’re interested in before the next Open Enrollment period. 

Questions? 

Please contact HealthEquity directly at 877-924-3967 or visit the HealthEquity website to learn more about how to use your leftover 2025 funds before the deadline. You can also learn more about FSAs on the HR website.

Job of The Week: Office Assistant IV

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This week’s featured job is an Office Assistant IV for MSU Information Technology (IT) (job posting 1106959). If you are interested in providing administrative support to a large central IT department and enabling MSU’s excellence in education, research, and outreach, this may be the role for you.

MSU Information Technology provides the primary leadership for strategic, financial, and policy initiatives affecting IT across Michigan State University. MSU IT offers technology resources that support MSU’s mission of providing education, conducting research, advancing engagement, and supporting staff, faculty, students, alumni, and visitors alike at MSU. 

Working in a business partner model, you will work with MSU IT’s departments to provide support to executive directors, support staff, students, and guests in the operational run of the department. You will support the director and senior leadership with calendaring, scheduling, communications, and more. Additionally, you will maintain departmental records, process and track financial processing, and provide reception services in the Office of the CIO. Find a complete list of responsibilities in the job posting.

This position requires knowledge equivalent to two to three years of college or technical school, and one to three years of related or progressively more expansive work experience in maintaining ledgers, departmental operations, and employment. It is desired that you have experience with SharePoint and spreadsheets, large meeting and event coordination, and strong attention to detail. Find a complete list of required and desired qualifications in the job posting.

Learn more on the MSU IT website. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a resume and cover letter, and should be submitted by January 27.

A women using her tablet.

Your Benefits: New Plan Year Checklist

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For benefits-eligible employees, the start of a new plan year is a great time to review all the MSU benefit options available to make sure you’re fully utilizing them throughout the year. The following list of tips and resources to consider will help you get the most out of your employee benefits:  

  1. Learn About Your New Caregiving Benefit: We recently implemented Cariloop, a new benefit that can assist with caregiving in all its many forms, whether that’s caring for children, a spouse, aging parents, and more. This benefit includes professional coaching (30 days of annual continuous support with the option to extend), caregiving tools, a trusted network of providers, and access to UrbanSitter.
  2. Schedule Wellness Check-ups: If you’re enrolled in an MSU health, dental, and/or vision plan, you’ve just entered a new plan year. Even though an annual check-up is usually recommended by doctors, many people miss out each year because they forget to schedule an appointment. Set your family up for success by scheduling an annual or wellness check-up now.  
  3. Prepare for Illness: Teladoc is an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a health care professional via the web, phone, or mobile app in minutes. A doctor can even write you a prescription if necessary. Enroll in Teladoc now so you’re prepared when illness strikes.  Available to employees and their dependents who are enrolled in an MSU health plan.  
  4. Review Your Retirement Contributions: The IRS sets new retirement contribution limits each year, and SECURE Act 2.0 requirements have started, and the new Roth option is now available. Make sure you’re saving as much as you can by reviewing the 2026 IRS retirement contribution limits and SECURE Act 2.0 requirements and adjusting contributions if needed.  
  5. Note Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Deadlines: If you’re enrolled in an FSA for the 2025 and/or 2026 plan year, please note important deadlines and resources for utilizing your FSA funds.  
  6. Use Educational Assistance Funds: Support staff and academic specialist employees have access to educational assistance funds to use towards professional development opportunities. These funds reset each fall, so make sure you don’t miss out. If you’re looking for learning opportunities, we recommend checking out courses offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development department.  
  7. Note Mental Health Resources: The MSU community offers a variety of mental health resources to employees and their dependents, along with the recently introduced free access to the Calm Health app.
  8. Schedule Vacation/Personal Paid Time Off (PTO): Taking time to rest and reset is important to maintain mental health. Make sure you’re using all your PTO by planning for the future and scheduling your time off in advance.  
  9. Utilize Employee Discounts: Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website for deals and discounts on everything from travel and experiences to electronics and toys.
  10. Review Voluntary Benefit Options: You may enroll in, change, or cancel auto, home, and pet insurance benefits at any time through the MSU Benefits Plus website.  Accident, critical illness, legal, and vision insurance only allow benefit changes during Open Enrollment in October.  
  11. Register for a Free Diabetes Management Program: If you or a dependent are living with diabetes, Livongo by Teladoc Health can help by providing free necessary medical supplies and optional coaching.  Employees or dependents enrolled in Medicare are not eligible (a similar program is available through Medicare).  
  12. Get a Second Medical Opinion: If you are facing a serious medical diagnosis, Teladoc Medical Experts can review your case and offer a second medical opinion from leading health care specialists. Coaching and online educational tools are also available.  Employees with mandated insurance under the Affordable Care Act are not eligible.  

We hope this list will help keep you on track as you plan how you and your family will use your employee benefits this year. You can learn more about all these benefit options on the HR website.

New Year, New Employee Discounts!

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Another new year means new resolutions, and MSU Benefits Plus wants to make those goals and tasks more achievable than ever. Below, you can learn more about these exclusive health, wellness, and other helpful discounts for MSU employees and start your journey to a happy new year today!  

To access these discounts and more, login to MSU Benefits Plus today. Please note that these discounts change frequently, and we encourage you to login to the MSU Benefits Plus website to see the latest discounts available.  If you have any questions about the discounts, please contact MSU Benefits Plus at msubenefitsplus@corestream.com or 888-758-7575.   

Health & Wellness  

  • Betterhelp â€“ Save 50% on online therapy. Use code: corestream50. 
  • Green Chef â€“ 55% off your 1st box plus 15% off your next 51 boxes. Use code: COREGC55HY. 
  • EveryPlate â€“ 65% off your 1st box plus 15% off next 51 boxes. Use code: COREP65H.  
  • HelloFresh â€“ 50% off your 1st box plus 15% off your next eight boxes. Use code: COREHF50FH. 
  • NOBULL â€“ Save 30% on gym shoes and apparel. Use code: 30OFFCORESTREAM. 
  • Active and Fit â€“ From yoga, to strength, Pilates, and more, choose from thousands of top gyms starting at $28/month plus a $0 enrollment fee. Use code: MAKEYOURMOVE. 
  • Reverse Health Yoga â€“ Save an extra 30% on top of the current 60% discount. Use code: CORESTREAM.  
  • Tonal â€“ Save $250 on the Tonal 2 at-home smart strength training system. Use code: Corestream250. 

Financial Services 

  • Trust & Will â€“ Save 25% on your estate plan. Promo code will automatically be applied at checkout using the provided link. 
  • Living Trustify â€“ Save 25% on any estate plan. Use code: CORESTREAM. 
  • TurboTax – Save an extra 20% on TurboTax using the promo link provided.  
  • LegalZoom â€“ Save 10% on any LegalZoom products. Use code: CORESTREAM00010. 

Home Improvement 

  • West Shore Home â€“ Save 20% off your next bathroom, window, door, or flooring project.  
  • GE Appliances â€“ Save 30% or more on select GE appliances. Use code: COREEXT21. 
  • Cove â€“ save 73% on Cove’s top-rated DIY home security system. Use code: COVECOREDEAL.  

Travel  

  • AVIS Care Rental – You can save up to 35% off your next car rental when you provide your Avis Worldwide Discount Number! Use code: X199700.  
  • Going – Going helps over 2 million members travel the world. We monitor thousands of flights so you can save an average of $550 on tickets. Save 50% off your first year of premium membership. Use code: CORE50.  

Education  

  • Coursera â€“ Save 40% on 3 months of Coursera Plus.  
  • Babbel â€“ Save up to 55% off Babbel’s lifetime access subscriptions.  

Tech  

  • Apple – Get preferred pricing on iPhones, iMacs and more.  
  • Dell – Get the best pricing available on all Dell PCs, electronics, and accessories.  

For more information on discounts from MSU Benefits Plus, visit the MSU Benefits Plus website. If you have any questions about the discounts, please contact MSU Benefits Plus via email at msubenefitsplus@corestream.com or by phone at 888-758-7575.  

Job of The Week: Nurse Practitioner

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This week’s featured job is a Nurse Practitioner for the College of Human Medicine (job posting 1100444). If you are interested in caring for patients in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities within the Lansing community, this may be the role for you.

The College of Human Medicine is dedicated to educating exemplary physicians, discovering new knowledge, and providing service both at home and abroad. By providing outstanding care and promoting the inclusion and needs of all people, the College of Human Medicine fosters an environment that enhances its community. MSU Health Care Family Medicine is a practice of mainly family physicians, nurse practitioners, and staff who provide the full spectrum of primary care services for adults and children at two locations within the MSU Clinical Center.

In this position, you will be a part of a group of geriatric physicians and nurse practitioners who deliver high-quality care to older adults and many care facilities across Lansing. You will work closely with geriatricians in a team-based care model, delivering continuity of care, acute care, preventive care, and hospital discharge management. You will provide a welcoming environment for residents and students in all patient care settings. 

This position requires knowledge equivalent to one to two years of post-bachelor’s degree work, such as a master’s degree in nursing, or one to three years of work experience in direct nursing care. The position also requires possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse and specialty certification as a Nurse Practitioner in the State of Michigan. Find a complete list of required and desired qualifications in the listing. 

Learn more on the College of Human Medicine website. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a CV/cover letter and should be submitted by January 13.

Retirement Planning: 2026 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 

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It’s important that you continue to monitor and adjust how much you’re saving if you want to have a comfortable retirement, whether that’s around the corner or 30+ years from now. The IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year and recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2026.  

In addition to new contribution limits, requirements in SECURE 2.0 Act begin, and the new after-tax Roth option is now available. You can learn more on the After-Tax Roth and SECURE 2.0 Act HR webpage or the recent Q&A with HR’s retirement expert, Dan, about the SECURE Act 2.0 requirements and new Roth option.  

Review the 2026 IRS retirement contribution limits below: 

  • The contribution limits for the 403(b) Supplemental (either pre-tax and/or after-tax Roth) and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation (either pre-tax and/or after-tax Roth) accounts are $24,500 each.  
    • The combined contribution limit for the 403(b) Supplemental (combined pre-tax and after-tax Roth) options cannot exceed $24,500, and is reduced by any Voluntary 403(b) Base employee contributions. 
    • The contribution limit for the 457(b) Deferred Comp. (combined pre-tax and after-tax Roth) is separate from the 403(b) plans, so you may contribute $24,500 to both the 457(b) and 403(b) plans. 
  • Individuals aged 50-59 or 64+ can contribute an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution separately to both the 403(b) Supplemental and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation accounts (and they can be pre-tax or after-tax Roth).  
    • Those who earned more than $150,000 in 2025 must make the 2026 catch-up contributions as after-tax Roth per the federal SECURE 2.0 Act.  
  • Individuals aged 60-63 can contribute an additional $11,250 catch-up contribution separately to the 403(b) Supplemental and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation accounts (and they can be pre-tax or after-tax Roth).  
    • Those who earned more than $150,000 in 2025 must make the 2026 catch-up contributions as after-tax Roth per the federal SECURE 2.0 Act. 
  • Since contributions to the 403(b) Base Retirement Program can only be 5%, the limit is 5% of their eligible pay up to the IRS salary limit. 

The following chart also shares the 2026 IRS retirement plan contribution limits and the SECURE 2.0 Act requirements. 

2026 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits
Retirement PlanEligibility Criteria1Standard Contribution LimitCatch-up Contribution LimitTotal Contribution Limit for 2026
403(b) Supplemental
(contributions can be pre-tax or after-tax Roth unless noted otherwise. The standard contribution amount is reduced by any Voluntary 403(b) Base employee contribution)		Under 50Earned less than $150,000$24,500N/A$24,500
Earned more than $150,000
Age 50-59Earned less than $150,000$24,500$8,000$32,500
Earned more than $150,000You must make your catch-up contributions (up to $8,000) as after-tax Roth.$32,500
Age 60-63Earned less than $150,000$24,500$11,250$35,750
Earned more than $150,000You must make your catch-up contributions (up to $11,250) as after-tax Roth.$35,750
Age 64+Earned less than $150,000$24,500$8,000$32,500
Earned more than $150,000You must make your catch-up contributions (up to $8,000) as after-tax Roth.$32,500
457(b) Deferred Compensation
(contributions can be pre-tax or after-tax Roth unless noted otherwise)		Under 50Earned less than $150,000$24,500N/A$24,500
Earned more than $150,000
Age 50-59Earned less than $150,000$24,500$8,000$32,500
Earned more than $150,000You must make your catch-up contributions (up to $11,250) as after-tax Roth.$32,500
Age 60-63Earned less than $150,000$24,500$11,250$35,750
Earned more than $150,000You must make your catch-up contributions (up to $11,250) as after-tax Roth.$35,750
Age 64+Earned less than $150,000$24,500$8,000$32,500
Earned more than $150,000You must make your catch-up contributions (up to $8,000) as after-tax Roth. $32,500
Notes:
1. Your age in the chart above is based on the age you will be on December 31, 2026. The $150,000 limit is based on your MSU 2025 W-2 Form Box 3 Social Security wages. There are other IRS limits that may reduce the amounts of the Standard Contribution Limit. 

How to Adjust Your Savings 

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

To access this tool:  

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

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

Learn More About MSU’s Retirement Plans  

The â€ŻHR website  also contains a wealth of information about the different types of retirement plans offered, retirement investment vendors, and planning tools available.  You can learn more on the After-Tax Roth and SECURE 2.0 Act HR webpage or the recent Q&A with HR’s retirement expert, Dan, about the SECURE Act 2.0 requirements and new Roth option.  

New Year, New Professional Development Courses

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As we step into 2026, it’s the perfect time to set your professional development goals—and we’ve got exciting opportunities to help you thrive this year. 

New or Updated Courses for 2026: 

  • Spartan Excellence Learning Series on January 27 and 28: Through a sequence of skill-building modules, participants will learn how to define problems, analyze processes, design improvements, and implement sustainable solutions. By integrating Lean methods within the broader Operational Excellence framework, the series helps create lasting practices that enhance efficiency, transparency, and the overall Spartan Experience.   
  • Travel Expense Report Processing on March 10: Learn the essentials of submitting accurate travel expense reports at MSU. This session will walk you through the required documentation, Concur tips, policy highlights, and best practices for timely reimbursement. 
  • Engaging and Empowering Teams on March 11: Leaders can learn evidence-based strategies to engage and empower employees, understand employees’ perspectives, and reflect on and assess your own supervisory practices. 
  • Mental Health First Aid on March 18: This evidence-based training that teaches participants how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis and help someone who may be experiencing one. 
  • Five Behaviors: Personal Development on April 16: Based on the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, this course helps individuals become better teammates. This program is for individual contributors. Using activities, videos, and discussion, participants learn the behaviors that will enable them to become better teammates. 

Upcoming Courses in January or February 

  • Crucial Influence  |  Virtual  |  January 27, 28, and 29  |  9 to 11:30 a.m. 
  • Getting Things Done  |  Virtual  |  February 10, 11, and 12 |  9 to 11:30 a.m. 

You can find all of HR Organization and Professional Development’s courses on the HR website. This is the perfect time to reflect on your goals and plan for the year ahead. What skills do you want to build? What challenges are you ready to tackle? With so many opportunities on the horizon, we’re here to help you make 2026 your most impactful year yet!