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New Year, New Professional Development Courses

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The Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department in MSU Human Resources has spots open in the following courses to support your learning and development in January, February and March:

EBS Financial Systems: Roles and Onboarding | January 25 | Virtual

Are you new to MSU and/or to a financial role? This session intends to answer the question: Where do I start? You have a vast toolbox available to you.

Taming the Email Beast | February 8 | Virtual

Professionals spend much of their work (and personal) time buried under a stream of email, spinning wheels and feeling highly unsatisfied. If you would like to get control of your email “beast,” attend this program featuring specific tips for Outlook and Gmail users, but applicable to ANY email user.

KFS Transactional Edocs: Types and Purposes | February 15 | Virtual

This class will provide detailed information about processing various types of Edocs in KFS, including those listed below, and information about action item buttons, document status, workflow routing and search functionality.

Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue | Starts March 13| In-Person

High-performing individuals and organizations know how to hold crucial conversations — where emotions are strong, opinions vary, and the stakes are high. In this two-day course, learn powerful skills to help you speak up quickly, directly and effectively when it matters most, including moments of disagreement, risk or change.     

Cultural Competency | March 18 | In-Person

One of MSU’s guiding principles is to lead inclusively, actively, and intentionally to promote full participation and a sense of safety and belonging for all employees and staff. Join us in building cultural awareness and inclusiveness skills that strengthen cultural competence.

All the current Organization and Professional Development courses are on the HR website. Class enrollment is completed within the EBS Portal. Employees may use available educational assistance funds towards course fees (if any).

Your Benefits: New Year Checklist

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For benefit-eligible employees, the start of a new 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. 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 any annual or wellness check-ups now. 
  1. Prepare for Illness: Teladoc is an online medical care service that gives you 24/7 access to a health care professional via 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 that are enrolled in an MSU health plan. 
  1. Review Retirement Contributions: the IRS sets new retirement contribution limits each year. Make sure you’re saving as much as you can by reviewing the 2024 IRS retirement contribution limits and adjusting contributions if needed. 
  1. Note Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Deadlines: if you’re enrolled in an FSA for the 2023 and/or 2024 plan year, please note important deadlines and resources for utilizing your FSA funds. 
  1. 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. 
  1. Note Mental Health Resources: the MSU community offers a variety of mental health resources to employees and their dependents. 
  1. Save Caregiver Resources: the MSU WorkLife Office has an extensive list of resources for caregivers. Bookmark this page so you’re prepared when you need it. 
  1. Schedule Vacation/Personal PTO: taking time to rest and reset is important to maintain mental health. Make sure you’re using all your PTO by planning out and scheduling your time off in advance. 
  1. Employee Discounts: Visit the MSU Benefits Plus website for deals and discounts on everything from travel and experiences to electronics and toys. Additional discounts can be found on the MSU Human Resources website. 
  1. 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. Legal, critical illness and vision insurance only allow benefit changes during Open Enrollment in October. 
  1. 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. 
  1. 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 ACA are not eligible. 

We hope this list will help keep you on track as you plan out 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. 

Job of the Week: Corporate Executive Chef of Culinary Services

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This week’s featured job is Corporate Executive Chef of Culinary Services for the Division of Student Life and Engagement (job posting 921668). The Division of Student Life and Engagement combines student-facing services and provides transformational and world-class experience for students. 

In this position, you will provide senior leadership to Culinary Services by planning, directing, and implementing activities, services, and programs related to food production. You will also manage daily food production operations within Culinary Services, including Residential Dining, Retail Operations, Kellogg Center Events, and The State Room. 

You will develop food purchasing quality standards while controlling finances and partner with the Assistant Vice President of Culinary Services to lead a vision for a student/guest/community-centered model of quality service for all Culinary Services departments. In this position, you will also develop new recipes and food production flow systems for operations while also administering training programs for a diverse group of staff, including sous chefs, full-time cooks, and food production staff..

You should have knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. Five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in food service management or production is also recommended. Desired qualifications include American Culinary Federation (ACF) certification, Professional Manager certified, and a valid vehicle operator’s license. 
To learn more, visit the Student Life and Engagement website. To apply for the position, please submit your resume and cover letter to the MSU Careers website by January 23.

Did You Sign Up for an FSA for 2024? Find Tips and Resources to Get Started.

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Welcome to 2024 and your flexible spending account (FSA) funds! If you signed up for a 2024 FSA during Open Enrollment last October, you’re on your way to saving money on out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses. MSU’s FSA plan administrator is HealthEquity/WageWorks. If this is your first time participating in an FSA, make sure you register for your online HealthEquity/WageWorks account.

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

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

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

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

Managing Your FSA Account

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

What if I still have funds left over from my 2023 FSA?

Not to worry – if you still have funds left over from your 2023 FSA, you have until March 15, 2024, to use these funds and until April 30, 2024, to submit receipts to substantiate these claims.

How Do I Sign Up for an FSA?

Benefits-eligible employees are eligible to enroll in an FSA during Open Enrollment in October each year or if they experience a qualifying life event. Be sure to take note of which FSA you’re interested in for the next Open Enrollment period.

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

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

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

Retirement Planning: 2024 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

Published on by Megan MacGregor2 Comments

Whether your retirement is on the horizon or a faraway goal, it’s important that you continue to monitor and adjust how much you’re saving if you want to have a comfortable retirement. The IRS places limits on how much employees can contribute to a retirement plan each year and recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2024:

  • The annual employee contribution amount increased from $22,500 to $23,000 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans.
  • The age 50 catch-up contribution amount remains the same at $7,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans.

If you want to save as much as you can for your retirement, there is a tool in the EBS Portal called the Max Savings Contributions Calculator 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 choose Select to make the change.
  8. If you want to enroll in a new plan, begin by clicking on the paper icon next to the plan 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 following articles contain more detailed information about MSU’s retirement plan options and preparing for retirement:

The HR website also contains a wealth of information about the different types of retirement plans offered, retirement investment vendors, and planning tools available.

Job of the Week: Senior Director of Development

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This week’s featured job is a Senior Director of Development for the Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education (job posting 920213). The Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Education (OPUE) exists to assist donors who are interested in supporting students at all levels of education here at MSU. 

In this position, you will serve as the unit’s Chief Development Officer and as a strategic partner to the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education. You will be planning, collaborating and implementing methods of prospect identification, solicitation, and cultivation for successful solicitations of funds.

You will supervise, direct, and motivate staff by promoting excellence and measurable goals. This role will actively mentor and train staff and provide frequent opportunities for professional development. You will also recruit, train, motivate and evaluate volunteers in order to accomplish college goals and objectives.

The Senior Director will also audit internal operations to develop standardized procedures and to ensure conformity with established policy. You will assist in budget preparation and both long and short-term goals and plans to determine required resources.

You should have a Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field. Eight years of successful fundraising experience is also preferred along with demonstrated organizational, interpersonal, and written/oral communications.
To learn more, visit the Office of Philanthropy for Undergraduate Educations website. To apply for the position, please submit your resume and cover letter to the MSU Careers website by January 25.

Employee Discounts to Support Your 2024 Resolutions

Published on by Josh WorleyLeave a comment

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. If you haven’t used MSU Benefits Plus previously, register using your employee email address and set up an account. 

Health & Wellness

  • Noom â€“ Save 30% on a 12-month program. Use code: EBG.
  • Mindfulness.com â€“ Save 50% on a year of Mindfulness. Use code: STRESSFREE.
  • Bowflex â€“ Save up to $300 off the C6 Bike and other great discounts. Use code: EXCLUSIVE.

Travel

Education

  • Spartan Bookstore â€“ Save 10% on new and used books, clothing and more.
  • Rosetta Stone â€“ Get a lifetime subscription with unlimited languages for $149 with no renewal fee (normally $299).

Tech

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

The HR website also offers other deals you can find on-campus through the MSU Tech Store, MSU Bakers, and the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, among others. You can check out some of those deals through the MSU HR Website. 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.

January 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

January 7- Museum Tour: Architecture (free): Have you ever wondered why the MSU Broad Art Museum looks the way it does? Learn more about our unique building and the Pritzker Prize-winning architect behind it through this tour led by Curatorial Research and Administrative Assistant ThaĂ­s Wenstrom. Registration for this event is encouraged.

January 12 – 19 – MLK Jr. Commemorative Celebration (registration required for some events): Join in on some or all of the MLK Jr. Commemorative Celebration events happening this week, including a MLK commemorative march at Beaumont Tower, community unity dinner, film series, coffee and conversations, and more! Find all event details on the MLK Calendar of Events webpage.

January 16-21- Mamma Mia!: The Wharton Center will be hosting “Mamma Mia!” in the Great Hall from January 16-21. Ticket prices are available on the Wharton Center website. 

January 5-28- Abrams Planetarium Public Feature Show: Experience the Aurora Borealis through Abrams Planetarium immersive show. Showtimes: Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 4:00 pm. Tickets are available on the Abrams Planetarium website. 

Family-Friendly Activities

January 3- Lego Palooza at the Grand Ledge Area District Library (free): Come get creative with LEGO Bricks at the library! Each child will get a tray of LEGO Bricks and the challenge is to build their most fantastic creation from just those bricks! 

January 5- Double Clutch Karaoke (free): Karaoke is headed to High Caliber! Every Friday night from 7-11 PM you, your friends, or coworkers can come out and sing. Enjoy this new, totally free activity at High Caliber Karting & Entertainment located in the Meridian Mall.

January 6- Family Day: LIFT (free): 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. All ages are welcome. Registration for this free event is encouraged. 

Learning Opportunities

January 17- Family Employee Resource Group (free): Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth: Join the WorkLife Office for a webinar aimed at parents, caregivers, educators, and allies who want to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ youth. Led by parents and experts in LGBTQIA+ advocacy, this webinar will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ kids and teens.

January 18- Craft Meet Up (free): Join the Makerspace on the third Thursday of the month to take a break and create with others. Bring your own crafts or use our supplies! Knitting, collaging, perler beads and more! Registration for this free event is recommended. 

January 24- WorkLife Office Seminar: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The WorkLife Office is hosting a virtual seminar with Tim Spedoske, the Director of Campus Health Services to learn tips on how to feel less alone and how to better your mental/physical health. Registration for this event is required. 

Health and Wellness

January 8- The Healing Power of Guided Energy: Guided imagery is a form of directed day-dreaming that relaxes the mind and engages the senses in the physical and emotional healing process. Register for this free class here. 

January 9- Chair Yoga: Spring (free): MSU Health4U is jumpstarting the new year with chair yoga classes beginning on January 9. Chair yoga adapts some of the traditional poses of yoga while seated or standing with the help of a chair. Join this class via Zoom on Tuesdays from 11:15-11:45. 

January 22- Rest With Music (free): Join Monte Pride and Health4U to enjoy this series of live musical performances to help you relax during your busy workday. Registration for this free event is recommended.

Job of the Week: Outreach Specialist

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This week’s featured job is an outreach and student engagement specialist for Student Success and Retention in the College of Nursing (CON) (posting 904981). The Michigan State University College of Nursing has trained the next generations of nurses since its founding as the Department of Nursing Education in 1950. The CON believes in the power of research, practice, and education to affect lasting change and to improve health outcomes in our communities through recruiting top faculty, staff, and students and continuously staying at the forefront of changes in the profession.

In this position, you will coordinate, implement, and facilitate outreach initiatives and programming to promote student retention and success within the College of Nursing by collaborating with faculty, staff, and external partners to enhance and assist with advancing the CON’s student success and retention goals.

Your knowledge, skills, and abilities should include one to three years of experience in program development, project management, or recruitment while working with culturally diverse individuals and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. You should be able to provide high-quality customer service, confidently handle multiple priorities simultaneously, and prioritize activities to meet deadlines with limited supervision. You should have a track record of working collaboratively and constructively with people at multiple levels and with diverse perspectives to build consensus across various divisions of a complex organization.

The outreach and student engagement specialist should have a master’s degree in student affairs, education, or social work. Desired qualifications also include teaching experiences with students, evidence of commitment to professional development, and the ability to work effectively as a diverse team member.

To learn more, visit the College of Nursing website. To apply for the position, please submit a resume, cover letter, DEI statement, and a contact list of three professional references to the MSU Careers website.  

Job of the Week: Mechanical Design Engineer

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This week’s featured job is a Mechanical Design Engineer for the Facility of Rare Isotope Beams (job posting 919115). The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a scientific user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy where researchers from all career stages come together to make new discoveries. FRIB provides researchers with one of the most advanced tools of modern science to study rare isotopes, or short-lived nuclei not normally found on Earth. Hosting what is designed to be the most powerful heavy-ion accelerator, FRIB enables scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interactions, and applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security, and industry.

In this position, you will produce and document effective design solutions by creating CAD designs and use 2-D and 3-D models produced by designers and engineers to create detailed drawings (includes the extensive use of GD&T). You will also assist the project leader and subject matter experts in reviewing design layouts, budgets, testing, and project documentation for construction. Your responsibilities will include other duties assigned within the scopes of this job classification. 

Your knowledge, skills, and abilities should include mechanical engineering expertise, communication, analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate with a team. You should have a general knowledge of CAD and be proficient in Solidworks and ADEPT. 

The Mechanical Design Engineer should have a bachelor’s degree in Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or Physics. Desired qualifications for this role also include one year of experience with CAD/CAE, Solidworks and work experience in fabrication techniques, cryogenic systems, and/or electronics. 

To learn more, visit the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams website. To apply for the position, please submit a resume and cover letter to the MSU Careers website by January 2.