Job of the Week: WKAR Project Engineer

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences for a WKAR Project Engineer (posting 836249). The College of Communication Arts and Sciences offers world-class training from faculty through innovation, dedication, individual strength and collaboration to students who continue to impress with notable accomplishments.

The WKAR Project Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of the federal grant funded project, “Strengthening Equitable K-12 Access to Education to the Lansing Area Via Free Over the Air Service.” This position will coordinate and implement the technical and operational engineering aspects of WKAR’s ATSC 3.0 broadcast, which includes responsibility for equipment, programming, troubleshooting, and providing technical support collaboration with third parties.. For a list of all responsibilities, click here. 

The future WKAR Project Engineer should have a four-year degree in broadcast engineering, telecommunications engineering technology or a related field. Their working knowledge should include ATSC 3.0 broadcasting, its applications and Microsoft Office. They should also be comfortable in a virtual environment to provide training and resource support services. 

This is a limited term position for 18 months and has the opportunity to work in a hybrid work capacity.

To learn more about the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, visit comartsci.msu.edu. To learn more about WKAR, visit wkar.org. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter and apply here by January 19.

Retirement Planning: 2023 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

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Whether you’ve just started working at MSU or have been here for 30+ years, it is 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. The IRS recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2023:

  • The annual employee contribution amount increased from $20,500 to $22,500 for 403(b) and 457(b) plans.
  • The age 50 catch-up contribution amount increased from $6,500 to $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 HR website contains a wealth of information about the different types of retirement plans offered, retirement investment vendors, and planning tools available.

January Events Round-Up

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Happy New Year! Are you looking for activities for you and your family to kick off the new year? 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 17 – Sharks of the Arctic and Other Fossil Surprises (free): This MSU Museum program will explore fossil records and get a rare look at 50-million-year-old shark specimens.

Starts January 20 – Blue Man Group: Experience a performance from the iconic group at the Wharton Center. 

January 21 – Lunar New Year Celebration Concert: Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Cook Recital Hall with MSU artists and guests as they perform works by composers of Asian descent. 

January 22 – Celebration of the Beautiful Voice, Opera Theatre: Enjoy MSU Vocal Arts performances of scenes from operatic masterworks at the Fairchild Theatre.

January 29 – 2023 Running Start Live Pitch Competition (free): Witness student entrepreneurs in action as they pitch their innovative projects and music business ideas to a live audience and panel of judges. Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award. 

Learning Opportunities

January 10 – How to Talk to Your Kids About Race (free): The Family Employee Resource Group is hosting this Zoom session to teach parents and caregivers about bias and racism.

January 12 – Stable Links Workshop (free): This Zoom workshop will guide participants through the process of integrating journal articles, e-book chapters or streaming media into their course(s).

January 23 – Mendeley Demonstration and Q&A (free): This online session will allow participants to ask questions and learn how to utilize the Mendeley citation management program. 

January 25 – The 2nd Annual Malcolm X Muslim Studies Community Forum (free): This MSU Muslim Studies Program event will feature Leading American Muslim Scholars, Imam Omar Suleiman and Imam Abdullah Oduro.  

Health and Wellness

January 15 – SpARTan Wellness: JOURNALING (free): Come to the MSU Broad Art Museum and create a journal to help focus and reflect on your goals, hopes and anxieties in the new year. 

Starts January 23 – Blue Cross Winter Warm Up (free): Engage in physical activity during the winter months with this 5K training program. The program is open to walkers and runners of all ages and abilities. 

Starts January 25 – Finding Time: Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals (free): This Zoom class will explore strategies to more efficiently allocate our minutes, streamline workflow and relieve some pressure in the process.

Starts January 31 – Active Office Workshop (free): Join this Zoom course to learn the best practices for staying active in an office setting. 

Family-Friendly Activities

January 4 – Together Let’s Sing, Dance and Jam!! (free): This virtual event will feature musical therapists from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and allow those of all ages and abilities to move around. 

Starts January 6 – Ice Worlds: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn about the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 

January 7 – Family Day: DREAM (free): Join the MSU Broad Art Museum for their monthly family day. For this month’s theme, you’ll be creating dream worlds where anything can happen.

January 14 – Let’s Warm Up – Kids Cooking Class: Sweet Encounter Bakery is teaching children eight and up how to make some of winter’s favorite dishes.

January 15 – Sensory Friendly at Abrams Planetarium: Visit the planetarium this month for their sensory friendly hours.

Job of the Week: Project Manager

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a remote-friendly position for a Project Manager in the College of Arts and Letters (posting 833172). The MSU College of Arts & Letters (CAL) educates actors, artists, designers, filmmakers, linguists, philosophers, poets, teachers, translators, writers and much more in a creative, learning and nurturing environment. The College employs some of the most engaged, talented, and forward-thinking faculty and scholars in the country to educate our students and bring public focus to the arts and humanities as the threads that weave together our numerous shared cultures and traditions.

The College of Arts & Letters (CAL) seeks a Project Manager to support the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative Center (TDIC). TDIC is a service center based in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State University that builds collaborative capacity in research and practice teams and a research center that studies the collaboration and cross disciplinary research process.

CAL promotes an academic and organizational culture that actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members in order to achieve excellence. CAL is interested in candidates of all backgrounds committed to the principle that we achieve intellectual leadership through open access and proactive inclusion.

The primary responsibility of this role is to serve as project manager for the NSF Convergence Accelerator Team Science Faculty, which includes but is not limited to TDIC personnel. They will be responsible for full-scope management, including planning, implementation, schedule management, logistics, work assignments, report writing, and budget management. Additional responsibilities can be found here.

CAL’s future project manager should have a four-year degree in Business Administration, Management, or a similar field. Their work experience should include project management, with a certification preferred but not required, business analysis, and implementation of strategic analysis. Ideally, the next project manager is a creative and innovative lifelong learner who can communicate effectively with diverse populations, problem solve within a collaborative team environment and understand different perspectives with expert knowledge of the technical operations of the job.

To learn more about the College of Arts and Letters, visit cal.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume and cover letter and apply here by January 10.

Job of the Week: Accountant I

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from the Division of Student Life and Engagement for an Accountant (posting 832584). The Division of Student Life and Engagement engages students in active learning, ensures students are prepared for leadership roles and enhances educational environments. 

The Accountant position is responsible for providing accounting support and controls for a large division as it pertains to finances and budgets and will assist leadership and staff with accounting concerns. They will regularly interact with supervisors and purchasing to resolve discrepancies, provide accounting assistance and exchange information. They will also interact with the University Accounting Department, clerical support staff, student employees and university departments. For a list of all responsibilities, click here. 

The ideal candidate should have a four-year degree in accounting and one to three years of working knowledge in financial statement and report preparation. They should have experience with general ledger accounting and budgeting. They should also have knowledge of basic computer terminology and operations.

To learn more about the Division of Student Life and Engagement, visit sle.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter and apply here by January 3.

Work-Related Goals with Resources to Help You Achieve Them

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Updated December 2023

For many, the start of a new year brings a desire to set new goals – both professionally and personally. As you think about the past year, try to pinpoint areas you’d like to work on. Check out What’s Your Plan: Six Steps to Align Your Goals with What’s Important to You if you don’t know where to start. You’ll learn how creating a personal strategic plan can provide a “vision and structure for your professional life and an anchor for you to connect with during periods of change.”

Review the following common work-related goals below to see if any resonate with you and use the articles and learning opportunities provided by HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department to help you reach them.

As you think about what you want to work on in the coming year and beyond, consider tying them to your Performance Excellence goals (for support staff). For more information about how to set yourself up for success as you identify goals, check out this When SMART Meets HARD: Setting Goals that Matter article.

Job of the Week: Extension Specialist – Fixed

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This week, MSU Human Resources features a posting from MSU Extension Director’s Office for an Extension Specialist (posting 828709). MSU Extension aims to be part of community conversations, maintain positive environments and foster inclusivity. For more information about MSU Extension, click here. 

MSU Extension works to ensure that programming is delivered to diverse audiences, produces equitable impacts for all participants, and demonstrates partnership and inclusion for all groups. The Extension Specialist cultivates training programs, resources, materials and learning opportunities for MSU Extension staff members, community partners and other organizations and agencies across the state. 

Working as the MSU Extension Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, this role is a resource, in collaboration with the MSU Extension Director of Human Resources, on issues related to civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion that occur across the organization and within our community programs. They will report directly to the Director of Extension in coordination with the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For a list of all responsibilities, click here.  

The future Extension Specialist should be a multitasker with a Master’s degree in social services, cultural or ethnic studies or a related field. Their work knowledge should include three to five years of experience in DEI strategy and civil rights and equal opportunity laws and policies. The candidate should demonstrate drive, initiative and the ability to work productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles. 

To learn more about MSU Extension, visit www.canr.msu.edu. To apply for this position, prepare a resume, cover letter, four professional references and apply here by January 5.

Register Today! Spots Still Available in Professional Development Courses

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HR’s Organization and Professional Development (OPD) department has spots open in the following courses to support your learning and development in December and January:

  • Performance Management for Hybrid Teams | December 6 | In-person
    This class will share best practices and identify tips and strategies for developing strong and high-performing hybrid teams using MSU’s Performance Excellence process.
  • Conflict Management and Non-Escalation | December 6 AND 7 | In-person
    The primary goals of this course are conflict resolution, de-escalation, crisis management, and everyone’s safety. This training will prepare participants to apply the taught skills to real-life situations and to retain those skills over time.
  • Writing Policies and Procedures | December 7 | Virtual
    Learn proven strategies and methods for successfully writing policies and procedures in clear terms that can be understood by all.
  • Introduction to Process Mapping | January 11 | Virtual
    Learners in this course will be able to define key process improvement terminology, identify common elements of process maps, reduce barriers to success by adopting best practices, and create a process map.
  • Maximizing the Spartan Experience | January 17 | Virtual
    This engaging training provides a foundational perspective related to enhanced customer service delivery.
  • Everything DiSC: Behavior Styles at Work | January 18 | Virtual
    Everything DiSC® helps you build more effective working relationships based on an understanding of different behavioral styles.
  • New Leader Development Series | Starts January 24 | Virtual
    Designed for supervisors new to their roles or new to MSU, this nine-session series equips new leaders with a toolkit of crucial knowledge and resources.
  • The Power of Habit | January 25 | Virtual
    Learn how to spot your habit loop, turn bad days into good data, and create habits that get the results you want.

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

Giving Tuesday at MSU

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The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known as Giving Tuesday, and Michigan State wants to support you in your service this holiday season.

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 to encourage people to give back. It’s now a global movement that inspires millions of people around the world to collaborate for good and celebrate generosity.

Sign up now to serve with your fellow Spartans in states like Texas, Indiana, and Minnesota through Serve MSU. Join the tradition that is already 14,000 Spartans strong and has raised over $1 million and spent 61,000 hours volunteering, all since 2013.

You can also serve the local community this Giving Tuesday by supporting Spartan impact projects such as campus sustainability, diversity research and veterans resources. All of these campus initiatives and more can be found here.

To give over the phone, call (517) 884-1000. You can also email University Advancement at uadv.msuannualfund@msu.edu with any questions about Giving Tuesday or service throughout the year.

For additional community service opportunities this year, click here.

Celebrate Giving Tuesday however it works for you and your loved ones. Make someone’s day brighter with a smile, help out a neighbor or stranger, or get involved in a cause you are passionate about.

This Giving Tuesday, find the service project or need that is perfect for you and give what you can. Spartans Will…give back to the community!

Winter Events, Activities, Holiday Shopping and Courses

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As the weather gets colder and holidays are fast approaching, check out the following opportunities on campus or in the Greater Lansing area. Many events require registration, so be sure to click the links to learn more.

Campus Events

December 3 – Alton Brown Live: Beyond The Eats – The Holiday Variant: See the Food Network and Netflix star cook and experiment live at the Wharton Center.

December 7 – Night of a Thousand Donuts (free): Enjoy coffee and donuts in the Main Library and Gast Business Library.

December 15 – International Employee Resource Group: Potluck Lunch (free): Share your favorite food and recipe card with other international employees at Linton Hall. 

Family-Friendly Activities

Starts December 1 – Lansing Holiday Light Show: Enjoy dozens of dazzling, larger-than-life holiday themed displays to delight the entire family.

Starts December 2 – Season of Light: Visit the Abrams Planetarium to learn how familiar traditions have an astronomical connection.

Starts December 4 – George and Oatmeal Save Santa: Celebrate the winter season at the Abrams Planetarium with this fun show.

December 10 – Cocoa and Collection (free): Bring the whole family to the MSU Broad Art Museum to warm up with hot cocoa and art-making activities inspired by wintery works of art.

December 17 – Kids Cookie Decorating Class w/ Michigan Made Treats: Brink the kids to this cookie decorating class at the Allen Neighborhood Center.

Music 

December 10 – MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series: Telling the Story: Christmas Oratorios by Bach & Saint-Saens: Listen to inspiring and uplifting holiday sounds from the MSU Choral Union, University Chorale and State Singers with the MSU Symphony Orchestra.

December 11 – Holiday Pops: Seasons Greetings: Listen to American Idol finalist, LaKisha Jones, sing your favorite holiday tunes and traditional carols. 

December 17 – MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series: A Jazzy Little Christmas: Enjoy a performance of festive favorites from MSU Professors of Jazz with special guests.

Holiday Shopping

Starts December 1 – Michigan Made Holiday Art Exhibition: Showcasing established and emerging artists, enjoy holiday shopping and opportunities to support makers in the local economy.

December 3 – Holiday Art/Craft/Farmers Market: Enjoy the annual South Lansing holiday market featuring holiday gifts from a variety of vendors. 

Learning Opportunities

Starts December 6 – MSU Grief and Loss Support Group (free): Learn about available resources and connect with other grieving community members every Tuesday. 

Starts December 8 – Deepening Your Essential Skills (free): Connect with others in the MSU community to ask questions and raise topics.

Starts December 12 – Understanding Shame and Building Shame Resilience (free): Gain skills to understand shame and build skills to bounce back from it every Monday.

December 13 – Family Employee Resource Group: Safe Infant Sleep (free): Learn how to create a safe sleep environment for your infant(s) from the Infant Safe Sleep Program Coordinator, Colleen Nelson. 

December 21 – Explorations in Eating (free): Learn from an MSU Health4U registered dietician for a conversation about nutrition.

December 29 – Adult Caregivers Employee Resource Group: Caring for the Caregiver (free): Connect with other adult caregivers to discuss how to take care of yourself.