Two hundred thirty-nine years ago the Continental Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. The Fourth of July is a day to reflect on the birth of our nation and celebrate with family and friends. It’s also a day to eat great food, attend parades and watch fireworks.
The Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, so the university is closed Friday, July 3. The next university holiday is Labor Day on Sept. 7. View the university academic calendar here.
On July 3, all Sparty’s sites and the Riverwalk Market at Owen Hall will be closed, but all other Eat-At-State hours of operation are the same. View the hours of operation for Independence Day here.
The Controller’s Office works with numbers in Hannah Administration. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.
The Controller’s Office manages MSU’s finances, and is behind every paycheck received by faculty and staff. That may be the favorite feature of this department, but the Controller’s Office is essential for innumerable university functions.
There are many rules, policies and laws that the Controller’s Office must ensure are being followed by the university, its students and its employees. In total, that’s about 60,000 individuals! Its mission is to provide world-class fiscal integrity and service while facilitating MSU’s world-class instruction, research, and public service.
The Controller’s Office performs many services, such as managing business traveling expenses, providing online calculators to estimate tuition, coordinating the MSU Manual of Business Procedures, which outlines policies and procedures regarding proper university business fund allocation, and so on.
In short, the good people at the Controller’s Office meet the constant financial needs of the MSU community. They pay attention to the nitty-gritty details that are vital to the university’s continued world-class fiscal reputation and strive for accuracy and integrity in their work.
Thanks Controller’s Office! You’re a good friend to Human Resources, and we definitely appreciate you!
What’s summer without a barbecue? Get out your grill and cook up some savory food to share with family and friends. Residential and Hospitality Services Senior Executive Chef Kurt Kwiatkowski offers a recipe and some tips to make the most of your summer barbecue.
MSU HR would like to thank everyone who participated in the “What’s Your Financial IQ?” challenge! To celebrate Financial Literacy Month, we teamed up with retirement vendor TIAA-CREF to quiz faculty and staff on their financial knowledge. Beginning on April 1, for 22 days five questions were added each day. The more participants played, the more they were entered to win a tablet computer.
The 1,100 participants, who ranged in age from 18 to over 65, received an average performance of 66 percent on the quiz this year. Participants self-identified their financial subject matter knowledge, ranging from “clueless” to “ready to retire.” MSU employees scored highest on questions related to taxes and lowest on questions related to retirement.
Congratulations to our winners!
Nicole Martin, Administrative Professional in Faculty and Organizational DevelopmentMichael Rich, Senior Specialist in Composite Materials and StructuresThomas Ginter, Physicist at National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab
Thanks again to TIAA-CREF for sponsoring the challenge. We hope staff and faculty learned the extent of their financial knowledge, and can study in preparation for next year’s challenge!
Take dad golfing just south of MSU’s main campus on one of Forest Akers’ two 18-hole golf courses. Those who play on June 20 or 21 on the West Course receive a free photo at The Moore Bridge.
Dads get in for free this Sunday at Potter Park Zoo, which is home to more than 160 species of animals. Learn all about the characteristics and habitats of these animals, including tigers, penguins, a Burmese python and much more.
Families can come for free to the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden on MSU’s campus. Children can learn about the variety of plants in the garden and make something for dad.
Take dad out to the ball game to watch the Lugnuts take on the Great Lakes Loons. Get there early, because dads and kids can play catch on the field with the Lugnuts players before the game. There will be zoo animals, airbrush tattoos and more on the concourse.
Let your dad know how much you appreciate him by sharing smiles and making lasting memories.
Summer is the perfect time for MSU faculty and staff to get into the habit of biking to work.
Biking is a great way to experience the beautiful MSU campus, get exercise, go green and save on gas and parking.
Bikes locked up at the College of Engineering Building. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.
“You just see things you don’t get to see when you’re in a car, so I just find it a lot more fun,” said Sustainable Transportation Manager Tim Potter, a year-round bicyclist.
Biking is especially practical because CATA’s Spartan Service, which includes most MSU campus routes and allows MSU regular employees to ride CATA on-campus routes for free, does not operate in the summer. Several East Lansing routes have reduced run times as well. Read about the changes here.
Potter recommends starting with small trips and discovering different routes for beginning bike commuters. The Tri-County Bicycle Association has an updated online map that features bike-friendly streets. The MSU-specific map developed by MSU Bikes is a helpful tool as well.
Do you have too far of a commute to bike all the way to MSU? Try driving to one of MSU’s open summer lots and biking or walking from there! In the summer, lots 89, 91, 83 and 75 are free and do not require a permit. You can also make use of the two membership-based MSU bike garages located inside parking ramps to protect your bike from weather and theft.
There are now eight do-it-yourself bike repair stations on campus and even free lockers.
“You can get an assigned locker inside the IM Circle, which is like a $100 value, for no charge if you commit to being a bike commuter,” Potter said. This allows staff and faculty to shower after a hot commute. Learn how to register for a locker here.
Remember to register your bike. Improve yourself, your wallet and the Earth this summer by leaving your car behind!
One of the benefits of working at a university is the ability to work with those attending it. Students bring fresh ideas and skills to the workplace, but working with them can present new challenges and require different methods of supervision.
From June 15 to 18, HR’s Professional Development Services will be hosting the Foundations of Student Employee Supervision Certificate Series. You can take individual courses or all four, which will result in a Certificate of Completion. All courses are located in 10 Nisbet Building.
MSU Greenline 2013 staff and students. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.
Learn the ins and outs of supervising MSU’s greatest resource this month!
Sessions:
Prohibited Harassment: Student Employees
Monday, June 15, 2015 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Investment: Free
Learn how to upholding the university’s policy on prohibited harassment by recognizing and responding to a range of prohibited harassment issues that might arise at work.
Hiring Student Employees at MSU
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 9:30 a.m. – noon
Investment: Free
The hiring process can be lengthy and requires knowledge of correct procedures and forms. This course will guide you through the paperwork and the best ways to communicate with new student employees.
Foundation of Student Employee Success
Thursday, June 18, 2015, 9 a.m. – noon
Investment: $100
Work experience is fantastic learning opportunity for students. Find out how to prepare student employees for their future careers, with lunch provided.
Motivating Student Employees
Thursday, June 18, 2015, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Investment: $100
Regular and student employees are at different points in their lives, and as such require different ways to be motivated. Enjoy the provided lunch while learning the best ways to motivate student employees.
Niche.com recently released its 2015 rankings for Best Campus Food, placing the Michigan State University Culinary Services dining program at No. 24 with an A+ score among traditional four-year colleges and universities in the United States. According to the rankings, Culinary Services—a department of the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services—is the top university dining services in Michigan.
The 2015 Eat at State summer hours of operation run through August 28 for the following locations:
Brody Square will be open Monday – Friday between 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The Vista at Shaw will be open Monday – Friday between 7 a.m. – 9 a.m., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Summer calls for barbecues, beach days, camping and, of course, construction. Read on to find out where roadwork is taking place in and around campus.
The construction that began on the southern half of West Circle Drive on May 11, which will continue until about July 12, has closed the stretch of road from the Spartan statue entrance to just past Main Library.  Lots 11 and 6 are also closed, which means the surrounding lots and ramps fill up quickly. Check out the detour here.
Work continues on the West Circle Drive construction site.
After July 12 one lane will be opened until Aug. 15, when construction is completed. Lot 6 and part of Lot 11 will also reopen. The summer project will upgrade steam tunnels, the water main and the telecommunication and electrical lines, among other improvements.
In addition, the length of Chestnut Road between Wilson Road and Trowbridge Road will be closed for construction from June 1 to July 24. Drivers can detour on nearby Red Cedar or Birch roads.
The city of East Lansing closed the length of Bogue Street from Grand River Avenue to Shaw Lane for construction on May 11 as well. A detour will be posted until its approximate scheduled reopening, June 12.
Following this project, Abbot Road between Burcham Drive and Saginaw Street will undergo construction. Fortunately, much of the work will take place at night, but for one week the road between Saginaw Street and Whitehills Drive will be completely closed to replace a cross section. The entire project is estimated to end Aug. 14.
Some smaller projects include asphalt paving on Virginia Avenue between Burcham Drive and Snyder Road and sidewalk ramp improvements on Grove Street between Burcham Drive and Linden Street.
Here are some events happening over the next month that may be of interest to MSU faculty and staff. Please visit the links for more information. Many events require registration.
