Heart-Healthy Habits

The American Heart Association has dubbed February as American Heart Month. There are several things that you can do to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle:

Eat heart-healthy foods.

A nutritious diet plays a vital role in heart health. Fruits, veggies, fibrous whole grain foods and fish are best for your heart. Be conscious of food labels in order to limit your intake of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugar. Additionally, eat only as many calories as you need and drink in moderation.

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Are you doing what it takes to maintain a healthy heart?

Exercise

The American Heart Association suggests moderate activity for 2 1/2 hours a week to keep your heart healthy. Your exercise regiment can vary based on a number of factors. Talk to your doctor and set a target heart rate to exercise safely. Choose an activity that you enjoy.

Implement therapeutic lifestyle changes.

While diet, exercise and weight loss are all self-explanatory and fundamental pillars of a heart-healthy lifestyle, there are certainly other therapeutic lifestyle changes to consider. For example, quitting cigarettes and reducing stress are affirmative actions that aid in overall heart health.

The MSU community will recognize heart health in a variety of ways. Consider buying your Valentine’s Day sweets from MSU Bakers. Patrons can donate money to the American Heart Association with the purchase of baked goods.

To learn more about American Heart Month, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.

 

Job of the Week 2/6/2015

This week we are highlighting a Residence Education & Housing Services Outreach Assistant (Posting #0803) in Residence Education and Housing Services Administration. The successful candidate will plan, coordinate, assemble, and distribute information pertaining to a department or program in order to develop strong connections and achievement between departmental goals and alignment with globalization and international goals. Also, develops and implements programs and materials in order to inform participants of department and/or university’s innovations, resources, and offerings.

For a complete description of this position, and to view all of our current postings, please go to www.jobs.msu.edu and select Support Staff under the Fast Jobs Search. MSU Jobs Icon

2015 Founders’ Day Awards Convocation

Upon Governor Kinsley S. Bingham’s signing of state legislation on February 12, 1855, Michigan Agricultural College was founded. The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan became America’s first agricultural college and “mother” of all land-grant colleges in the United States. The college became a university on July 1, 1955, and received its last of six name changes on January 1, 1964, becoming Michigan State University.

MSU Laboratory Row in 1912
MSU’s Laboratory Row in 1912: Horticulture, Bacteriology, Botany, Dairy, Entomology, and Agriculture. All but Agriculture Hall have since been renamed.

In honor of Michigan State University’s founding in February of 1855, the university honors its faculty and staff in a yearly awards ceremony around the time of its original founding. This ceremony, known as Founders’ Day, recognizes the hard work, dedication and achievements of its faculty and staff. The primary focus of this event is on the people and the accomplishments of this great university. Thus, Founders’ Day provides us with an opportunity to highlight our strengths, particularly the academic strengths of the institution. In past years, students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, private sector partners and other constituents, along with representatives from communities, government and other universities from across the state and around the country, have all been a part of this university event. The 2015 Awards Convocation ceremony, along with President Simon’s State of the University address, will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Pasant Theatre of the Wharton Center. For more information about this event, please visit this website.

Schedule an Office Clean-Out for Recyclemania

RecycleMania is an annual competition that encourages college campuses to rally together in order to increase recycling rates. This year, the event will take place from February 1 to March 28. During the eight-week competition, students are encouraged to be adamant in their recycling efforts. MSU Sustainability will make appearances on campus in order to award those “caught” green-handed.

Exercise your impact and go green for RecycleMania!
Exercise your impact and go green for RecycleMania!

The MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center is encouraging faculty and staff to participate in the festivities by scheduling an office clean-out. Office clean outs include a morning delivery of two hampers to your work space; one for confidential shred, one for everything else including paper, cardboard, boxboard, plastics, books and electronics. The hampers will be available for the entirety of your scheduled clean-out and will be picked up the following morning. Surplus items can also be picked up simultaneously if this need is vocalized in advance.

Office clean-outs present a wonderful opportunity to be Spartan green and to organize your work space. To schedule a clean-out, call MSU Sustainability at 517-355-1751.

For additional information visit http://msusurplusstore.blogspot.com/2013/02/office-clean-outs.html or view the PDF.

A Look Into the Past: MSU Retirement Traditions

The tradition of presenting a book to retiring employees is one that MSU HR has carried on for years. Recently, a current HR employee brought in her great-grandfather’s retirement book, circa 1969, to share. Tucked inside the book’s pages were old employee photographs, images depicting the timeless beauty of MSU’s campus and a letter from President John Hannah. Also included was a pamphlet distributed at MSU’s Seventh Annual Retirement and Service Award Ceremony. This recognition program, an integral part of MSU’s dedication to honoring hardworking employees, still occurs annually each spring. Now, employees are able to select a personal gift that fits their unique preferences.

While many years have passed since the first retirement books were passed out (53, to be exact) it is important to note that MSU has stayed true in its values. Technology, fashion and the community are things that change with time, yet MSU’s dedication to employee appreciation is something that will not falter.

President's Letter
A letter from MSU President John A. Hannah
Seventh Annual Retirement Program pamphlet.
Seventh Annual Retirement Program pamphlet
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MSU’s campus circa 1960

Breathe Easy and Embrace Your Health

Do you want to quit smoking but aren’t quite sure what course of action to take? While smoking can be one of the most difficult health behaviors to change, it doesn’t have to be.  MSU Health4U has the perfect solution. Breathe Easy, a totally free tobacco and nicotine cessation program, offers behavioral support and medical evaluation to help you kick your bad habits to the curb—for good. One of the best attributes of Breathe Easy is the fact that the program can be tailored to fit the needs of each participant. For example, participants can elect to enact a medication-free quitting plan. In order to participate in Breathe Easy, an employee needs to be benefits-eligible or be the adult, benefits-eligible family member of an MSU faculty, staff, graduate student assistant or retiree.

If you qualify and are ready for the challenge, please register to attend this spring’s pre-enrollment information session on January 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 247, Olin Health Center. Being present at this session does not obligate employees to enroll. Rather, attendees can expect a thorough overview of the program. You may register in person at 330 Olin Health Center, by phone at 517-353-2596 or by email at health4u@msu.edu.

For more information, view the entire PDF.

The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.
The minute you quit smoking, you being to regain your health.

New on the Human Resources Website

It’s been a busy month for new items on the HR website.

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Regularly visit MSU HR on the web to keep up-to-date with the latest news.

There’s a new university-wide policy on Relationship Violence & Sexual Misconduct that replaces the policy on Sexual Harassment. Information surrounding Guidelines for Maintaining Critical Functions and Services at MSU is also now available. The electronic I-9 system is fully implemented and a new page with information about the Form I-9 process, compliance training and system access guidelines has been created.

To help new employees understand the benefits available to them, we have created a Benefits Overview toolkit, a quick reference about benefits available to MSU employees. There is also a complete 27-page presentation that provides information previously given at the benefits/retirement orientations.

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King participates in a civil rights march.
Dr. King participates in a civil rights march.

MSU has celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. since 1980, six years before Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a national holiday. This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 19. MSU students, faculty and staff will join together in recognition of Dr. King’s life’s work; bringing publicity to major civil rights activities, emphasizing and encouraging peaceful protests, and providing leadership.

The tribute begins this Saturday, January 17 with a gala celebrating the commencement of Project 60/50, a year-long initiative focused on engaging the community in conversations about diversity. After the gala, a Union Activities Board event will be held to illustrate the student body’s talent and commitment to civil rights issues. On Sunday, January 18, free jazz concerts will be available as 60/50’s gift to the community. On Monday, a student leadership conference will run through the morning to be followed by a luncheon taking place in partnership with the Greater Lansing King Commemorative Celebration Commission. Other festivities include a commemorative march from the Union to Beaumont Tower and an exhibit at the MSU Museum.

As we look forward to paying homage to the heroic deeds of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., MSU HR salutes all those who have worked for equality; past, present and future.

Enhance Your Service With The Spartan Experience

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Said one participant, “[The Spartan Experience is] one of the most fun, memorable customer service classes I’ve attended.”
The Spartan Experience program addresses the key concepts, habits and vital behaviors that are universal to providing excellent service and creating outstanding experiences. The program provides the foundation and tools that equip staff supervisors and managers to define the service experience in their specific unit. It helps all participating understand how they help MSU distinguish and embrace a high-performance customer-service culture. Since its start in October 2013, over 1,600 employees have participated in The Spartan Experience from over 30 departments. More than 400 supervisors have attended Leading the Spartan Experience, designed to introduce them to the concepts and resources available.

Don’t hesitate, register for The Spartan Experience today! To do so, log into EBS and select the Training Opportunities quick link under your ESS tab.

This spring, there will be multiple classes held:

Dates:
Thursday, January 15
Friday, January 16
Friday, February 20
Monday, February 23
Tuesday, February 24
Thursday, March 12
Friday, March 13
Monday, March 16
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17
Monday, April 20
Tuesday, April 21

Location:
Suite 10, Nisbet  Building

Time:
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Also, for supervisors, Leading the Spartan Experience is available:

Dates:
Tuesday, February 3
Thursday, March 19
Monday, April 16

Location:
Suite 10, Nisbet Building

Time:
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

 

Unleash Your Inner Videographer— Across Generations: Video Fest

Often, the elders in our lives prove to be our most vital influences. What we gain from conversation with these role models is truly invaluable. To encourage such discussion, Project 60/50 has created the Across Generations: Video Fest contest. Project 60/50, an ongoing community conversation on civil and human rights, is committed to bringing attention to the experiences, viewpoints, contributions, value and rights of all persons, including older adults.Project 60.50.circle WITH msu wordmark CMYK

The Across Generations: Video Fest contest invites young people to tape a conversation with an important elder (anyone 60+ years of age.) This contest not only aids young people in learning more about the elders in their lives, but provides a platform for older adults to share their stories. All entrants and their elders will be invited to a ceremony in recognition of submitted films at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum on February 21. One winner will be selected from each category: elementary (k-5), middle school (6-8), high school (9-12) and college. Prizes include a film screening at February’s ceremony and the East Lansing Film Festival as well as a $60.50 cash award.

Entries can be submitted at Project6050.msu.edu. The deadline is January 31. For more information, view the PDF.