Thank you Digital Content and Accessibility, WAWG and the ADA Coordinator!

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Screen readers and other applications help those with disabilities interact with web pages
Screen readers and other applications help those with disabilities interact with websites.

In an age in which almost all information is published and accessed online, it is essential that everyone can interact with web pages. Unfortunately, those with disabilities are often excluded from critical online information because of inaccessible websites or documents.

MSU has taken the initiative to ensure that all university digital content is accessible so all students, faculty, staff and members of the MSU community share equal opportunity in receiving and interacting with it. Digital Content and Accessibility, a part of MSU Information Technology, works to accomplish this goal. This team of staff and students, along with the cross-department Web Accessibility Working Group and the ADA Coordinator, all work together to provide an abundance of resources and tutorials that MSU faculty and staff can use to ensure that the new content they are creating is accessible and existing inaccessible content can be altered to uphold accessibility standards.

Every department at MSU has a different audience, structure, and digital content for their website. This is why each department is developing a five-year plan to best prioritize the order in which content is made fully accessible. Digital Content and Accessibility is here to help MSU staff throughout this process.

Learn more about accessibility, resources, tutorials, templates and policies at webaccess.msu.edu. You can also email webaccess@msu.edu.

Thank you, MSU IT, WAWG, and the ADA Coordinator, for helping MSU become a model for accessibility!

Job of the Week 1/22/16

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This week we are highlighting an Administrative Assistant I position (posting #2684)  in Residential and Hospitality Services. The candidate collects, compiles, and interprets information for the Spartan Hospitality Group Accounting office; creates and maintains EBS accounting systems for Spartan Hospitality Group; monitors and oversees all accounting activities to assist with the operational functions of the Accounting office; administers and oversees a large variety of accounting activities for Spartan Hospitality Group; establishes, maintains, and oversees SHG funds and accounts; explains MSU, RHS, and SHG accounting policies and procedures to staff and guests in order to resolve any accounting issues; collects and interprets information to produce a large variety of accounting reports and budgets; compiles accounting records and submits bills for various services; and assists business manager with a variety of special projects as assigned.MSU Jobs Icon

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.

Beat the winter blues

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Snow-frosted trees line the Red Cedar River. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.
Snow-frosted trees line the Red Cedar River. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

SAD isn’t just an emotion – it’s a type of depression related to the changing of the seasons, an acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Those who have SAD might experience irritability, tiredness, loss of focus, difficulty sleeping and more.

Even without SAD, it’s easy to feel a little down in the winter. The lack of outside warmth, sunlight and outdoor exercise and activities contribute to a sluggish and gloomy mentality.

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to keep your spirits up during the long, cold months ahead.

Healthy eating

It can be easy to fall into the habit of eating comfort food during winter. A healthy diet does wonders for overall mood and physical wellness by providing your body with long-lasting energy and essential vitamins and minerals.Continue Reading… Beat the winter blues

Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award nomination deadline approaching

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Ruth Jameyson died in 2007 at the age of 100 years. Photo courtesy of University Archives & Historical Collections
Ruth Jameyson died in 2007 at the age of 100 years. Photo courtesy of University Archives & Historical Collections

The Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award  is a relatively new award that honors the late Ruth Jameyson, who served as the secretary to MSU President Robert S. Shaw from 1938 to 1941 and secretary/administrative assistant to President John A. Hannah from 1941 to 1969. While working full time at MSU she earned a master’s degree in economics.

The Ruth Jameyson Award is given to a deserving full-time MSU staff member that is working toward a graduate degree. The recipient will be honored at the Distinguished Staff Award reception in May 2016 and receives a $2,500 stipend.

A nominee must be a regular, active support staff employee with at least five years of service to MSU and must be enrolled and attending a post-baccalaureate program at MSU or elsewhere. MSU staff are encouraged to nominate coworkers that meet the qualifications and are considered deserving of the award.

The award recipient will be selected depending on job performance, academic success and contributions to his or her department and the university. The extent to which the candidate upholds the ideals of Ruth Jameyson will also be considered.

Nomination forms and supporting materials are due Friday, January 29, 2016. They should be sent to H. Michael Rice at riceh@msu.edu .

Engage with your community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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MLK and LBJ
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lyndon Johnson shakes hands after the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

MSU’s Project 60/50 began in 2014 as a community-oriented conversation starter that derived its name and mission from the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These two historical pieces of legislation were born from a diverse yet united community’s countless hours of organized campaigning and conversation to achieve the worthy and crucial goal of equality.

The struggle for civil rights continues in this country, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day provides us with the opportunity to reflect on progress and assess what lies ahead. Dr. King has brought hope, inspiration and motivation to millions during and after his lifetime. His encouragement of peaceful protest and widespread awareness of ongoing discrimination remain relevant today.Continue Reading… Engage with your community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

“Reach Higher” in 2016 with The Daring Way

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The Daring Way is based on the research of research of Dr. Brené Brown

The new year serves as a common time for people to begin improving the health of their minds and bodies. An often-overlooked but vital part of human health is emotional wellness. Health4U is introducing a new experiential course, The Daring Way™, that teaches participants how to understand and examine their emotions. Lisa Laughman, LMSW, ACSW, will be teaching the course, and affirms that “learning to live and work the Daring Way is essential to high performance.” Workers that are able to navigate the full range of human emotions and understand how vulnerability, shame, insecurity and fear might hold them back will be more likely to take risks and will be emotionally prepared when things go wrong.

“The Daring Way teaches you how to be more comfortable with risk and innovation, and risk aversion is a barrier to high performance,” Laughman said. “When we’re afraid to take a risk because we’re afraid of failing, then we’re not being as high performing as we could be.”

Participants in The Daring Way program will develop tools to take charge of their lives and relationships outside of work, as well.

“Being able to move through challenging circumstances effectively is going help you have healthier relationships, a better sense of perspective, and will protect your physical health as well.”  Laughman said. “Your body is not going to be resisting difficult emotions.”

Each of the 12 classes for The Daring Way take place 12:10 – 12:50 p.m. Wednesdays in 338 Olin Health Center, beginning January 20. The class will now be offered using the online learning platform Zoom, and online seating is still available.

Participants should sign up with the intention to attend every class, if possible.

To register or to ask questions, email health4u@msu.edu or call 517-353-2596.

MSU offers support for smoking cessation

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The benefits of quitting smoking have been made very clear throughout the last few years. In addition to the numerous health improvements, such as a return to regular breathing patterns and a decrease in the risk of heart disease and many forms of cancer, quitters also enjoy saved money, a better sense of smell and taste, more freedom with time and scheduling, and much more. However, knowledge is rarely enough to end an addiction. Many smokers find the task of quitting daunting, or even impossible.

Eligible faculty and staff at MSU don’t have to go through the process alone. The Breathe Easy Tobacco and Nicotine Cessation Program offers behavioral support and, if desired, medication, to aid the quitting process. The next information session is Wednesday, January 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in 247 Olin Health Center. Attending the information session does not obligate attendees to enroll in the program. To register, call 517-353-2596 or email health4u@msu.edu.

The program is absolutely free.  MSU faculty, staff, graduate student employees, retirees, and their adult benefits-eligible family members are eligible to participate in this program.

Sometimes the first step is the most difficult. The team at Breathe Easy can guide you along the rest of the way to quitting. Listen to the testimonials from real graduates of this program:

 

Events Round-Up January 2016

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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.

Community Events

Friday, January 8

Moscow Festival Ballet, 8 p.m., Wharton Center 

Friday, January 15 – Sunday, January 17

Lansing Boat Show, the Lansing Center

Sunday, January 17

Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert, 3 and 7 p.m., MSU Auditorium

Monday, January 18

Martin Luther King Jr. Project 60/50 events 

Wednesday, January 20

BroadPOP Studio, 2 – 4 p.m., Broad Art Museum 

Friday, January 22

A Spanish Serenade, 8 p.m., MSU Auditorium 

Monday, January 25

Sharper Focus/Wider Lens: The Nature of Inequality, 7 p.m., MSU Union Ballroom 

Tuesday, January 26

Vocalosity, 7:30 p.m., Wharton Center 

Thursday, January 28

Family Moonlight Sledding, 6 – 8:30 p.m., Okemos 

Development, Training and Wellness

Tuesday, January 12

Tai Chi, 12:30 – 1:30, Broad Art Museum 

Wednesday, January 13

Recipe for Health Cooking Series: Dark Chocolate 12:10 – 12:50 p.m., Brody Square Demonstration Kitchen 

Wednesday, January 20

EBS Financial System – Roles/Onboarding, 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., 10 Nisbet 

Tuesday, January 26

New Supervisor Essentials, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., 10 Nisbet 

The Mediterranean Way: “Fats and Oils,” 12:10 –12:50 p.m. 338 Olin Health Center

Thursday, January 28

Road Next Traveled: 3-7 Years to Your Retirement, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Thank you Abrams Planetarium!

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Photo courtesy of Abrams Planetarium.

Abrams Planetarium has been entertaining and educating audiences for more than 50 years. From school field trips to midday relaxation hours, this MSU destination never fails to delight its visitors. Abrams Planetarium uses its state-of-the-art Digistar projector not only for incredible astronomical shows, but also family shows, the homecoming Spartan Spectacular, ambient mood settings and much more.

The planetarium goes the extra mile to serve faculty and staff at MSU.  In partnership with Health4U, it hosts Relaxing Under the Stars, The Healing Power of Guided Imagery and the monthly live concert series Rest with Music. All events occur from noon to 1 p.m. on weekdays for employees to unwind in the middle of their workdays.

Thank you, Abrams Planetarium, for going to astronomical heights to serve the MSU community!

Reminder: Upcoming university holidays

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Red Cedar River in winter.
Snow-covered Red Cedar River. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

It might not look like it outside, but the winter holidays are coming up! The university will be closed on the following days:

  • Thursday, December 24
  • Friday, December 25
  • Thursday, December 31
  • Friday, January 1

We hope you take this time to relax, eat delicious food and spend time with loved ones! As the year comes to a close, we would like to thank everyone for all of their continued work in making MSU an outstanding university. Let’s make 2016 even better!

From everyone at MSU Human Resources, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!