Reminder: Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs occur Oct. 20–22

After several weeks of Open Enrollment, MSU faculty, staff and retirees should be familiar with the plans and options available to them.  The Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs  are here to help with MSU Human Resources and vendor representatives available to answer questions.

The following are the dates and times of the Benefits Fairs:

Benefits_OE_Masthead_purple_webOctober 20, noon to 6 p.m.

October 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 22, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While at the fair, eligible employees and retirees can receive a free flu shot. Find out more here.

You can also take some time to relax in a free 10-minute chair massage. Read about the times these are offered, which vendors are attending the fair and directions and parking information here.

Fall Color Walk

Fall leaves on the ground
Autumn leaves line the sidewalk to the Music Practice Building. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

Time flies when you’re busy, and the season of fall is no exception to that rule with the return of students, football Saturdays and increased campus activities. Fall is stunning on campus, and now in the middle of October the colorful trees are at their most beautiful.

Set aside some time in the next few weeks to slow down with a walk through campus, taking in the scenery and breathing crisp autumn air.

Michigan State has many hidden gems that you might not be familiar with. Just north of East Neighborhood, the Sanford Natural area offers a quiet stroll through the woods right next to the Red Cedar River.

In the southeast corner of campus you can admire a variety of specially designed gardens in the Clarence E. Lewis Arboretum.

Aerial view of West Circle Drive
Paths criss-cross throughout West Circle. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

West Circle, the River Trail and Beal Botanical Garden are, deservedly so, well-known beautiful destinations for campus walks as well.

You can also find paths with campus art on the way and keep track of your mileage with this Campus Walking Loops map.

With such a wide variety of walking tours to choose from, you can spend the rest of the fall exploring campus, soothing your mind and exercising your body.

Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time of recognition that helps to raise money for research and support for families affected by breast cancer.

Gwen’s bagels can be purchased at Sparty’s stores, online http://www.msubakers.com/ or at the MSU Bakes Farm Stand https://eatatstate.com/content/msu-bakers-stand-opens-may-8. Photo courtesy of MSU Bakers.
Gwen’s bagels can be purchased at Sparty’s stores, online or at the MSU Bakes Farm Stand . Photo courtesy of MSU Bakers.

This month also serves as a reminder for women to get mammograms; the earlier the cancer is detected, the easier it is to stop its spread and damage.

MSU Human Resources extends its thanks to the researchers, fundraisers and involved citizens who work to find the cure. The strength of current patients, survivors and their families is admirable and is the driving force behind the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Continue Reading… Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Rest with Music at Abrams Planetarium!

Managing multiple responsibilities can lead to mounting stress.

Rest with Music graphic
Rest with Music presents different musical styles, genres and traditions for each session

It’s important for the mind and body to unwind in a soothing atmosphere. That’s why the University Physician’s Office, Health4U, Abrams Planetarium and Student Health Services invite you to attend Rest with Music, a monthly series of live music at Abrams Planetarium from noon to 1 p.m. Rest with Music features a variety of musical styles from many talented musicians. This month’s artist is Ray Kamalay, a guitarist and singer from Detroit. He is also knowledgeable about the history of musical influences and has given lectures about this and music education. Read all about Kamalay in the Rest for Music schedule.

Join your fellow MSU employees Monday, October 19, to relax with the music from Kamalay. Make sure to mark your calendars with the rest of the 2015-16 Rest with Music schedule!

Job of the Week 10/9/15

This week we are highlighting the Business Manager position (posting #2123 ) in the Office of Study Abroad (OSA). The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all accounts associated with the (OSA) and the American Semester Program (ASP), including developing and managing departmental budgets and managing budgets for study abroad programs. Responsibilities also include researching, preparing, and verifying the accuracy of financial statements and reports in order to provide information for Study Abroad personnel and university colleges and departments; serving as fiscal officer for all OSA accounts and backup fiscal officer for all ASP accounts; serving as a resource for OSA staff, program leaders, and college contacts on various financial, policy, and HR issues; coordinating with International Studies and Program’s HR assistant director on program leader payroll; managing OSA purchasing card program; supervises OSA business office staff and students; serving on the OSA Operations team; and performing other duties as assigned.

MSU Jobs IconFor 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.

Get your free flu vaccine!

Hand extracting vaccine
Students and non-MSU employees can receive the vaccine for $30.

You might have noticed increased sniffling going around in the office. Cold and flu season is upon us, but staff, faculty and retirees at MSU can ward themselves against the flu with this year’s vaccine for free!

The Office of the University Physician will be offering flu clinics at various campus locations in October and November. The $30 quadrivalent flu vaccine is subsidized by Human Resources and can be administered via injection or nasal spray.

View the 2015 flu clinic schedule here.

For questions regarding flu clinics, please contact the Office of the University Physician at 517-353-8933 or uphys@msu.edu.

Sign up for benefits during Open Enrollment

Benefits Open Enrollment for MSU staff and faculty is going on now!

Benefits_OE_Masthead_purple_web
It’s that time of year! Benefits Open Enrollment is going on now

Sign up for health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, flexible spending accounts and other benefits offered through MSU before Saturday, October 31, 2015. This annual month-long enrollment period is crucial in determining your benefits coverage for the 2016 year.

Read all you need to know about Open Enrollment in our 2016 guide, which includes cost of benefits, coverage summaries, new and important information this year and details about the various plans and benefits options offered through MSU.

Remember to attend the Benefits Fairs October 20-22 at Breslin Center to talk to vendors and MSU Human Resources Benefits staff members.

Open Enrollment is completed online through the Employee Self Service option in Enterprise Business System for health, dental, life and flexible spending accounts. Find detailed enrollment instructions in the Open Enrollment guide.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the HR Solutions Center. This team is prepared to help faculty and staff during the Open Enrollment period. Email your questions to SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or call 517-353-4434.

Job of the Week 10/2/15

This week we are highlighting the Information Technologist II (Posting #1516) in IT Services. The successful candidate will serve as Application Performance Management Technician to provide critical performance, availability and capacity data necessary to effectively monitor Michigan State University’s core business applications, reduce downtime, and help in root cause analysis; research, evaluate and implement a monitoring/application performance solution; determine Infrastructure, Network, Middleware, DB & Application Development requirements and configure monitoring for intelligent, timely and actionable alerting; research, track and route issues to a successful completion, including communicating resolutions to management, software development teams, and customers; integrate application and business data/metrics with infrastructure data/metrics to provide an integrated, holistic capacity management solution; guide the development of dashboards/reporting for communication and diagnostics; propose, design, and implement enhancements and additions to current environment; provide direction, generate work, and collaborate with various system and application owners to onboard new applications to MSU’s performance management solution; mentor team members in professional areas of expertise related to job responsibilities.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.

Events Round-Up October 2015

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

Wednesday, October 9, 2015

The Hob Nob, 6–8 p.m., Broad Art Museum

Wednesday, October 9 – Thursday, October 10

Oktoberfest, Old Town

Thursday, October 10 – Friday, October 11

Apple Butter Festival, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Fenner Nature Center

Sunday, October 13 – Friday, October 18

Jersey Boys, times vary, Wharton Center

Sunday, October 25

An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth, 7 p.m., Wharton Center

Thursday, October 29 – Saturday, October 31

Haunted Aud, times vary, Auditorium Building

Date TBD

Safe Halloween, Time TBD, M.A.C. Avenue

Development, Training and Wellness

Friday, October 4

Lansing Loses a Million Celebrity Challenge Event, 10 a.m.–noon

Wednesday, October 7

Accounting in EBS, 8:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m., 10 Nisbet

Tuesday, October 13

Writing Emails and Memos, 3 p.m.,–4:30 p.m., 300 Bessey Hall

Academic Women’s Forum, 3:30–5 p.m., MSU Union Lake  Ontario Room

Tuesday, October 20

Proving Value: Designing Effective Surveys, 1:30 p.m–4 p.m., 10 Nisbet

Navigating Business Intelligence, 8:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m., B110H Wells Hall

Wednesday, October 21

Accessible Web Design, 8 a.m.–noon, 210 Computer Center

Tuesday, October 27

Raising Good Eaters, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m., 210B Berkey Hall

Thursday, October 29

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

Celebrate Spartan excellence at fun homecoming events

MSU homecoming 2015 graphic
MSU takes on Purdue in the homecoming game

Spartans take the stage at this year’s homecoming with a theme focusing on the university alumni who have gone on to live extraordinary lives and grace the world’s stages. The grand marshal is Tony Award-winning composer William Brohn.

The parade, beginning at 6 p.m., is just one of many events scheduled for the week preceding the homecoming game. Listen to live music performed by Desmond Jones on Thursday, October 1, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Summer Circle Theater by the Kresge Art Center and enjoy free Dairy Store ice cream while supplies last at the Rock on Farm Lane on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is plenty to do before kickoff, as well. The Green & White Homecoming Brunch starts at 8:30 a.m. before the game and includes special guests President Lou Ann K. Simon, head coach Mark Dantonio, athletic director Mark Hollis and more. Registration is required for this event. Many colleges are also hosting tailgates for alumni.

Don’t forget go Glow Green this week! You have the chance to win a $100 Spartan Bookstore gift card by participating in the photo contest.

Join the fun this week by showing off your Spartan Spirit!