Job of the Week 1/20/17

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This week we are highlighting a Ticket Office Assistant Manager (posting #4759) with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The position will assist ticket office manager in all areas of athletic ticket office operations; supervise ticket office operations for
women’s basketball, volleyball and other assigned sports including reporting and audit preparation; serve as game day supervisor for assigned soccer, baseball, women’s basketball, hockey, gymnastics and wrestling events, including all staffing, payroll, ticket sales, reconciliation, and related reporting. This position will also act as window sales supervisor; provide customer support via phone, walk-up, and mail for single game and season ticket sales; address changes; research mistakes; create and maintain the database; and call customers to ascertain reasons for non-renewal of season tickets.

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.

Work-Related New Year’s Resolutions

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At the beginning of the new year it may be overwhelming and difficult to stick with your resolutions, especially with everyone telling you what to do or how they are doing it better. Don’t fall into the trap of setting lofty goals that will never be accomplished. Instead, set realistic resolutions that can help benefit your work life.

First, make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you see what to improve on, what you are already doing well and how you can utilize these strengths. Second, think long-term about your career goals. Where do you see yourself next year, in five years and 10 years? Third, be present in the workplace. Don’t just show up to the office and try to get through the day. Make the most out of each day, be productive and positive. Little changes can make a difference too. Consider updating your resume, going to networking opportunities and taking classes on subjects that interest you or will help boost your career.

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Taking a quick walk on your lunch break is an easy way to clear your mind. Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy

Simple resolutions made out of the office could ultimately help your career. Try to add 30 minutes to an hour of physical activity to your schedule at least three days a week, even if it means taking a quick walk on your lunch break. Do things you enjoy after work and on the weekends. Maybe pick up a new hobby or activity, or simply explore what your city has to offer. If changing your eating habits seems unattainable, MSU offers a six session course, How to Eat, on Thursdays in the Olin Health Center. The course teaches mindful techniques to bring awareness to eating without judgment. For more information on How to Eat, or other Health4U courses, visit Health4U.msu.edu.

Setting New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t be a hassle. Think about how you want to progress as a professional and make simple changes to help kick-start your new year.

Commuting Options: Be “Spartan Green” and save money getting to campus

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Are you considering commuting to campus for work or school, but unsure about your options? Would it be helpful to have more information so you can make a decision that fits your needs? Coming soon is the opportunity to join a discussion and learn from experts who will share information about services that can be used to get to and from campus. These options will enable you to save money, save the environment and “Be Spartan Green!”

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Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

A panel discussion will take place Wednesday, January 18 from noon – 1:00 p.m. in Room 110 Chittenden Hall. Participants will learn about:

  • CATA Clean Commute Options – a free service that helps interested individuals find alternative ways to commute to work; including car/vanpooling, bus, bike and walking. Learn about the options that fit your commute and the Emergency Ride Home program, which acts as “commuter insurance” if you’re ever left without transportation.
  • CATA bus service on and off campus, including the Spectran service for individuals with physical mobility concerns in the tri-county area.
  • MichiVan vanpool program – sponsored by MDOT and operated by vRide and Enterprise Rideshare, this program supplies fully insured passenger vans to commuter groups.
  • Biking – with support from MSU Bikes to help navigate your way safely to campus.

In addition to receiving information about commuting options, participants will also hear experiences from two commuters: Jen Bruen a Michivan driver/coordinator who has been commuting from Novi to Lansing since 2011 and Layne Cameron who rides his bicycle from Williamston to campus ( a 12-mile commute one way).

This informational session is free and open to all! RSVP to the MSU WorkLife Office by emailing worklife@msu.edu (subject line: “Commuting Options) or by calling 517-353-1635. For additional information about this event, visit the WorkLife Office website.

Job of the Week 1/13/17

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This week we are highlighting an Associate Director for Administration (posting # 4719) with Residence Education and Housing Services. The Associate Director for Administration will be responsible for developing strategic Residence Education and Housing Services plans to engage in the Liberal Learning goals, and managing the daily operations of the Housing Assignments Office, Operations Office, University Conference Services and Safety and Security Office, within Residence Education and Housing Services.

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.

Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award Reminder

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Nominations for the 7th Annual Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award are due by Friday, January 27. The award recognizes support staff members who are pursuing a graduate degree at MSU or elsewhere concurrent with their employment at MSU.

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

The Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award recognizes a support staff member who embodies the work ethic, spirit and commitment to MSU demonstrated by Ruth Jameyson. Ms. Jameyson worked as secretary to MSU President Robert S. Shaw and administrative assistant to President John A. Hannah while pursuing her master’s degree in economics.

Nominees must be regular, active employees with at least five years of service to MSU in a support staff position, and must be enrolled and attending a post-baccalaureate degree program at MSU or elsewhere.

The recipient will also receive a stipend of $2,500 funded by friends of Ruth Jameyson; Barbara Sawyer-Koch, MSU trustee emerita, and Donald F. Koch, MSU professor emeritus.

For more information about the award or nomination process, visit MSU Human Resources.

Have You Heard About Care.com?

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The WorkLife Office helps the university community be productive on campus while managing the inevitable demands of personal life. An example of a service provided through the office is Care.com.  This is a resource for the MSU community that can help you find childcare, housekeepers, pet care, senior/elder care support, even house sitters. Work-life issues are complex and diverse. Care.com is a tool that enables MSU staff, faculty and students to be high performing while solving the work-life puzzle of needs throughout the lifecycle, from childcare to elder care.

The Care.com website allows you to view detailed profiles of care providers and you can search according to your requirements: ZIP code, experience, hourly rate, availability and more. Care.com gives individuals 24/7 access to qualified care providers for every day, occasional or back-up care. Users can either search for providers or post a job to have candidates apply directly.

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Care.com is concerned about security and therefore includes safeguards. They conduct criminal background checks, and provide reviewed profiles and recorded references, which adds confidence when you make decisions regarding personal family care needs.

Measures of success

The MSU community has embraced Care.com. In a recent survey, 87% of respondents who tried to hire help through Care.com succeeded, and 95% of MSU respondents said they would recommend Care.com to a friend or colleague at the university.

How do you access the service?

Enter the MSU portal so you will not be charged for the service, then log in with your MSU Net ID to be identified as an MSU affiliate.

The search service is free, wages for care providers are negotiated between the provider and the user.

Want to Become Nicotine- or Tobacco-Free?

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Are you thinking about quitting tobacco or nicotine products? If so, you should consider attending an information session about the MSU Breathe Easy: Tobacco & Nicotine Cessation program.

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Take control of your tobacco or nicotine addiction, register for Breathe Easy today!

Quitting tobacco and nicotine products is extremely difficult. That being said, this program is available to provide the support that you need to make this change. Nearly 30 percent of MSU Breathe Easy participants have remained nicotine free. This is an excellent figure when you consider the fact that other cessation methods report success rates between 3 and 12 percent.

The next information session is Wednesday, January 25, 2017 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Olin Student Health Services Building. To register for the information session, you and/or your adult benefits-eligible family members should call Health4U at 517-353-2596, send an email to Health4U@msu.edu or register in person at 330 Olin Health Center.

Attending this information session does not obligate you to enroll in the Breathe Easy program. This session is only meant to provide you with information so you can decide if the program is the right fit for you. Both the information session and the Breathe Easy program are free for benefits-eligible MSU employees and their adult benefits-eligible family members. The total time commitment for the program is 17 hours, which is spread out over the course of the 15-month program commitment. You will not be required to use your own time accruals to participate in the Breathe Easy program, so long as you are compliant with attendance at the meetings and your supervisor approves release time.

A limited number of off-campus employees now have the option to participate in the program via teleconferencing. Participants will join the information session, support sessions and medical-related sessions through Zoom. If you’re interested in participating remotely, let Health4U know when you register for the information session.

Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – It’s more than just the winter blues

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Do you find yourself feeling down or sluggish when winter comes around? Well, you’re not alone. Many people are impacted by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) each year, around the time fall transitions to winter. SAD is a type of mild depression that can be caused by a decrease in sunlight that offsets your biological clock, a drop in serotonin levels or unbalanced levels of melatonin, which can affect sleep patterns and mood.

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Photo courtesy of Communications and Brand Strategy.

Symptoms of SAD include:

  • Irritability
  • Tiredness or low energy
  • Problems getting along with other people
  • Hypersensitivity to rejection
  • Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
  • Oversleeping
  • Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
  • Weight gain

However, you don’t have to simply “deal with” these winter blues. MSU Extension offers several ways to help overcome SAD this winter. One thing you can do is manage stress by planning ahead and not taking on too much during these dreary months. Also, try to be mindful and don’t fixate on negative thoughts. Another tip is to exercise and eat healthy. Exercising regularly can relieve stress, improve memory, help you sleep better and boost your mood. Eating the right foods can keep you feeling full longer and give you energy to take on the day. You should also try to participate in activities you enjoy and surround yourself with positive people.

Additionally, there are medical means to combat SAD if your symptoms are more severe. Be sure to consult with your doctor for medical advice.

For more information on SAD and tips to overcome it, visit MSU Extension’s website.

Events Round-Up January 2017

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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 6

January Zoom Family Night!, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Impression 5 Science Center

Saturday, January 7

Family Day: Transformation, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

Lansing Symphony Orchestra Masterworks 3: Dvorak Cello Concerto, 8 p.m., Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Tuesday, January 10 – Sunday, January 15

The Wharton Center Presents: Beautiful~The Carole King Musical, various times, Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Friday, January 13

Howl at the Moon at Harris Nature Center, 7 p.m., Harris Nature Center

Saturday, January 14

Cross Country Skiing Class, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Harris Nature Center

Sunday, January 15

Heritage Jazz Fest, 5 p.m., Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

Monday, January 16

Greater Lansing Area Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission’s 32nd Annual Luncheon, 11 a.m., Lansing Center

Saturday, January 21

Moonlight Skiing and Snowshoeing, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Harris Nature Center

Sunday, January 22

Polar Bear 5k Run/Walk, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 5151 Marsh Rd Okemos, MI

Development, Training and Wellness

Tuesday, January 10

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

Tuesday, January 17

How to Repair Your Credit, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., MSU Federal Credit Union

Wednesday, January 18

Commuting Options: Be “Spartan Green” and save money getting to campus, noon – 1 p.m., Chittenden Hall, Room 110

Tuesday, January 24

Creating An Inclusive Environment, 8:30 a.m. – noon, Suite 10 Nisbet Building

Wednesday, January 25

Building Bridges to Build Your Brand: Women’s Networking Association, 8:30 a.m. –10 a.m., Chittenden Hall, Room 110

Thursday, January 26

Supervisor Strategies for Performance Planning, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Suite 10 Nisbet Building

Tuesday, January 21

The Spartan Experience, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Suite 10 Nisbet Building

Year-end Records Tips for Tax Filing

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For some, the end of December brings the need to de-clutter and reorganize their lives before the new year. Unlike many habits, this practice is one people should pick up, especially when pertaining to tax records. TurboTax offers several tips for year-end records and tax filing that can help make April a little easier.

The first tip is to start tracking paperless records as they arrive. Create a spreadsheet dedicated to tax records, and don’t forget items like expense titles, check numbers, payee names, dollar amounts and dates. Also be sure to track potential deductions such as charitable donations, outlays for health care, job-search expenses and unreimbursed work expenses.

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Next, try to think about deductions throughout the year, especially with life events you experience. Maybe keep a mileage log in your car to record the miles you use for volunteering, work, business or medical appointments. Be sure to keep cash receipts that document transportation, charitable work, job-search and other tax-deductible activities. Also, keep documents related to events like the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, death of a spouse or divorce, and buying a home.

Tax returns and supporting documents should be kept for at least seven to 10 years, but consider shredding anything past then. Creating a system for tracking and organizing your tax records, potential deductibles and other documents, while updating it throughout the year, will help make the days leading up to April 18 a little less stressful.