Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 17, 2020

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Last week, I let you know that our plan is to finish the fall semester and start the spring semester as planned. Classes will resume for two weeks after Thanksgiving, the spring semester will begin Jan. 11, and holidays and spring break will continue as scheduled.

Even so, it is important for each of us to be mindful of the increase in COVID-19 in our community.

The university has partnered with federal, state and local leaders to mitigate spread of the virus. We are working with the state to increase COVID-19 testing in our community. We have also partnered to make cold storage at JVIC and in other campus facilities available for storing COVID-19 vaccine when it is distributed.

It is important that each of us stay diligent in our individual efforts as well. Wear a mask. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with hand sanitizer. Maintain at least six feet of distance from others. Limit your travel and exposure to others, particularly as we encounter the holidays.

Get flu shot by Dec. 1

As winter weather approaches, public health officials expect the spread of COVID-19 to remain strong. Doctors and hospitals are busy handling the virus and have less capacity to address other community health issues.

This makes it more important than ever that each of us get vaccinated for the flu. For this reason, the university is incentivizing faculty and staff by allowing them to save $30 per month on health insurance premiums by getting the flu shot by Dec. 1.

Free flu vaccinations are available through Magers Health and Wellness Center and at various locations throughout the Springfield, West Plains and Mountain Grove campuses. If you have not already received your flu shot, I encourage you to schedule your vaccination today.

Complete Open Enrollment by Dec. 1

Dec. 1 also marks the end of our annual Open Enrollment period for employment benefits.

Open Enrollment is the period where employees can review, elect, decline or make changes to their benefits for the upcoming calendar year. Once elections or changes have been made, no changes can be made during the year unless they are due to a qualifying, life changing event (e.g. marriage, divorce, birth, etc.).

This year’s benefit options are similar to the slate of options available last year.

Minor changes include an increase in rates for dependent life insurance and the availability of MO ABLE, a new benefit that allows individuals with disabilities (and their qualified family members) to save for expenses that can be used to help maintain their health, independence and quality of life.

You can find more information about Open Enrollment and the various benefit options available to you online.

To begin your Open Enrollment:

  • Login to My Missouri State
  • Click on Profile
  • Locate the box labeled Employment Details and click on Online Benefits Enrollment

Dec. 1 also marks the deadline to enroll in the university’s cafeteria plan. Additional details can be found online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for June 16, 2020

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Last week we made two critical decisions that respond to questions and comments received during and after the May 20 town hall meeting.

First, we have established cleaning and sanitation guidelines for the fall. Public, high-touch spaces and surfaces will be cleaned more frequently with hospital grade disinfectants.

Wellness incentive changes

We have also adopted changes to the university’s employee wellness incentive program.

This year, employees will have two options to reduce their health insurance premium by $30 per month:

  • Get a flu shot in fall 2020.
  • Or submit results of a biometric screening completed any time during the 2020 calendar year.

Flu shots will be available at Magers Health and Wellness Center beginning in mid-September. Employees must get a flu shot or submit biometric screening results by Dec. 1, 2020 to reduce their health insurance premium.

Details on flu shots, biometric screenings and open enrollment will be communicated during the fall semester.

Mental health resources

We also received several questions and comments about mental health resources for faculty and staff on the Springfield and West Plains campuses.

The university provides two Employee Assistance Program options at no additional cost to employees:

  • Cigna offers counseling for work-life issues, assistance with finding child or senior care, help with legal or financial matters and more.
  • New Directions Behavioral Health provides work-life resources, short-term counseling, crisis management and more. This benefit is provided through Mercy Health. It is available for full-time and part-time employees.

My Learning Connection also offers courses for employees on stress management. Employees can sign up for these courses on the My Learning Connection webpage.

The university’s health insurance plan also covers a range of mental health services. Deductibles and co-insurance requirements apply. Details can be found on the human resources webpage.

The pandemic has been extraordinarily difficult. Please encourage one another as we all continue to work through professional and personal challenges.

Next town hall

Our next Virtual Town Hall meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. – noon July 9. Details about the meeting will be posted to the town hall webpage as they become available.

The meeting will address issues most relevant to university employees, so we are asking that only faculty and staff attend the meeting.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 12, 2019

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Open enrollment began on Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 1.

Open enrollment is the period when employees can review, elect, decline or make changes to their benefits for the upcoming calendar year.

Once elections or changes have been made, no changes can be made during the year unless they are due to a qualifying, life-changing event, such as marriage, divorce, birth, etc. All elections and changes you select during the open enrollment period will be effective Jan. 1, 2020.

How to enroll

You have three options to enroll in benefits for the year:

  • Online – Log in to My Missouri State. Select the Profile tab. In the Employment Details channel, select Online Benefits Enrollment. Disregard any references to a personal identification number as you go through the process. If you receive a login screen asking for credentials, please contact human resources.
  • Phone – Call 417-836-3000 between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday to speak to a benefits specialist.
  • In Person – Stop by the office of human resources in Carrington 315 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

All employees are encouraged to go through the benefits enrollment process even if you plan to keep what you currently have.

Schedule your biometric screening

The open enrollment period is also the time to complete your biometrics to save $30 per month on your health insurance premiums. You may also enroll in the flexible benefit (i.e., cafeteria) plan. I completed mine last week and it took less than 15 minutes.

You can find more information about biometrics and schedule an appointment for your free biometric screening online.

You can also enroll in the cafeteria plan for 2020 online.

Give to the United Way and MSU Way

Please finalize your gifts and pledges to the United Way and MSU Way campaigns and plan to attend the Celebration Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 in the PSU Ballroom. You can RSVP to the luncheon by emailing Monica Sharpe.

If you have misplaced your pledge form, it is still not too late to give:

The United Way and the Missouri State University Foundation are both worthy causes, and our community benefits from their work.

I elected to increase my contributions to both campaigns this year. I would encourage each of you to do the same.

We will publish a list of United Way leadership level givers and Missouri State University Foundation Founders Club members in a Clif’s Notes following the campaign.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes Oct. 10, 2017

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The Missouri State Way and United Way Campaigns have kicked off and will continue through Nov. 8. Missouri State University faculty and staff make an incredible difference on our campus and in our community by participating in these campaigns.

Campaign packets have been distributed in campus mail. You can also find information about the campaigns on the Missouri State Way and United Way webpage. Please join me in completing and submitting the contribution forms to participate in these campaigns.

After you complete your forms, please plan to attend the free Celebration Luncheon at noon on Nov. 8 in the PSU Ballroom. I look forward to seeing you there!

Open enrollment time

Our open enrollment period for employee benefits began last week. All benefit-eligible employees are encouraged to go through the open enrollment process to elect, decline, make changes and review the benefits that we offer at Missouri State. You might be surprised by what we offer for you and your dependents:

  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Cafeteria plan
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • Group universal life insurance
  • Critical illness insurance
  • Accident insurance

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability are 100 percent paid for by the university.

It’s important to take action now – the deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1. Once elections or changes have been made, no changes can be made during the year unless they are due to a qualifying event (e.g. marriage, divorce, birth, etc.).

We encourage you to go through the enrollment process even if you plan to keep what you currently have. Not taking any action could result in the possibility of you having the incorrect benefits and deductions.

To begin the enrollment process, access the open enrollment page or call 877-282-0808 to enroll.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!