Academic Expressions

Office of the Provost

Missouri State University's Meyer Library and Meyer Carillon
Photo by Bob Linder/Missouri State University

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On this big, active campus, it’s easy to lose clarity about various processes — especially the ones you only use on occasion. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of some common processes you may want to keep track of.

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Facilities-Related Needs

How to Navigate Changes, Maintenance and Repair

If you’re interested in a construction or maintenance project’s status or need to know how it might affect specific parking lots or buildings, check out the following resources:

  • Administrative Services Notifications (Features regular updates about maintenance and construction, including parking closures. If you’d like to get these updates delivered to your inbox, hit the blog’s “Subscribe” button.)
  • Construction Updates (Weekly briefing notes about current projects from the team at planning, design and construction.)
  • Ongoing Coverage in Academic Expressions (In-depth articles from the provost’s office, featuring key voices within the offices of facilities management and planning, design and construction.)

How to Request Maintenance

If you have a non-emergency maintenance need, use the online system to request a work order. Any employee can make a work order request — it doesn’t have to be filed by a building manager or academic unit leader.

If you have an emergency request:

  • Between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.: Call the office of work management at 417-836-8400.
  • After 4:30 p.m.: Call the Power House at 417-836-5133.
  • Please provide the following information: location (building, room number), contact name, contact information, details of the emergency request.

Human Resources Processes

For the latest about human resources trainings and opportunities — plus news about benefits — visit the Human Resources Blog. To get updates delivered directly to your inbox, hit the blog’s “Subscribe” button.

Check out MO State’s benefits website for in-depth information about benefits and resources, including insurance plans, leave benefits, retirement and savings options, educational benefits, wellness and discount programs, and workers’ compensation. And review some of the most frequently asked questions below.

How to Update Your Name or Address

To change your profile information, submit the “Change of Address or Name Form – Employee.”

  • This form can be accessed from the Changing Employee Profile webpage.
  • If your name or marital status has changed, attach your new Social Security card and/or marriage license.
  • Please note: Changes to your W-2 information must be made through the payroll office; reach out to 417-836-6578 or Payroll@MissouriState.edu.

How to Adjust Benefits Coverages

If you want to adjust your coverages for the upcoming year (not in response to a significant life change):

  • Make adjustments during the Open Enrollment period, which is held each year from November 1–December 1. During this time, you may enroll in, change or waive coverages for the upcoming year.

If you need to adjust coverages because you’ve experienced a significant life change (such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the loss or gain of other coverage, or a change in employment status):

  • Submit changes via the “Qualifying Life Event Request Form,” which is linked from the Open Enrollment webpage.
  • Benefits changes must be submitted (via this form) within 31 days of the qualifying life event. If the changes aren’t submitted within 31 days of the qualifying life event, you’ll have to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to request adjustments.

How to Update Beneficiary Designations

  • You can review your beneficiary designations at any time. Big life events, like getting married, divorced or having a child, are common times to review beneficiaries.
  • Regularly reviewing your beneficiary designations helps ensure your benefits are distributed according to your most up-to-date wishes.
  • For more details about updating beneficiaries for various plans and accounts, visit this post on the HR blog.

How to Change 403(b) or 457(b) Contributions

403(b) and 457(b) plans are voluntary, additional retirement savings options. Full- and part-time employees are eligible to participate, and contributions are made via payroll deductions.

How to Transfer From CURP to MOSERS

A faculty member who’s enrolled in the Colleges and Universities Retirement Plan (CURP) may transfer to the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) after six years of CURP participation. If you’re considering transferring to MOSERS:

  • Review the Transfer Guide and consult with MOSERS and/or a financial advisor before making a decision.
  • If you decide to transfer to MOSERS, complete the “Transfer of CURP Membership Form” (found in the Transfer Guide) and submit it to HR Benefits at HRBenefits@MissouriState.edu.
  • Please note: Once the transfer is complete, your retirement contributions will be made to MOSERS. You’ll be subject to MOSERS rules regarding vesting, service credit and retirement eligibility.

How to Report an Injury at Work

If you experience an injury while you’re at work, immediately report it to the following:

  • Your supervisor
  • Central Accident Reporting Office for the State of Missouri (CARO) at 800-624-2354
  • Denise Lofton, workers’ compensation coordinator, at 417-836-5892

If the injury is a medical emergency, seek immediate medical care. If the injury isn’t a medical emergency, treatment must be approved by CARO; care from unauthorized providers isn’t eligible for coverage by the state’s workers’ compensation program. For more information, review the Workers’ Compensation webpage.

How to Get Support for Your Well-being

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers services such as counseling, mental health support, financial and legal resources, and wellness guidance.

  • EAP services are free and accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.
  • For eligibility information and more details, visit the EAP webpage.
  • To reach out for EAP support, visit the EAP webpage.

What to Know About Family and Medical Leave

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees with job-protected leave for certain medical and family-related reasons.

  • If you experience a consecutive absence that’s longer than three days, contact HR Benefits at HRBenefits@MissouriState.edu to review potential options. If you’re experiencing an ongoing need, you may be eligible for intermittent leave.
  • Additional benefits, such as the shared leave pool, faculty semester leave, vacation, sick time, short- or long-term disability or other supplemental insurance benefits, may apply.
  • For more eligibility, application information and more details, visit the FMLA Benefits webpage.

What to Know About Hiring Processes

When you’re asked to lead or contribute to a search process, it can feel like there are many moving parts. The human resources office has gathered useful guidelines, trainings, templates and checklists.

“If you’ve ever labeled an item ‘surplus’ and slid it into the hallway, hoping it would magically transport itself to Surplusylvania… You’re not alone.”

Property and Surplus Questions

How to Surplus Something

If you’ve ever labeled an item “surplus” and slid it into the hallway, hoping it would magically transport itself to Surplusylvania… Let’s just say, you’re not alone. As it happens, there’s a better way.

  • Surplus Property Form (Complete this form, which is listed among the downloadable forms for the office of property control.)
  • Please note: Surplus requests must be approved by the appropriate administrator or academic unit leader/department head, who will receive an email when you submit the surplus property form. If the request isn’t approved within 30 days, it gets removed from the queue, so it’s a good idea to follow up with your unit leader and make sure they’re aware of your request.
  • Once you’ve used the surplus property form to notify the property control team of your request, feel free to label, slide and wish your surplus item well.

How to Shop Surplus Items

The office of property control hosts open-house events at the university’s surplus property storage facility. If you’re in need of something for your office, these events are worth checking out.

Did you know? The url MissouriState.edu/LMS is a quick way to connect students with information about Brightspace.

Syllabus and Course Construction

How to Keep Syllabi Current

The Faculty Handbook requires all course syllabi to include policy statements on nondiscrimination, disability accommodation, cheating and plagiarism, attendance and a cell phone policy. The office of the provost maintains suggested wording for these required statements, as well as for several other statements you may wish to include.

How to Maximize Brightspace’s Capabilities

Brightspace is Missouri State’s official learning management system (LMS). All courses are expected to utilize Brightspace.

  • Brightspace Resources (Compiled by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning [FCTL].)
  • Get Expert Help (Use the “Schedule an Appointment” button to book time with one of FCTL’s instructional designers.)
  • Brightspace Blog (Follow it for tips and updates; hit that “Subscribe” button if you’d like them delivered to your inbox.)
  • Resources for Students (Our blog post about connecting students with Brightspace resources. For convenience, we created a shortened url for this post — MissouriState.edu/LMS — and you may wish to include it on your syllabi.)

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