Staff Newsletter November 2014

** Headlines** Tuition Exchange Applications The HR department would like to encourage all employees interested in the Tuition Exchange Scholarship to send applications for dependents no later than December 1, 2014. To apply, fill out and send the Tuition Exchange Application Form and attach the birth certificate of your dependent. Applications received after December 1, 2014 will not be considered. Eligibility for Tuition Exchange does not guarantee a scholarship, only the right to apply for one. The College will be able to submit 18 applications for Tuition Exchange for study beginning in the 2015­2016 academic year. To download the application form and read more about eligibility, please visit: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/hr/handbook/educational_benefits/tuition_exchange

Flexible Spending Open Enrollment 2015 Open Enrollment for Flexible Spending is now available! You can fill out the enrollment form online or via the traditional paper form (available online at the link below or in the HR office). You must re­enroll in Flexible Spending each year. Enrollment is available from November 1, 2014 until November 30, 2014. New limit for Medical Flexible Spending Account is $2550 ($50 more)! Please visit the Flexible Spending web page to enroll: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/hr/benefits/flex_spending_account

No Study Zone Creative Volunteers Needed Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Chapin Auditorium 6:00 ­ 8:00 pm It takes lots of volunteer energy from staff and faculty to make No Study Zone happen each year (no students work on this project ­ it's a gift to them). If you're interested in adding your spirit and creativity to this year's No Study Zone, either as an individual or department/team please email Kris Bergbom. Ask folks who have done this before ­ it's a blast, and students are so grateful that we do it! Details & Pics from past years. See Save the Date Event Listing below.

New Members for the Committee on Safety and Inclusion Staff Council selected members for the new committee on Safety and Inclusion. 5 candidates were considered. After reviewing their submissions, the Staff Council selected:

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Kimberly Jeffers: Weissman Center Stephen Superba: Campus Police Deb Johnson: Student Financial Services (Staff Council Representative through June 2015)

Go Green and Get Efficient! Each year, Human Resources is required to provide employees with specific notices regarding their benefits. These notices often end up in the recycling bin, thus incurring expenses for printing, distributing and recycling paper! In our continued efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, you may now elect to receive these notices electronically. Together with our partners in LITS, Human Resources is proud to announce that you may elect GREEN delivery of notices via ISIS. Simply LOGIN to ISIS, choose "Electronic Disclosures Consent" from the menu, click on your choice and then click Submit! That's all!

** Events ** Interfaith Awareness Week for inclusion Organized by Eliot House and Multifaith Council November 5 to November 12, 2014 Multiple Locations Staff are welcome to attend events, a week­long focus on multi­faith dialogue and interaction including opportunities to experience diverse spiritual practices on campus. The full schedule can be found on the Facebook event page.For more information, contact Leslie Fraser Multifaith Chaplain at x2787

Thanksgiving Brunch Sunday, November 16, 2014. Willits Hallowell Center 11:30am ­ 1:30pm Please join the annual Thanksgiving Brunch. Reservations can be made by calling 413­538­2217.

Community Lunch Monday­Friday, November 17th­21st. Willits Hallowell Center 12:00pm ­ 1:30pm Looking for a different place to meet­up with friends and colleagues during lunch? Willits is featuring an a la carte Luncheon Menu.

Great American Smoke Out Thursday November 20, 2014. Blanchard Student Center 11:30am ­ 1:30pm Stop by the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Committee table in Blanchard to get a free Quit Kit for yourself or to share with a friend! Lots of other great information!!

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Save the Date - No Study Zone Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Chapin Auditorium 6:00 ­ 8:00pm Please consider joining in making this annual favorite the best ever for our stressed­out students. "NO STUDY ZONE" will once again be on the last day of fall semester classes. Pretty sure you will find that it takes away some of your stress too!! No Study Zone is a wonderful carnival­atmosphere, trade­marked, de­stressor night of playful fun. Save the Date on your calendars please.

Save the Date - Winterfest Wednesday, December 17, 2014, Chapin Auditorium 11:30am ­ 1:30pm Winterfest brings together Staff and Faculty to acknowledge shared accomplishments, commend individual contributions, and celebrate the season of goodwill. The 2014 Winterfest Committee has selected USO of the Pioneer Valley as this year’s charity. Please consider bringing a donation.

** Training** Retirement Conversations No matter where you are on the journey to retirement, these conversations can help take the mystery and anxiety out of planning. Remember, deciding not to act is still deciding! Join the conversation. Retirement? That’s MANY years away. Help me understand what I need to know to get started! November 6, 2014. Blanchard 213 12:15pm­1:15pm & 4:00pm – 5:00 pm. A conversation for those who are new to the College or new to investing. “I know I should be investing in my retirement, but I have so many student loans and I’m relatively new to MHC. I will do it next year.” OR “I don’t really understand all the jargon and don’t feel qualified to pick investments.” OR “I just don’t have time for all of this right now.” Mortgage, and car loans, and children, oh my! November 18, 2014. Blanchard 226 (Rotunda) 12:15pm­1:15pm & 4:00pm – 5:00pm A conversation for those who are in the ‘busy years’ of their lives. “I know I should probably be paying more attention to saving for retirement, but I still have time.” With all of these expenses, how can I possibly put any money away for retirement?” “I don’t really know how my money is invested. It’ll all work out, I hope.” Wow! Where did the time go? December 11, 2014. Blanchard 226 (Rotunda) 12:15pm­ 1:15pm & 4:00pm – 5:00pm

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Join us for a conversation for those who are thinking about retirement and beginning to wonder about how their retirement savings can be used as an ‘income stream’. If you are wondering if you are “ready” for retirement, please plan to attend the above session with Mary Ellen Gordon, our credentialed financial adviser from VOYA Financial.

Medicare 101 Sessions Wednesday, November 12, 8:00 ­ 9:30am, Skinner 216 Tuesday, December 2, 4:00 ­ 5:30pm, Skinner 216 Medicare 101 is an overview session of Medicare and options available for supplementing Medicare coverage. This session is offered by Human Resources. Please join us for one of the above sessions. To participate in this session, please submit this registration form (walk­ins will be accommodated as available). Stay tuned for more details; visit the Personal & Development Training page.

LITS Training Opportunities for November! Introduction to Google Calendar Wednesday, November 12, Library 619 10:00am ­ Noon Get the most out of Google Calendar. Learn all the basics of using Google Calendar from basic event creation both recurring and all­day events, setting up appointment slots to setting permission levels for shared calendars, managing calendars on the behalf of a manager as well as importing events and syncing the calendar to a mobile device.

Introduction to Macros

Tuesday, November 18, Library 619 2:00pm ­ 4:00pm Ever tire of doing repetitive keyboard strokes to accomplish the same functions? Break out of the doldrums by learning how to automate tasks! Learn to create and use macros in Word and Excel. Learn how to edit macros using Visual Basic and how to save them in the current document/workbook vs saving them in the default global templates. Don't worry, no prior experience with macros and/or programming skills is required for this course. However due to the nature of the workshop, prior experience with both Word and Excel is a must. . Registration and more details on class content can be found at: www.mtholyoke.edu/go/trainingregister

Brown Bag Lunch Series Safety Tips and Crime on Campus Thursday, November 6, 2014. Library 418 12:00 ­ 1:00pm Presenter: Earl Brown, Outreach Coordinator, Campus Police

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Art, Ideas, and Innovation at the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum Tuesday, November 11, 2014. MHC Art Museum 12:00 ­ 1:00pm Presenter: John Stomberg, Florence Finch Abbott Director, Art Museum Tuition Exchange and College Financial Aid Workshop Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Library 419 12:00 ­ 1:00pm Presenter: Stephanie Bertagnolli, Associate Director from Student Financial Services Kendall Fitness Orientation Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Kendall Fitness Center 12:00 ­ 1:00pm Presenter: Barbara Sadlier, Associate Athletics Director ­ Facilities Click here for details! To register to participate in any of these sessions, please call Human Resources at x2503 or submit this Registration Form

On-Campus Consultations VOYA (formerly ING) Mary Ellen Gordon, Financial Adviser from VOYA, will be on campus on Thursday, November 6; Tuesday, November 18; & Thursday, December 11, 2014. 10:00am­ 4:30pm, Blanchard 216. To schedule an appointment, please click here or call 1­877­645­5206. Liberty Mutual David Fesko, Sales Representative from Liberty Mutual, will be on campus on Wednesday, November 5 & Wednesday, December 3, 2014. 10:00am ­ 3:00pm, Blanchard 216. To schedule an appointment, please click here. TIAA­CREF Michael Robinson, Senior Financial Consultant from TIAA­CREF, will be on campus on Wednesday, December 3, 2014. 9:30am ­ 4:30pm, Blanchard 213. To schedule an appointment, please call 1­800­732­8353.

** Wellness**

Wellness Workshops on ahealthyme Interested in taking a wellness workshop but never seem to find the time for it? Log into a ahealthyme to take any of the these online workshops at your own pace:

Finding the Right Balance ­ Weight Management

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Fit for Life ­ Physical Activity Smart Choices ­Healthy Eating Take a Break ­ Stress Management

Need help logging in? Call or email Teresa Azahar or Mika Keezing at x2503 in the Human Resources Dept.

Flu Clinics by RiteAid Did you miss our Flu Clinics in October? You can have a second chance to get your Flu Shot on December 2, 2014. Rite Aid Pharmacy is offering to come to campus to provide an afternoon flu shot clinic. Just as the previously offered clinics, Rite Aid will bill the following health insurance companies directly—so your shot is free! Interested? Please complete this form and tell us when you'd like to get your shot. Bring your Health Insurance card. RiteAid will accept:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MA Tufts Health Plan Harvard Pilgrim Aetna Anthem MVP UniCare Fallon Community Health Plans Blue Cross and Blue Shield of RI Medicare Part B All Medicare Advantage P

** Community**

Winter Reminders from our friends in Facilities: With the approaching cold weather on the horizon, your friends/co­workers at Facilities have just a few reminders:

The MHC adverse weather line, at 538­2330, is the quickest way to check for delays or closings.

Never assume that the operator of a snowplow sees you, especially when walking behind trucks or equipment.

Be mindful of delay times. It is much easier for Facilities to clear snow without vehicles in parking lots or on roads.

If there is a slippery spot close by, feel free to use the sand and salt barrels located across campus. Typically located near the main entrances of academic and administrative buildings and dorms.

Dress appropriately. Most importantly, wear shoes or boots with good traction. Help others. If you see someone fall, help them or call Campus Police at 538­2304.

Have a safe and fun winter weather season! For more information on Adverse Weather visit: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/hr/adverse_weather

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Adverse weather Announcements Announcements about decisions to close or delay the opening of the College due to extreme weather or some other emergency will be made via:

Email to the Faculty and Staff email list The College Announcements page NBC TV affiliate WWLP (Channel 22), ABC TV affiliate WGGB (Channel 40), Fox Channel 6, and WFCR ­­ New England Public Radio.

Essential staff should confer with department leadership for specifics as the general announcements posted will be geared to non­essential personnel. Visit the Adverse Weather web page for more information.

Winterfest Pictures Would you like your picture to be in the Winterfest Slideshow? Email your photo to Christopher Rust at crust@mtholyoke.edu Disclaimers: a) the use of commercial photographs is prohibited under copyright and public performance regulations; b) only photographs taken by an MHC employee may be submitted for consideration; c) submission of a photograph will be deemed “permission granted” to use; d) Staff Council reserves the right to include or exclude any and all submissions at their sole discretion.

** Did you know...**

Auxiliary Services in on Social Media! Visit them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Athletics has a new web site! Check out the new Athletics site and find videos and much more about our outstanding athletes. Recycling is easy! Blue bins for paper; red for plastics, bottles, and cans; orange for cardboard; and gray trash bins for what can't be recycled. For more information visit the MHC Recycling page. Do you have a campus tip that could be passed on to staff through the Staff Council News? Please email Staff Council so we can share the information in an upcoming Blast!

** Comings and Goings**

Welcome! Dining Services Benjamin Clyde, Cook LITS

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John Duggan, Applications Analyst Katherine Zdepski, E­Resources & Serials Access Librarian Physics Anandakumar Sarella, Post Doctoral Researcher Registrar’s Office Monica Soto, Administrative Assistant Theatre Arts Shawn Hill, Scene Shop Carpenter

Farewells Campus Police David Arroyo, Public Safety Officer Dining Services Keith Bryant, Cook Jamie Sladeski, Driver/Stockkeeper Financial Services Lorraine Lacasse, Purchasing Card & Projects Coordinator Physics Tamar Mentzel, Research Scientist

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