Northwest no longer offers the annual, on-campus health risk assessment. Employees on the University health plan and hired prior to Aug. 1 must have an annual preventive visit and labs with a primary care provider.
Employees must download and print a Physician Screening Form (PSF) from the A Healthier You portal and bring it with them to their preventive care appointment. Employees who do not return the PSF by Oct. 15, 2024, will be assessed a $50 per month premium differential beginning with the December 2024 paycheck.
As a reminder, if you visit a Mosaic provider, identify yourself as a Northwest employee when calling to schedule your appointment and state your need to schedule a standalone wellness/preventive-only appointment and labs with your primary care provider.
During the appointment:
Click here for more information about the primary care provider wellness program or call the Office of Human Resources at 660.562.1127.
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Tanner Berg |
Angela Bremken |
Hannah Cline |
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McKenzie Gilliard |
Emily Hansen |
Dr. Elise Hepworth |
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David Mackenzie |
Mary Nauman |
Braxton Williams |
| Megan Runde | Academic Operations Coordinator | Academic Operations and Development |
| Machelle Skinner | Assistant Professor of Nursing | School of Health Science and Wellness |
| Crista Chappell | Records Specialist | Office of the Registrar |
| Brad Landhuis | Advisor and Coach | Academic Success and Retention |
| Haleigh Vest | Accounts Payable Coordinator | Office of Controller |
| Kaylin Lamaster | Executive Secretary/Contract System Specialist | Office of Finance and Administration |
Saturday, Nov. 2
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse
Employees and guests should use the doors at the south entrance of the facility to access the reception. Snacks will be provided and employees will receive one free Northwest T- shirt.
Discounted football tickets available to employees
Northwest employees are eligible for discounted single-game football tickets during the 2024 season. This discount is applicable to any Northwest employee and immediate family members for up to four tickets per home game when purchased prior to game day.
The discounted ticket rate is available for seating in two sections at Bearcat Stadium:
Discounted employee tickets must be purchased online no later than 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to home games. Discounted employee tickets will not be sold on game days.
How to purchase discounted tickets
Click here to purchase game tickets and select the game you want to attend.
To apply the employee discount, scroll down on the web page and click “Have a passcode?” Enter your 919 number to unlock the employee ticket discount and purchase up to six tickets per game.
When selecting reserved seats in Section A:
Northwest has added dates, this fall for Student Employment Supervisor Leadership Training. It is critical that all student employment supervisors attend this training, as the student employment job description template is changing and all job descriptions must be updated to the new template to post positions.
Register by clicking this link.
Monday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (60-minute sessions) in the Student Union Boardroom.
Explore how AI isn’t just about automating tasks and about turbocharging your human potential in the workforce. Buckle up to ride the AI rollercoaster to learn the skills that are important when embracing chatbots and how you can improve your marketability.
Thursday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. (60-minute sessions) in Student Union Meeting Room D
Microcredentials are competency-based recognition of your skills and expertise within your industry. No matter your chosen career field, microcredentials offer evidence of your knowledge and place you a step ahead of others without them.
In this session, learn about the many types of microcredentials; understand their value and how to leverage them to obtain promotions, career advancement, skill recognition and job placement; review the most common career paths that value or require microcredentials; and know how to access the many microcredential offerings at Northwest.
Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. (60-minute sessions) in the Student Union Boardroom.
Attendees will reflect on their dreams and what it will take to achieve them, what the journey looks like and the destination.
Wellness Services will host a flu clinic for Northwest students and employees from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, and Wednesday, Oct. 16, in Student Union Meeting Room A.
Faculty and staff must bring their insurance card at the time of the injection.
The Centers for Disease Control Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine.
The Social Justice Institute is a five-week, cohort-based program for all Northwest employees to enhance and refine their skills and competencies to create greater inclusion for all community members. Participants will engage in authentic dialogue about individual identities, awareness and how to use your allyship through leadership. The Social Justice Institute aims to create a more inclusive campus environment to enhance the success of all students.
Bearcat Diversity Book Club chooses one book each semester to stimulate discussions about varying subject matters related to cultural differences and inclusion. Through open dialogue, Northwest employees learn to have brave conversations, build community, embrace differences and become engaged, diverse leaders on campus.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion encourages all employees to sign up for the Women of Color network. It focuses on advocating, supporting and understanding the experiences of women of color at higher education institutions.
Sign up for Women of Color network
Affinity groups are designed to create safe spaces for members to share and process experiences. As allies, our affinity group also allows participants the opportunity to identify ways in which we can appropriately use our privilege to bring about social change. For more information, visit Northwest affinity groups.
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Contact Giselle Greenidge ggreenidge@nwmissouri.edu |
Contact Elyssa Ford ebford@nwmissouri.edu |
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Contact ALLY@nwmissouri.edu |
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These employee-led groups aim to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. Contact each group individually.
Northwest Staff Council represents a unified voice for all Northwest staff. To learn about staff, upcoming events or voice concerns, visit Northwest Staff Council.
The Office of Human Resources highlights the following resources that employees may use as necessary. Mindful by BlueKC, the EAP and TAO are completely confidential.
The University has established a partnership with Family Guidance Center to provide a crisis counselor on site. Brooke McDonald, a certified licensed professional counselor, is available Monday through Friday to respond to any crisis or resource needs.
This service is confidential. Contact Brooke directly to schedule an appointment at bmcdonald@fgcnow.org or 660.853.8196.
For more information, contact the Office of Human Resources at 660.562.1127.
Mindful by BlueKC is a behavioral health initiative dedicated to reducing stigma around behavioral health in our communities while making care accessible and affordable for members. Mindful by Blue KC is a commitment to covering the health needs of the whole person and comes to life as a set of tools and resources to address stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and more. This ensures that members can access and afford the behavioral health care they need.
Mindful Advocates are available 24/7 and are licensed behavioral health clinicians who match members to providers and guide care plans. Mindful Advocates may be contacted at 833.302.6463. For more information, visit Mindful by BlueKC initiative.
All Northwest employees are eligible to use Ability Assist Counseling Services sponsored by The Hartford. Click here to read about the benefits this program offers.
This is a private online library of behavioral health resources. It is a free and confidential resource available to Northwest employees and students. For more information, visit TAO-Therapy Assistance Online.
Wellness Services is offering a variety of online programing. Follow Wellness Services on Twitter and Instagram at @nw_wellness for updates.
The center provides reliable information about a variety of mental and behavioral health topics. For more information, visit New Directions Health Resources.
For information about a specific substance use, visit New Directions Substance Use Disorders Center, or call the Substance Use Disorder Hotline at 877.326.2458.
If you have questions, email healthybearcat@nwmissouri.edu.
Northwest's employee wellness coordinator, Dr. Melissa Van Buren, has shifted to remote work. She is still available for meetings and consultations and addressing concerns regarding your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan or general health and wellness. Dr. Van Buren cannot legally provide “medical advice” in her role at Northwest, but she can provide general medical education, assist in “connecting the dots” after appointments with your primary care provider or specialist and point you toward evidence-based medical resources.
As a reminder, the Northwest primary care provider wellness program consists of an annual preventive visit and routine labs ordered by a healthcare provider. Our health plan covers an annual preventive visit and routine labs at 100 percent when you see an in-network provider and when billed with a primary diagnosis of preventive.
For your visit and labs to be considered preventive, they cannot be incorporated with a regularly scheduled appointment, for example, if you are seen every three or six months for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or another acute diagnosis for which you receive medication or medical treatment. Treatment, labs, and office visits for that existing condition are not preventive care and are subject to deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance.
Employees must download and print a Physician Screening Form (PSF) from the A Healthier You portal to bring with them to their preventive care appointment. Employees on a Northwest health plan who do not return the PSF by Oct. 15, 2024, will be assessed a $50 per month premium differential beginning with the December 2024 paycheck.
The online health risk assessment questionnaire will not be required as a part of the primary care provider wellness program, but employees are still encouraged to complete the online assessment through the A Healthier You portal.
At this time, spouses on a Northwest health plan are not required, but are encouraged, to participate in the primary care provider wellness program.
Preventive care is routine healthcare that includes screenings and labs to help prevent illness, disease, or other health problems. Along with a healthy lifestyle, taking basic preventive care steps can immensely improve your health in the future and reduce healthcare costs. For more information about the benefits of preventive care, visit BlueKC.com.
Next steps
For additional resources, including quick references and answers to frequently asked questions, visit https://www.nwmissouri.edu/hr/Primary-Care-Provider-Wellness-Program.htm.
The Blue KC Medical and Pharmacy Management Committee reviews and maintains a Prescription Drug List (PDL). The Committee, consisting of practicing physicians and pharmacists in the Kansas City area, holds quarterly meetings to evaluate new drug therapies and review drug utilization issues. Medications are evaluated based on drug safety and costs. Click this link to view drug list updates, effective July 1, 2024.
How BlueKC Will Communicate These Changes
Blue KC is taking proactive steps to limit disruption, including:
USI's Benefits Resource Center is a free resource service for employees and encourages you to reach out for any information, questions or help with insurance or benefits.
Click this link to download a flyer with more details and contact information.
BlueKC is partnering with Sapphire Digital to offer SmartShopper, an incentive platform that can save members money on healthcare expenses every time they select a reward-eligible, lower-cost care for qualifying procedures such as MRIs, colonoscopies or blood work.
SmartShopper is embedded within the provider finder and cost estimator tools in your mybluekc.com portal. Click here to watch a short video about SmartShopper.
MOSERS offers educational programs to help members learn information about their benefits as they progress through their careers and experience different life events along the way.
Newer Employees and MOSERS Webinars: Start learning about the state benefits administered by MOSERS.
Mid-Career Webinar: Learn how different career and life events may affect your pension benefit.
Ready to Retire Sessions: Learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact your pension benefit.
Stay up to date and visit www.mosers.org/education frequently for more information, including schedules and how to register.
For employees in a MOSERS-eligible position and nearing retirement, keep in mind the termination and reemployment rules. Those rules state that before receiving a benefit payment from MOSERS, IRS rules require a “bona fide termination” of a member’s employment. For purposes of MOSERS Board Rules, a "bona fide termination" occurs when:
For more information, view MOSERS' FAQs on termination and reemployment rules and its termination and reemployment rules flyer.
Please note, if an employee does not have a bona fide separation of service, their retirement will be null and void, meaning they will not receive their pension payments.
The MO Deferred Comp plan is a supplemental retirement savings option available to employees. Visit www.modeferredcomp.org to learn more about the plan, register for upcoming education sessions or find financial planning options.
Blue KC offers members digital tools to allow quick access to health insurance plan information to support them along their health journey.
Today, many members enjoy the convenience of Blue KC Virtual Care from their mobile devices or laptop computers. Virtual care offers a fast, simple way to see a doctor 24/7 for sick care or to make an appointment with a behavioral health provider.
The Blue KC Virtual Care has moved from its own, standalone app to the MyBlueKC mobile app. This change means virtual care is now a feature in an app that members frequently use. With just a few taps, members can have a video visit with a doctor as well as get benefit information, view claims, download digital ID cards, and connect to health and wellness programs – all in one place. Make sure you have updated to the latest version of the MyBlueKC mobile app through your device settings for the virtual care functionality.
Click here for instructions to get the MyBlueKC app.
Some employees have received emails from financial planning companies implying they are partnered with MOSERS. The content of the emails suggests that members must pay for a meeting with a retirement counselor and that they can learn how to increase their retirement savings. This is inaccurate. MOSERS has not authorized any outside financial planners to advise our members on their MOSERS benefits.
As a reminder, the services offered through MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp are provided to MOSERS members at no cost. In regard to increasing their retirement savings, MOSERS members have the ability to meet with MO Deferred Comp financial education professionals to help make savings decisions as they prepare for retirement.
Northwest advises all MOSERS members to stay vigilant and double-check the addresses of email senders before clicking any links.
The A Healthier You program gives you convenient online and mobile access to wellness tools that you can use to live your healthiest life. Plus, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for chances to win gift cards to some popular retailers. For more information about the AHY program, click this link.
The Foster Fitness Center, Student Recreation Center and Hughes Fieldhouse walking track are free for all employees and spouses to use. Employees and spouses must complete the assumption of risk and waiver of liability form on CatPAWS before using the Foster Fitness Center. Take a tour of the Foster Fitness Center, and find hours and amenities online.
The Hughes Fieldhouse walking track is available for employee use, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Employees should enter through the south doors, and parking is available in the south lots. Kids are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times while on the track. Click here to view a listing of when the walking track is not available.
The University provides family and medical leave in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees. The University requires that employees substitute (run concurrently) accrued paid leave to which employees may be entitled to cover the employee’s FMLA leave, before using unpaid leave under the FMLA.
If an employee is away from work for three or more consecutive days due to medical reasons, contact the Office of Human Resources regarding FMLA and leave requirements.
If an employee is injured at work, injuries must be reported immediately to the employee’s supervisor and the Office of Human Resources. Employees must contact the Central Accident Reporting Office (CARO) at 800.624.2354 before medical treatment is sought. For any questions regarding workplace injuries, contact Human Resources.
All Northwest employees now receive an e-bill to their University email, rather than a mailed paper bill. To opt out of an e-bill, complete the Paperless Billing Opt-Out form in MyNorthwest under Employee Resources -> Finance & Administration -> Billing.
The mission of the Bearcat Food Pantry is to provide a source of food and necessities for Northwest students and employees experiencing food insecurity and hunger. The food pantry is located in the J.W. Jones Student Union and is accessible from 8 to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
Northwest accepts food donations for the pantry at the Student Engagement Center and the Office of Student Affairs located on the second floor of the Student Union. For a list of most needed items, visit Bearcat Food Pantry. Monetary donations to support the food pantry should be directed to the Northwest Foundation and are tax-deductible.
Friends of International Students (FIS) is a community-based organization established to match interested area individuals and families (friends) with international students at Northwest. The program goals are to provide support to the students as they become adjusted to their new home and to promote friendship and understanding between people of different nationalities.
FIS is recruiting friends to connect with international students. Friends are asked to make contact with assigned students at least once a month during their year-long commitment to the program. Contact can take many forms, including family dinners, attending sporting events, pumpkin carving and various other activities involving two-way cultural tradition sharing. For more information or to apply, contact board members at FIS@nwmissouri.edu or visit nwmissouri.edu/international/services/friends/.
Visit How to Purchase Office Supplies. Various binders, hanging file folders and other office supplies are available at no cost to departments at Central Receiving.
Purchasing has created instructional videos explaining how to create a purchase requisition and a Central Stores purchase requisition in Banner/INB. The videos are available in MyNorthwest, Employee Resources - Finance.
It is important for employees to apply good ergonomic practices. To view a complete list of ergonomic suggestions, visit Workstation safety guidelines.
