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May 2024 | HR Monthly Bulletin

Welcome our new Bearcats!

 

Cale Brubaker

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach

Department of Athletics

Kyra Kamp

GeoTechnical Services GIS Analyst

Geotechnical Services

Matt Keeley

Head Men's Basketball Coach

Department of Athletics

Garrison Kennedy

Student Rights and Responsibilities Coordinator

Office of Student Affairs

Kaylin LaMaster

Purchasing Coordinator

Office of Purchasing

Lilly Masters

Dispatcher

University Police Department

Hailey Roach

Dispatcher

University Police Department

Stephanie Welch

Graduate Records Specialist

Graduate Office

EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARIES

Congratulations to these employees for their milestone years of service
in May 2024!

5 YEARS

Benjamin Jermain Senior Buyer Office of Purchasing
Barbara Weybrew Custodian Custodial Services

20 YEARS

Ruth Kemper Risk Management Insurance Specialist Office of Risk Management

Transfers and Promotions

TRANSFERS
Coltin Dorrell Graduate Records Specialist Graduate Office
Terra Feick Counselor  Wellness Services
Grace Stephens Online Professional Academic Advisor Office of Academic Success and Retention
PROMOTIONS
Tiffany Kribbs Infant Toddler Center: Associate Teacher Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families
Lauren McCormick Infant Toddler Center: Associate Teacher Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families

Upcoming Events

Northwest Night at St. Joesph Mustangs

Continuing a summer tradition that began in 2011, this year’s Northwest Night at the St. Joseph Mustangs baseball game features the St. Joseph Mustangs and the Chillicothe Mudcats. First pitch is at 7 p.m. at Phil Welch Stadium, 2600 SW Parkway in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Information about purchasing other tickets is available at www.stjoemustangs.com/single-game-tickets.


Summer Fitness Challenge

Northwest employees are invited to join a “Summer Tour of the National Parks,” via an 11-week MoveSpring app fitness challenge, June 10 through Aug. 25. This challenge will assist with individual training for participation in the Second Annual Bearcat Trail Family 5K on Saturday, Aug. 31.

For more information regarding the Northwest Summer MoveSpring Challenge, visit the Exercise page of the Employee Wellness website at www.nwmissouri.edu/hr/wellness/exercise.htm. More information and 5K training plans for all levels of walkers and runners will be added to the website in coming weeks.


Summer Parking

From Monday, April 29, through Friday, Aug. 2, the following applies to parking on campus:

For more information, refer to the “policies” tab at nwmissouri.edu/police/parking/. For other questions or requests, contact UPD at police@nwmissouri.edu or 660.562.1254.

Benefits Spotlight

Virtual Care through BlueKC

Did you know you have access to 24/7 care for yourself and any other members on your BlueKC plan? You may schedule a video visit with a board-certified doctor or behavioral healthcare therapist from your smartphone, tablet or computer. Blue KC Virtual Care is convenient for everyday medical and behavioral healthcare issues. Plus, it’s private and secure. Watch this video or see this flyer to learn more.

Download the MyBlueKC mobile app or visit BLUEKCvirtualcare.com.

Use Virtual Care for these common medical issues:

Sinus pain

Mild asthma

Mild allergic reactions

Minor headaches

Cold sores

Sprains

Pink eye

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Bumps/cuts/scrapes

Cough

Sore throat

Eye irritation

Minor fever

Colds

Rashes

Minor burns

Use Virtual Care for these common behavioral healthcare issues:

Anxiety

Bereavement/grief

Bipolar disorder

Depression

OCD

PTSD/trauma

Panic attacks

 

Mandatory Training

Upcoming Mandatory Training Deadlines

Northwest's Vector SafeColleges trainings are to be completed by MondayJuly 1, 2024. These trainings are related to a variety of topics throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

Opportunities to get involved

Women of Color

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. Interested employees may sign up by clicking here.

Northwest affinity groups

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.

Association of Black Employees Logo

Contact Giselle Greenidge ggreenidge@nwmissouri.edu 

LGBTQIA Logo

Contact Elyssa Ford ebford@nwmissouri.edu 

ALLY Affinity Group Logo

Contact ALLY@nwmissouri.edu 

Community-Connections-logo

Contact Maryvillecommunityconnections@gmail.com 

Employee resource groups

These employee-led groups aim to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. Contact each group individually. 

Diversity Groups

Staff Council

Northwest Staff Council represents a unified voice for all Northwest staff. To learn about staff, upcoming events or voice concerns, visit Northwest Staff Council.

Employee Engagement Action Tracker

The employee engagement survey was administered Oct. 16-30, 2023. Upon receiving the engagement survey results, focus groups were organized with faculty and staff to define strengths and opportunities for their individual units as well as overall University themes. The Faculty Senate president and Staff Council chair presented the overall University themes to the Northwest Leadership Team in May. Those themes will be shared with the Board of Regents in June.

Overall themes from the previous survey

Well-being and perks
Health care
Compensation

Mental health and wellness resources

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.

Family Guidance partnership to assist employees

The University has established a partnership with Family Guidance Center to provide a crisis counselor on site. Holly McMillen, a certified licensed professional counselor, is available Monday through Friday to respond to any crisis or resource needs.

This service is confidential. Contact Holly directly to schedule an appointment at hmcmillen@fgcnow.org or 660.853.8196.

For more information, contact the Office of Human Resources at 660.562.1127.

Mindful by BlueKC

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.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

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.

TAO-Therapy Assistance Online

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.

New Directions resource program center

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.

Benefits & Wellness Information

BlueKC Premium Prescription Drug List Updates

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:


Benefits Resource Center

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 SmartShopper

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 educational programs

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. 


MOSERS termination and reemployment rules

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.


MO Deferred Comp Retirement Plan

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.


MyBlueKC mobile app includes virtual care

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.


Beware of financial planning emails

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. 


A Healthier You (AHY)

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.


Blue365 deals

Blue365 is a free health and wellness discount program offered to Blue KC members for year-round discounts on gym memberships, fitness gear, healthy eating options and more. To register and browse available discounts, log in to your mybluekc.com portal and select Health Programs in the Health and Wellness menu. For more information about the Blue365 program, click this link.


Campus recreation offerings 

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.


Mosaic offerings

Mosaic Medical Center-Maryville offers a personalized weight management program called Healthy Lifestyles. The program is designed to help people of all ages and sizes achieve an improved quality of life through medical nutritional counseling, teaching and lifestyle changes. For additional information about the program, visit Healthy Lifestyles: Personalized Weight Management Program.

Employee Discounts

Home Chef

Home Chef is recognizing our nation’s educators and school support personnel with a 50 percent discount on their first scheduled Home Chef meal kit and a $10 discount on five subsequent deliveries. Simply use code EDU50 at checkout to begin receiving your education discount.

Get Started with Home Chef

Home Chef makes home cooking simple. Their fresh, weekly meal kits are customized to your liking and delivered straight to your doorstep. Minimize your trips to the grocery store and distress your evenings with delicious, pre-planned meals starting at just $6.99 per serving. Here’s how it works:

Your education discount is available at //homechef.com/edu and, if you already are a customer, you can verify with ID.me on the payment page of your account to begin receiving 10 percent off all future orders.

Miscellaneous

Family and Medical Leave Act

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.


Workers’ Compensation

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.


Paperless billing

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.

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/intranet/employee/web/paperless-billing.htm


Bearcat Food Pantry

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

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 www.nwmissouri.edu/international/services/friends/.


Does your department need office supplies?

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.


Purchase requisition training videos

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


Workstation safety guidelines

It is important for employees to apply good ergonomic practices. To view a complete list of ergonomic suggestions, visit Workstation safety guidelines.