HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pg. 1 - Overview From the Office of HR Pg. 2- Important Updates Welcome to New Staff Member in HR Holiday Reminder: MLK Day! Professional Development Workshop Pg. 3 - Congratulations! President's Award for Innovative Thinking Core Values Award Pg. 4 - Core Values Core Value of the Month BPU Cookbook Three rules for better work-life balance Pg. 5 - Golden Compass Award Winner! Pg. 6 - Golden Compass Award -Call for Nomination Pg.7-9 - Health & Well-Being Initiatives Employee Yoga Health & Wellness Luncheon HNE Winner & HNE Wellness Webinar Magellan Healthcare Webinars TIAA Financial Education Webinars Pg. 10 -Community Happenings Community Luncheon Schedule Bay Path University Night MLK - Come Celebrate Pg. 11 & 12 - Human Resources Team & Contact Us
FROM THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES Happy New Year! As we embark on a fresh start in 2024, our January HR newsletter is dedicated to one of our core values: "Health and Well-Being Matter." As part of our holistic approach to health and well-being, we have curated a variety of activities for our employees. We invite your contribution to a special project - a cookbook that our Health and Well-Being Core Values Subcommittee is working on. Share your favorite healthy recipes and cooking tips. Let's create a cookbook that reflects the diverse and vibrant community at Bay Path! We are thrilled to introduce a new member to our HR department, Brenda Fletcher, HR Generalist, who will be instrumental in assisting all employees with their benefits. Her expertise and dedication will ensure that our team is wellsupported in navigating the various aspects of our benefits program. In our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, we are excited to announce a forthcoming workshop on microaggressions. This workshop aims to raise awareness, promote understanding, and provide tools to address microaggressions in our community. We believe that open dialogue and education are key steps towards creating a more inclusive workplace for everyone. As always, we hope you enjoy the newsletter! Happy Reading!
SAVE THE DATE! Health and Well-Being Luncheon Thursday, January 25th, 2024 11:30am - 1:30pm Blake Dining Hall
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
IMPORTANT UPDATES
Welcome to Human Resources New Staff Member!
Holiday Reminder!
Brenda Fletcher Human Resources Generalist As a reminder, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, January 15, 2024. Brenda has over three years of experience in the Human Resources field, specializing in employee benefits. She is currently pursuing certification as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and anticipates obtaining this specialization by the end of 2024.
Please note the following details: All University offices will be open with reduced staffing. Full-time salaried employees working on this day can take an alternate day off within a month. Full-time hourly paid employees should take an alternate day off within the same week, or will receive holiday pay in addition to regular pay for hours worked.
Brenda holds a Bachelor's in Human Services with a concentration in mental health and drug abuse from Springfield College (2020) and an Associates in Criminal Justice from Greenfield Community College (2008). She also served in the United States Army's 89th Military Police Brigade.
For any status-related inquiries, kindly speak with your supervisor directly.
Brenda is passionate about engaging with individuals and addressing their needs. Outside work, she enjoy reading, walking her dog, and fishing.
Thank you to all the dedicated staff and faculty working on this day. We wish you a restful and enjoyable holiday!
Contact Brenda directly regarding the following:
Save the Date!
Medical, dental or vision benefits Retirement Contributions Leave Program, including PFML, FMLA, ShortTerm Disability, and/or Long Term Disability Workers Compensation Educational Assistance Program Tuition Exchange Program Operations Manual
Addressing Microaggressions for a Stronger Community: Join the Training! Wednesday, January 31st from 3:30pm to 5pm Dr. Peter Testori, Dean, Academic Resources & Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Higher Education will be leading an upcoming interactive workshop focused on addressing microaggressions. The primary objective of this workshop is to equip both staff and faculty with the knowledge and skills needed to foster a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment. By raising awareness and providing tools to navigate and counteract microaggressions, the workshop aims to enhance our organizational culture for the university's staff, faculty, and students. Stay tuned for additional details on this impactful initiative.
HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
CONGRATULATIONS!!! During the Employee Recognition Ceremony at this year's Holiday Luncheon, we celebrated the outstanding contributions of colleagues through two important awards: President's Award for Innovative Thinking The President's Award for Innovative Thinking recognizes and spotlights a colleague for going above and beyond the call of duty and who consistently identifies new ways to make advancements in the workplace. Core Values Award The Core Values Award highlights an employee who has fully embodied our Values through intentionality and mindfulness, working diligently to bring the Core Values to fruition in their daily interactions and work. As a reminder, our Core Values are:
Winner of the President's Award for Innovative Thinking is
Heather Gould Associate Dean for Advising & Student Support
Winner of the Core Values Award is
Melissa Welch Senior Creative Director
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
CORE VALUE OF THE MONTH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING MATTER
As a community, we take a holistic view of our learners and employees that transcends education to include safety, mental health, and physical and spiritual well-being. We encourage our learners and ourselves to take advantage of every opportunity to gain knowledge, to seek out and learn from new adventures, and to be open to new and diverse ways of thinking. We recognize that laughing and finding joy in every day matter, too.
THREE RULES FOR BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Click here for video BPU COOK BOOK The Core Values Health & Well-Being Subcommittee are working on a cookbook challenge. We're inviting students, faculty, staff, and alumni to submit favorite recipes for inclusion in the cookbook, BPU Cooks. Recipes are due on January 31th, Additionally, we'll accept recipes during our luncheon on January 25th. QR Codes will be available on dinning tables for submissions. Moreover, the BPU community is welcome to submit artwork (e.g., photos) for the BPU Cooks front cover. Recipe entry form Cover art entry form
Ashley Whillans, is a behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor. In this TedTalk she highlights the detrimental impact of an "always-on" work culture on both personal wellbeing and work performance. Whillans identifies harmful habits such as responding to work emails during family events or taking calls from superiors while on vacation. She emphasizes the negative effects of these practices on our ability to recharge during leisure time. Moreover, she offers three practical steps to establish effective boundaries that preserve personal time and work productivity.
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
Golden Compass Award Winner!
Claire Jenson
Senior Director of Institutional Effectiveness Nominated by: Heather Gould, Dean for Advising & Student Support "Claire Jenson is an ideal partner in collaboration and constantly seeks to achieve process improvement, asks thoughtful questions of our community that leads to action, and has a unique ability to apply her skills and knowledge to troubleshoot issues that impact our community. She uses her assessment skills to guide not only academic assessment, but also non academic assessment - looking at the full student experience, and assisting key stakeholders in making meaning out of assessment and survey data so that the impact on the student journey is impactful and effective. Claire's attention to detail and knack for policy and regulations make her a critical part in ensuring that the institution remain in compliance as we innovate, pivot, and take on new challenges. Claire is positioned in a role and department that has minimal direct student contact/interaction; however, this doesn't take away from her desire and motivation to make BPU as inclusive and supportive of our learners as possible. Her unique view often comes from a data and policy perspective and adds unmeasurable value to the whole community. Claire's unwavering positivity and high energy bring joy and excitement to any room or meeting. She has an ability to make every person feel heard and valued, and leads with compassion in all she does. Bay Path is lucky to have a person as genuine, as skilled, and as kind as Claire!"
Learn more about our Core Values on our dedicated page on the Bay Path Community Portal, where you can access the valuable resources we are crafting for all members of our community!
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
Golden Compass Award CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
In January, we will resume the presentation of our monthly Golden Compass Award! As we know, the Bay Path Golden Compass Award is intended to highlight a small but mighty act of how our colleagues are working to bring our Core Values to life. All community members are encouraged to nominate a peer they want to commend for being intentional when applying the Bay Path Core Values to their work and relationships. January's community lunch will highlight Health and Well-Being Matter. Our lunch is currently scheduled for January 25, 2024 where we will present the next Golden Compass Winner with their very own engraved golden compass.
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A PEER!
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE FREE Yoga with Andrea! Hybrid yoga classes with Andrea Cordis, who is a certified yoga instructor, will take place weekly from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM at the Breck Fitness Center Dance Studio as well as on Zoom on the following days: Monday, January 22th, 2024 Monday, January 29th, 2024 Monday, February 5th, 2024 Monday, February 12th, 2024 Monday, February 26th, 2024 Monday, March 11th, 2024 Monday, March 18th, 2024 Monday, March 25th, 2024 Monday, April 1st, 2024 Monday, April 8th, 2024 Monday, April 15th, 2024 Monday, April 22th, 2024 Monday, April 29th, 2024 Monday, May 6th, 2024 Monday, May 13th, 2024 Monday, May 20th, 2024
We are excited to announce that Health New England will have two representatives available onsite to assist with any inquiries regarding your medical benefits. This is a great opportunity to get clarifications, learn about additional health programs provided by HNE, and address any concerns you may have. In addition to this beneficial session, we're offering ten-minute chair massages for staff and faculty. You can sign up for these relaxing sessions from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For virtual access, Click here!
Mark your calendars and make the most of these valuable opportunities!
November’s Health New England‘s Fitness for All Ages & Abilities Webinar Winner
Kelley Maak CONGRATULATIONS!!! For more tips on Health & Well-Being visit the Core Values Resource Hub or the Core Values Padlet sponsored by Hatch Learning Commons
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE Where Your Health Matters Webinar: Understanding Fad Diets (for all employees) Learn the pros and cons of various fad dieting trends. Join WebMD to explore the differences between different eating habits and understand the components of a well-balanced diet. Feel free to ask questions! Date: Thursday, January 11 Time: 12:00 – 1:00PM EST Register: Here Earn: 50 Healthy Choices points (for HNE members) and a raffle entry for a $50 Amazon gift card Click here to learn more about each webinar this year and to register. Employees can also watch on their own time and fill out the webinar completion form to earn 50 Healthy Choices points.
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
HEALTH & WELL-BEING INITIATIVE
Magellan Wellness Webinars EATING WELL FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Juggling Financial Priorities Tuesday, January 9th at 12:00PM | 3:00PM This or that? Should I save for retirement or invest for my child’s college education? Should I save or pay off debt? When life happens, which goals should I focus on? This event will explore working on multiple financial goals at the same time. We’ll discuss the primary objectives to keep in mind and helpful tips as you navigate your personal financial journey. Money and Mentoring: Tips for Parents Thursday, January 25th at 12:00PM | 3:00PM Join this event to learn about budgeting for parenthood, like childcare expenses, education, and unexpected costs. You can also learn about ways to teach your kids the value of money and introduce them to budgeting, saving, and investing. Help your family build a strong financial foundation by nurturing your financial skills and your children's. GETTING CONTROL OF EMOTIONAL EATING Wednesday, January 10th at 1:00PM In this webinar, you will learn how to: Describe common causes and triggers behind emotional eating. Identify strategies to gain control of emotional eating . Apply these strategies to improve health and wellbeing
TIAA Financial Webinars Quarterly economic and market update: understanding volatility and recent trends Wednesday, January 10th, 12:00 - 1:00 PM Hear from our chief investment officer about challenges investors are facing and tips on how to navigate them. Click here to register! Invest for success: 5 principles you need to know Tuesday, January 16th 2:00PM - 3:00 PM Start the new year off right! This webinar can help you understand the key principles of investing for retirement. From compounding to taxes to choosing investments, you’ll learn that how you invest for retirement is just as important as how much you save. Click here to register! Establish your retirement plan: A start-to-finish guide Thursday, January 18th, 3:00PM - 4:00PM It’s time to turn over a new leaf. If you’re just starting out or want to improve your day-to-day financial skills, this webinar will help you learn how to manage your money and balance your priorities so you can enjoy life now and save for the future. Click here to register! Cybersecurity/identity theft protection for elders: Help protect yourself, your family and your money Wednesday, January 24th, 1:00PM - 2:00 PM Are you concerned about identity theft and your family’s security online? TIAA’s Information Security team will discuss how elders can protect themselves and their families from cybercriminal social engineering. Click here to register!
HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Save the Date!
COMMUNITY LUNCHEON SCHEDULE 2024
Join us for Bay Path University Night on February 24th, dedicated to honoring our military personnel!
Health & Well-Being Matter Luncheon Thursday, January 25, 2024 Blake Dinning Commons
We are offering special discounted tickets priced at $16 in the defense zone for this event. It promises to be an exciting night celebrating and showing appreciation for our military community.
Black History Month Luncheon Thursday, February 15, 2024 Blake Dining Hall
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enjoy the event together. More details on how to secure tickets is coming soon!
Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon Friday, March 1, 2024 Blake Dining Hall Academic Achievement Day Luncheon Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Blake Dining Hall Pride Celebration TBD Juneteenth Celebration TBD
The annual Dr. King Day Celebration provides all Springfield-area individuals- youth, families, and seniors with an opportunity to celebrate and honor Dr. King’s legacy through a rich tapestry of cultural presentations by community-based organizations. The program includes song, dance, musical performances, and inspirational words by talented youth and adult leaders from the Springfield community. The event reflects the many ways that Dr. King’s life and teachings continue to inspire our community.
This event is an important expression of community creativity and solidarity toward healing and change.
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM
Ashley Pereira Assistant VP for People & Culture
Meghan Rosenberger HR Business Partner
Brenda Fletcher
Responsible for: Strategy HR Operations Compensation Employee Relations Core Values
Responsible for: Recruitment Onboarding Performance Evaluations Training Employee Relations
Responsible for:
HR Generalist
Benefits & Retirement PFML/FMLA Workers Compensation Operations Manual
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Colby Cabral HRIS Specialist Responsible for: HR Information Systems Reporting Data Requests HR Metrics Assistance
Jeannette Mojica HR Support Specialist
Lori Moccio Payroll Supervisor
Responsible for:
Responsible for: Payroll Procedures and Process Updates Adjunct Contracts Payroll Management Direct Deposit Requests & Changes Paid Time Off (PTO)
General Assistance HR Communications HR Newsletter HR Events Special Projects
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact HR@baypath.edu
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HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2024
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! The Human Resources Newsletter is a great way to get reminders as well as to advertise your own news to the rest of your colleagues. If you have something you would like to have included in next month’s newsletter, be sure to send an email to hr@baypath.edu so that we can add your information to the issue.