November 15, 2023 | Tech Today

Mexico Spring Break Application Deadline Is Friday!

If you are interested in the Mexico Spring Break program, Local Communities and Development, please apply for more information! The deadline for application is Friday (Nov. 17).

Apply on our Mexico Spring Break page.

Contact Kat Hannum at [email protected] for more information.

*****

Invitation to Join New DEIS & Research Course

We’re excited to share an important opportunity with you — an invitation to learn alongside a growing community of researchers and the staff who assist them with proposal development to meaningfully integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and sense of belonging (DEIS) principles into their research.

Federal sponsors increasingly require strong DEIS components in proposals. This course is designed to increase your ability to write strong DEIS plans that will increase the competitiveness of your grant proposals. This course aims to increase your skills and knowledge regarding the recruitment, mentorship, development and retention of research team members who are diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, gender orientation, sexual identity and other forms of diverse identity. We invite you to join us in creating a more diverse research community.

This class will create a safe space for scholars to share experiences, insights and resources regarding DEIS and research. We will work through a one-hour-per-week, 14-week course together with signposts to check for understanding and implementation. Individuals who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion. The course includes a range of resources that can support your DEIS and research journey.

Being part of this course opens doors to interdisciplinary collaborations and connections with colleagues who share a passion for DEIS. As a course participant, you have the potential to integrate DEIS principles more effectively into your research program and proposals to create real-world change and address societal inequities.

In joining the DEIS & Research course, we ask for your commitment to openness, respect and a willingness to learn. DEIS principles require us to actively engage with different perspectives and contribute to an inclusive scholarly environment. We are not looking for a large number of participants, but rather a select group of committed staff and researchers who are enthusiastic about infusing their research with DEIS principles.

You can register for this DEIS & Research course by Dec. 1. The course will be scheduled around participant availability. Contact Kathy Halvorsen at [email protected] with any questions.

*****

PhD Defense: Cheng Fan, ECE

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering candidate Cheng Fan will defend his doctoral dissertation tomorrow (Nov. 16) at 10 a.m. in person in EERC 501.

The title of the dissertation is “Adaptive Modulation For Underwater Acoustic Communication Based On Reinforcement Learning.”

Fan is advised by Kaichen Yang.

*****

2024 Open Enrollment and MTU Benefits News

The 2024 Open Enrollment period for Michigan Tech benefits takes place Nov. 13-30. Open Enrollment this year can be completed through Banweb Employee Self Service 9.

During Open Enrollment, you will have the opportunity to:

• Enroll in or change medical, dental, or vision coverage for next year.
• Contribute to or change contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA), a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or dependent care account. 
• Enroll or change your optional employee life insurance, spouse and/or dependent life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability buy-up coverage, critical illness, accident coverage or add hospital indemnity (new this year).
• Contribute to or change contributions to retirement accounts.
• Earn MTU Wellness 360 (formerly Husky Health) points for completing open enrollment via Banweb Employee Self Service 9.

While Open Enrollment is optional, it is recommended that all employees complete Open Enrollment. Whether you are electing Michigan Tech benefits for the first time, making changes to your elections, or not making any changes at all, Open Enrollment is the perfect time to ensure your information is up to date and correct.

New This Year
Changes are happening during this Open Enrollment period, and we strongly encourage you to participate. 

Over the past five years, the University has incurred significant increases in health care costs. In 2024 alone, Michigan Tech health care premiums will rise by 9.5%. Michigan Tech will not pass this increase on to our employees, and health care premiums will remain unchanged.

Also, to better serve our employees, the Benefits Advisory Committee has recommended the following changes, effective January 2024:

• Vision benefits are moving to VSP Vision Care (from MetLife, formerly Davis Vision)
• Life and Disability insurances are moving to The Standard (from Unum)
• Accident and Critical Illness voluntary benefits are moving to Voya (from Securian)
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance is being added as a NEW voluntary benefit

Michigan Tech health and dental plans remain the same, and employee monthly premiums go unchanged. Monthly premium information can be found on the comparison charts on Human Resources’ Benefits website.

Passive Enrollment Option
Open Enrollment for 2024 is not mandatory. Passive enrollment allows employees to roll over most of their benefits from the previous year without making updates in the system.

Important Note: Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) will not automatically roll over. If you would like to elect these, it is important to do so during Open Enrollment.

More Information
For more information, please visit the Open Enrollment website to get the most updated details on benefits for 2024.

The University would like to thank the Benefits Advisory Committee members for their recommendations and their continued work on our long-term benefits strategies.

*****

Spring 2024 Sports Camps & Clinics

Registration for Spring 2024 Sports Camps and Clinics will open at 8 a.m. tomorrow (Nov. 15). 

Registration is available online, in person at the SDC Ticket Office, or by calling the SDC Ticket Office at 906-487-2073. For more information, visit the Spring Sports Camps and Clinics webpage.

*****

Introducing the Employee Giving Campaign

The Campus Campaign has a new name — the Employee Giving Campaign.

Offering faculty and staff the opportunity to invest in any scholarship, department, program or project at the University, the Employee Giving Campaign is all about fostering unity and active involvement among MTU employees.

Embodying our collective commitment to Tech’s mission, participating in the Employee Giving Campaign sends a powerful message that we believe in Michigan Tech and the Huskies we serve daily. Every contribution, no matter its size, holds the power to make a significant impact in the areas that matter most to you.

This year, consider making your gift through payroll deduction, or make an outright gift using a debit/credit card, PayPal or Venmo.

Thank you to those who have already made a gift this year, and to the many faculty and staff who make a gift to Michigan Tech every year. If you aren’t sure about the status or amount of your current deduction, check your latest pay stub or contact Gisele at [email protected] or 906-487-3614 for further assistance. Updates to payroll deductions can be made via the Payroll Deduction Form.

Visit the Employee Giving Campaign website to learn more.