Category: Uncategorized

TIAA Individual Counseling Sessions, April 2024 -June 2024

Posted on by Miasha Wilson

Dear Colleagues,

No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a session with TIAA can help you create a plan for your goals. And, it’s at no additional cost as a part of your retirement plan. You’ll get answers to these questions and more:

  • Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
  • Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
  • How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

TIAA will be available these dates and times for one-on-one sessions:

  • Tuesday, April 9, 2024 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Mandelle Hall 1st Floor Conference Room, HR Wing
  • Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Mandelle Hall 1st Floor Conference Room, HR Wing
  • Tuesday, June 11, 2024 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Mandelle Hall 1st Floor Conference Room, HR Wing

RSVP today, as space is limited. Register for sessions at https://shared.tiaa.org/private/tools/directscheduler/HALLOWE or by calling 800-842-2252, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).

Best regards,

Miasha Wilson
HR Manager

TIAA Essentials Live Webinars April 2024

Posted on by Miasha Wilson

Dear Colleagues,

Below is the TIAA webinar information for the upcoming month.  To register, please click on the appropriate link or visit TIAA.org/webinars at any time.

Quarterly economic and market update

Hear from our chief investment officer about challenges investors are facing and tips on how to navigate them.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

12:00 p.m. ET

Register here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4459512/E7EF46A8987DA0C5B867678FE145042F

Fine-tuning your retirement strategy: Investing toward a secure future

If you’re in or near your peak earning years and want to do all you can to build a secure retirement, this webinar is for you. We’ll move beyond investing basics to help you fine-tune your saving and investing strategies for retirement.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

2:00 p.m. ET

Register here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4495581/D3A73637C62821979D3988851689E2F8

Start to Finish: The early career guide to financial wisdom

Get the financial knowledge you need to start on the right foot. Start caring for your financial well-being now. It’s never too early to begin saving, and the sooner you do, the more prepared you may be down the road.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

3:00 p.m. ET

Register here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4479356/CF08654CAE7A4CF69828B1E6ED550BBB

Staying safe in the Age of AI

Join us for a discussion on the growth of AI and what that means for protecting ourselves against scams and cybersecurity attacks.  

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

1:00 p.m. ET

Register here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4479346/6E64485B29F183C9B089FC6485D60E8D

Be well,

Miasha Wilson

HR Manager

HR Buzz: New Concierge Service for Employee Benefits

Posted on by Renee Boelcke

Do you have questions regarding how a procedure will be covered under our health plan? Or maybe a puzzling explanation of benefits? Enrolled in the Black Plan and want to know when the College’s MRA should be applied to a service?  Or just tired of all the red tape and confusing language? 
We hear you!

Benefits Concierge

616.541.1245
concierge@acrisure.com

8:00am – 5:00pm ET, Monday – Friday
Pro tip Save as a new contact!

K College is proud build on our relationship with Acrisure to deliver employee benefits concierge services. Connect with a dedicated contact, Ginger, who can walk you through any question or concern you have with your employee benefits. Whether you have a difficult question or you just need a little guidance, confidential and professional assistance is just a call or email away. Leave the complex issues to our exports while you focus on being your healthiest self.

Calls are returned by the end of the business day. Calls placed outside of business hours are returned the following business day. During the initial conversation you will receive a resolution timeline.

Expressions of Gratitude

Posted on by Renee Boelcke

Your Human Resources team takes a moment to express sentiments of deep gratitude.

Additionally, please be invited to express gratitude as you move through your day.

We feel a sense of gratitude for many reasons, including

Community and connectedness;

Brilliant minds dedicated to making the world a better place for all of us;

Creative, curious, smart colleagues who are dedicated to K’s mission and values;

Changing seasons all the wonder that each season brings;

Moments of laughter and moments of peace;

Passion, dedication, care, and friendships.

Thank YOU from your Human Resources team,
Renee, Miasha, and Crimson

HR Buzz: Spotlight on the Center for International Programs

Posted on by Renee Boelcke

The Center for International Programs (CIP) is comprised of eight colleagues on-campus, as well as fifteen Resident Directors around the world, plus our wonderful Peer Advisors, Welcome Team Members, and Student Assistants. Margaret Wiedenhoeft has the longest time with K of the group. The group can be described as adaptable, funny, and competitive.

Did you know? CIP works with colleagues or students in almost all 24 of the world’s time zones!

Message for the K community: The pandemic has forced us to reckon with the vast differences in resources, infrastructure, and support amongst our students and colleagues around the world; we hope that as we move through this next stage, we can begin to work towards addressing the disparities we all have witnessed. We stand in awe of the persistence of the students who had to respond to multiple changes in circumstances and disappointment when plans had to change. We appreciate the flexibility and support from multiple offices on campus to help get students off-campus for the fall and to work with our students who were attending K from various places around the world. Thank you!

Resident Directors Conference, 2019 photo by Tony Dugal
Halloween 2019 – Marvel Character Theme
Halloween 2019 – Marvel Character Theme
CIP Peer Advisors and Welcome Team members, fall 2020
CIP Peer Advisors and Welcome Team members, fall 2020

HR Buzz: Spotlight on Admission

Posted on by Renee Boelcke

The Office of Admission has 17 members, but… the ENTIRE campus is on the Admission team.

Of the entire Office of Admission, Suzanne Lepley has the longest time at K with 22 years.

The Admission team describes itself as Oozing Hornet Pride!

Surprising Facts

Our Assistant Director, Marcus Johnson, is a Veteran having served active duty in Iraq.

We have more fur-babies than human babies among the team.

Operation Manager, Teresa Fiocchi, is an award-winning chef.

The Admission office typically (pre-COVID) hosts close to 800 visitors in a year.

Admission Staff

Three times per year, the Admission team hosts 100 students in the residence halls overnight for our Visit the Zoo program.

In 2019, we traveled to 37 states and 17 countries for recruitment.

Message for K Community

We absolutely cannot do this work alone! Every member of the College community is a member of the recruitment team. If a family is on a tour and they hear friendly chatter and laughter and see smiles as they walk around campus, they are more likely to choose K. A simple “hello” can make the difference in a student coming here or going elsewhere. Especially right now! The weeks leading up to May 1 (the national deadline for choosing a college) are the most critical in our work.

Admission Staff
Admission Staff
Admission Staff

Springing into warmer weather

Posted on by Renee Boelcke

The snow is melted and scarves are put aside. After months of low temperatures and dark skies, isn’t it delightful to celebrate spring again?

For many people, this wonderful season of new life is a real morale booster. The arrival of spring means more light, and for most of us, possibly a more cheerful mood. Here are a few suggestions on ways to take advantage of spring sunshine.

  • Grab a sandwich and water. Enjoy them at your favorite outdoor resting spot.
  • Consider planting a garden. Bonus: Fresh and tasty fruits and vegetables.
  • Take a brisk walk.

While you are outdoors, why not plan some tasks to ready your home for the warmer months with some spring cleaning? Before you get started, make plan so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by taking on too much—know that you don’t need to do everything in one day or even in one weekend.

  • Scrub Walls, Baseboards and Outlets
    Scrub all the walls — in the bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms and living areas — with a sponge or brush and mild soap and water. This includes baseboards and outlets. Make sure to completely dry outlet covers before replacing.
  • Replace Filters
    Replace all filters including water, range hood and air vent filters. Filters should be replaced every 3-6 months depending on the type of filter you have.
  • Clean Faucets and Showerheads
    Unscrew the faucet aerators, sink sprayers and showerheads, and soak them in equal parts vinegar and water solution. Let them soak for an hour, then rinse with warm water.
  • Clean Out the Dryer Vent
    A clogged dryer vent can be a fire hazard. To clean it, disconnect the vent from the back of the machine and use a dryer vent brush to remove lint. Outside your house, remove the dryer vent cover and use the brush to remove lint from the other end of the vent line. Make sure the vent cover flap moves freely.
  • De-Clutter for Spring!
    Spring is the perfect time to pare down the clutter that’s been accumulating in your home. Before you get started, make a room-by-room plan so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by the prospect of de-cluttering your entire home—know that you don’t need to do everything in one day or even in one weekend.
  • Test Smoke Alarms
    Test smoke alarms and CO detectors and change out batteries as needed. It only takes a few minutes and can save lives.