May 7, 2015

I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God’s love. Not even angels or demons, the present or the future, or any powers can do that.

Romans 8:38

NEWS

Seven Family and Consumer Sciences students, Mrs. Sasha Roble (adjunct instructor in HDFS), and Dr. Raeann Hamon (distinguished professor of family science and gerontology) attended the Pennsylvania Family and Consumer Sciences Association Conference in Pocono Manor, May 1-2, 2015. Dr. Hamon and Sarah Ganung (FCSE ’15) also participated in a panel presentation (along with Dr. Sally McCombie–IUP and Mrs. Sandi Graham—Marywood) entitled “The Symbiotic Relationship Between FCS Teachers and Undergrad FCS Programs.”

COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE AND PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES 

Commencement schedule and details

The Commencement Committee is pleased to announce the 2015 Commencement weekend schedule of events for Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, on the Commencement website at www.messiah.edu/commencement, including helpful details on Baccalaureate, reception plans, event tickets, and inclement weather plans. Members of the Community of Educators should have already received information from the Provost’s Office regarding their participation in Commencement weekend. Faculty, staff and administrators who are participating in the Commencement ceremony itself should have already received a memo regarding their role in the ceremony from the President’s Office.

If you have any questions regarding Commencement, please contact Carla Gross, co-chair of the Commencement Committee, at ext. 6940 or cgross@messiah.edu . Thank you to all campus employees who have been planning and working for the past several months to make Commencement a wonderful experience for graduates and their families.

Baccalaureate service/reception parking

Prior to the Baccalaureate service and reception, traffic personnel will direct guests to designated parking areas on campus. College employees do not receive reserved parking for Baccalaureate. Please note that Baccalaureate is a ticketed event; see the Commencement web site for details. The Department of Safety asks that all guests walk from where traffic control personnel direct you to park. (Shuttle service will not be provided Friday evening.) To avoid safety hazards, please do not stop in the middle of the roadway to drop off your party. If you have questions regarding parking or drop-off locations for guests with a disability, please contact Parking Officer Liz Williams at ext. 3984.

Graduate programs reception parking

Graduate programs faculty attending the reception for master’s program graduates on Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel, are requested to enter by the campus’ South Entrance (Creekside Drive) and park in Lot XX behind Hostetter Chapel and Boyer Hall. No parking pass is required.

Commencement day parking

For Commencement day, members of the Community of Educators and other employees who are marching in the processional or participating in the Commencement ceremony will receive a reserved parking pass via campus mail. Employees MUST show their parking pass to traffic control personnel upon entering campus in order to be directed to their designated reserved parking areas. All other employees who will be working the Commencement ceremony should ask their supervisor where their designated parking area will be that day. A shuttle service will transport all other guests between their parking areas and the athletic complex both before and after the Commencement ceremony. Read additional details on guest and disability parking.

Due to the significantly increased volume of traffic on campus for Commencement, the Department of Safety strong encourages all employees to arrive on campus early (no later than 8-8:15 a.m.) in order to alleviate being stuck in traffic and to help ensure they are directed to their reserved parking areas on campus.

Any questions regarding parking for Commencement weekend may be directed to Parking Officer Liz Williams at ext. 3984.

MESSIAH 411

DINE AT BAKERS TO SUPPORT CLASS OF 15’

Join the Class of 2015 and dine at Baker’s Restaurant anytime on Monday, May 11. Baker’s will be donating 7 percent of all profits that day to the senior class gift. The Class of 2015 is raising funds to gift our campus with a street clock, symbolizing their time at Messiah. Thank you in advance for your support. Please contact The Office of Annual Giving with questions.

IMPORTANT REMINDER TO FACULITY

Learning Technology Services would like to remind the faculty that it’s not too early to begin planning ahead. The Fall Semester 2015 work submission deadlines have been set. Please coordinate your needs for your courses with the deadline dates listed on this attached document. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Diane Hunsinger, copyright & educational support specialist, at ext. 3895. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

TRADITION MEETS TOMORROW

Tradition meets Tomorrow. As employees, we have a longstanding tradition of investing in both current and future Messiah College students. Because of your generosity, we have many alumni who earned their Messiah College degree. If each employee gives as little as $2.50 per paycheck, we will raise over $50,000 for the Messiah Annual Fund. It’s easy to give through the Payroll Deduction Program. Please return the employee giving response card you received to Beth Clark, Suite 3013. Join your colleagues and support the Messiah Annual Fund. “I give to Messiah College because I see on a daily basis young people who desperately want to earn their Messiah College degree, but need help to afford it. While I cannot give a lot, I know I have been a small part of a wonderful group who works hard to make their dreams come true.”- Jill E. Poole ’81, transfer records specialist, Registrar. Every gift, like every employee, is important. For more information, please contact Beth Trott Clark, director of annual giving, at bclark@messiah.edu or x3953.

NOISE MEASUREMENTS

Under 29 CFR 1910.95, OSHA’s Standard for Occupational Noise, we are required to measure the sound level emissions from noise sources to determine if hearing protection is required (or to prove that it is not needed). If you have any equipment in your area that was added in the past year that produces noise at a significant level* please contact Donna Fink to have a sound level measurement taken. Even if this equipment is similar to equipment already tested for noise in the past, a sound level check must be taken as noise emissions can vary slightly from one machine to another of the same make and model. Measurements must be made “under load” or normal use of the equipment. For example, a power drill may not sound loud when turned on, but when actually drilling into material (under load) it may generate high levels of noise. To contact Donna for these measurements, please call ext. 5038 or email dfink@messiah.edu.

* A significant noise level is one that makes it difficult to hear someone speaking to you at a normal volume (without raising their voice). If in doubt, please contact Donna.

Announcement of Investment Changes

To Plan Participants and Beneficiaries of:

Messiah College Defined Contribution Retirement Plan

Investment Change Announcement Explanation 

The plan’s investment committee recently met to review the performance of plan investment choices. If an investment choice does not meet the established minimum standards, the committee reviews other alternatives with similar investment objectives to discuss possible replacement options. This important notice is to inform you that Messiah College Defined Contribution Retirement Plan will be making changes to the plan’s investment options as outlined here. This change is scheduled to go into effect the week of 06/15/2015.

How will this affect me?

During the week of June 15, assets invested in the prior fund(s) will automatically be transferred to the corresponding replacement fund shown above. In addition, all of your directives for investing future contributions in the prior fund(s) will automatically be changed to the corresponding replacement fund.

If there is/are fund(s) in the table above that do not show a prior fund, these funds are new additions to your plan.

Do I need to take action?

No. However, if you want to make changes to your account you can:

  • Change your investment directives to ensure that future contributions are invested in the investment option of your choice.
  • Transfer any balance in this fund to the investment option of your choice.

These changes can be made using either by:

  1. Using Personal Savings Center at standard.com/retirement
  2. Calling a customer service representative at 800.858.5420

Who can I contact with questions about these changes?

If you have questions, please contact a customer service representative at 800.858.5420.

Plan sponsors and participants should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment options offered under the retirement plan before investing. The prospectuses for individual mutual funds and each available investment option in the group annuity contain this and other important information. Prospectuses may be obtained by calling 877.805.1127. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investments are subject to market risks and fluctuate in value.

The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. StanCorp Equities, Inc., member FINRA, distributes group annuity contracts issued by Standard Insurance Company and may provide other brokerage services. Third-party administrative services are provided by Standard Retirement Services, Inc. Investment advisory services are provided by StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor. StanCorp Equities, Inc., Standard Insurance Company, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., and StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc. are subsidiaries of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and all are Oregon corporations. 

CLASSIFIEDS

Available Positions

The Department of Facility Services has an immediate opening for the full-time position of Facility Maintenance Zone Supervisor/HVAC Technician. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/hr/postings/6308 Job-related questions may be directed to Brad Markley, director of facility services, at BMarkley@messiah.edu.

The Department of Dining Services has an immediate opening for the full-time position of Retail Restaurant Shift Supervisor. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/6312 Job-related questions may be directed to Mark Wirtz, director of dining services, at MWirtz@messiah.edu.