Inside BFSA
Your information source for BFSA - April 2020
Connection in a time of COVID-19
You may have heard commercials, co-workers, friends, family, neighbors and loved ones refer to this time of “remote work” and “social distancing” as “the new normal”. So many are using that term but if you think about it, there is nothing normal about this experience. So, perhaps it is time to look at what is going on in the nation from a different perspective.
When something different happens, we use familiar comparisons--something we are all familiar with--“firsts” in life. For example, the first day of a new job, the first day of college, your first car, your first date, or even the first time someone calls you mom or dad. These pivotal moments change us forever. Yes, our first feelings are often that of discomfort at first, we in fact adjust and carry on. We carry on and adjust with the help and support of those around us. We carry on and adjust because it helps us grow and it helps us find a new path or new method.
Remember, we are all in this together. Be well. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Stay home if you’re sick. Social distance, but don’t disconnect. Call or text friends. Call or text loved ones. Use ZOOM, FACETIME, or SKYPE to connect in ways that texting or calling just won't provide. Stay connected. Stay engaged.
Interested in serving as an officer?
2020-21 BFSA CANDIDATE FILINGS - Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
Interested in being a candidate for BFSA Officer Board? Click here to nominate someone or to self-nominate as a candidate. Each position serves for a period of 1 academic year. Candidate filings and elections occur in April annually.
200-21 STAFF CONGRESS CANDIDATE FILINGS - Deadline: April 6, 2020, at 4:30 p.m.
Interested in being a candidate for Staff Congress? Click here to nominate someone or to self-nominate as a candidate.
Custodial and Grounds Staffing Update
March 23, 2020 - May 15, 2020 - Murray State University begins Online Period
April 17, 2020 - All Campus Sing
April 21-23, 2020 - Staff Congress online voting for 10 University Staff Employees (Candidacy Intent Form due April 6, 2020)
April 24, 2020 - Special Session of the Board of Regents meeting to discuss pension, tuition, and fees and the 2020-21 University budget. (streaming)
May 2, 2020, at 8 a.m. - Senior Breakfast & Awards Ceremony - will occur in a virtual environment; Contact Student Affairs for more information; 809-6832; msu.studentaffairs@murraystate.edu
June 5, 2020 – Quarterly Board of Regents Meeting, Pogue Library, Jesse Stuart Room
Health and Wellness Campus Updates
March 11, 2020
Students, Faculty and Staff:
Murray State University continues to proactively monitor and assess the COVID-19, novel Coronavirus. We are working closely with all appropriate authorities in regard to this matter.
Several weeks ago, I commissioned a University Work Group that continues to meet daily and discuss the University’s preparedness for the Coronavirus and appropriate steps to take in order to protect the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and broader community.
Please note the following:
- All previous travel restrictions remain in effect – please view recent updates at www.murraystate.edu/healthupdate.
- Spring Break for students remains as scheduled – Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20. Also as planned, the University will remain closed Wednesday, March 18; Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 for Spring Break.
- Faculty, staff and teaching assistants who are involved in instruction will begin on-site, online course training on Friday, March 13. Additional information in this regard will be forthcoming shortly from the Provost’s Office.
- Beginning on Monday, March 23, instruction will continue through online or alternative delivery methods, but not through face-to-face instruction, through Sunday, April 5. During this period, Murray State will remain open and staff operations will continue as normal. This includes our regional campus sites at Fort Campbell, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville and Paducah. Campus residence halls will be open and dining opportunities will be available. The University will be evaluating all campus events on a case-by-case basis.
The University’s Work Group continues to meet daily and will re-evaluate future plans and decisions prior to Friday, April 3, 2020.
Please visit our website regularly for additional updates in the days ahead www.murraystate.edu/healthupdate. We will post important update information as soon as it becomes available. These represent significant updates in an ever-changing environment and require thoughtful and careful discussions. Again, in order to protect the health, safety and well-being of our campus community, these actions are necessary.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bob Jackson
President
NOTICE FROM HUMAN RESOURCES - EXPANDED SICK LEAVE & FMLA - APRIL 1, 2020
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides new rules for paid sick time and paid family and medical leave. This message is to provide notification to faculty and staff, as well as to provide implementation guidance for pay and leave options.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act – This act provides up to two weeks of paid leave for full-time and part-time employees.
Employees will be eligible for paid sick leave at a full rate of pay for two weeks (80 hours) for:
· Under a government quarantine or isolation order
· Advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine
· Seeking a medical diagnosis after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
Employees will be eligible for paid sick leave at two-thirds the regular rate of pay for two weeks (80 hours) for:
· Caring for someone who is under a government quarantine or isolation order, or who is advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine
· Caring for a child under 18 whose school or child care provider is closed due to COVID-19
· experiencing a substantially similar condition as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor
There is no length-of-service requirement to qualify for this leave.
Under this expansion of Family Medical Leave, the first two weeks of leave are unpaid. However, an employee can use accrued vacation and/or sick leave or apply for Emergency Paid Sick Leave during this time.
After the first two weeks, an employee would receive two-thirds of their regular rate of pay and could continue to use accrued leaves to supplement the remaining one-third of pay. Employees are not required to supplement their pay.
Employees must be employed for at least 30 calendar days to qualify for Emergency FMLA Expansion Act leave. Full-time and part-time employees qualify.
An employee can request Emergency Paid Sick Leave and/or Emergency Family and Medical Leave here.
Questions regarding these changes may be directed to Human Resources at msu.hr@murraystate.edu.
Staff Performance Appraisals NOW Due Friday, May 15, 2020 - Action Required
UPDATE:
The 2019-2020 Performance Appraisal deadline is being extended to May 15, 2020, due to the campus issues related to COVID19. Additional information and instructions regarding appraisals is available here.
Evaluation meetings should be conducted, forms completed, and the original documents sent to Human Resource by May 15, 2020. The period of evaluation remains as March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020.
An annual performance appraisal is to be completed for each regular full-time and part-time staff member. You are receiving this communication as a department head and will need to distribute this information to all supervisors within your area. Additional information and instructions regarding appraisals is available here.
· The Non-exempt and Exempt Performance Appraisal forms can be accessed on the Knowledge Base.
· The forms can be downloaded, completed online and saved electronically. All original documents should be submitted to Human Resources.
· Evaluation meetings should be conducted, forms completed, and the original documents sent to Human Resource by Friday, May 15, 2020. The evaluation period is March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020.
Please contact Haley Stedelin, Assistant Director of Employment (ext. 3094) or Courtney Hixon, Associate Director for Human Resources (ext. 2156) if you have questions.
Policy III.I Performance Appraisals may be accessed here.
Quick Campus Tour: Faces, Places and Spaces
Mary Elaine Horn
Coordinator - Fort Campbell Campus
Dr. Alicia Carthell
Assistant Professor
English & Philosophy
Angela Guyton
Administrative Assistant II.
Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Dr. LeRon Harrison
Dr. Oluwabunmi Dada, Occupational Safety and Health
Dr. Esther Malm
Dr. Debbie Owens, College of Business
Dr. Washington, College of Education and Human Services
Dr. Bella Ezumah, College of Business
Dr. Crystal Coel, College of Business
Mr. Raymond Sims, College of Education and Human Services
Roslyn White, University Recruitment
Dr. Stephanie Hendrith, College of Education and Human Services
Carruth Kitrell, College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Charde Hudspeth, Athletics
Renita Avery, Curris Center Director
Kim Newbern, Greek Life
Stephen Keene, TRIO Programs
Ivy Anderson, University Recruitment
Kendrick Quisenberry, University Recruitment
Dr. Donald Adongo, College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Justin Parks
General Manager, Athletics
Shane Nichols
Assistant Coach
Men's Basketball
Casey Long
Assistant Coach
Men's Basketball
Ronrico White
Director of Player Development
Athletics
Jauwan Scaife
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Athletics
Chris Cunningham
Special Teams Coordinator
Athletics
Darius Hart
Assistant Coach, Football
Athletics
Frederick Walker
Assistant Coach, Football
Athletics
Dr. Firm Faith Watson
Faculty Development Center Director
University Libraries
Dr. Omer Yayenie
Professor
Math Department
Dr. Brian Clardy
Associate Professor
History Department
Dr. Seid Hassan
Professor
Economics and Finance
Camisha Duffy
Executive Director of the Office of IDEA
Institutional Title IX Coordinator
Lecturer, Organizational Communication & Leadership
serving as the institutional Chief Diversity OfficerDr. Jessica Evans
Director of Assessment & Accreditation
College of Education and Human Services
Regina Hudspeth
Lecturer
Organizational Communication & Leadership
Dedrick Brooks
Buffy Blanton
Tiffany Emerson
Academic Coordinator
Talent Search
Dr. S. G. Carthell
Teresa Palmer
Associate Director
Student Financial Aid
Robert "Bobby" Daniels
Coordinator of Housing Maintenance
Housing & Residence Life
Kenny Davis
Building Services Technician
Facilities Management
Robert Hartsfield
Building Services Technician
Curris Center
Ada Bailey
Adrian Benton
Office of Recruitment
Lester Buckner
Laboratory Technician
Breathitt Veterinary Center
Glendale Olive
Central Receiving
Retirees
MSU Future Academic Calendars
Scholar Stage features students at MSU
Please turn your attention to the Scholar Stage which features outstanding students in their field at MSU. You will note several of our minority students are featured on the website which rotates. This is one of the places you can turn to when referring students.
You'll be interested in such profiles as:
Kevonte Turnley
Jade Townsley
Jasmine Groves
Shantaye Powell
Ja Morant
Mustafa Alhussain
Early Scholar Stage Recipient: Ryan Hudson
Holiday and University Closures
Athletic Events
University Calendar
About BFSA
Email: msu.idea@murraystate.edu
Website: www.murraystate.edu/bfsa
Location: 103 Wells Hall, Murray, KY 42071
Phone: 270-809-3155
Participate in meetings via Conference Call
Every. single. voice is important! Let's have a great showing of Black faculty and staff at this exclusive event with the Academic Leaders!
Call Instructions: Dial-in number (US): (605) 313-5111 Access code: 357013#
REMINDERS:
PLEASE keep your mute button engaged until you are ready to speak to minimize background noise. Recognize that the HOLD button may have music attached to it that will be audible, so use the MUTE button instead.
KABHE Conference (Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education)
Thank you to our donors/financial gift givers to BFSA this year
Dr. Renee Fister
Renita Avery and the Curris Center Staff
Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA)
Office of the Provost
Dr. Timothy Todd
Anonymous donor