MSU All Staff Council Newsletter
Featured Staff Member
Carmen Yupe: Facilities - Work Control Dispatch
My name is Carmen Yupe and I've been at the helm of MSU since 2018 when I accepted the job of Facilities Work Control Dispatcher. It's fulfilling as well as an education in itself as I work with a stellar team that is top-notch in communicating and facing the challenges of running a city within a city. From the unexpected gym roof collapse and COVID-19, to renovating Romney Hall, and bringing the newest building online, the American Indian Hall. I am proud to work within such a dynamic and efficient group of people. I learn from them every day and appreciate the growth I've made as an individual because of the environment.
Outside of my role at MSU, I'm a builder, Indigenous Yoga Instructor, a food grower, a poet/writer, and idea generator who is comfortable with pushing the envelope to incite positive changes in any community I am a member of. I'm originally from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Fort Hall, Idaho and transplanted to Bozeman, Montana in 2016.
Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior
By Mayo Clinic StaffStress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that irritating headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the cause.
Common effects of stress
Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
| On your body | On your mood | On your behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Headache | Anxiety | Overeating or undereating |
| Muscle tension or pain | Restlessness | Angry outbursts |
| Chest pain | Lack of motivation or focus | Drug or alcohol misuse |
| Fatigue | Feeling overwhelmed | Tobacco use |
| Change in sex drive | Irritability or anger | Social withdrawal |
| Stomach upset | Sadness or depression | Exercising less often |
| Sleep problems |
Act to manage stress
If you have stress symptoms, taking steps to manage your stress can have many health benefits. Explore stress management strategies, such as:
- Getting regular physical activity
- Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi or massage
- Keeping a sense of humor
- Spending time with family and friends
- Setting aside time for hobbies, such as reading a book or listening to music
Aim to find active ways to manage your stress. Inactive ways to manage stress — such as watching television, surfing the internet or playing video games — may seem relaxing, but they may increase your stress over the long term.
And be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid tobacco use, excess caffeine and alcohol, and the use of illegal substances.
When to seek help
If you're not sure if stress is the cause or if you've taken steps to control your stress but your symptoms continue, see your doctor. Your healthcare provider may want to check for other potential causes. Or consider seeing a professional counselor or therapist, who can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.
Also, get emergency help immediately if you have chest pain, especially if you also have shortness of breath, jaw or back pain, pain radiating into your shoulder and arm, sweating, dizziness, or nausea. These may be warning signs of a heart attack and not simply stress symptoms.
The Unconditional Love of Pets
by Kit Darling
The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and their animals, influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Kit Darling, infection control coordinator at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, has spent years studying the human-animal bond.
This bond is most evident in the relationship that forms between people and their pets. “Think about the feelings you have when you come home to a pet that is excited to see you,” Darling said. “Pets are non-judgmental and provide unconditional love, meaning, and joy to our lives. ”The relationship pet owners form with their animals can be emotional, psychological, and physical, according to Darling. Pets can help decrease loneliness, relieve stress and anxiety, and provide opportunities for exercise, play, and recreation.
“Spending quality time and doing activities with your pets can strengthen your bond with them,” Darling said. “This may include going for walks, doing training classes, participating in shows and events, and doing animal-assisted activities.”
Though all pets can provide emotional support and love for their owners through the human-animal bond, dogs have a history of being used for therapy work. “There are some special animals such as therapy dogs that are trained to provide unconditional love, affection, and comfort to groups of people,” Darling said.
Many cities have local organizations that focus on pet therapy work. In College Station, Aggieland Pets With A Purpose teaches people how to train their pets for therapy work and takes volunteers to visit places in the community.
Darling said therapy dogs can comfort people in hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice, schools, and disaster areas. “The dogs can help people accomplish goals in physical, occupational, and speech therapy,” she said. “People are excited to come to their therapy sessions when the dogs are present; I have seen people respond to therapy dogs when they have not responded to people.
“Residents at nursing homes anxiously wait in the lobby when our dogs visit,” she continued. “A college student studying for finals enjoys taking a break to visit with the dogs and relieve stress. Nursing staff at a hospital find a little relief from a busy day while petting a dog.”
Like therapy dogs, all pets can provide comfort, joy, emotional support, and more thanks to the powerful bond between humans and animals. They do not judge and are quick to forgive. They are always happy to spend time with you, whether playing or simply sitting in the same room.
“Think about how your pets enrich your life through your relationship with them and the activities you do together,” Darling said. “We provide them with care and love, and they share their unconditional love with us to brighten our days.”
Get To Know Your Council Members
Julie Clay - UIT Project Management Office
I am a certified Project Manager, PMP in my eighth year at the Project Management office at Montana State University (MSU). I work to implement enterprise software and business improvement projects throughout the four MSU campuses, collaborating with key stakeholders and helping project teams meet their goals.
I am the current Chair of the MSU All Staff Council, having been a member since the beginning. I am very passionate about staff concerns, current issues, and staff rentention.
When I am not working, you can find me cheering on Bobcat Football, or spending time with my friends. I love to cook, read, and relax by the lake in the summer. I also have one pet, Mrs. Squeakers aka the "Mrs.", a 14 year-old, 14 pound, Tuxedo cat that thinks she runs the house.....and maybe she does.
Beverly Garrison - College of Education, Health & Human Development
I was given an excellent opportunity to learn about higher education and Montana State University when I received a position in the Financial Aid Office in 2016. In 2018 I moved to a Program Coordinator Position with Troops to Teachers, where I learned about grants, MSU business operations, and working with a remote team. Finally, I have made a home in the College of Education, Health & Human Development as the Assistant to the Department Heads. I have been able to take advantage of the Staff Tuition Waiver to complete an Associate of Science and am in the final semester of completing the Bookkeeping Certification through Gallatin College. All of these experiences have been wonderful, challenging, and fulfilling.
I am looking forward to continuing as the MSUASC Chair in the fall of 2022.
What is a Tuition Waiver?
Faculty and Staff are eligible for a tuition waiver in the Montana University System if they have been employed for 3/4 time or more for the entire period of enrollment. A tuition waiver covers the cost of in-state tuition for a pre-determined number of credits. Each campus is allowed to choose how many credits they will cover. MSU-Bozeman waives the cost of tuition for six (6) credits per academic term. Permanent employees working at least 3/4 time for the entire academic year who are re-employed for the following academic year are eligible for a tuition waiver during the intervening summer term. Fees or registration cannot be used as part of the waiver. If you have been considering taking some classes or getting a second degree, make sure you talk to your HR representative about the Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver. See below for the important details:
1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
This policy implements the policies of the Board of Regents that grant eligible employees and their dependents a tuition waiver for university classes.
2. ELIGIBILITY
Under the terms of Board of Regents Policy 940.13(5) eligible employees employed at 0.75 FTE or more for the entire period of the proposed enrollment are eligible for a waiver of resident tuition. For purposes of this policy, the following categories of employees are eligible for the tuition waiver: classified employees who have completed their probationary period, tenured and tenure track faculty, non-tenure track faculty, and contract employees during their contract term. See, Employee Categories.
Employees employed at a minimum of 0.75 FTE for the entire academic year, and who will be reemployed for the following academic year, are eligible for a tuition waiver during the intervening summer term.
3. TUITION WAIVERS FOR EMPLOYEES
a. Non-Faculty Employees
With the permission of the employee’s supervisor and the director/dean, employees may take courses for undergraduate or graduate credit and receive a tuition waiver for up to six (6) credits per semester of resident tuition only. If an employee takes a course that is offered only during regularly scheduled work hours, the employee must either take annual leave for class attendance or make up the time absent from work as approved by the supervisor. Employees eligible for overtime must make up time absent from work in a manner that will not result in overtime.
b. Faculty
Faculty members (0.75 FTE or more) are eligible for the tuition waiver and may register for up to six (6) credits per semester with the approval of the faculty member’s supervisor and the dean of the college(s) in which the faculty member is employed.
4. DEPENDENT WAIVER
Employees who have been employed at least 3/4 time (0.75 FTE) for five (5) or more consecutive years are eligible for a partial tuition waiver for their dependents as outlined under BOR Policy 940.32. A dependent includes the employee’s spouse or adult dependent as defined in the MUS Employee Benefits Plan, and financially dependent children as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, who are unmarried and under age 25. This benefit shall apply to employees included in a collective bargaining unit only after it has been incorporated in a ratified collective bargaining agreement.
5. LIMITATIONS
Retroactive requests for waivers will not be accepted. Employees who use a tuition waiver for themselves are not eligible for a Dependent Waiver during the same academic term. This waiver does not apply to self-supporting courses offered by Extended University. Under this policy, only tuition will be waived. No fees, including mandatory, program fees, or any other charges will be waived for employees under this policy.
Dependent Partial Tuition Waiver (DPTW)
Board of Regents Policy
Employees of the Montana University System are eligible for a partial tuition waiver benefit for their dependents if they meet certain criteria.
Employee / Dependent Eligibility:
Employees must be employed at least 3/4 time for five or more consecutive years before being eligible for a dependent tuition waiver benefit. Employees who utilize the faculty and staff tuition waiver are not eligible for a dependent tuition waiver during the same academic term. Only one dependent may utilize the dependent tuition waiver in an academic term. A dependent includes the employee’s spouse or adult dependent, as defined in the MUS Employee Benefits Plan, and financially dependent children as defined by the Internal Revenue Code who are unmarried and under age 25. This benefit shall apply to employees included in a bargaining unit only after it has been incorporated in a ratified collective bargaining agreement.
Dependent Tuition Waiver Benefit:
The tuition waiver benefit for dependents shall be for 50% of the residential tuition. In no case may registration, course fees or any other mandatory or miscellaneous fees be waived. Dependents may utilize the tuition waiver benefit to take courses at a college of technology or in any other two-year or certificate programs and to obtain a first baccalaureate degree at any unit of the university system. Dependents may not use the tuition waiver benefit to attend law school or obtain a graduate degree. The tuition waiver does not apply to non-credit, continuing education or other self-supporting courses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)