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January 2026 | HR Monthly Bulletin

Welcome our new Bearcats!

Grant Adkins

Officer
University Police Department

Dr. Kiersten Gundersen

Assistant Professor
School of Agricultural Sciences

Employee Anniversaries

Congratulations to these employees for their milestone years of service
in January 2026!

5 YEARS

Madalyn Mosbauer Advertising and Business Manager School of Communication and Mass Media

10 YEARS

Dr. Araceli Hernandez Gonzalez Associate Professor of Management Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business

25 YEARS

Brenda Jones Senior Instructor of Marketing Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business
Lori Mardis Research Librarian, Instructional Design, Assistant Professor B.D. Owens Library

30 YEARS

Judy Frueh Director of Wellness Services, Clinic Services Wellness Services

TRANSFERS & PROMOTIONS

Sierra Rains Associate Director Transfer Partnerships and Initiatives Office of Academic Success and Retention
Gerry Runde Business Analyst for Human Resources and Finance Office of Information Technology
Tyler Steele Assistant Director of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Facility Services

Upcoming Events

40 Day Practice to Resilience: Relaxation and Stress Management

Michele Burch, organizational effectiveness and personal development consultant
Legacy Consulting Institute LLC (www.legacyconsultinginstitute.com)
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (60-minute sessions)
Student Union Boardroom

Michele Burch will guide attendees through learning how stress affects the body, how to reverse those effects and build resilience. The workshop is interactive and includes several relaxation stress management exercises.


Employee tour opportunity

In alignment with Northwest's focus on enrollment growth, campus tours are available to employees approximately once a month during the academic year. This campus tour experience is the same tour that prospective students and families are offered. It is a great opportunity for employees who are newer to campus as well as for employees who have been a part of the Northwest community for quite some time. 

Tours leave from Mabel Cook Recruitment and Visitors Center and encompass a 90-minute walking tour. Tours are led by Northwest student ambassadors and allow the campus community to see how our campus is showcased.

Click here to register.


C.A.L.M in Crisis

C.A.L.M. in Crisis is a key component of how we support our students’ mental health and overall well-being. While counseling services play a vital role, our entire campus community shares responsibility for recognizing when students are struggling. CALM equips employees with practical skills to identify risk factors and warning signs of suicide and mental health struggles, respond with confidence and care, make appropriate referrals, offer hope and maintain personal well-being throughout the process.

Because mental health challenges continue to rise and directly impact student success, it is essential that employees complete this training. Your engagement strengthens our coordinated response, ensures students receive timely support and reinforces our culture of care across campus. 

The next faculty and staff training is scheduled for 2:15 to 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Register by clicking this link.


You Are the Brand (Stop "Hoping" to Make a Good Impression ... Create One)

Dallas Amsden, speaker, host, communication expert and presentation trainer
C2S Communicate2Succeed (www.communicate2succeed.com)
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (60-minute sessions)
Student Union Boardroom

Dallas Amsden will show attendees how your confidence, curiosity and communication style shape the reputation others experience when they meet you. Learn how to stand out in interviews, internships and the workplace — without being fake, loud or someone you’re not.


Clarifying Stereotypes & Misconceptions About Identities

Dr. Shay Malone, assistant vice president for institutional excellence and global engagement
Center for Engagement and Community Connection
Thursday, March 19, 4 p.m. (60-minute session)
Student Union Boardroom

History, personal upbringing, lack of exposure and media can all shape and distort our perceptions of identities. This workshop explores the changing demographics of our community and confronts persistent stereotypes regarding various identities. Attendees will consider the incredible diversity found within various cultural traditions and how people might unknowingly incorporate them.


Northwest Awards and Recognition Ceremony

Monday, March 30
Refreshments begin at 3 p.m. with presentations starting at 3:15 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom

Nominations for the Northwest Awards and Recognition Ceremony are now open. This event is a collaborative celebration to recognize excellence among Northwest students, faculty and staff.

Sign into BearcatLink with your Northwest username and password before completing any of the nomination forms linked below. There is no limit on the number of nominations an individual may submit. The deadline to submit nominations is 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, unless indicated.

Click here for descriptions of all awards and nomination forms.


Mandatory training

Northwest's Vector SafeColleges trainings are assigned to all employees annually and related to a variety of topics. Click here to log in and complete the training.

Workday update

The Workday Project Team has formally begun End-to-End (E2E) testing. Test cycles have kicked off across all functional areas, including human capital management, absence, payroll, time tracking, recruiting, and finance. The team will also participate in a three-day E2E testing onsite with our implementation partner, Alchemy, Feb. 3-5.  

The Change Network will launch on Feb. 5, marking a critical step in preparing Northwest for the Workday transition. Monthly Change Network meetings will begin in March, when network members will begin sharing awareness messages and collecting feedback.   

Recent Workday wins

For more information or to provide feedback, visit the Workday project website by clicking this link.

Opportunities to get involved

Lattes & Learning

Join the Center for Engagement and Community Connection for casual working discussions over coffee. You don’t need to have read a specific article — just bring your thoughts, ideas and a willingness to learn about all the things happening in the world of higher education. The space is open to Northwest employees at all levels and is perfect for sparking new ideas in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. 


Employee Resource Groups

Affinity groups are designed to create safe spaces for members to share and process experiences. Affinity group also allows participants the opportunity to identify ways in which we can appropriately use privilege to bring about social change. For more information, visit Northwest affinity groups.

Association of Black Employees Logo

Contact Giselle Greenidge at ggreenidge@nwmissouri.edu 

LGBTQIA Logo

Contact Elyssa Ford at ebford@nwmissouri.edu 

ALLY Affinity Group Logo

Contact ALLY@nwmissouri.edu 

Community-Connections-logo

Contact Maryvillecommunityconnections@gmail.com

women in academia

Contact Jessie Peter 
at jpeter@nwmissouri.edu

 

 

young professionals

     Contact Garrison Kennedy at GKENNEDY@nwmissouri.edu

 

Mental health and wellness resources

The Office of Human Resources highlights the following resources that employees may use as necessary. Mindful by BlueKC, the EAP and TAO are completely confidential.

Mindful by BlueKC

Mindful by BlueKC is a behavioral health initiative dedicated to reducing stigma around behavioral health in our communities while making care accessible and affordable for members. Mindful by Blue KC is a commitment to covering the health needs of the whole person and comes to life as a set of tools and resources to address stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and more. This ensures that members can access and afford the behavioral health care they need. 

Mindful Advocates are available 24/7 and are licensed behavioral health clinicians who match members to providers and guide care plans. Mindful Advocates may be contacted at 833.302.6463. For more information, visit Mindful by BlueKC initiative.


Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

All Northwest employees are eligible to use Ability Assist Counseling Services sponsored by The Hartford. Click here to read about the benefits this program offers.


TAO-Therapy Assistance Online

This is a private online library of behavioral health resources. It is a free and confidential resource available to Northwest employees and students. For more information, visit TAO-Therapy Assistance Online. 

Wellness Services is offering a variety of online programing. Follow Wellness Services on Twitter and Instagram at @nw_wellness for updates.

Benefits Spotlight

BlueKC SmartShopper Program: Earn cash reward for shopping and saving on medical procedures

Northwest has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) to offer employees a share of the savings – in cash – when you shop for a medical procedure and select a cost-effective, in-network provider using SmartShopper.

Medical procedures can have vastly different costs depending on where you receive care. SmartShopper makes it easy to shop and save on a procedure and earn a cash reward for doing so. Here’s how it works:

When a doctor recommends a medical procedure, follow these steps: 

  1. Log in at MyBlueKC.com and select Find Care
  2. Select Find Doctors, Specialists & Hospitals
  3. Click the Find Care button in the pop-up
  4. Select the SmartShopper Rewards tile for your search
  5. Receive care at a SmartShopper-eligible, in-network location of your choice.
  6. After the claim is paid, SmartShopper will mail you a reward check.

See below for additional information about the program.

Benefits & Wellness Information

Blue KC now offering Medicare advisor services

Blue Cross is now offering Medicare guidance for eligible employees that include one-on-one consultations, enrollment guidance and transition, and general Medicare education.

Click this link to learn more about services offered and reach out to a representative. (PDF)


BlueKC prescription drug list updates

The Blue KC Medical and Pharmacy Management Committee reviews and maintains the prescription drug list. The Committee, consisting of practicing physicians and pharmacists in the Kansas City area, holds quarterly meetings to evaluate new drug therapies and review drug utilization issues. Medications are evaluated based on drug safety and costs.

Click here for a complete list of premium formulary updates effective July 1, 2025. (PDF)

How BlueKC will communicate these changes

Blue KC is taking proactive steps to limit disruption, including:


Financial wellness resources

Northwest’s 403b plan administrator OMNI/TSAGC has several resources available to employees on topics such as retirement savings plans, managing personal finances, college funding options and how to navigate Social Security and Medicare.

Calculators, videos and informative content on various topics can help guide employees in their planning process. To explore the Financial Wellness Center, visit https://usrbpfinancialwellness.com.

Click here to read the Fall 2025 employee newsletter.


Hartford offering empathy life essentials services

The Hartford is now offering empathy life essentials services to our employees in addition to the employee assistance program. Some of these services include funeral planning, will preparation and bereavement support. To learn more about services offered, click here. (PDF)


Benefits Resource Center

USI's Benefits Resource Center is a free resource service for employees and encourages you to reach out for any information, questions or help with insurance or benefits.

Toll Free: 855.874.0829
BRCMidwest@usi.com 

Benefits Specialists can assist you Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.


MOSERS educational programs

MOSERS offers educational programs to help members learn information about their benefits as they progress through their careers and experience different life events along the way. 

Mid-Career Webinar: Learn how different career and life events may affect your pension benefit.

Ready to Retire Sessions: Learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact your pension benefit.

Stay up to date and visit www.mosers.org/education frequently for more information, including schedules and how to register. 


MO Deferred Comp retirement plan

The MO Deferred Comp plan is a supplemental retirement savings option available to employees. Visit www.modeferredcomp.org to learn more about the plan, register for upcoming education sessions or find financial planning options.


A Healthier You (AHY)

A Healthier You gives you convenient online and mobile access to wellness tools you can use to live your healthiest life. Plus, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for chances to win gift cards to some popular retailers.

For more information about the AHY program, click this link.

Miscellaneous

Electronic W-2 Option Available

Want to receive your W-2 earlier in January next year by printing your own W-2 through CatPAWS? Follow these steps:

By consenting to receive your W-2 electronically, you acknowledge that the University will not be mailing a paper copy of your W-2. You are consenting to obtain a printed copy of your W-2 by returning to the site and clicking W-2 Wage and Tax Statement.

Your consent will be valid for all subsequent tax years unless revoked by you, or upon termination, or this service is not supported in a future given tax year. You may revoke your consent and receive a paper Form W-2 by accessing this site and unchecking the box.

For more information, contact the Payroll Office at 660.562.1108.


Mail and Printing Services

Need to mail or print something? Mail and Printing Services receives and distributes USPS mail, as well as provides printing services for Northwest and the public. Be sure to contact Mail & Printing Services for any printing or mailing needs.

For more information, contact Mail and Printing Services at 660.562.1109 or mailcpy@nwmissouri.edu, or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/services/purchasing/mailcopy/.


Bearcat Food Pantry

The mission of the Bearcat Food Pantry is to provide a source of food and necessities for Northwest students and employees experiencing food insecurity and hunger. The food pantry is located in the J.W. Jones Student Union and is accessible the following hours during the spring semester:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 1-3 p.m.
Wednesday: 1-3 p.m.
Thursday: 1-3 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Northwest accepts food donations for the pantry at the Student Engagement Center and the Office of Student Affairs located on the second floor of the Student Union. Monetary donations to support the food pantry should be directed to the Northwest Foundation and are tax-deductible.

Click this link to view a list of needed items.


Tobacco Free policy

Northwest has implemented an updated Tobacco Free policy. The University is committed to providing an environment that is safe and healthy. Consistent with this policy, the use of tobacco is prohibited on all University-owned or leased property (“University Property”) and in all University vehicles. This policy applies to all students, employees, contractors, volunteers and visitors.

For more information about this policy, click this link.


Family and Medical Leave Act

The University provides family and medical leave in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees. The University requires that employees substitute (run concurrently) accrued paid leave to which employees may be entitled to cover the employee’s FMLA leave, before using unpaid leave under the FMLA.

If an employee is away from work for three or more consecutive days due to medical reasons, contact the Office of Human Resources regarding FMLA and leave requirements.


Worker's compensation

If an employee is injured at work, injuries must be reported immediately to the employee’s supervisor and the Office of Human Resources. Employees must contact the Office of Human Resources and the state Central Accident Reporting Office before medical treatment is sought. For any questions regarding workplace injuries, contact Human Resources at 660.562.1127.


Purchase requisition training videos

Purchasing has created instructional videos explaining how to create a purchase requisition in Banner/INB. The videos are available in MyNorthwest, Employee Resources - Finance & Administration, Purchasing Training Videos.