| Violet Boyd | Circulation Specialist | B.D. Owens Library |
| Jenn Chapman | Custodian | Facility Services |
| Dinush Jayasooria | Assistant Professor | School of Mathematics and Statistics |
| Meagan Morrow | Transcript Specialist | Office of the Registrar |
| Coy Sobotka | Maintenance Technician | Facility Services |
Congratulations to these employees for their milestone years of service in September 2026!
| Megan Hamilton | Instructor of Education | School of Education |
| Joy Huddleston | Library Circulation Specialist | B.D. Owens Library |
| Linda Woodward | Custodian | Facility Services |
| Lisa Finney | Primary Care Provider | Wellness Services |
| Meghaan Binkley-Hopper | Extended Learning Coordinator | B.D. Owens Library |
| Dr. Michael McBride | Associate Director of Accreditation and Assessment | Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness |
| Dr. Andy Peterson | Director of Athletics | Department of Athletics |
| Sonny Scadden | Senior Project Manager | Facility Services |
Workday recently introduced new features and enhancements as part of its latest release. Please refer to the Workday update email sent last week for details about the changes and what they mean for campus users.
Planning and implementation for Workday Student are underway in preparation for the fall 2028 semester. Workday Student will support the full student lifecycle, including recruiting, admissions, student records, advising, registration, financial aid and student financials.
Workday support sessions continue to be added to the University calendar, providing opportunities to learn more about Workday processes and ask questions. Check the University calendar regularly for upcoming sessions and additional support opportunities.
Enjoy casual article discussions over coffee. You don’t need to have read a specific article — just bring your thoughts, ideas and a willingness to learn. This space is open to all employees for sparking new ideas in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. Coffee will be provided.
Noon to 1 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 19, and Monday, Nov. 16
Garrett-Strong Science Building, Room 1070
Staff Council meetings are open to all Northwest staff. Learn about what Staff Council is working on, share an idea or concern, or simply get involved.
The next meeting is 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Room 250 of the B.D. Owens Library.
View the Staff Council website by clicking here.
Support the Staff Council Scholarship by purchasing a OABAAB crewneck today. Click here to order.
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.
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Contact Giselle Greenidge at ggreenidge@nwmissouri.edu |
Contact Luke Novak at lnovack@nwmissouri.edu |
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Contact ALLY@nwmissouri.edu |
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Contact Jessie Peter |
Contact Garrison Kennedy at GKENNEDY@nwmissouri.edu
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Save the Date: The 2026 Employee Recognition will be Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026.
All Northwest employees are invited to a breakfast or luncheon to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of employees who have reached milestone years of service. An official invitation is coming soon.
Employees on a Northwest health insurance plan must meet the requirements of the primary care provider wellness program, which consists of an annual preventive visit and routine labs ordered by a healthcare provider. Employees should print a Physician Screening Form from the Blue Cross Blue Shield “A Healthier You” portal to bring with them to their preventive care appointment. Physician Screening Forms are due Thursday, Oct. 15. If the requirements are not met, the employee will be assessed a $50 per month premium differential, beginning in January 2027.
Employees who started Aug. 1, 2026, or later, are not required to return the Physician Screening Form in 2026.
Northwest employees are invited to join a Fall Into Fitness Challenge via the MoveSpring fitness app, Monday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 18. This is a team challenge, so form a team of no more than four coworkers and get moving.
The goal is to achieve 7,500 steps or converted activities per day. Remember, all movement counts, not just steps. Sync a device or manually enter and convert activities.
Individuals who complete both the Stick to It challenge and the Team Virtual Race will be entered into a prize drawing.
Register at https://link.movespring.com/join?orgCode=X542M7D7MP&groupCode=MVV26P.
Coming soon: Faculty and staff exercise classes spanning multiple times and genres will be available.
In October: Join meal prep classes hosted by Northwest foods and nutrition students. Blue Cross Blue Shield will cover 50 percent of the cost of meals. Sign-up is required, and participation will be limited to 25 people.
In November: Join a webinar with Commerce Bank representatives discussing personal, individualized finance education.
Look for more information about these events soon and follow Northwest Employee Well-Being on Facebook or @nwemployeewellbeing on Instagram.
Campus recreation facilities are free for Northwest employees and spouses to use.
Employees and spouses can complete waiver forms to use the facilities by logging in to Workday and clicking the “Employee Fitness Center Annual Registration” and “Spouse and Dependent Fitness Center Registration” links in the External Links tab.
For hours and additional information, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/recreation/.
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)
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, hosts quarterly meetings to evaluate new drug therapies and review drug utilization issues. Medications are evaluated based on drug safety and costs.
Click here to browse the Blue Cross Blue Shield Prescription Drug List.
Blue KC is taking proactive steps to limit disruption, including:
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, click here.
Click here to read the Spring 2026 employee newsletter.
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)
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
Email: BRCMidwest@usi.com
Benefits specialists can assist you Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
USI's medicare specialist, Jessyca Latimer, can enroll individuals in Medicare Advantage, Supplements, and Medicare Pard D policies. Click here to view Jessyca's contact information with other helpful information.
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 this link frequently for more information, including schedules and how to register.
The MO Deferred Comp plan is a supplemental retirement savings option available to employees. Click here to learn more about the plan, register for upcoming education sessions or find financial planning options.
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.
Cold and flu season is quickly approaching. Help protect yourself and others by washing your hands regularly, getting adequate rest, staying hydrated and remaining home when you are sick.
Flu shot clinics for faculty and staff will be from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, and Wednesday, Oct. 14, in J.W. Jones Student Union Meeting Room A.
Registration is now open for next semester’s CALM training. CALM — Create Awareness, Ask Questions, Learn Resources and Manage Your Wellness — helps members of our campus community recognize concerns, respond supportively and connect individuals with appropriate 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 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.
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.
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.
The center provides reliable information about a variety of mental and behavioral health topics. For more information, visit Lucet Health Resources.
For information about a specific substance use, visit Lucet Substance Use Disorders Center or call the Substance Use Disorder Hotline at 877.326.2458.
If you have questions, email healthybearcat@nwmissouri.edu.
Northwest partners 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:
See below for additional information about the program.
At the March 12 Board of Regents meeting, the Staff Serving as Adjunct Faculty policy was approved. This policy is effective July 1, 2026, and will be included in the Employee Handbook.
To read the policy, click here.
Visit the Compensation webpage by clicking this link.
Mail and Printing Services receives and distributes USPS mail, as well as provides printing services for Northwest and the public.
For more information, contact Mail and Printing Services at 660.562.1109 or mailcpy@nwmissouri.edu, or visit the mail and printing services website.
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 during the following hours:
Monday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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.
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.
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.
The state Central Accident Reporting Office (CARO) has implemented new reporting system, Origami.
If a workplace injury or incident occurs, employees must complete the following steps:
These steps must be completed before seeking outside medical treatment. If the injury is life-threatening, seek emergency medical care immediately.
A step-by-step Injury Reporting Guide is available and includes detailed reporting information, FAQs and an Authorization to Release Medical Records.
For more information regarding the reporting process, contact Paetyn Turner at paetynt@nwmissouri.edu or 660.562.1123.
