New Staff Orientation Checklist
Welcome to MSU Extension! We’ve assembled this checklist to help you navigate the complexities of
our organization and learn the essentials. It is divided into six sections as listed below. These are NOT in
any priority or chronological order. As you scan the sections, you can decide what’s most important for
you, depending on your current needs.







Getting started—an HR Quick Reference Guide, p.1
Getting connected with Technology, p.2
Learning about your Institute(s) and roles, p.3
Learning about your county/district offices
Getting to know MSUE and the OD Team
Professional Development, Now & Later
Other Recorded Learning Opportunities
Listed under each heading are resources to help you complete the task and become better acquainted
with MSU Extension. Explore these links to learn about and use the resources listed – including reaching
out to the noted individuals with questions. Check off items as you work your way through these
gradually. Certain information applies to specific classifications of employees, and these are indicated.
Also, be aware that the Organizational Development (OD) website (http://od.msue.msu.edu/) is a key
resource. Some of what you can find there is indicated below, but there are many more helpful
recordings and documents available on the website. The most updated version of this checklist
document can be found there on the NEW STAFF page:
http://od.msue.msu.edu/new_staff_onboarding.
Getting Started—HR Quick Reference Guide
Task
☐ Activate your
MSU NetId
Information
The NetId is required to gain access to almost all University or
Extension systems. You receive an email or letter in the mail in
your first few days which includes instructions for activating
your NetId. Additional information here:
Resources
 MSUE HR 517-353-9108
 msuehr@anr.msu.edu
http://techbase.msu.edu/article.asp?id=159&service
☐ Obtain your
ANR account
☐ Review the HR
Quick Reference
Guide
☐ Contact Central
HR Benefits
☐ Enroll in
benefits
☐ Update/Verify
your contact
information
Simply activate your NetId and notify MSUE HR that you’ve
done so – MSUE HR will take it from there.



This guide provides basic information about getting connected
electronically, getting paid (and setting up direct deposit),
signing up for benefits (you have 60-days from your date of
hire to enroll), and time-off issues for both academic and nonacademic employees.
http://od.msue.msu.edu/upload
s/files/Human_Resources/HR_Q
uick_Reference_Guide.docx
 HR Website
http://od.msue.msu.edu/human
_resources
Central HR Benefits will be able to provide you with an overthe-phone orientation, answering any questions you may have
related to benefits. Please contact them as soon as possible
New employees have 60-days, employees who are newly
eligible for benefits (e.g. have gone from a temp position to a
regular position) have 30-days, from date of hire to register for
benefits. This process is completed through the Enterprise
Business System (EBS) which you will have access to after
activating your NetId. There may be a 2-3 day delay following
your netid activation before you are able to log into EBS.
Your work address and phone number will be available via
MSU People search (https://search.msu.edu/people/) and the
Expert Search site (http://msue.anr.msu.edu/experts) within a
few days after your date of hire. Please look up your
information. If anything should be updated send an email,
including a CC to your direct supervisor to
msuehr@anr.msu.edu.

800-353-4434

MSUE HR 517-353-9108
msuehr@anr.msu.edu
MSU HR Benefit website:

MSUE HR 517-353-9108
msuehr@anr.msu.edu
Quick Reference Guide
http://www.hr.msu.edu/be
nefits/

517-353-9108
Getting Connected with Technology
☐ Explore the ANR
Tech website
☐ Order necessary
technology
equipment
☐ Forward your
University email
account to your
ANR email
account
☐ Access your ANR
email account
through Outlook
☐ Access your ANR
email account
through the web
☐ Share your
Outlook
Calendar
☐ Scheduling
through Outlook
ANR Tech supports the work of MSU Extension via several
resources. Take some time to browse their website to find
information including: How-to resources in documentation,
video and recorded webinar formats. Pay special attention to
the training materials on Outlook, Sharepoint, Adobe Connect
and Lync as these are used as primary sources for
communication, collaboration and information sharing.
Review the ANR Tech Services Guide to Services.
Most often new employees will already have their equipment
in the process of being shipped to them or it will be set up and
ready to go. In some instances this may not be the case. If you
need to order any equipment please coordinate this with your
supervisor—i.e. your ID for Educators, and your DC or
Supervising Educator for non-academic staff.
Two email accounts will be assigned to you as an employee of
MSU Extension. The first will be <YOUR NETID>@msu.edu, this
email address is used by Michigan State University to send you
information about your benefits, events, University training
opportunities, etc. You are STRONGLY encouraged to forward
this account to your ANR account (<YOURNETID>@anr.msu.
edu) once it is established. Your ANR account is used by your
colleagues and CANR for communication purposes. Forwarding
your University account to your ANR account will ensure you
receive important information and save you time because you
won’t need to check both accounts on a regular basis.
This account will be available after your NetID has been
activated and ANR Tech has been able to set up your ANR
account. Once you have your ANR account take some time to
set up your Outlook account by setting up your signature,
adding contacts, establishing folders, etc.
Note: when looking for an individual in the Outlook address
book look by the person’s LAST name.
You can access your email from any computer with internet
connectivity by going to https://mail.anr.msu.edu/
 support@anr.msu.edu
 http://support.anr.msu.edu/
 http://support.anr.msu.edu/supp
ort/support
 http://support.anr.msu.edu/supp
ort/guide
Staff members are expected to share your Outlook calendars
with office colleagues, workgroups, and your DC and ID.
 Instructions:
http://expeng.anr.msu.edu/upload
s/files/45/OutlookTrainingDocs/Cal
endarDocs/ANR_TS_Outlook_2010
_Sharing_Calendar_102.pdf
 http://support.anr.msu.edu/supp
ort/search_results?query=outloo
k+calendar
There are many ways to access and schedule appointments,
meetings, etc. with Outlook. Instructions for these actions are
available on the ANR Tech website.
Tips for ordering technology
with MSU Extension
http://support.anr.msu.edu/suppo
rt/new_computer_purchase
 ANR Tech 517-355-3776
support@anr.msu.edu
 Instructions for forwarding
your University email:
http://support.anr.msu.edu/s
upport/home
 ANR Tech 517-355-3776
support@anr.msu.edu
 Instructions:
http://support.anr.msu.edu/uplo
ads/files/45/OWA/ANR_TS_How
_To_Login_Into_OWA.pdf
☐ Explore
SharePoint
☐ Try MSU People
Find & Update
Your
Information!
 http://support.anr.msu.edu/supp
SharePoint is used across MSU Extension to collaborate with
ort/share-point
workgroups, co-workers and administration.
TIP: Your user id for SharePoint will be anr\[your netid].
 https://search.msu.edu/people/
People Find is a tool you can use to locate faculty, staff and
students at MSU. Update your information in People Find by
following these instructions: go to
https://search.msu.edu/people/ and search for your name. To
include your phone number or update your information please
send an email to msuehr@anr.msu.edu.
Learning About Your Institute(s), Roles, and Position
Employees will meet with their direct supervisor (an Educator’s direct supervisor is the Institute Director;
Supervising Educators will meet with their new Program Instructors, Coordinators, Associates)
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/uploa
Supervisor
☐ Note contact
ds/files/Directors_Office/Conta
Find
directories
–
Office,
District,
Institute,
MSU,
County
information
ct_DO_ID_DC_OD.docx
☐ Organization
Structure
☐ The Institutes
☐ Campus
MSU Extension is a broad reaching organization with many
 http://msue.anr.msu.edu/ab
arms. Ask your supervisor to discuss this with you.
out
The breadth of the educational programming carried out by
 Contact information for the
MSUE is organized into four, multi-faceted Institutes. All
Institute Directors is at the
employees support the processes and goals of each Institute
end of this section.
(see the link to the right) and most employees are specifically
assigned to one or two of these:
Agriculture & Agribusiness (AABI) – Dr. Ron Bates
Children & Youth (CYI) – Dr. Julie A. Chapin
Greening Michigan (GMI) – Dr. Dave Ivan
Health & Nutrition (HNI) – Dr. Dawn A. Contreras
Support in the areas of Communication, Human Resources,
 Contact information is
Event Planning and Financial Transactions is available to assist
available at the
you in your job. These functions are primarily housed on
Organizational Development
Campus.
website:
www.od.msue.msu.edu
☐ Expectations
☐ Funding Sources
& Organization
Visibility &
Reputation
☐ EDUCATORS:
Your supervisor will discuss with you the expectations of your
performance in your position, the evaluation process,
workgroups, logic models and reporting your time away from
the office.
MSU Extension serves the community of the State of
Michigan. Funding is tied directly to the services MSUE
provides and is, therefore, affected by our visibility and
reputation within the community.
Ask for a mentor
Program Institute Directors—160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
Administrative Support: Lori Martin; 517-355-4631; martinl@msu.edu
Dr. Julie A. Chapin, Preparing Michigan’s Children and Youth for the Future
446 W. Circle Dr., 160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824; e-mail: chapin@msu.edu
Dr. Dawn A. Contreras, Improving Health and Nutrition
446 W. Circle Dr., 160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824; e-mail:
contrer7@anr.msu.edu
Dr. David Ivan, Greening Michigan: Leveraging Natural & Human Assets for Prosperity
446 W. Circle Dr., 160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824; e-mail: ivand@msu.edu
Dr. Ronald Bates, Enhance Michigan’s First Green Industry: Agriculture and Agribusiness
446 W. Circle Dr., 160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824; email: batesr@msu.edu
 Your Supervisor
 See a list of workgroups:
www.share.anr.msu.edu
 Your supervisor
 Your co-workers
 Your Institute Director
 Your Institute Director
Office: (517) 432-7608
Fax: (517) 355-6748
Cell: (517) 420-7692
Office: (517) 353-3886
Fax: (517) 355-6748
Cell: (517) 242-1954
Office: (517) 432-7602
Fax: (517) 355-6748
Cell: (989) 225-4032
Office: (517) 432-7693
Fax: (517) 355-6748
Learning About Your County/District Offices
☐ MSU Extension
Around the
State
☐ Get to know
your local office
☐ Go over MSUE
Basics
☐ EDUCATORS:
Meet w/
Institute
Director or
District
Coordinator
With offices in almost every county in Michigan the staff of
MSU Extension is widespread. The state is divided up into
Districts which consists of several counties each. You can find
contact information for your co-workers throughout the state
through the use of the listed resources.
List of Counties:
 Meet co-workers (both MSUE and County employees)
 Take an office tour
 Discuss:
o Office hours
o Office meetings
o Calendars
o County holidays
o Celebrations & Events
o Where/how to provide emergency contact info
o Keys
o Parking
o Phone usage and voicemail
o Mail
o Office equipment (fax, scan, copy, etc.)
o Network printing if applicable
o Other as relevant
 Record hours and expected schedule; note MSU holidays
(available on the MSUE HR site)
 Civil Rights: goals/expectations/office role, location of file
in office, role of EEO Councilors, who they are, how to file
a complaint. (See MSUE Civil Rights, below)
 Order Business Cards (See ANR Communications below)
 Obtain a name badge. The HR department will contact
Anne Brooks to order it. You’ll receive it at the New Staff
Onboarding event, or by mail from Anne.
 Obtain cell phone and find and fill out the mobile
communications agreement, if applicable (See MSUE
Business Office > Forms below)
 Become familiar with computer and passwords
 Arrange a time to be introduced to Co. Commissioners if
appropriate. Learn their names.
 Discuss the importance of community partners,
stakeholders, and organizations as applicable.
 Discuss how to manage operating account, obtain
purchasing card, and contact the appropriate fiscal officer:
____________ (See MSUE Business Office below)
 Visit other offices in coverage area.
 Your supervisor or someone
designated by your
supervisor will go over this
information with you!
 Your District Support Person
 Your co-workers
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county
 MSUE Find An Expert:
http://expert.msue.msu.edu/
Campus Listing:
http://od.msue.msu.edu/direc
tors_office
 Supervisor
 District Coordinator
 District Support
 Supervisor
 District Coordinator
Getting to Know MSU Extension & the OD Team
☐ Watch
‘Welcome to
MSU Extension’
☐ Add Director
Meetings to
your calendar
☐ Explore the MSU
Extension
website
☐ Get to know the
Director’s Office
☐ Locate and take
A 20-minute video overview of MSUE by former Director, Dr.
Tom Coon
 http://vimeo.com/44391973
Meetings are held by the MSUE Director on the first Monday
of each month from 4 – 5pm. These are informative, farreaching and help you to stay connected to the big picture.
 Links to the Adobe Connect
meeting will be provided via
email from the Director’s
office for each meeting
 www.msue.msu.edu
This is our organization’s public website and a first stop for
many of our clients and employees when questions arise.
Explore the links and, and check out the Find an Expert tool!
Access to the Director’s office as well as links to the weekly
Spotlight newsletter produced by the MSUE Director are
available here.
MSU Extension uses Acronyms! See this list on the OD New
Staff site.
 Website with contact list:
http://od.msue.msu.edu/dir
ectors_office
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/upl
oads/files/New_Staff/acrony
ms_2013.docx
note of the
Acronyms List
Study the history of our mission and heritage. The
☐ Discover MSU
 Several informative pieces
sesquicentennial
anniversary
of
the
Morrill
Act,
passed
in
are available here:
Extensions Land1862,
was
in
2012.
This
Act
marked
the
beginning
of
the
land http://od.msue.msu.edu/ne
Grant History
☐ Review the
CANR Org Charts
☐ Explore the
MSUE
Organizational
Development
(OD) Team
Website
☐ MSUE Human
Resources
☐ MSUE Business
Office
grant system, today numbering more than 100 universities
serving our nation and the world.
MSU Extension is a part of the College of Agriculture & Natural
Resources (CANR) - take a few minutes to see how Extension
fits!
w_staff_onboarding

CANR Chart:
http://www.canr.msu.ed
u/faculty_staff/governan
ce
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/
This is your one-stop-shop for organizational information,
forms, recordings, resources and links. Each OD Team unit has
its own set of pages—Business Office; Civil Rights;
Communications & Marketing; Diversity & Multiculturalism;
Human Resources; Information Technology; Planning,
Evaluation & Reporting; Professional Development; Volunteer
Management. Each unit is described more fully below.
Manager: Adam Koivisto, 517-353-9108;
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/hu
koisivto4@anr.msu.edu
man_resources
Explore the many resources found on this site, including an HR
Quick Reference Guide, and links to Hiring Procedures/Forms,
Timesheets, and the Administrative Handbook.
Manager: Adam Koivisto, 517-353-9382;
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/bu
koisvist4@anr.msu.edu
siness_office
 Find links to Staff, Forms , and Resources. Some important
forms include the Purchasing Card Agreement, Purchasing
Card Application; TRW-Travel Authorization Form; and
TRW-Travel Reimbursement Worksheet. Under
☐ ANR
Communications
& Marketing
☐ ANR Technology
Services
☐ MSUE Civil
Rights
‘Resources’ find important training materials on EBS,
operating statements, and TRWs.
 Business Office Recordings
o Completing a SER (Semester Effort Report)
o REPORTS: Balances and Expenses
o Travel and Non-Travel Related Reimbursements
Director (Interim): Kris Hynes, 517-432-7102;
hynes@anr.msu.edu
 Find resources on: media relations, tips for writing MSU
Extension stories, press release guidelines, events
management, MSUE graphic identity, MSUE publications &
book store, photo/audio/video release forms, style and
review guidelines, business cards. In the right column are
a few links to get started.
 Explore the MSU Extension Bookstore.
 ANR Communications Recordings
o Navigating Copyright and Fair Use of Information
o Planning an Uneventful Event: Secrets from a
conference planner
o Events Management System: Managing Your Event
o Completing your Event: Getting Vendors Paid and
Processing Reimbursements
o Make Closing your Events in the Events Management a
Snap
o The Power of Reporting in the Events System
Director: Mike Walters, 517-355-1762; walte245@msu.edu
This department was covered in Phase 2 because it plays a
large role in getting you, as a new employee, up and running in
your position.
Coordinators: MSUE Human Resources, 517-353-9108;
msuehr@anr.msu.edu & Dionardo Pizaña 517-432-2666;
pizanad@msu.edu
Civil Rights and the associated requirements are an important
and required part of all programming done through MSU
Extension. Find many useful resources including: antidiscrimination statements, information on parity, the ‘And
Justice For All’ poster, and sign-in sheets.
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/comm
unications_marketing
 Social Media Guidelines
http://od.msue.msu.edu/uploa
ds/files/Communications/2013
msu-guidelines-for-socialmedia.pdf
 Events Management System
http://anrcom.msu.edu/anrco
m/getting_started
 Graphic Resources, including
business cards & templates
http://anrcom.msu.edu/anrco
m/msue_graphics
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/inf
ormation_technology
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/civi
l_rights_diversity_multicultu
ralism
☐ Diversity &
Multiculturalism
☐ MSUE Planning,
Evaluation &
Reporting
Coordinator: Dionardo Pizaña, 517-432-2666;
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/div
pizanad@msu.edu
ersity_and_multiculturalism
Diversity and Multiculturalism are key to MSU Extension
extending services to underserved clients and recognizing the
differences in those around us that make us stronger as an
organization. As a new employee you will be required to
attend the Two Day Multicultural Self-Awareness Workshop
within the first 6-12 months of employment. You will find
information on this and many other resources such as Program
Planning and Reporting Resources, Learning Resources and
Spanish Language Resources
Coordinators: Bruce Haas, 517-432-3491; haasb@msu.edu &  http://od.msue.msu.edu/pla
Cheryl Peters 517-432-7605; cpeters@anr.msu.edu
nning_evaluation_and_repor
The information in this section Is for those required to report
ting
in MIPRS, but everyone should be familiar with this because
these are the systems we use to show our clients a return on
their investment. Look for:
 Planning programs using logic models and clear objectives.
Also review a series of recordings on planning in the
Michigan Planning and Reporting System (MIPRS)
o Logging Into Michigan Planning and Reporting
System (MIPRS)
Recordings:
o PRE-TRAINING for Using the Michigan Planning
and Reporting System (Flash Movie)
o Dean Solomon’s demonstration of building an
individual plan from workgroup plan in word and
then using it for building the plan in MI PRS.
o Entering a Plan into MI PRS
o How to delete Unwanted Plans
o How to add Days of Effort in a Plan before
submitting for approval
 Evaluation. Review some PowerPoints, Word documents,
and websites on developing an evaluation plan and getting
IRB approval.
Recording:
o Understanding Evidence-Based Programs
o Reporting. View recordings on reporting,
including those listed above under ‘Planning’.
Recording:
o On-line Training for Reporting in MI PRS
 MI PRS. Review a series of documents on reporting in MI
PRS, in addition to the recordings listed under ‘Planning’
above.
Professional Development, Now & Later
☐ MSUE
Professional
Development
☐ Attend the
Diversity &
Multiculturalism
Workshop
☐ Attend New
Staff
Onboarding
☐ Attend Fall
Extension
Conference
☐ Attend Other
Training Specific
to Your Role
The MSUE Professional Development unit is also a part of the  http://od.msue.msu.edu/pro
OD Team. There are many opportunities for learning both at
fessional_development
the start of your employment and throughout your
employment relationship with MSU Extension. Explore the
professional development website to find:
 A link to the searchable Professional Development and
Multicultural Library where you can check books out
online. View this 3-minute Recording:
o Using the Professional Development Library
 New Staff. Resources to help as you learn about the
mission and history or our complex organization.
 Online Learning & Collaborating. Information and how-to
handouts on Adobe Connect, Adobe Presenter, and Skype.
 eXtension. Learn how to get an eXtension ID and what
tools and resources are available to you.
Recordings:
o How to Get an eXtension ID (4 minutes)
o Communities of Practice: What, Why, and How?
o Step by Step: Join an eXtension CoP Today!
 Adult Learning. Resources on effectively teaching adults,
learning styles, and using PowerPoint effectively.
 Leadership Development. Learn about Facilitative
Leadership and Conflict Smoothies.
 Core Competencies. Learn about our ten core
competencies and our six administrative competencies.
 Professional Associations. Information on each of our
seven professional associations.
As noted above all new employees are required to complete
this training within 6-12 months of their date of hire. Talk to
your supervisor and make sure you are scheduled!
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/div
ersity_and_multiculturalism/
workshops
New staff onboarding events are held several times per year.
You will be invited to the next one after your date of hire.
Watch for this email to arrive and plan to attend!
 MSUE Human Resources
An annual event which includes multiple professional
development opportunities. Talk with your supervisor to
determine if you will benefit from attending.
There are many more training opportunities available to staff
based on a particular role (e.g. Institute, workgroup,
supervisor group, etc.). Check with your supervisor to review
other training requirements
 http://od.msue.msu.edu/ev
ents
 Supervisor
 Workgroup Leader
 Institute Director