Tickets for SPU’s annual Sacred Sounds of Christmas concert are now available. This event sells out every year, so buy your tickets early. The concert is Tuesday, November 29, 7:30 p.m., in McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. Sacred Sounds of Christmas features the best of traditional Advent and Christmas music from around the world, performed by the Music Department's nationally recognized student and faculty musicians. Buy tickets online.

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From the Wellness Initiative: Students show signs of distress in many different ways. There are some common signs — changes in academic performance, repeatedly falling asleep in class, or a depressed or lethargic mood. However, students from different cultures or backgrounds may express their distress in other ways. This month’s focus is on examining the diverse ways students may exhibit signs of distress. Read more at the Wellness blog.

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Thursday, September 8
Men's soccer vs Colorado Christian, Interbay Stadium, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 10
Men's soccer vs Metro State, Interbay Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
Women's soccer vs Metro State, Interbay Stadium, 7 p.m.

Monday, September 12
Women's soccer vs Cal State East Bay, Interbay Stadium, 12 p.m.

Saturday, September 17
Men's soccer vs Fort Hays State, Interbay Stadium, 7 p.m.
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Join us for the next brownbag on Thursday, September 15, noon to 1 p.m. in the Lower Weter large conference room. Email Kathy Henning in University Communications at kathy@spu.edu if you plan to come. Sitecore/Contribute Brownbags occur the third Thursday of most months. If you would like help making changes to your website, bring them with you and we’ll show you how. Treats provided.

SPU offers incentives for employees to use alternative transportation such as bus, light rail, transit, vanpool, and bicycling. You can help reduce emissions, minimize the number of vehicles traveling to and from campus, and reduce the cost of commuting. Review the options online.

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Grammy-nominated Christian folktronica musician Crowder will perform during Grand Reunion Weekend, Saturday, October 8, at 7 p.m. in Royal Brougham Pavilion. Tickets start at $10. Visit the website for more information.

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The Gwinn Commons dining hall summer hours are posted online. The hours will be updated daily for the upcoming week. Remember that dining hall hours are based on Conference Services clients and internal groups and are subject to change. Contact conferenceservices@spu.edu if you have any questions.

The 10th of each month is the last day to make changes to your upcoming payroll check. Do you need to add or remove your spouse and/or children from your health care plans? If so, contact Human Resources (HR) to complete the appropriate form. Changes might include events that are expected to impact your benefits and deductions, such as your spouse or children gaining or losing coverage due to employment, birth, marriage, etc. Additionally, any changes you wish to make to your 403(b) account contributions must be made by the 10th of the month. For changes to your 403(b) account, contact Transamerica Retirement Solutions at 1-888-676-5512 (5 a.m.-6 p.m. PST), or 1-800-755-5801. If you have any other benefits-related changes, call Mardeth Hughes in HR at 206-281-2816.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every other week during the summer. If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity. The next deadline is Thursday, September 15. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, September 19, 2016, and will resume weekly publications until June 2017. 

In recognition of her service to the SPU community, Sue Martin, laboratory manager and chemical hygiene officer and adjunct faculty for the Department of Chemistry, was nominated and selected as the August Staff Member of the Month. Visit the Staff Council website to read more about Sue and submit a nomination for someone you think should be recognized as a future Staff Member of the Month.

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School of Psychology, Family, and Community faculty Hee-Sun Cheon, Dana Kendall, and Paul Kim are coauthors on a recent article titled "Racial Microaggressions, Cultural Mistrust, and Mental Health Outcomes Among Asian American College Students." The article was published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. It describes an empirical investigation of how experiencing contemporary forms of racism can be correlated with reduced well-being among Asian American college students, as well as a reduced tendency to trust others from mainstream culture.

Professor of English Susan VanZanten led Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Fall Faculty Institute on August 29. The focus of the institute was on using narrative in Christian higher education, both for defining a faculty member’s identity and as a pedagogical strategy.

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome the following new employees. Contact information can be found in the SPU online White Pages.

Alexa Dawkins, assistant women’s basketball coach, Athletics
Alex Eisenreich, security officer, Office of Safety and Security
Jennifer Hunt, assistant director of marketing and communications, Alumni and Parent Relations
Mychal Ladd, security officer, Office of Safety and Security
Janna O’Brien, office and operations manager, Residence Life
Allison Schooley, administrative assistant, Center for Learning

Associate Professor of Music Brian Chin was interviewed for The Seattle Times' "Cool Jobs" feature on August 24 about his work.

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On August 25, Emeritus Professor of New Testament Gene Lemcio was interviewed in Ukrainian for an hour on "Shema Israel." The monthly radio broadcast is sponsored by a Messianic Jewish congregation in Bellevue.