Summer 2009 | Volume 3, Issue 3

SPU Graduates: Ready to Engage

If today's economy were a glass, would you see it as half empty or half full?

That's the cliched question college graduates are forced to face on some level. With unemployment at a 25-year high, is the economic landscape full of looming obstacles -- or is it blooming opportunities to try new ways of doing things?

For many of SPU's graduates, it's probably a little of both. But a look at the plans of some recent SPU graduates suggests these newest alumni are ready to be flexible, creative, and collaborative in this less-than-secure work world.

That doesn't surprise Les Steele, vice president for academic affairs. "We seek to develop students who are capable of critical thinking, communicating, and acquiring knowledge," Steele says. "Our students tend to be active in seeking new ways to love God and neighbor. And they're good learners."

Read the rest of the article and learn about three of SPU's many outstanding graduates.

In Rwanda, a House of Hope

In 2008, Megan Swanson '09 visited Rwanda as part of her SPU global and urban ministry minor. She figured the three-month trip might broaden her perspective.

It did more than that.

While working on community development projects, Swanson met boys living on the streets of Rwanda. As she got to know the kids and learned about the poverty and circumstances that daily affected their lives, she decided she had to do something.

"I knew I couldn't just go home and leave those kids there," Swanson says. "So a friend and I decided to purchase a home for the boys."

Read more about Megan Swanson's remarkable story and the orphanage she formed in this Q&A .

Find out what's next for Megan and her Hope for Life Ministries.

Jacqui Smith-Bates, Career Guru

For 22 years, Jacqui Smith-Bates, director of SPU's Center for Career and Calling, has helped SPU students discover their vocational gifts and apply them in the real world.

Now, with ongoing economic difficulties ahead, Smith-Bates says it's even more important for students to use the career services available to them.

"Experience and networking are extremely important in this difficult job market," she says. "Students who have taken advantage of SPU's internship and mentoring programs will be well-equipped for the challenges ahead."

Read more from Jacqui Smith-Bates in this Q&A .

What makes SPU's Center for Career and Calling unique?

Staying Put, Not Stopping Out

Students choose to "stop out" (take a leave of absence) from college for reasons ranging from family commitments to changed financial situations or difficulty with classes.

But in many cases, once students stop out they find it tough to go back to school.

Ruth Adams, director of SPU's Student Academic Services office, says that several SPU resources can help students face this difficult decision -- and find ways to stay enrolled.

Review Adams' list of top five resources and discover who she says students should talk with before making a decision.

Did you know President Eaton now has a blog? Check out Saturday Morning From My Study for a collection of the president's writings and videos about "things that matter" -- how the Christian gospel speaks into today's culture.
Subscribe to the blog today.

People of Hope Website
Read the stories of SPU people -- students, faculty, alumni, and staff -- who are active in the cause of hope and working to make the world a better place for all of God's children everywhere.

History of Ivy Cutting
How did the tradition of Ivy Cutting get started? What do students do with their ivy? Find out answers to these questions and more with our special update in Your Student's Life.

2008-09 Cascade Yearbook
Help your student preserve memories of SPU. Buy a copy of the Cascade yearbook today for just $48. Contact Elizabeth Dolhanyk at dolhae@spu.edu.

NSA 2009 Sign Up
Make sure to sign up for New Student Advising, the required advising and registration event for all new undergraduate students.
Remaining NSA events are scheduled for:

• Friday, June 26
• Friday, July 31
• Friday, September 11

Welcome Week 2009
During Welcome Week, students move into on-campus housing, meet with other students and professors, and get ready for school to start. This year's Welcome Week is September 24-27. Sign up today.

SFS Is on Twitter
Check out Student Financial Services on Twitter and get the latest news about financial aid, reminders about important SPU financial aid and account dates, and notifications of various scholarships. Follow us.

You can also follow SPU News and SPU Bird (the lighter side of life at SPU).

Housing Deadlines
Wonder when room and roommate assignments are sent? If your housing application and deposit were received:

• By June 1, assignments will be sent at the beginning of August.

• June 2-August 14, assignments will be sent mid-September.

• After August 14, applications will be processed as space permits.

Contact the Housing Office for more information.

Summer Socials Are Coming
This summer, connect with the SPU community -- outside of campus! Join us for Summer Socials in Denver, Salem, Puyallup, or Greater Seattle, and meet future and current SPU students, their parents, and alumni. Summer Socials will be held in late August or early September. Stay tuned to our admissions website for more details.

Got High School Students? Check Out etc Magazine
Etc magazine serves as a bridge between the SPU community and high school and college students by telling the stories that make us uniquely SPU. It's fresh, fun, and award-winning. Check it out! Or visit our etc blog for articles, videos, and reports on life at SPU.

Keep Up With Falcon Athletics
Read about Ryan Looney, SPU's new men's basketball coach, and follow the Falcons as they pursue sports excellence.

Technology @ SPU
Should my student have a Mac or a PC? What software do they need? Find out what to buy with some help from SPU's Computer and Information Systems.

iTunes University
Heard any good lectures lately? Check out SPU's iTunes University to download and hear SPU faculty lectures, guest speakers, chapels, music, sporting events, and more.