The Tent City 3 Host Committee will sponsor a panel discussion on homelessness with local advocates and experts on Wednesday, January 17, 3–4:30 p.m. in Demaray 150. The discussion is titled “Solving Homelessness: Best Practices for Addressing and Preventing Homelessness” and participants include:

• Sharon Lee, executive director, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)
• Rev. Dr. Liz Mosbo VerHage, pastor of global and local ministries, Quest Church
• Janet Pope, executive director, Compass Housing Alliance
• Dr. Ron Ruthruff, associate professor of theology & culture, The Seattle School

Faculty and staff: Postcards are now available to distribute to students to encourage them to apply for a resident advisor position. The postcards include information about the application process and space for you to write a personalized note of encouragement. To request postcards and/or to submit names of students you’d like to recommend for the role, email BeAnRA@spu.edu by January 8. Thank you in advance for your support.

A message for the Tent City 3 Host Committee: Faculty: Don’t forget to build in the chance to have your class engage with Tent City 3. Move-Out Day is scheduled for February 10, 2018. Would you be open to have a member of Tent City 3 sit in on your class? Are there particular classes that you think TCS residents would enjoy? Please let us know so we can offer them that opportunity by emailing us at tentcity3@spu.edu.

For the latest information on Falcon sports, visit the Falcons online.

Thursday, January 4
Women's basketball vs Northwest Nazarene, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 6
Women's basketball vs Central Washington, Brougham Pavilion, 7 p.m.

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.

From the Wellness Initiative: The month of January recognizes National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. It’s important to know the impact of substance use, specifically marijuana. Approximately one in five young adults report marijuana use, which has been associated with adverse consequences such as academic impairment, poorer health, and risky behaviors such as driving a car while high. Seattle Pacific is a unique environment for marijuana use. Being both a Christian university and a university located in a state that has legalized recreational marijuana (with the first sale of recreational marijuana happening in 2014), SPU offers an environment that both reduces and increases risk for marijuana use. Learn more by visiting the Wellness blog. 

A message from the Finance Office: The University reimburses employees for official travel by private automobile using the standard mileage allowance. The new standard mileage rate effective for travel beginning January 1, 2018, is 54.5 cents per mile, up from 53.5 cents per mile in 2017. Please update the Request for Reimbursement form templates you are using, or visit the Finance Office website to download an updated template reflecting this rate change.

Enjoy highlights from the recent Sacred Sounds of Christmas concert in Benaroya Hall. The sold-out crowd of 2,500 people experienced the musical talent of Seattle Pacific’s dedicated student and faculty musicians. It's SPU's annual musical gift to Seattle and a fitting celebration of the newborn King. 

You have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, January 9, to have stationery orders delivered on January 19. Stationery orders are delivered once a month. Orders made after 10 a.m. on January 9 will be delivered February 16. To see deadlines and delivery dates for the remainder of the fiscal year, visit the “Create an Order” stationery page in Banner. For more information, contact Hope McPherson in University Communications at hmcpherson@spu.edu.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every week during the academic year. 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, January 4. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, January 8.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of Global Development Brad Murg spent Christmas break in Cambodia. He was recently asked to serve on the board of directors of the Cambodia Future Forum, a non-governmental organization focused on training the next generation of Cambodian policy analysts and researchers. He will also take part in Future Forum's annual planning meeting in mid-January. Brad has also been appointed to the Strategic Partnership Team of Construction for Change, a Seattle-based non-governmental organization that works to supply infrastructure to nonprofit organizations across the globe. Finally, Brad has been invited by the Foreign Policy Association to lead a roundtable discussion on the question of U.S.-China Relations at the Bainbridge Island Public Library on Saturday, February 24. He adds, “So, if you are in the neighborhood, pop on over for a fun day discussing the world's more important bilateral relationship.” 

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome Brittany Saddler, a new Student Financial Services coordinator.