A message from University Ministries: We’re continuing the Autumn Quarter Chapel theme of the “unexpected” by changing up our rhythm for Winter Quarter Chapel. We will alter Chapel locations between Upper Gwinn (first and third Tuesdays) and residence halls (second and fourth Tuesdays). Chapels are held on Tuesdays at 11:10 a.m. Please refer to the online Chapel schedule for location information. Chapels held in residence halls will be hosted by the respective hall.

The first Chapel for Winter Quarter will be held Tuesday, January 7, 11:10 a.m. in Upper Gwinn. We will be diving into the book of Job with the theme “Meeting You Where You Are,” and University Chaplain Rev. Lisa Ishihara will explore chapters 1 and 2. Communion will be served. Students, staff, and faculty are always welcome to attend Chapel.

Commuter, transfer, off-campus, and CHA are invited to lunch in the Fine Center at First Free Methodist Church following Chapel.

There are several ways faculty, staff, and students will be notified or can find out whether SPU will close or delay opening due to inclement weather. SPU announces weather closures and delays by sending texts and emails to contact information entered in SPU-Alert, posting a message on the Emergency Closure Hotline (206-281-2800), and posting a notice on SPU’s home page. To check and update your SPU-Alert contact information, see the SPU-Alert Emergency Notification System webpage. The changing weather in Seattle can make decisions to close or delay opening difficult, but we try to have notification on the Emergency Closure Hotline and issue texts and emails via SPU-Alert by 5:30 a.m. For additional information, visit the updated Inclement Weather webpage.

Microsoft Teams has replaced Skype for Business on all SPU-managed computers. RSVP here to join Computer and Information Systems for a brief training session on Wednesday, January 15, at 11:15 a.m. or Thursday, January 16, at 1:15 p.m. and learn how to best utilize this new collaboration tool with your colleagues and students. Please contact Allison Pincus in CIS at pincusa@spu.edu with any questions. Light refreshments will be provided.

A message from SPU Dining Services: Faculty and staff will receive two bonus meals if they purchase a Faculty/Staff Block 10 Meal Plan by Friday, January 17. That’s 12 meals for $85 (or $7.08 per meal)! (Limit one per person.) You can use the plan in Gwinn any time during Gwinn’s service hours. Or you can use it to purchase Simply to Go meals at the Corner Place Market, Academic Perks (SUB), or Common Grounds (Weter Hall). Meals can be used for guests, too. Plans can be purchased through Banner. Meal balances roll from quarter to quarter as long as you are employed at the University. If you have questions, contact Housing and Meal Plan Services at 206-281-2188 or mealplan@spu.edu.

A message from Athletics: SPU Athletics invites you to the second Fac/Staff Appreciation Reception of the year! Join us on Friday, January 17, in the Falcon Club (in Royal Brougham Pavilion) for light refreshments and a time in mingle with coworkers and family. The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by the gymnastics meet at 7 p.m. Meet first-year head coach, Sarah Marshall, and watch the team warmup. As always, faculty and staff and their families get free admission to the meet. 

We hope this will be a fun, relaxing event to enjoy time with your colleagues (and to meet new ones!) while watching our incredible gymnasts compete!

The next exhibit at the Seattle Pacific Art Center Gallery (SPAC) is titled At the edge of both, a group exhibition curated by local artist Serrah Russell and Assistant Professor of Art Zack Bent. The exhibit presents four artists who expose the complexity of  perceptions of geography and place. Through the bending of their chosen mediums, these artists appear to turn landscape and space inside out, revealing hidden seams and edges. The exhibit runs January 13–March 6 at SPAC, located at 3 West Cremona Street. The hours are 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Thursday or by appointment. 

There will be a reception for the artists on Thursday, January 16, 5–7 p.m. at SPAC Gallery. Follow SPAC on Instagram or subscribe to our mailing list for upcoming events.

A message from University Communications: SPU Voices, the web content focused on the stories of the people who make up the Seattle Pacific community, is now SPU Stories. These stories feature SPU students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We’ve also made changes to the different sections within SPU Stories, which now include:

• Features
• Life at SPU
• Faith
• Global Impact
• Alumni (which includes Class Notes, In Memoriam, and SPU Voices Podcast)
• Subjects
• Response magazine

We are always looking for good stories from the SPU community. If you have a story idea, email response@spu.edu.

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.

Bloodworks Northwest will host a blood drive on campus January 23–24, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. Schedule an appointment online.

A message from Housing and Meal Plan Services: To encourage interaction between faculty and staff and students outside the classroom, SPU Dining Services provides five free meal passes each weekday that students can use to take a faculty or staff member to Gwinn Commons for a meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner). Tickets are available at the Office of University Services during business hours (9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Tickets must be picked up on the day they are to be used. (If a breakfast meeting is scheduled before the office opens, students may pick up a ticket the day before). The ticket is for the faculty or staff member; the student must use their own meal plan, Falcon Funds, or cash to enter the dining hall. Tickets are provided on a first come, first served basis.

The weight room and fitness center in Brougham Pavilion are available to faculty and staff. If you are interested in using these facilities and need locker room access in Brougham, contact Madi Velling in Athletics, at 206-281-2085 or vellingm@spu.edu. The cost for locker room access is $6 per month, paid through payroll deduction.

A message from Residence Life: The resident advisor selection process begins Winter Quarter, and we need your help to recruit qualified candidates. Our campus is blessed with students who have academic, spiritual, and servant-leadership gifts. However, many students do not apply without the encouragement of faculty, staff, and peers. We are seeking an applicant pool that reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of our community, with increased numbers of male students who engage in the selection process. We hope you will partner with us by submitting your recommendations by email to BeAnRA@spu.edu with the names of students by Thursday, January 9, 12 p.m. Thank you in advance for your support!

Human Resources maintains a webpage for all open positions on campus and at Camp Casey and Blakey Island. Visit this webpage for the latest openings.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) during the academic year. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, January 13. The deadline is Thursday, January 9. 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.

A new book by Pete Renn, assistant dean in the School of Education, and Tatyana Tsyrlina-Spady, adjunct faculty member in SOE, was recently published. The book is titled Nurture, Care, Respect, and Trust: Transformative Pedagogy Inspired by Janusz Korczak and was published by Myers Education Press.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming the following new staff members:

Austin Bryant, security officer, Safety and Security
Marcie Pickett-Johnson, administrative assistant in Family and Consumer Sciences
Vivian Rogers, work control coordinator, Facilities and Project Management

Professor Emerita of Theology Kerry Dearborn was mentioned in a New York Times op-ed on December 24, 2019, titled “Christmas Turns the World Upside Down.” The op-ed was written by Peter Wehner, a contributing opinion writer for the Times.

Professor Emeritus of Education Bill Rosenberger passed away December 24, 2019. In a career at SPU that spanned almost two decades, Bill started as director of physical education and athletics in 1976 and then moved to the School of Education. He chaired the School Administration program and taught as an associate professor in the school. In 1989, he took on new duties with the Division of Continuing Studies, coordinating inservice-outreach programs for SPIRAL, SPU’s continuing education program for teachers. His wife, Dorothy, passed away in 2017. Plans for a memorial service are pending.