A message from Tracy Norlen, editor of the Faculty/Staff Bulletin: As a follow up to the Employee Forum and Provost Hartley’s request for examples of the good work being done on campus, we’re introducing a new weekly feature to the Bulletin titled “Applause." Each week, we’ll feature commendations and recognize the hard work being done by SPU community members. Submissions and/or photos can be sent to fsb-editor@spu.edu with “Applause” in the subject line. Learn more in the Applause section of this issue.

Register now for the second annual OIEX Diversity Lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. We will hear from panelists Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, and Dr. Randy Woodley, as we explore this year’s theme: “Justice and Shalom.” Please join us for this important conversation.

SPU orchestra students and Christopher Hanson, assistant professor of music and director of music education and orchestral activities, worked collaboratively last fall with the Ballard High School Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Beth Fortune, to produce a virtual performance of Brazilian composer Arthur Barbosa’s “Toada e Desafio.” Christopher says: “This was such an amazing experience, and I am so humbled by our students’ ability to produce such amazing music in spite of the extraordinary circumstances we are in. Please feel free to share this link with others and help bring awareness to Arthur Barbosa’s awesome work and the phenomenal talents and dedication of our SPU Orchestra students.”

You are invited to the School of Business, Government, and Economics Dean's Speaker Series event on Feb. 2, 12:30 p.m., with Dr. Marguerite Ro, chief of the assessment, policy development, and evaluation unit and director of the chronic disease and injury prevention section of Public Health–Seattle & King County. Dr. Ro will provide a COVID-19 update and talk about inequities in public health. Register for the event on Zoom by emailing cal@spu.edu.

Sign up here to join Computer and Information Systems for Wiki 101 and Wiki 201. Wiki 101 will get you started on your journey with the SPU wiki. You will learn basic features and how to create or edit Wiki articles.

Wiki 201 will introduce advanced features. If you already use the Wiki, come to this training to learn more or ask questions about your Wiki site. Register for either or both of these 30-minute trainings. They will be held back-to-back on Tuesday, Feb.16, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday, Feb.17, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Check out the CIS Training Offerings page and email CISTrainings@spu.edu with any questions.

Computer and Information Systems is continuing the rollout of Teams Calling on a department-by-department basis. To help prepare faculty, staff, and student employees for this transition, CIS is hosting Teams Calling Orientation to help the community get acquainted with using their campus phone number in Teams. Upcoming orientation dates include:

• Feb. 4, 1 p.m.
• Feb. 10, 1 p.m.
• Feb. 25, 1 p.m.

Sign up for a session in Microsoft Bookings. To learn how to prepare for Teams Calling and get other updates on this project, visit the CIS Technology Blog.

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 to your 403b account may take up to seven days to be provided to SPU for processing, so please contract Transamerica by the first of the month prior to your requested change. 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 Cherylin Shdo in HR at 206-281-2816.

Camp Casey is temporarily allowing the general public to rent small buildings for household groups of fewer than 11 people. Please support Camp Casey by referring your friends and family! Rates vary from $160 to $400 night, with a discount of 15% during November–February. Available lodgings are currently possible to book online anytime.

Intramurals is offering virtual yoga classes for Winter Quarter, and faculty and staff are invited. The classes will be Mondays and Tuesdays at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Shannon Pawloski, a certified and seasoned yoga instructor, will lead the hourlong class. Sign up through Calendly. If you have questions, email intramural@spu.edu.

All faculty and staff who come to campus must complete an online self-screening to attest that they meet certain criteria for being on campus (e.g., not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms). SPU has developed a campuswide tool through Banner (login into Banner and select Personal Menu) to report a daily COVID-19 self-attestation for faculty and staff working on campus (including Camp Casey and Blakely Island). A link to the self-attestation form is also available on the Stay Smart website, which is now highlighted in the top banner on the SPU homepage.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly during the academic year. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, Feb. 8, and the deadline is Thursday, Feb. 4. If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible with an image or graphic to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity.

Jeffrey Overstreet, assistant professor of English and writing, was recently a guest on a podcast with the tongue-in-cheek title of Young Adult Movie Ministry. He discussed the 1987 Oscar-winner Babette’s Feast, and talked about how movies and his studies at Seattle Pacific have influenced his faith. The podcast is hosted by Alissa Wilkinson (a film critic for Vox.com, a professor at The King’s College, and a graduate of SPU’s MFA in Creative Writing Program) and Sam Thielman (a reporter published in The Guardian and Variety). Jeffrey also recently launched his own podcast, Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet, covering various subjects related to art and faith. Find it at anchor.fm/jeffreyoverstreet or on Spotify.

Alberto Ferreiro, professor of European history, spoke on “The Paschal Mystery” for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bothell. Topics covered were the passion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Some questions explored were: “Was the resurrection of Christ spiritual only or did it include the body, too?” “Where did the righteous dead go to before Christ opened the way to paradise?” “What was Christ doing during the three days in the tomb?” “How does one encounter the risen Christ today?” This was the third of five talks.

Cara Wall Scheffler, professor of biology, was recently quoted in Christianity Today in the article “For Churchgoing Families, More Kids Aren’t a Burden.” The article explored research about religious support on fertility and child development.

It takes a lot of talented and dedicated people to support a university, and we want to recognize them and their good work in this new weekly feature. Give a shoutout to someone for their efforts at Seattle Pacific by sending submissions (and photos if possible) to fsb-editor@spu.edu with "Applause" in the subject line. Anonymous submissions (you can indicate if you would like to remain anonymous) will also be accepted, and submissions may be edited for clarity. If you have questions, contact Bulletin Editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu.