University Ministries invites the SPU community to join in worship on March 2, Ash Wednesday, in preparation for the upcoming Lenten season. Guided prayer stations, culminating in the receiving of ashes, will be open between 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in Upper Gwinn for a self-paced time of prayer, reflection, and worship.

From the Office of the Provost: Please join us in congratulating the 2022 cohort of Theological Integration Fellows: Professor of Art Katie Kresser, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Yuri Rodrigues, Assistant Professor of English and Writing Mischa Willett, and Assistant Professor of English and Writing Traynor Hansen. These are faculty who wish to better integrate their faith with their disciplines and professionally enhance their teaching and scholarship. Our hope is that this rigorous but rewarding program will set the tone for ongoing theological depth among all faculty at SPU.

The Department of Communication, Journalism, and Film invites you to hear Sara Shaban, assistant professor of journalism, talk about her new book, Iranian Feminism and Transnational Ethics in Media Discourse on Tuesday, March 1, 3–4:30 p.m., in Demaray Hall 356. There will be time for questions and comments, and light refreshments will be served.

You are invited to the SCIO-Templeton sponsored Faith and Science seminar “Was the Arrival of Humans Inevitable?” by Dr. Darrel Falk, professor emeritus of biology at Point Loma Nazarene University. Falk will address the inevitability of humans from both a scientific and theological perspective. The seminar will be held in Upper Gwinn Commons on Thursday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. Learn about the SCIO-Templeton grant at SPU here.

More than 5,500 SPU parents and families received the February In the Loop parents newsletter this week. They read about Homecoming and Family Weekend, learned where they can find a list of monthly dining specials, read important reminders from Student Financial Services, and more.

Summer reservation requests are now being taken for the Faculty/Staff House at SPU's Camp Casey on Whidbey Island. Full-time faculty and staff can make a reservation request for periods of stay between June 13–Sept. 12, 2022.  Reservation requests are due by March 28, 2022. Summer requests are based on years of service to SPU and past summer stays at Casey. Employees are ranked by their years of service as verified by Human Resources. Once the ranking is developed, the past summer stay history is cross checked. If you have stayed at Casey during the summer, your ranking is replaced with the years it has been since your stay at Casey. Request a reservation here. Curious about how the lottery works, or how to stay at Camp Casey with discounted faculty and staff rates? Check out the new HR wiki. Questions? Contact Camp Casey at campcasey@spu.edu.

The recording of last week’s remembrance, “Chapel, Honoring Wisdom: 80th Anniversary Remembrance of the Japanese American Incarceration,” is now on the UMin YouTube channel. University Ministries invites you to review it, and they are thankful for the intention and planning provided by Paul Kim, minister of church and community connections, Chaplain Lisa Ishihara, and a community committee to organize this special Chapel event.

Do you have a colleague who lives out their Christian faith and encourages a grace-filled community at SPU? Do they demonstrate competence, skill, and initiative in their role while modeling service and leadership? Nominations for the Oral V. Hemry Non-Exempt and Exempt Staff Members of the Year awards are open until Wednesday, March 16. Nominate your colleagues today!

Please note: The Center for Learning will be proctoring Winter Quarter final exams Tuesday, March 15–Thursday, March 17 in the library for Disability Support Services students who have testing accommodations. Students have been notified that they must schedule their final exams with DSS no later than Friday, March 4. Please contact the Center for Learning at cfl@spu.edu if you have any questions.

SPU’s Department of Engineering and Computer Science is offering on-campus day camps this summer for rising 9th–12th graders. Students can jump-start a tech career with hands-on programs focused on game creation, 3D printing, and more. No coding experience necessary. Plus, they’ll earn college credit! Learn more and register at spu.edu/techcamps.

Nominate a current SPU junior student for the Barnabas Servant Leadership Scholarship. Students should demonstrate Christian character, have made a commitment to on- or off- campus service, show a willingness to take on tasks regardless of recognition or challenge, and demonstrate leadership  The recipients of this scholarship receive a $750 cash grant and a $250 contribution in their name to a charity of their choice. Nominations are due by March 4, 2022, using this online nomination form.

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.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly during the academic year. The next deadline is Thursday, March 3, and the next issue will be published Monday, March 7. 

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.

In recognition of her service to the SPU community, Tracy Norlen, director of public information, was nominated by her peers and selected by Staff Council as the January Staff Member of the Month. Congratulations and thank you, Tracy! Learn more about Tracy and nominate a colleague for recognition on the Staff Council website.

Peter Moe, assistant professor of English and writing, had his essay, "Bones, Bones: How to Articulate a Whale,” published in Longreads.com.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming Jessica Todd, program manager for clinical psychology in the School of Psychology, Family, and Community.

Ryan Ellis, assistant professor of music, sings a musical thank you to Computer and Information Systems. Watch the video.

From University Archivist Adrienne Meier: Forty years ago, on Feb. 26, 1982, ground was broken on a new building for the School of Business and Economics. Later named for SPU President David McKenna, the building is shown here after its completion in 1983. Select the link below.

More