Open Enrollment began last week and runs through May 22. That means the annual Benefits Fair is right around the corner! The Human Relations staff invites you to join us on Friday May 15, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons for the Benefits Fair. Please take a few moments to come by and say hello, visit our vendors, and enjoy some snacks. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with our dedicated Cigna team and discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Representatives from other featured vendors will also be present:  BAC (administrator for SPU’s health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts), Washington Dental Service, VSP (SPU’s vision plan), and many more. These representatives provide information, answer questions, and bring give-aways. Don’t forget the PRIZES! We look forward to seeing you there. Reminder: Please pay careful attention to all communications from Human Resources during this Open Enrollment season.

Disability Support Services presents the inaugural “No Limits, No Boundaries” lecture on Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. This year’s speaker is Washington State Senator Cyrus Habib. The lecture aims to increase campus and community awareness about our perception of individuals with disabilities, and will honor individuals whose life, spirit, and work reflect their commitment to access, inclusion, and reconciliation. The program will feature a guest lecturer, a video montage, student reflections, as well as a travelling Disability History exhibit.

Habib is a three-time cancer survivor, a Rhodes Scholar, Truman Scholar, and a Soros Fellow. He graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University, and is a graduate of Yale Law School. In 2012, he was elected to represent Washington’s 48th Legislative District (Bellevue/Redmond), and was named one of the “12 State Legislators to Watch in 2014.” He is the highest ranking Iranian-American elected to a state office. Habib is also a professor and Distinguished Lawmaker in Residence at Seattle University Law School.

Admission is free. To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services office in advance of the event at 206-281-2272, TTY 206-281-2224, or dss@spu.edu.

A message from SPU 2015 United Way Campaign Co-chairs Mike Macdonald and Lori Brown. “Thank you to each of you who generously donated to SPU’s annual United Way campaign. This year we raised a record amount for United Way, giving more this year than during any previous United Way campaign on campus. Way to go!

In fact, we have many accomplishments to celebrate from this year’s campaign:

•           $15,098 raised – 20 percent increase over last year
•           88 donors – 8 percent increase over last year
•           $172 average gift – 14 percent increase over last year

Because of your generosity, kids are fed, families are housed, and the safety net is securely in place for King County. Thank You, thank you, thank you!”

At the Library’s next Creative Conversations event on Thursday, May 14, 12 p.m. in the Library Reading Room, Chris Hoke (MFA ’13) will talk about his work as a chaplain in a Washington state county jail for the past 10 years. He will look at ways to apply monastic practices inside America's penal system. 

More

SPU’s Gospel Choir will present excerpts from the jazz oratorio “Hosea” on Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m., at First Free Methodist Church. The oratorio features performances by the student group Mime Ensemble, Seattle gospel singer Nichol Venneé Eskridge, a performance by SPU music faculty Chérie Hughes (soprano) and Danius Vaičekonis (piano). The concert will also include a special performance by local tap dancer Alex Dugdale. The event includes Scripture readings, litanies, and prayers. The oratorio is directed by Stephen Michael Newby, associate professor of music and director of the SPU Center for Worship. Admission is free and the event is wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact 206-281-2205.

André Sims, pastor at Christ the King Bible Fellowship, will be the guest speaker in Chapel on Tuesday, May 12, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church. The weekly chapel “Gather” service is a time for faculty, staff, and students to worship God and celebrate the diversity of the church. The Spring Quarter services are following the Lectio series in the book of Romans. 

More

The annual Erickson Undergraduate Research Conference is Friday, May 15, 3-9 p.m. in Otto Miller Hall. The conference showcases the outstanding research and design contributions students are making in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

More

The production company Stun Creative and the cast and crew of a new Nickelodeon television promotion will film near the SPU campus on Wednesday, May 13, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. They will film in the triangle property at the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue West and West Nickerson Street. The area is owned by the City of Seattle (although maintained by SPU), and the production company has received permission from the city and Metro to film in that location. West Bertona Street east of 3rd Avenue West will be closed during the filming, and the bus stop on Nickerson Street will be moved a half-block to the west. The shoot will be similar to a music video in nature, showing the cast getting off the bus and dancing to music. Stun Creative would like to thank the SPU in advance for their cooperation. If you have questions, contact Tracy Norlen in University Communications at 206-281-2977.

University Communications needs help identifying outstanding students from this year's graduating class. This request is for undergraduate and graduate students. These students and their achievements will be pitched to media outlets prior to Commencement, as well as for promotional purposes. Please send the name(s) of the student(s) and a short description about why you are recommending them. Examples would be students who overcame obstacles to graduate, were involved in community service projects, participated in innovative research, started a new venture, took a class that changed their career direction, or did something really interesting. Basically, anything that would make a good story! We will follow up with the students and get permission to use their profile. Send information by email to Manager of Public Information Tracy Norlen at tcnorlen@spu.edu.

Based on multi-year feedback from parents, guests, students, and campus participants, Orientation 2015 has been given a makeover. This year, Orientation will run from Wednesday, September 23, through Sunday, September 27. Move-in will now be held on Wednesday following the State of the University Address and Opening Picnic instead of on Thursday, in order to give new students time to settle in. Additionally, parent and guest programming has been condensed to one day on September 24, concluding at 5 p.m. to better meet travel needs. Transfer Express, an abbreviated orientation for transfer students, will also be offered during Orientation (dates and times still pending). Please note that all students and parents and guests will need to register for the events. The Office of Student Programs hopes that these revisions will better meet the needs of our students and guests, as well as better utilize the time of staff, faculty, and administrators. Be on the lookout for new ways and invitations to engage with Orientation 2015. Visit the website for more information. Specific inquiries can be directed via email to Orientation@spu.edu or contact Kristen Voetmann, Student Programs campus program coordinator, at 206-281-2689.

More

SPU’s Jazz Ensemble will perform Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 p.m., at E.E. Bach Theatre in McKinley Hall. The concert will feature a repertoire of old jazz standards as well as modern music by Esperanza Spalding and Lee Morgan. The concert is free and the event is wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact 206-281-2205. Learn more about upcoming music events.

More

The Art Department presents “Unity in Dissonance,” an exhibit featuring the work of graduating studio art students. The exhibit features various mediums of the studio arts, including printmaking, painting, and photography. The show runs until May 15 at the SPU Art Center Gallery, open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This exhibit is free and open to the public. The gallery is located at 3 West Cremona Street near campus.

More

The next School of Business, Government, and Economics Dean’s Speaker event is Friday, May 15, 9:30 a.m., in the Library Seminar Room. Jared Axelrod, the senior government affairs associate at Vulcan, Inc., will discuss how his background in political science, economics, and public affairs led him to his current role. Faculty and staff are invited, but space is limited. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Center for Applied Learning at cal@spu.edu or 206-281-2151.

SPU’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble concert will be held Friday, May 22, 7:30 p.m., at First Free Methodist Church. The concert will feature SPU ensemble groups, including the Flute Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Sax Quartet, and chamber ensembles. The repertoire will include three pieces from William Schuman’s collection of short musical pieces called “New England Triptych.” The ensembles are directed by Danny Helseth, SPU director of bands. Admission is free and the event is wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact 206-281-2205. Learn more about upcoming music events.

More

The annual campus observance of Memorial Day will be Tuesday, May 26, beginning at 12 p.m. at the flap pole in Tiffany Loop. (Eaton Hall 112 in case of rain.). If you have a loved one who was killed while serving their country, we invite you to submit their name to be read during the ceremony. Following the ceremony, a luncheon will be offered in the SUB Gazebo Room. SPU students and alumni who were killed in action since World War II will be remembered, including the most recent alumnus, Nic Madrazo, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2008. All are welcome to attend. This event is sponsored by the Military and Veteran Support Club, and the Veteran and Military Support Cadre.

New pickup soccer games for faculty, staff, alumni, and students will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on Wallace Field (when available.) Pickup basketball games are held Tuesday and Thursday, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. as the gym is available. These are not intramural programs. For more information and to sign up, contact Intramural Manager Adam Finch at 206-281-2891 or acfinch@spu.edu.

Do you have questions about our medical plan? Need help with our new online enrollment form? The Office of Human Resources and Cigna will be hosting four online Open Enrollment sessions this month in Otto Miller 139. Join us as we go through how to complete the Open Enrollment form and learn the basics of our medical plans. Space is limited, so call the Human Resources front desk at 206-281-2809 to RSVP.

5/13      3:30-4:30 p.m.

5/14      11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

5/20      3:30-4:30 p.m.

5/21      11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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, May 14. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, May 18.

A new book by Al Erisman, executive in residence in the School of Business, Government, and Economics, is now available. The book, The Accidental Executive: Lessons in Business, Faith, and Calling from the Life of Joseph, was published by Henrickson Publishers.

More

An article by School of Business, Government, and Economics Dean Joseph Williams was published in IT Professional. The article is an interview with NiSoft CEO Doug Deardorf.

Tali Hairston, director of the John Perkins Center, was quoted in a recent news story at christianitytoday.com. The story is titled “Is ‘White Privilege’ an Unbiblical Term?”

More

Herb Kierulff, the Donald Snellman Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance, was featured in a recent story in the AACSB online BizEd magazine. Herb talks about the origins of the annual Private Business Valuation Challenge, a classroom project he started in 2012 and is now is a national competition for accounting, entrepreneurship, and finance students.

More