To prepare for the upcoming academic year, the Office of University Communications will be closed July 24-26 for its annual in-house Organization Week. Although the office will be closed, the UC staff will be on site and available in emergencies. In case of an emergency, call Office Manager Michelle Arendt at 206-281-2051, and she will connect you with the appropriate staff member. If you are currently working with UC on a project, your communications specialist will ensure that the closure does not cause any delays. Please call your communications specialist or Michelle if you have questions or concerns.

On Friday, July 28, prospective students and their families will be on campus for a Summer Visit Day. This series of summer events hosts more than 100 guests as they explore SPU, learn about admissions, and meet current students, faculty, and staff. Please look for these students and their families and make them feel welcome!

You have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, August 1, to have stationery order(s) delivered on August 14. Stationery orders are delivered once a month. Orders made after 10 a.m. on August 1 will be delivered on September 15. 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.

Bloodworks Northwest will host a blood drive on campus Friday, August 11, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. There’s an extra need for donations during the summer, so encourage friends and family members to stop by and donate. Schedule an appointment online.

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Summer is associated with relaxation and freedom from academics. However, summer can be a time when depressive symptoms heighten for college students. Changing roles for the summer, shifting responsibilities, and relationships can be difficult to navigate. Students may be at a disadvantage with less access to mental health resources over the summer, making awareness and self-care critical for mental health. To learn more, visit the Wellness blog.

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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.

July 17-21

• Stay hydrated with 10 percent off any bottled or canned beverage at the C-Store this week.
• Friday, July 21: Receive 50 percent off your entree at Cocina Del Sol! 

July 24-28 Cocina Del Sol specials:

• Monday, July 24: $1.00 off nachos
• Tuesday, July 25: $1.00 off tacos
• Wednesday, July 26: $1.00 off bowls
• Thursday, July 27: $1.00 off burritos
• Friday, July 28: 50 percent off any entree

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The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every other week during the summer months. 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, July 27. The next Bulletin will be published on Monday, July 31.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of Global Development Studies Brad Murg is spending the summer as a visiting professor at SPU's partner institution, the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He is teaching "Political Economy of Development" in the school's master's program. As Brad said about the photos he sent, "it's a tad different than life back in McKenna Hall!" (Select the link to see photos of his classroom, the campus, and the main library.)

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An article co-authored by Adjunct Professor of Nursing Adeline Chu was published in the June 2017 issue of American Nurse Today. The article was titled “Caring for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Community.” Read the article online.

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From Master Gardener Jeff Daley: Our Washington State flower is none other than the Coast Rhododendron, Rhododendron macrophyllum. It is in a category all its own; the big, the bold and the beautiful. It thrives in its natural environment, growing in the understory of our Pacific Northwest forests, where dappled sunlight and just the right amount of moisture and acidic soils abound. You can see many happy native rhodies out on the Olympic Peninsula. Planted with intention in our landscapes, a mature rhododendron is capable of creating a brilliant color display in the garden. With a little research, you can plant several varieties that have different bloom times, and color can be extended from mid-spring into July.

Rhododendrons and azaleas are closely related. The way to tell them apart is by counting the stamens, which are the male part of the flower. The azaleas have five, but their bigger brother, the rhododendron, has 10. Back in the day, if you wanted to have a flowering shrub in your landscape, you either planted rhododendrons or azaleas. That’s about all that was available. Fortunately, we have come a long way in the last 40 years, and there are numerous new flowering shrubs available.

Several varieties of rhododendrons are planted throughout campus. Some newer varieties have recently been introduced and caught my eye. The underside of the leaf on “Wine and Roses” is a beautiful burgundy wine color, and “Everred” has brightly colored reddish leaves all year long. I noticed both these plants at the Rhododendron Species Garden in Federal Way, where you can purchase plants for your garden.

Some of the benefits of growing a rhody are:

• The brilliant color display: Purple, lavender, cream, pink, red, and various hues of yellow and orange.
• They are an evergreen shrub, with leaves that persist all year and can provide structure in the landscape for all seasons.
• Some of the larger growing plants can be used as a screen to hide an unsightly part of your yard or your neighbor's.
• They create a nice green backdrop to enhance other plantings in the foreground.
• They attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
• Large mature plantings will add property value to the landscape.
• Our climate is perfect for growing rhodies, making many gardeners jealous! 

We are fortunate to have several renowned rhododendron gardens in our area where you can learn more about rhododendrons and see some exquisite varieties from all over the world.

• The Rhododendron Species Garden (Federal Way)
• The Meerkerk Garden (Whidbey Island)
• Rhododendron Glen at the Washington Park Arboretum (University of Washington)
• Whitney Gardens and Nursery (Brinnon)

Select the link to see photos of rhododendrons on campus. 

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