A message from Response Managing Editor Hannah Notess: "Faculty members ― Have you been teaching, researching, or doing other scholarly work in an interesting location this summer? The next Response magazine will include mention of some faculty travels. Please send details to me at hnotess@spu.edu."

Associate Professor of Biblical Studies Sara Koenig will introduce the Center for Biblical and Theological Education’s new Lectio series on 1 and 2 Samuel at a seminar on Friday, September 11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This event is free for faculty and staff, and includes lunch. External guests can also attend for $20. More information and online registration is coming soon.

Hundreds of prospective students, new students, and their families will be on campus this month. Undergraduate Admissions hosts “Summer Visit Days” on August 14 and 21, and Student Academic Services is hosting a New Student Advising session also on August 14. Look for these students and their families and make them feel welcome.

A message from the SPU Alumni Association: Alumni faculty and staff are invited to join a new loyalty program on behalf of the SPU bookstore and the SPU Alumni Association. Sign up today for the SPU Bookstore Alumni Benefits Program and get exclusive discounts and offers delivered to your inbox. The first offer is a 25 percent discount on spirit gear.

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From Conference Services: As a new academic year is about to begin and event requests are coming in, it’s a good time for a few reminders about requesting space on campus. All space requests for meetings and events can be made through SPU Room Finder. For general campus space (classrooms, meeting room, etc.) the typical response time for a request is two business days. Requests for Upper Gwinn may take a bit longer, as the space is in high demand and many times Conference Services needs to consult with other event requestors and service providers to confirm all event details before putting the space on hold. Once you receive a “Hold Email,” pay close attention to the deadline date of keeping or releasing the requested date as other clients may be waiting for the same date. Please remember to wait for an official confirmation before moving forward with the planning of any event. If you have questions, contact Conference Services at 206-281-2187 or conferenceservices@spu.edu.

If you are planning an event in Martin Square, Tiffany Loop, Fifth Avenue streetscape, SUB lawn, or other outdoor space on campus, reserve it through SPU Room Finder. Submitting an event through Room Finder allows you to book space and send the information to the SPU Master Calendar (if appropriate) at the same time. All events held on-campus can now be entered through Room Finder, and all SPU-sponsored events not on campus can be posted directly through the SPU Master Calendar by selecting “Submit an Event.”

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A message from Adam Finch, intramural and equipment manager: Monday and Wednesday soccer has been a huge success! We are continuing through summer and would love for you to join us. Summer is EXACTLY the time of year I want to be outside and enjoy these beautiful summer days, I hope you will consider joining us. Here are some of the details ― this is a very friendly game (all skill levels are TRULY welcome). We play a simple small-sided pickup game on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with staff, faculty, alumni, and students on Wallace Field (as it’s available). If you would like to join us, contact me at acfinch@spu.edu and I will add you to the email list. I also help organize weekly basketball games, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sometimes on Fridays. If you are interested in this form of exercise and community, email me as well and I’ll add you to the list. I look forward to including more of you in these activities.

Departments reporting to the Office of Business and Finance (OBF) will have modified schedules and/or operate on limited crews on Wednesday, August 19, due to their annual summer event. 

The departments listed below will close at 11 a.m. (If you have an urgent need, contact Safety & Security at 206-281-2922 to reach personnel for the following departments.)
OBF Vice President’s Office
Computer and Information Systems
Finance
Controller’s Office
Budget & Finance
University Services
Campus Cards
Conference Services
Housing and Meal Plans
Mailing and Copying Services - Mail will be delivered to offices in the morning between 10-11 a.m.  Mailing and Copying Services will close at 11 a.m. and re-open at 8 a.m. on Thursday. Office pick-up and deliveries will resume on Thursday afternoon.

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Facility and Project Management will be open but with a limited crew. Contact 206-281-2330.

The Bookstore will be open and on the regular schedule.

Student Financial Services will be closed Wednesday, August 19, for their annual summer office retreat. The office will re-open on Thursday, August 20. If you have any questions, call 206-281-2061.

The Gwinn Commons dining hall summer hours are posted online. The hours will be updated daily for the upcoming week. Remember that dining hall hours are based on Conference Services clients and internal groups and are subject to change. Hours for the other campus dining retailers can also be found online. Contact conferenceservices@spu.edu if you have any questions.

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The Office of Conference Services would like the SPU community to be aware of the many groups that visit campus during the summer for conferences, workshops, or annual meetings. The following groups will be on campus during the next several weeks. Please welcome these visitors when you see them. 

Pacific Northwest Ballet
Brazil Science Mobility Program (A.C.E.)
Laurasian Institute
Sparks Consulting Rowing
Vivace Chamber Players
Hoseo University/School of Business
Sahmyook University
St. Matthews 
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Strings Without Boundaries
Vocalpoint
Aichi Institute of Technology (A.C.E.)
Mercer Island High School Women’s Soccer

During the summer, the Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every other week. 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, August 20. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, August 24.

Seattle Pacific Foundation President Tom Box was named interim athletic director on August 4, 2015. He previously led the SPU Athletic Department from July 1998 through July 2008. A national search will begin later this year. Also in the Athletic Department, Amy Foster will serve as the interim associate athletic director for business and operations. Read more about these new positions online.

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A message from Vice President for Student Life Jeff Jordan. “Please join us in welcoming Chuck Strawn back to SPU as dean of students for community life. Chuck will oversee the Residence Life and Student Programs departments, as well as all student conduct, student support, and behavior intervention efforts. Additionally, he will have an emphasis on the leadership minor and the implementation of new men’s initiatives. Chuck served in Residence Life at SPU from 1999 to 2004, first as residence life coordinator and then as assistant director.

Susan Okamoto Lane is now the dean of multi-ethnic and wellness programs. Susan will serve as the lead for Multi-Ethnic Programs and oversee the Student Counseling Center and Health Services. Additionally, Susan will have an emphasis on initiating and implementing an effort for student wellness education and programming. She will continue to co-lead the provost initiative related to reconciliation.

Jacqui Smith-Bates continues in her role under a new title as dean of career and learning support. Jacqui will continue to oversee the Center for Career and Calling and the Center for Learning, as well as continue to co-lead the provost initiative related to vocation.”

The School of Psychology, Family, and Community is pleased to announce that Professor of Psychology Margaret Brown recently gave a talk in Vancouver, B.C. at the International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology. The talk was titled “Psychology, Service Learning, and the Public Good: Pedagogical Innovations in the Undergraduate Curriculum.” It excerpted material from her forthcoming book, Service Learning in Psychology: Enhancing Undergraduate Education for the Public Good, which will be published by the American Psychological Association.

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to join us in welcoming Chuck Strawn, dean of students for community life in the Office of Student Life.