The annual Day of Common Learning offers the SPU community the opportunity to gather together to study and discuss a major topic as we seek to live out the mission of our institution.

The theme of this year’s event on Wednesday, October 17, is “Creation Care and Sustainability.” The day begins at 10 a.m. in Brougham Pavilion with a keynote address titled “Green Jesus: Embracing a Sustainable Faith,” delivered by A.J. Swoboda, director of Blessed Earth Northwest. In the afternoon, numerous seminars led by SPU faculty, staff, students, and community members will be offered at 1 p.m. and repeated at 2 p.m. Regularly scheduled classes, labs, and seminars before 3 p.m. are suspended; classes and labs after 3 p.m. are held as usual. Visit the website for all the information. 

The library has put together a Day of Common Learning subject guide to support the upcoming Day of Common Learning on October 17. Topics include theology, environmental care, human interaction, environmental policy, sustainable development, and activism.

The SPU Music Department welcomes the U.S. Army Band Woodwind Quintet for a concert on Friday, October 19, 7:30 p.m. in Nickerson Studios. The quintet will spend the afternoon with the SPU Wind Ensemble in rehearsal and masterclass, and then present a free concert in the evening. The musicians in the armed services bands represent some of the most talented, highly trained musicians in the nation. This will be their final concert of their fall tour. It is a great opportunity to hear woodwind quintet music from a world-class ensemble.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) now offers seed grants to support departmental diversity action plans, which each department will create over the next three years. As your office or department begins developing your action plan, consider applying for a seed grant.

The following categories are eligible to apply for funding:

• Academic departments initiating the Departmental Readiness Evaluation (DRE).
• Non-academic departments working on initiatives that advance one or more of the University's strategic diversity goal areas.

Drop-in office hours

Unsure how to implement a diversity action plan? Stop by the ODEI office in Demaray 253 during our drop-in office hours on one of these upcoming Tuesdays: 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 7:30–9:30 a.m. Bring your ideas, and we’ll provide coffee and scones.

Educational Technology & Media offers drop-in hours on Tuesdays 12–2 p.m. and Thursdays 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the ETM offices in the library, lower level. Come and visit for help with Canvas and other digital tools.

Shop for home décor, hostess gifts, accessories, gift certificates, and much more in a festive holiday atmosphere at this year’s Mistletoe Market, Friday, October 26, 9 a.m..–7 p.m. and Saturday, October 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at First Free Methodist Church Fine Center. There will be gifts for everyone on  your list. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted. This event is hosted by Sigma Rho, a philanthropic organization of Family and Consumer Sciences. All proceeds support student scholarships.

Thursday, October 18, Staff Council presents “Next Steps With the New Brand,” in Demaray Hall 150, 3:15–4:15 p.m. You’re familiar with the new brand. Now, what questions do you have about logistics for your area? The brand concept is more than just a visual change, so how do we live into it as a community?

Staff Council’s Fall Forum, facilitated by Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing Nate Moutett, is an opportunity for staff to engage with the new brand as we answer these questions together. Come join us and receive a staff gift!

The Office of Student Leadership and Involvement (OSIL) announces that thanks to a generous gift from the Hollander family and partnership with OSIL and Facility Management, the Commuter Collegium in the Student Union Building has been given a new look with more modern furniture and finishes.

Former SPU commuter student and now Campus Program Coordinator for Commuter Services Allison Bautista helped last years’ Collegium assistants catch the vision on how a new space could help commuter students at SPU study, find connection, and feel included at SPU. In connection with Courtney Hollander, former Collegium assistant, Alli stewarded and led the Hollander’s generous gift through completion this fall, resulting in a beautiful new commuter lounge that not only seats more students, but reminds commuter students that they are a valuable part of the Seattle Pacific community. Thank you, Allison and the Hollander family!

Select the link to see some photos of the newly remodeled Collegium.

More

In the October Shareholders e-newsletter from the School of Business, Government, and Economics, discover how outstanding SPU alumni are guiding their companies, how current SBGE students are leading on campus, and read an article by Professor of Management Denise Daniels about how to address critical gender equity issues in the workplace.

Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy Tina​ Schermer Sellers will receive two awards this week for her professional work.

The Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) honored Tina with the 2018 Family Oriented Care Award, "recognizing clinicians and researchers who incorporate the principles of family-oriented care into their day-to-day work with families managing their health (prevention and intervention)." These principles can include: 1) collaborating with patients, families, and healthcare providers in program development, implementation, and evaluation, as well as the delivery of care; 2) sharing information that promotes family-provider communication during and after care; 3) families are encouraged and supported to participate in care and decision-making, 4) care in the context of family and community where medical care and decision-making is respectful and considers the patient in the context of his/her family and community, and 5) respecting cultural diversity while caring for families. This award recognizes an individual, team, university, department or clinic whose clinical work and/or program of research advances the field of family-oriented care in a seminal way and exemplifies at least two of the five principles of family-oriented care described above.

Tina also received the Wingspread Honoree Award from CFHA for "individuals who both embody the characteristics of our early leaders and who have positively impacted the lives of their students, mentees, or colleagues through their work." Congratulations, Tina!

Associate Professor of Music and trumpeter Brian Chin and his chamber music ensemble TORCH will perform live on KNKX-FM (88.5) on Wednesday, October 17, 12:10 p.m. Their performance is part of the station’s Studio Sessions series.

Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy Don MacDonald, along with Chris Sink and Garrett McAuliffe of Old Dominion University, presented a paper titled “Personalism and positive psychology applied to school-based multicultural counseling practices” at the International Association for Counseling in Rome. The authors plan to expand the paper to submit for publication.

Peter Moe, assistant professor of English and director of campus writing, had his article  "A Sequence for Teaching the Sentence" published in Teaching English in the Two-Year College, vol 46, no 1, Sept 2018. The article offers a seven-assignment sequence that teaches students the rhetorical possibilities of the sentence.

Adjunct art faculty member Rachell Sumpter designed the cover image for The New York Times Book Review supplement on September 30. She currently teaches Illustration Studio: Digital and Illustration Studio: Professional Practices.

An article by Instructor of Writing Mischa Willett was published in the peer-reviewed Cambridge University Press’ Victorian Literature and Culture. The article, "A Hateful Cawing From the Crows," redefines the literary historical narrative of a 19th-century satire that has been called “the most effective piece of literary criticism ever written."

The Office of Human Resources would like to congratulate the following staff members on their new appointments.

Valerie Conner, associate director, University Recruitment and Admissions
Annie Gray, study abroad manager/advisor, Study Abroad
My Su, operations coordinator, Student Financial Services
Charis Tobias, enrollment operations coordinator, Student Financial Services

The Office of Human Resources would like to welcome Emily Rogers as the new annual giving specialist in University Advancement.