Bring the veterans in your life to this special afternoon concert, “Canticle of Peace and Valor,” in Benaroya Hall, featuring the SPU choirs, Cascade Youth Symphony, and ChoralSounds Northwest. The concert features Gustav Holst’s dynamic “Mars: The Bringer of War;” Jean Sibelius “Finlandia;” and moving and inspirational patriotic music sung by the choirs. The concert is Saturday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m., Benaroya Hall. Tickets are $25/general admission.

Professor Emeritus Frank Spina will offer his inaugural lecture for the Frank Anthony Spina Lectureship on Christian Scripture, titled “Multiplying Divisions: A Divided Israel, A Divided Church, A Divided University," on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m., Upper Gwinn. In it, he will reflect on this biblical material in the light of the propensity of the church to divide. In his reflection, he will also examine how we dare not ignore the centrifugal forces that plague institutions such as universities and seminaries that are sponsored by the Christian church. The lecture is hosted by the School of Theology.

A message from Computer and Information Systems: Often, when we think about software updates, we think about our computer and our phone, but there’s more to updates than just those devices. Learn more about software updates at the CIS Technology Blog.

A message from the Center for Career and Calling: The Virtual Career Fair for students is Thursday. Nov. 3, 3–6 p.m. There will be 45 employers present, including T-Mobile, Seattle Children’s, and the Seattle Mariners, who are excited to meet with our students! Students can sign up for a 30-minute info session with employers, and/or schedule 1:1 appointments with recruiters for 10 minutes. Registration is now open on Handshake. Faculty: Please see the email from Elle Gohr in CCC that contains a PowerPoint slide for you to use in your classes.

The Center for Career and Calling is hosting a LinkedIn Photobooth to help students prepare for the Career Fair on Thursday, Nov. 3. On Wednesday, Nov. 2,  from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., the center will provide free headshots for students. Please spread the word to your students and encourage them to attend. More information can be found on Handshake. Faculty: please see the email from Elle Gohr in CCC that contains a PowerPoint slide for you to use in your classes.

A message from Human Resources: Open Enrollment ends this week on Friday, Nov. 4. This is your final opportunity to make changes to your benefit elections, including medical, dental, vision, and flexible-spending accounts for the upcoming 2023 benefit plan year.

• Please review: 2023 Open Enrollment information
• Here is how to make changes: Banner instructions

PACE NW, part of Pivot NW, is hosting a session on Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. to share what has been learned in five years of research funded by The Lilly Endowment for connecting young adults and the greater church. Specifically, we will embark on a rhythm of encouraging, training, and networking those who care about young adults so that there is a greater spiritual safety net in the Pacific Northwest. Breakfast and lunch is provided. Contact Martin Jimenez with any questions at martinjimenez@spu.edu. Register online.

Pivot NW is a research and innovation grant funded by The Lilly Endowment and based at SPU. PACE is an expansion of Pivot NW which worked within congregations from 2016-21.

SPU’s retirement plan is among the most effective ways to help you secure the future you deserve. As part of Open Enrollment, SPU’s Transamerica representative Ronee Dakin will be available to review your personal retirement strategy and answer any questions you may have. Make an appointment for Tuesday, Nov. 1 or Wednesday, Nov. 2.

A group of students in Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement are working with Recovery Café to collect items they need to help their unsheltered or homeless constituents. Recovery Café offers individuals recovering from various addictions and issues a place to get food, connect to resources, and spend time with each other. The students’ goal is to promote health through education and support them in any ways they can. You can help by collecting warm clothes such as these items for Recovery Café members by Wednesday, Nov. 9.

• Jackets
• Oversize shirts
• New socks
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Hats
• Anything else that can fit in this category

Please drop off any clean and washed items in one of these locations:

• School of Health Sciences building, 6 Nickerson, first floor
• Student Union Building, second floor
• Weter Hall, third floor

Due to COVID, SPU Theatre postponed the first week of Mrs. Packard. Performances Nov. 3 through Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. are still scheduled, and a matinee performance on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2:30 p.m. has been added.

Faculty and staff may buy tickets for any performance. Per the Theatre department: If complimentary tickets would enable faculty and staff to see the show, we are happy to make comps available to them! Please obtain tickets by emailing the box office at boxoffice@spu.edu or calling 206-281-2959.

International Student Services is reviving its Holiday Homestays program. Each year, we have a handful of international students who have expressed interest in staying with a host family over the winter break to experience U.S. holiday traditions. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage cross-culturally with our students! If you have any interest in participating in this program in the future, please contact Jenny Elsey, Associate Vice President for Student Life, Dean for Student Success, at elseyj@spu.edu. We might even have a couple of opportunities for folks interested in hosting a student this holiday season!

SPU is honored to be the host of the 2022 NCAA DII Fall Festival — one of the flagship events on the NCAA DII calendar — Tuesday, Nov. 29–Dec. 3. About 1,500 student-athletes and coaches will come to Seattle to compete in six separate national championship events, and hundreds of volunteers will be needed for the festival.

In coordination with SPU’s Senior Leadership Team, faculty and staff can volunteer for this event during their normal work schedules without needing to take vacation or leave time, although volunteering during work hours must first be approved by your supervisor prior to registering as a volunteer. Family members, friends, youth sports clubs, etc., can also volunteer, so feel free to pass along the links. Volunteers do not need to be associated with SPU. Visit the Fall Festival Fan Information website to see events and campus and Seattle locations. Volunteers will receive NCAA Championships apparel and credentials along with snacks and meals if the volunteer shift is during a meal window. Email Hannah Murphy in Athletics at murphyh3@spu.edu with questions, and sign up to volunteer here.

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 on Mondays during the academic year (or Tuesday, if Monday is a holiday). The next deadline is Thursday, Nov. 3, and the next issue will be published Monday, Nov. 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.

JoAnn Flett, executive director of the Center for Faithful Business, will deliver the opening plenary on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the MEDA Convention 2022: Celebrating Entrepreneurship in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. MEDA — Mennonite Economic Development Associates — is an international economic development organization that creates business solutions to poverty. For nearly 70 years, MEDA has been creating business solutions to poverty that are sustainable, scalable, measurable, and replicable.

Please join the Office of Human Resources in welcoming Isaiah Peterson, assistant director for International Admissions, Undergraduate Admissions.