The Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development and Educational Technology and Media is offering a seminar for faculty and staff on how to accommodate all types of student learners. The seminar on Tuesday, December 15, is titled “Universal Design: Nine Principles to Improve Student Learning.” More information, including all December events taking place the week after finals, can be found online.

The men’s basketball team hosts the Oak Harbor Freight Line Classic at Brougham Pavilion this weekend. Faculty and staff receive complimentary general admission tickets (including spouse and dependent children up to a maximum of four tickets). Here’s the schedule.

Friday, December 11
Montana State Billings vs. Azusa Pacific, 4:30 p.m.
Seattle Pacific vs. Northwest University, 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 12
Montana State Billings vs. Northwest University, 4:30 p.m.
Seattle Pacific vs. Azusa Pacific, 7 p.m.

For the latest in Falcon sports, visit the website. 

Flu shots are now available in Health Services, located in Watson Hall. Current staff, faculty, and dependents (age 15 years and up) who have Cigna coverage through SPU may receive their annual flu shot free of charge as part of the preventive care benefit. For those not covered by Cigna, the cost is $25. Make an appointment by calling 206-281-2231.

Assistant Professor of New Testament Laura Holmes will introduce the Center for Biblical and Theological Education’s (CBTE) next Lectio series at a dinner seminar on Tuesday, January 5, 6-9 p.m. The next Lectio is on the Gospel of Mark. The seminar will examine common questions among believers such as “Have you ever wondered how to follow Jesus when you haven’t got it all figured out? When Jesus surprises you? Or when you need encouragement to be faithful?” The seminar is free for faculty and staff, and includes dinner. External guests can also attend for $20. To register, email Nate Hoover, CBTE interim assistant director, at hoovern@spu.edu.

A message from Professor of Geography Kathleen Braden: “Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 9, 12:30-1 p.m. in Demaray 355 for a showing of the cartoon, Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol. Bring a brown bag lunch and beverage. Cookies will be provided. Don’t we all need a little razzleberry dressing just about now in this troubled world?” 

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published weekly 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, December 10. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, December 14.

A new book by Associate Professor of Economics Douglas Downing titled Freedom, Opportunity, and Security: Economic Policy and the Political System has been published by Lexington Books.

Margaret Brown, professor of psychology, and Jared Wymer, School of Business, Government, and Economics budget manager and industrial-organizational psychology doctoral student, recently gave presentations at the International Association for Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) Conference in Boston. Margaret presented a paper titled “Conducting Discipline-Based Research on Service Learning.” Jared and Margaret presented a poster titled “Why Service Learning Affects Social Justice Attitudes: The Relative Contributions of Attributional Complexity and Empathy.” The poster was co-authored with Owen Sallee, formerly of the Perkins Center. Jared was awarded an IARSLCE Graduate Student Scholarship.

Jeff Keuss, professor of ministry, theology and culture, presented a paper titled “CrossFit and Muscular Christianity Resurrected” as part of the Religion, Sport, and Play section of the recent American Academy of Religion conference in Atlanta. The paper addressed the rapid growth of CrossFit as a fitness phenomenon and how it has appropriated many distinctive aspects of new church developments through the introduction of a more embodied form of liturgical training practices emphasizing communal commitment and accountability. The paper engages theorists Judith Butler, Dale Martin, and Jean-Luc Marion, as well on the role embodied practice plays in faith formation.

A book chapter by Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction David Wicks and Professor of Education Andrew Lumpe was recently published in International Teacher Education: Promising Practices by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. The chapter is titled “Electronic Portfolios as Pedagogy: Using bPortfolios for Authentic Assessment of Teacher Knowledge and Skills in the U.S.”

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome Sandra Wakefield, a new accounting technician II in the Finance Office.