Faculty — working on your syllabi for Winter Quarter? Don’t forget to build in a chance to have your class engage with Tent City 3. Here’s what one faculty member did. Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry Katie Douglas “scaffolded” her UFDN 1000 class by having them watch a 15-minute video titled “Time to Listen” and then posing three journal questions. Next, she and her class visited TC3 and had a guided tour. The class visited TC3 a second time so they would “have a more complicated and nuanced understanding of the community.” During that visit, they brought breakfast, a tent they had purchased for TC3, and “just hung out” with campers. Katie then asked students to reflect on what they had learned by answering four questions, including "Have your feelings about un-housed people changed since our visit to TC3? If so, how would you describe the shift?" Katie plans to take her Winter Quarter class to Tent City 3 as well. Remember the Move-Out Day is scheduled for February 10, 2018.

Would you be open to having a member of Tent City 3 sit in on your class? Are there particular classes that you think they would enjoy? Let us know so we can offer them that opportunity by filing out an online form for faculty and staff requests.

One of TC3’s microwave ovens is broken. If you have one to donate, email tentcity3@spu.edu.

A message from Campus Ministries: December 3 marked the beginning of Advent season. Over the next four weeks, Christians take up the discipline of waiting, cultivating a posture of prayer and expectancy as we look toward Christmas and a celebration of the incarnation. The vocabulary of Advent is made up of words like longing, preparation, darkness, waiting, and promise — rich theological themes that are fundamental to our understanding of what it means to live in the now and the not-yet of our faith. Perhaps even more poignantly, the language of Advent speaks a word of both lament and hope that might resonate amid the injustices experienced personally and globally every day.

In observance of Advent, Campus Ministries (CM) invites you to the discipline of daily Scripture readings and a short challenge for each day, written by the CM staff. Our hope and prayer are that these practices will invite a season of restoration for our souls as we prepare to receive the light of Christ. Follow along on our Instagram or Facebook pages (@spucampusministries), or check out the full text version, available on the CM website. If you have questions, email Kelsey Rorem, associate director of campus ministries, at krorem@spu.edu.

A message from Educational Technology and Media: Join us this week for one or more of our events.

Tuesday, December 12
1–3 p.m. “Scholarly Blogs at SPU — In collaboration with the Institute for Academic Innovation.”(Ames Library Classroom). Do you want to set up a blog or simple website to share or talk about your research and teaching? Join us for this drop-in lab. We’ll run short overview presentations for ten minutes on the hour and be available the rest of the time.

Wednesday, December 13
9 a.m.–12 p.m. “Canvas 101 and Course Design Lab” (ETM Offices). Do you have questions about Canvas, or do you want to talk through an instructional design question? Drop in to our offices on the lower level of the Library.

Thursday, December 14
9 a.m.–4 p.m. “Winter Course Set-Up (ETM Offices). Come and see us if you have questions about getting your course set up for Winter Quarter.

Mailing Services will be open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. through Friday, December 22. There will only be afternoon campus mail delivery and pickup. They will be closed December 25 and January 1. They will be open December 26–29, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Over-the-counter sales will not be available, and there will be no outgoing mail, but mail and packages can be picked up during that time. Mailing Services will resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 2, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Please note the office will be closed on Friday, December 15, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. for the annual Office of University Services Christmas party.

From the Wellness Initiative: With the end of Autumn Quarter and the beginning of winter break, students may experience a change in mood and behavior. Seattle’s late sunrises and early sunsets may be a contributing factor. To learn more about seasonal affective disorder and how it may affect students, visit the Wellness blog.

If you would like to receive information when Mass is going to be celebrated on campus, email Caleb Henry, associate professor of political science, at henryc@spu.edu.

The Tent City 3 Host Committee has prepared a how-to guide for those preparing meals for residents of Tent City. For available dates, check out the Tent City 3 Meal Calendar. Also, kitchen access is available on most Wednesdays for faculty and staff to reheat food prepared at home. Email TC3Meals@spu.edu if you have any questions or to confirm your date selection.

A message from Residence Life: The resident advisor selection process begins Winter Quarter and we need your help to recruit qualified candidates. Our campus is blessed with students who have academic, spiritual, and leadership gifts. However, many students do not apply without the encouragement of faculty, staff, and peers. As we seek an applicant pool that reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of our community, and as we strive to increase the number of male students who engage in the selection process, we hope you will partner with us by emailing BeAnRa@spu.edu with student recommendations by January 8. Thank you in advance for your support!

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every week 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 14. The last Bulletin for December will be published Monday, December 18. The Bulletin will resume publication on Tuesday, January 2.

Professor of Biochemistry Ben McFarland was interviewed for the podcast “Spirituality for Normal People” on the topic "Science and Faith, Conflict or Harmony." The podcast is available online.

An article by Kimberly Sawers, professor of accounting, was published in Issues in Accounting Education, November 2017, Volume 32 Issue 4. The article was titled "SRS Educational Supply Company: An Instructional Budget Project" and was co-authored with Janet Samuels.

The Office of Human Resources would like the SPU community to welcome Karl Law, developer/systems analyst in Computer and Information Systems.

From SPU Master Gardener Jeff Daley: Find yourself scratching your head trying to think of a good Christmas gift idea for a gardener? Allow me to offer a suggestion. A gift that I have always liked is the amaryllis (Hippeastrum sp.) bulb, whose trumpet-shaped flower is a definite showstopper. Amaryllis come in an assortment of colors, including white, pink, red, orange and stunning variegated colors. They have large, lily-like flowers that look somewhat tropical, and, best of all, they're very easy to grow. Just place the bulb in a pot with some potting soil and give it a little water occasionally. You can purchase a boxed kit that has everything you need to make it grow. These really work and are practically foolproof! And, with a little knowhow, you can keep it for years and it will produce bulblets that will give you multiple blossoms.

I have cared for a couple amaryllis bulbs for at least eight years now. They would freeze and die outside during the winter, so I bring them indoors during the coldest months. After the bulbs are forced to bloom at Christmas, remove the old flower and leave the leaves to store energy into the bulb for the next year's flower. Give the bulb about an eight-week resting period. Store in a cool, dry place. Then, as it grows through the next season, its internal rhythms will kick in and the bulb will push new growth and bloom the following spring from that point forward. Consider brightening your gardener’s smile this season and give a living Christmas present. They also make great white elephant gifts! Select the link to see more photos of amaryllis.

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