The next Chapel is Tuesday, Jan. 27, 11:10 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church with Alex Kato, adjunct instructor of theology. The theme for the quarter is "Launching together: Following Jesus is not a solo journey." All faculty and staff are invited to join a community lunch each week after Chapel in the SUB Fireside Room. Bring your lunch and share fellowship with others across campus.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, past and present SPU athletes, coaches, and friends will gather to celebrate a new slate of Falcon Hall of Fame inductees. In their day, these former Falcon stars achieved the highest levels of excellence in their respective events while supporting the ideals of SPU. The Class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Ken Bone, Men’s Basketball Coach
• Peter Hattrup, Men’s Soccer
• Linnea Jarvits, Women’s Basketball, Track & Field
• Bob Murphy, Baseball
• Mike Olson, Men’s Track & Field
• Keith Phillips, Athletic Administration
• Karin Grelsson Strong, Women’s Track & Field
   

The ceremony will be held in Bach Theatre in McKinley Hall at 10 a.m. FOX-13 news and sports personality Erin Mayovsky will emcee the ceremony. Admission is free and wheelchair accessible. Seating is limited. RSVP online.  If you have questions, email athleticsinfo@spu.edu.

 A message from Human Resources: If you are utilizing the Tuition Discount Benefit for Spring Quarter 2026, please note:

• You must submit an Initial Tuition Discount application or your annual Tuition Discount Renewal application for the current 2025-26 academic year no later than Jan 31, 2026. If you have already submitted one for the current academic year, you do not need to submit one again.Email your completed application to Cherylin Shdo, senior benefits specialist, at shdoc@spu.edu.
  
  
• If you are taking classes yourself, in addition to your (above) application, you must indicate how you want the benefit applied, EITHER one free class — up to 5 credits OR the applicable tuition discount percentage off all credits per quarter:
  • Undergraduate 90%
  • Graduate 80%

Email your choice to Cherylin Shdo shdoc@spu.edu.

More information and applications found here: 8.3.15 Tuition Discount Benefit Policy for Employees - Human Resources - SPU Wiki

Planning ahead: 2026-27 academic year Tuition Discount Applications and Tuition Discount Annual Renewal Applications are due April 30, 2026.

SPAC Gallery is pleased to present, "A Very Hungry Caterpillar," an exhibition of paintings and works on paper by guest artist and SPU alumna Erin Milez. The exhibition is a gathering of work made since the beginning of Milez’s professional career five years ago and reflects the growth of her artistic voice and style. 

Working from autobiographical experiences, Milez’s work honors and humors the slow chaos of domestic life. In this body of work, which includes her 2023 piece, “A Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Milez displays her refinement of figurative distortions and spatial relationships. The show includes works on paper which are key stepping stones in Milez’s image development, not to mention play and experimentation that yield an ever curious and evolving studio practice.

In her artist statement Milez states, “In this current era that glorifies the social-media-post-worthy and glamorous moments, our recommitment every day to caring for home is a tether to humility and love. My work is my own commitment to myself that I am not above caring for the smallest of things. My work articulates and celebrates the significance of everyday life.”

Milez was born in 1994 and grew up in Chicago. She has split her adult years between Seattle and the New York City area. She earned her BA in Studio Art from SPU and her MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 2021. She is a two-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant and featured in Art Maze magazine. She currently lives and works in Seattle with her husband and kids.

The exhibition runs through Friday, March 6, 2026. Milez will give a talk on Tuesday, Jan, 27, 10–11 a.m. in the SPAC Gallery. A reception will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, 3–5 p.m. in SPAC. The gallery is located at 3 West Cremona and is open 9 a,m.–4 p.m. Monday throught Thursday or by appointment.

The Center for Career and Calling is launching its signature #ProfessionalPetsCCC campaign, open to current faculty and staff! If you have a pet who helps you work, keeps your life in order, or simply brightens your day, we want to see them. All pets are welcome 🐶🐱🐸🐢🐠🦚🦜🐇🐀🦔. To enter the contest, submit a photo of your pet doing something “professional” (however you define it!) via the QR code by Friday, Feb. 20. Two winners will be selected — one current student and one current SPU faculty or staff member — with prizes of up to $50 each. If you have questions, contact spucareercenter@spu.edu.

The SPU Wellness program helps you identify and change unhealthy behaviors with the goal of reducing your risk of illness and rewards you for taking action. To kick start your health in 2026, Human Resources will host Quest biometric screenings on campus. Receive a $50 e-gift card for participating. Watch more information in the weeks ahead.

Feb. 24–25, 2026, 8 a.m.– 12:30 p.m., SPU Ames Library/Seminar Room

Registration Link: My.QuestForHealth.com (Sign-ups open on Sunday, Feb 1, 2026)

Registration Key: SPU2026

Unique ID: Aetna WID found on your Aetna ID Card

Already registered with Quest? Enter your username and password on the homepage to get started.

A message from University Advancement: Last week, the Office of Facility and Office Management, University Advancement Services, and the Office for Special Projects collaborated to submit an Initial Project Summary as part of Phase 1 of the Washington State Department of Commerce Capital Project Capacity Grant for Nonprofit Organizations. Through this application, SPU is seeking $50,000 to support the repair or replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in Eaton Hall.

Reliable, energy-efficient laboratory infrastructure is essential to SPU’s science programs. Eaton Hall’s aging HVAC system presents ongoing challenges in maintaining the consistent air quality, temperature control, and ventilation required for modern science instruction and research, as well as for protecting sensitive laboratory equipment. A climate-smart HVAC upgrade would address these concerns while creating a healthier, safer, and more resilient environment for teaching and research.

The proposed project aligns closely with the Washington Department of Commerce’s priorities. The Seattle region relies on institutions like SPU to prepare students for careers in health care, environmental science, and technology — fields that are critical to the region’s economy and public well-being. Notably, the majority of SPU science graduates remain in Washington, contributing directly to the local workforce.

An energy-efficient science building would also advance public health and Seattle’s climate goals. Improved indoor air quality, safer laboratory operations, and reduced long-term energy use and emissions are increasingly important as the region faces rising temperatures, wildfire smoke, and other climate-related stresses.

The university will continue to keep the SPU community informed as the application process moves forward. Special thanks are extended to Bethany Davis, Russ Howard, Derek Wood, Brook Berry, and colleagues across the involved offices and departments who contributed to this effort.

A message from Human Resources: HSA contribution changes can take place at any time during the plan year. At the close of 2025, we experienced Workday calculation challenges with HSA contributions. If you would like to update your per paycheck contribution for 2026, Workday is now calculating them accurately.

Here are some definitions to help you with this process:

Per Paycheck: The amount you want deducted from each paycheck and placed in your HSA account.

Annual: Your per paycheck contribution multiplied by the total number of paychecks remaining in the plan year. 

Maximum Annual Amount: Your annual company (SPU) contribution subtracted from your IRS annual maximum contribution:

• Individual 2026 IRS annual maximum: $4,400
• Family 2026 IRS annual maximum: $8,750
• If you are 55+, add $1,000 catch-up
• NOTE: Your SPU Match Contribution is NOT included here but is calculated in your paycheck and visible on your Workday payslip. 

Your true annual maximum must also subtract your 2026 SPU annual match:

• Individual = up to $600; Family = up to $1,000. 

Annual Company Contribution: SPU’s 2026 annual contribution that is paid out per paycheck: Individual = $1,008; Family = $2,016.

Total Annual Contribution: Your annual contribution + Your annual company (SPU) contribution.

The Swedish Mobile Mammography coach will be back on SPU’s campus Monday, March 2, offering convenient on-site mammograms for women ages 40+ that are enrolled in SPU’s Aetna health plan. Appointments are required — schedule yours at Swedish Mobile Mammography Online Mammogram Registration.

Please bring:

• Your completed medical history form (from the online scheduling link)
• Insurance card
• Photo ID
• First and last name of your current primary care provider

Location: The coach will be parked across 3rd Ave. West in the Ross Parking Lot (site of the former Subway).

For more information, contact Cherylin Shdo, senior benefits specialist, at shdoc@spu.edu

A message from Educational Technology and Media: Here is the schedule for upcoming workshops.

The registration link is https://forms.office.com/r/LnkGkiFmF8.Registration is encouraged (to help us prepare), but not required — walk-ins welcome. Can’t make it? Register to receive the recordings.

Monday, Feb 9: Teaching in the Digital Age of AI

This workshop invites faculty to explore questions and practices around teaching in the digital age of AI. A collaborative workshop with the librarians and Campus Writing. More details coming soon — save the date! 10:30–11:30 a.m.(On campus at ETM or online via Teams).

Thursday, Feb: 26: Implementing Student Accommodations in Canvas: Quizzes, Assignments, and Course Content
This workshop supports instructors in using Canvas to implement approved student accommodations and to provide appropriate flexibility for quizzes, assignments, and course content. We’ll cover practical steps such as extending quiz time, allowing extra attempts, and adjusting course materials to support accessibility. 2–3 p.m. (On campus at ETM or online via Teams).

If you have any questions or need help accessing the materials, please reach out to etmhelp@spu.edu.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every Monday during the academic year. The next deadline is Thursday, Jan. 29, and the next Bulletin will be published on Monday, Feb 2. 

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 and will be published for two consecutive issues; they can be resubmitted for an additional two weeks.

JoAnn Flett, executive director of the Center for Faithfull Business, will lead a panel presentation on "The Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship" at the 2026 Council for Christian Colleges & Universities International Forum on Friday, Jan. 30, in Dallas, Texas.

Professor Emeritus of European History Alberto Ferreiro gave a talk to 30 candidates in the Rite for Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bothell and via Zoom at St. Pius X Parish in Mountlake Terrace on Jan. 18. The talk was titled 'The Pachal Mystery" which covered the historical and theological aspects of the passion, resurrection, and ascencion of Christ. Emphasis was placed on their relevance to daily discipleship. The was the second of three scheduled talks. He has been teaching in the RCIA at St. Elizabeth's parish for 25 years.