In the Loop

Commencement 2022 update

A message from the Office of the Provost: We know families are already preparing to make celebration plans for their graduates, so rest assured that preparations are already underway for an in-person Commencement ceremony.

But securing an SPU-sized venue has been more complicated for June 2022, because Seattle’s reopening has created a high demand on arenas and facilities in the greater-Seattle area. We hope to get families updated information about our ceremonies soon. Be sure to check out the January parents' and family newsletter for more information about SPU’s 2022 Commencement, including a link to the website.

Christmas recipes from SPU’s international faculty

This is the time of year many families gather around the table, enjoying the special dishes that mark the arrival of the Christmas season. SPU’s international faculty and staff shared favorite foods and traditions — and recipes — from their native countries with Response magazine so you can prepare for a global feast.

Check out this collection of favorite foods and Christmas traditions from countries across the globe, including China, Lithuania, Poland, and Northern Ireland. In our multiethnic Seattle Pacific University family, other culinary traditions abound. Enjoy these recipes, along with the holiday memories that accompany these wonderful dishes and more, in “A global feast”!

SPU Voices Podcast: International faculty dish up more about their Christmas traditions

In this Christmas podcast of SPU Voices podcast, you’ll get another taste of Christmas spirit, when faculty members who shared recipes and traditions with Response, share even more in this podcast, “A Global Feast,” with SPU’s Multiethnic Community.

Also this month:

• “Supporting Foster Families,” with Allie Roth. In 2013, while an elementary school teacher, Roth discovered that one of her young students had lived in three different foster homes in as many months. She tried to find resources for her student, but she grew discouraged after realizing that resources for kids were hard to find. That is when she decided to start With Love, an organization in Portland, Oregon, that supports foster families with vital resources.

The SPU Voices podcast is a bimonthly interview show dedicated to telling inspiring and compelling stories about the greater SPU community. Visit the website to listen to the episodes, view transcripts, and explore past shows. Subscribe on all streaming platforms.

Facebook: SPU parents share favorite Christmas traditions

The SPU Parent and Families Facebook group is an official SPU resource for you to connect with other parents and resources across campus. Have a question about your student’s campus experience or important deadlines? This private group is where you can get insights, a few laughs along the way, and answers from SPU staff moderators.

And here’s a sampling of what we heard when we recently asked members of the SPU Parents and Families Facebook group: “What are your favorite Christmas and year-end traditions with your student?"

• We have a cookie or gingerbread house decorating contest. It’s fun to watch the friendly competition between the “kids” each year.
• Pizza on Christmas Eve for dinner and prime rib on Christmas Day. I grew up with this "meal plan" and it’s carried over for my own family.
• "Jake," our elf doesn’t show up every day like when they were little, but he sets "loose change" out at the front door in our shoes on Christmas Eve and on our windowsill on New Year's Eve.
• Every Christmas Eve, we decorate sugar cookies (and have competitions), eat Chinese food for lunch, and go to a candlelight service as a family.
• Our day includes our extended family and often friends. The best part is getting to church early to grab two rows together and worship Jesus.

If you’re not part of this private Facebook group yet and want to be, join the group here.

Center for Learning offers students resources to help them excel academically

By Niki Amarantides

Now that students are home after final exams and Autumn Quarter is in the rear-view mirror, did you have a chance to ask your student, “How did you manage your first quarter of in-person classes and campus life? Where did you find help along the way?”

Many students handle the studying on their own — even putting in caffeine-fueled "all-nighters" before exams.

If your student was one of them, we invite you to mention the many available campus academic resources — starting with the Center for Learning. In fact, here are some of the places students can connect with the CFL, well before they need to pull that all-nighter:

• Lower Moyer Hall: Students can sign up for a one-hour academic coaching appointment (in person or on Zoom). If they are struggling in class, wondering how to get all their reading done, or are disappointed by test scores, CFL staff can discuss what they are currently doing and suggest new strategies to get better results.
• Fireside Room and the Library: The Fireside Room in the Student Union Building and the Ames Library are two of the locations with free peer tutoring available to students. We’ve hired and trained outstanding tutors to assist students in tough classes. Your student will find this tutoring available during the day and in the evenings, in person and on Zoom. Math tutoring is conveniently located in Otto Miller Hall, where math classes are held.
• First-year residence halls (Ashton and Arnett): Peer academic coaches (PACs) are part of the SPU Living Experience, and they organize study halls (with snacks!) and are available to help first-year students with effective time-management and study strategies.
• GS 1001: Success Skills for College: If your student received disappointing Autumn Quarter grades, you might suggest your student consider taking Success Skills for College. This 2-credit class meets once a week and covers effective, brain-based research strategies for everything from time management to testing. It’s offered in Winter and Spring quarters.
• Disability Support Services: Some students may have academic accommodations available to them from the DSS office. It starts with the students providing documentation and then setting up an appointment. DSS also works with students who might have temporary disabilities due to injury. There’s no need to climb SPU hills on crutches. Reach out for help.

Ask students who made it to the finish line or graduation and they'll tell you: They didn’t get there by themselves. They took advantage of the many resources available on campus, and at SPU, that includes the Center for Learning. We are here to help your student succeed.

Niki Amarantides has been the director of the Center for Learning since 2007. She and her staff serve an average of 650 students each quarter.

Student Financial Services offers financial wellness resources

SFS cares about your student's whole financial life — now and in the future. Discover the resources that SPU offers to help your student with critical financial life topics including credit, protecting against identity theft, and more.

Students can find tips on maximizing their money, connecting with campus housing resources, on- and off-campus food options, and even utilizing emergency financial assistance. Visit the Student Financial Wellness web page to learn more.

Fine and Performing Arts scholarships available to students in any majors

Incoming students — no matter their major — are always welcome to participate with SPU’s highly regarded music, theatre, and visual arts programs. But it gets even better: Students may be able to receive an FPA scholarship of up to $1,500 each year on top of any other awards received. They don’t have to demonstrate financial need or be an arts major to qualify.

In January and February, the Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts departments will host Zoom question-and-answer sessions so students and their families can find out more. Then in February, those departments will hold auditions both in-person on campus and virtually for incoming students.

Find out more by visiting the FPA Scholarships and Auditions page, where you’ll find an FAQ, and your student can register for a Zoom Q&A sessions and for an audition.

FPA scholarship auditions for continuing students happen separately, and students should check with the individual departments for information and dates about their auditions.

2022 Homecoming and Family Weekend

Put on your maroon and white and join the Falcon faithful for Homecoming and Family Weekend on February 18–19, 2022.

Thank you to the parents and family members who took the recent survey to help us plan our weekend. Your input has been valuable. If you haven’t had a chance to take the survey, take a moment to fill it out and share your thoughts.

Look for an email on Thursday, Dec. 16, with the schedule of events, and visit the Homecoming and Family Weekend website, where you can find out even more.

Studying abroad in 2022 and beyond

By Annie Gray

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted SPU’s Study Abroad programs for almost 18 months, but they started a slow comeback during August and September 2021. In fact, 26 students took part in Autumn Quarter semester programs abroad. Similar to years prior, we saw the bulk of students attend European programs in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Ireland. We also had students venture out to Ecuador, Thailand, Jordan, and South Korea.

These 26 students navigated quarantines, testing requirements, and ever-changing regulations, all while adapting to a new culture, making international friends, and keeping up with their courses abroad. We commend them for their adaptability, flexibility, and perseverance! Autumn Quarter 2021 also marked the return of SPU faculty-led programs, as 24 students attended the “Tropical Biology in Belize” winter global seminar with professors of biology Eric Long and Tim Nelson. Plans are underway to offer two additional faculty-led programs in spring 2022 to Europe and the Galapagos Islands.

Financial aid for studying abroad

For the 2022–23 school year, applications are currently open for our SPU faculty-led fall global seminars, which take place prior to the start of Autumn Quarter. These are a great opportunity for students who want a short-term study abroad experience or cannot miss a full quarter at SPU. For students looking to spend a whole semester abroad, applications are open for our fall 2022 and spring 2023 semester-long programs. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 15, 2022, for fall semester 2022.

Wondering how you can cover the costs of a study abroad program for your student? Choosing a program off the partner list means that students can apply their SPU institutional aid toward their study abroad experience. Additionally, as part of their application process, students are required to obtain an individualized worksheet from Student Financial Services that will include their chosen study abroad program's cost and financial aid.

In the end, studying abroad is more than just a trip overseas for students. It's an opportunity for them to personally grow through cultural immersion – developing empathy, tolerance, and an appreciation for different ways of living and thinking.

Annie Gray is the program manager for study abroad in SPU’s Office of Global Engagement. She has visited 22 countries and has worked in international education for nearly 10 years.