New SPU interim president named
Seattle Pacific University recently announced that Dr. Pete Menjares has been named interim president of SPU. He will serve until a permanent SPU president is named. A member of SPU’s Board of Trustees, Menjares most recently served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Vanguard University.
He has over 27 years of leadership experience in Christian higher education, including serving as the 11th president of Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, California). He also spent 17 years as a professor and administrator at Biola University (La Mirada, California), where he held the positions of associate professor of education, Education Department chair, associate provost for diversity leadership, and vice provost for faculty development and academic effectiveness.
Prior to his career in higher education, Menjares was a public school educator in southeast Los Angeles where he taught English language arts at a school of 3,800 students that was 98% Latino and where 67% of the students spoke Spanish as their first language. He also has more than 45 years of urban ministry experience as a local church leader and pastor of churches in the Los Angeles metro area. Learn more about the interim president here.
Meet the Class of 2021
Check out some of this year’s High Ceremonies highlights, meet some of our outstanding Seattle Pacific graduates, and join us in saying goodbye to four beloved faculty members.
You can also watch a short video retrospective with new graduates talking about their academic experiences during a year filled with challenges from coursework, online learning, and a pandemic. Meet the Class of 2021.
Spring Quarter 2021 Dean's List now available
The Dean's List quarterly honors were recently awarded to undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students who complete at least 12 credit hours at Seattle Pacific University and attain a 3.5 or higher quarterly grade-point average. Check out the Spring Quarter Dean’s List here.
Video: Biology faculty explain COVID-19 vaccines
This fall, SPU students, faculty, and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Four SPU biology professors came together to answer questions about those vaccines. Listen as Drs. Eric Long, Jenny Tenlen, Charlotte Pratt, and Tracie Delgado discuss the vaccines’ safety, how they could be developed so quickly, and more.
New dean for School of Theology and Seattle Pacific Seminary
The School of Theology and Seattle Pacific Seminary welcomed the Rev. Dr. Brian Lugioyo as its new dean on July 1. Lugioyo joins Seattle Pacific from Azusa Pacific University, where he was a professor of theology and ethics at the seminary and the Kern Scholars director. He taught theological anthropology, liturgical theology, 16th century theology, and focused his research on neuroscience and Christian anthropology, the role of liturgy and ethics, and the life of Protestant reformer Martin Bucer.
An elder in the Free Methodist Church, Lugioyo descended from a family of theologians and Presbyterian ministers. He received his bachelor’s degree from Westmont College; his master’s in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary; and his doctorate from King’s College at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
“Dr. Lugioyo brings to Seattle Pacific a deep commitment to, and experience with, both liberal arts and theological education,” said Provost Laura Hartley. “He is anchored in his Wesleyan heritage and attentive to critical issues and needs of the global Christian movement. I look forward to his energy and creativity as he leads our faculty into the next phase of the School of Theology’s history.”
News from Student Financial Services: Upcoming statements and more
SPU families and students will want to know about these important upcoming dates and reminders from Student Financial Services:
Autumn Quarter statements
- There will be no August pre-bill this summer due to this year’s earlier Autumn Quarter start date of Monday, Sept. 13.
- Students will receive a notification via their SPU email account once their statements are ready to view. In that email, they are provided a link that takes them to the QuickPay payment website, where statements are housed.
- Parents will also receive statements, provided that their student has completed both this FERPA Authorization process and this process to set up a parent as an authorized payer. Once a parent is set up, he or she will receive a similar email to students that will have the link to billing statements once they are generated.
Autumn Quarter tuition due date
Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, is the date payment for Autumn Quarter’s tuition and fees will be due. Visit Paying Your Bill for more information about the process.
Payment plans
Interested in a payment plan? You can sign up beginning in August, and payment due dates are on the 10th of each month. Find out more about payment plans, including information about fees and sign-up deadlines.
Summer Facebook question for SPU families
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: “For those of you with students living at home over the summer, what food item do you keep in stock for them?”
- Bhakti chai and Cheez-Its.
- Spindrift sparkling water. He can go through a case in a couple of days.
- Bagels! If my SPU junior is coming home for more than a day, I have to buy bagels.
- Lots of eggs and salad fixings!
- String cheese, mac and cheese, and 2% milk!
- Brussels sprouts (really!), grapefruit, baking supplies, weekly trips to farmers markets.
If you’re not part of this private Facebook group yet and want to be, join the group here.
#spubound Photo Contest
Incoming students are already getting to know their classmates through the popular #spubound photo contest!
Throughout the summer, incoming students can enter for a chance to win Amazon gift cards in weekly contests including #bestgradcap, #bestpet, #FalconSpirit, and more. Check out the photos and don’t miss your chance to vote!
SPU announces vaccine requirement for faculty and staff
SPU’s Senior Leadership Council announced in June that all university faculty and staff will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Aug. 16, unless they applied for an exemption. In an email to faculty and staff, the SLC wrote: “Our hope is to return to as much of normal operations as we can, while at the same time seeking the health and well-being of our community, and being flexible and resilient where needed.” Read the entire email.
SPU Voices Podcast: “Mr. SPU” and Xbox’s CFO
The SPU Voices Podcast is a bimonthly interview show dedicated to telling inspiring and compelling stories about the greater SPU community. Recent episodes include:
- “‘Mr. SPU,’ with John Glancy,” who has a new project that will serve SPU for years to come.
- “Jump in, with Tim Stuart,” the 2002 alum who’s now CFO of Xbox.
Visit the SPU Voices Podcast website to listen to the episodes, view transcripts, and explore past shows. Subscribe on all streaming platforms.
Upcoming events
IMMERSE Youth Discipleship Academy
Sunday, July 11–Saturday, July 17
SPU campus and Whidbey Island’s Camp Casey
$850 per student
A seven-day youth discipleship academy for high school-aged Christian leaders, IMMERSE is hosted on campus at SPU and at SPU’s Camp Casey Conference Center on Whidbey Island. Visit the IMMERSE website for complete information.
Second four-week Summer Session begins
Monday, July 12
Summer Sessions are four to nine weeks long — allowing students to earn credits during the summer, take charge of their degree, and graduate sooner. Visit the Summer Sessions: Undergraduate page to learn more.
Youth Sports Camps
Summer 2021
SPU Athletics hosts numerous youth sports camps during the summer, including girls’ volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and rowing camp. Visit the Youth Sports Camp Information page for dates, camp details, and registration information.
September Session
Monday, Aug. 16–Friday, Sept. 10
September Session provides students an opportunity to attend unique or specialty courses offered in a number of traditional and nontraditional formats. Visit the September Session page to learn more.
Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 6
Offices closed.
New Student Move-in and Orientation
Wednesday, Sept. 8–Sunday, Sept. 12
Orientation is an exciting and informative experience that connects new students to the SPU community and all of the resources we have to offer. Parents and guests are invited to their own special sessions! Visit the Orientation website for schedules and more.
Autumn Quarter 2021 begins
Monday, Sept. 13
Class instruction begins.
Academic calendars
SPU academic calendars, including important deadlines, final exam schedules, holidays, and academic highlights for 2020–21.