Help plan family events for Homecoming 2022!
SPU’s Homecoming and Family Weekend is coming up Feb. 18–19, 2022, and we are busy making plans for in-person and virtual opportunities to connect and engage with the SPU community.
Take this short survey to help us plan by sharing what activities interest you and what you hope to experience with your student. Then stay tuned for more information in the December and January In the Loop parent and family newsletters!
Photo by Christian Serwold/WWU Athletics
Falcons bring GNAC title trophy to Seattle
On Saturday, Nov. 13, the fourth-ranked Falcons left no doubt that they are the dominant force in 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s soccer.
Nine days after securing the league's regular-season title, Seattle Pacific captured the GNAC Tournament championship on Saturday with an impressive 4-0 thrashing of No. 13 Western Washington at Harrington Field.
“It's a special group of women and it's one of those where in the biggest moment they rose to the challenge and played as well as they've played all season long. They were big-time today,” exclaimed SPU’s Arby Busey, who was named the GNAC Coach of the Year on Tuesday.
The top-seeded Falcons (17-1-1) stretched their unbeaten streak to 13 games with eight straight wins and a 12-0-1 record during that span. They reached the 17-win mark, matching the 2011 squad for the program’s highest total since SPU’s 2008 national championship team finished with a 22-1-2 record. Read more about the win here. And find information about the Falcon’s first game in the NCAA Division II Tournament here.
Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey
In October, the Office of Inclusive Excellence launched a campuswide survey to better understand the extent to which the SPU campus climate supports diversity. The survey was administered through the Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS) consortium.
More details are included in an FAQ page on the OIEX website. Results from the survey will help inform and improve institutional efforts related to diversity and inclusion, including those to prevent or respond to discrimination and harassment. This data will also serve as a benchmark for longitudinal research to observe change over time. The Office of Inclusive Excellence will hold feedback sessions with various stakeholder groups on campus to discuss survey findings and develop post-survey action initiatives.
Response magazine: Holiday recipes from around the world and more
Watch for the new issue of Response magazine coming soon to your mailbox. This issue includes weekly Advent meditations for the upcoming Christmas season and favorite Christmas traditions and recipes from some of SPU’s international faculty and staff members. This issue also includes a gift for for our readers: a beautiful Christmas note card featuring the artwork of young Ukrainian artist, Ivanka Demchuk.
Response, SPU’s award-winning magazine, is published twice a year and sent to 60,000 alumni, parents, and friends of SPU in all 50 U.S. states and in 87 foreign countries. In addition to the print magazine, you can also visit spu.edu/response to read the issue online and to view previous issues.
Student leaders combine fall fun with résumé building
Combining an autumn fest and light-hearted career event, students who live in Hill and Emerson halls gathered in the Emerson Hall Lobby on Tuesday, Oct. 26, for Hall-o-ween Fest. The event was designed by four student leaders — resident peer career advisors (RPCAs) from the Center for Career and Calling.
A new leadership position this year, the RPCAs serve second-year students who live in Emerson and Arnett halls by providing individual peer advising, campus outreach, and event programming. Part of the SPU Living Experience program, the RPCAs’ ongoing goal is to help guide second-year students as they consider their future vocation and calling.
“The RPCAs have spent Autumn Quarter training to conduct peer career advising appointments on their own,” explained Celiz McClish, program manager for the Center for Career Calling. “In the Winter Quarter, the RPCAs will have ‘drop-in’ hours in the halls. They will be able to help advise students with resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn assistance.”
At Hall-o-ween, the RPCAs’ first-ever campus event, they connected with more than 100 students who painted more than 75 mini pumpkins, sipped lots of hot chocolate, and created a résumé for Dr. Viktor Frankenstein. “I had so much fun planning our Hall-o-ween Fest," said Dominique Shipman, a senior political science major and resident peer career advisor. “I’m excited to plan future events hosted by the CCC!”
Senior Bonnie Tran: Eager entrepreneur
Senior Bonnie Tran has not only taken advantage of every entrepreneurial resource at SPU, but she also has a team ready to launch a career-coaching business in Vietnam after graduation.
“I love how supportive SPU has been throughout my journey here,” she said. “Professors are so caring and my classmates are so open-minded. It’s helped me understand who I am.”
She’s started an entrepreneurial club, competed in the Social Venture Plan Competition three times, received two grants from the Launch Fund, attended PRAXIS Academy twice, and regularly met with John Godek, associate professor of management, in the Innovation Lab. Read the rest of Bonnie's story in Shareholders, the newsletter of the School of Business, Government, and Economics.
Notes from Student Financial Services
SFS HOURS DURING THE EXTENDED CHRISTMAS BREAK
Even after Autumn Quarter finals are over and students have left campus to head home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, Student Financial Services will be open and SFS staff will be available to answer questions during these hours:
- Monday–Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–4:30 p.m.
- SFS will be closed December 24–December 31.
Contact SFS by calling 206-281-2061 or emailing sfs-info@spu.edu.
WINTER QUARTER TUITION DUE DATE
Tuition bills for Winter Quarter 2022 are due Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, unless your student’s account is on the three-month payment plan. Students on the payment plan have tuition payments due Jan. 10, Feb. 10, and March 10.
For more information, visit spu.edu/student-financial-services/paying-your-bill/payment-plans.
ACCESS TO YOUR STUDENT’S ACCOUNT
If you don’t already have access to your student’s account but want it, your student must grant you access.
Students can authorize parents or others to receive copies of their SPU statements (i.e., bill), make online payments to their accounts, and receive information about their accounts (including financial aid) by visiting spu.edu/student-financial-services/paying-your-bill/ferpa and following the steps.
Center for Worship provides resources for congregations
Today’s church congregations, whether new or well-established, often combine traditional and contemporary worship elements in their services. Sometimes called “multidimensional worship,” these services can provide churchgoers with a renewed connection with God.
Multidimensional worship also requires critical, interdisciplinary reflection, and renewed creativity and perseverance. Therefore, the Center for Worship at SPU, as part of the School of Theology, provides a host of resources to assist.
From “Enter the Worship Circle” to “Indelible Grace Music,” “Technologies for Worship Ministries,” and many more, these Worship Resources are free and available to connect you and your church to help you find ways to grow in faith as you together worship the living God.
SPU Voices Podcast: “Transforming Lives Through Athletics” and “The Time to Heal”
The SPU Voices Podcast is a bimonthly interview show dedicated to telling inspiring and compelling stories about the greater SPU community. Recent episodes include:
- “Transforming Lives Through Athletics,” with SPU Athletic Director Jackson Stava (pictured right). He shares about his atypical educational and professional path toward college athletics. Stava also talks about providing meaningful opportunities for SPU’s athletes even when they couldn’t play due to the pandemic.
- “The Time to Heal” with director and cinematographer Chris Baron. Baron discusses his work and worldview as a visual storyteller. He directed the acclaimed documentary short The Time to Heal about three SPU alumni working in health care during COVID-19.
Visit the SPU Voices Podcast website to listen to the episodes, view transcripts, and explore past shows. Subscribe on all streaming platforms.
Coming to campus to attend an event?
Parents and families are always welcome to campus to attend a theatre performance, athletic event, lecture, or concert! Until further notice, however, and in alignment with the recent local vaccination verification order, either proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test will be required as a condition of entry for campus lectures, athletic events, and concerts. Proof of vaccination is required to attend an SPU theatre event. A valid SPU ID is considered proof of vaccination for students, faculty, and staff because of the vaccination requirement on campus for those groups.
For more information, review the campus COVID-19 Health and Safety Expectations.
Go Birds! A Concise History of Varsity Athletics at Seattle Pacific University 1933-2017
The new book, Go Birds! chronicles 84 years of Seattle Pacific University sports and how they evolved over time — from the origins of men’s competition in 1930s and 1940s to the expansion of women’s sports in the 1970s. The history is told through stories, beginning in 1950 and extending through SPU’s 125th anniversary year in 2016–17.
Look no further if you have a devoted Falcon on your Christmas list. From golden goals to buzzer beaters, this book’s pages are filled with engaging anecdotes and statistics about Falcon players, coaches, and teams. It’s a book for Falcon fans, former players, and anyone who appreciates the impact SPU sports have made on the Seattle community and beyond.
The book was compiled by John Glancy ’70, a retired staff member and SPU Athletics Hall of Fame member; Wes Lingren, professor emeritus of chemistry and former tennis coach; Frank MacDonald, former SPU sports information director; and Adrienne Meier, University Archivist.
Go Birds! Is available on amazon.com.
Autumn Quarter 2021 and COVID-19
Now that Autumn Quarter 2021 nears its end, did the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students, faculty, and staff have the desired effect as students returned to campus and classrooms? Yes, according to Jeffrey Jordan, vice provost for student formation and community engagement.
“In overseeing our campus response to COVID-19, I am extremely proud and pleased by the courage and determination of our community to care for one another. This is evident with 94% of community members being vaccinated. Looking forward, I have confidence in our community’s attention and efforts with our health and safety protocols concerning our campus’ well-being.” For more information, visit SPU’s COVID-19 Dashboard.
Upcoming events
Autumn Quarter final exams
Friday–Tuesday, Nov. 19–22
2021 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament (West Region)
Saturday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Interbay Stadium
SPU Sports YouTube channel
Falcon women's soccer takes on the winner of the Hawaii Hilo vs. Sonoma State game. For more information about the NCAA tournament and for ticket information, visit Falcon Athletics. Fans are permitted in the stands after showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the past 36 hours. You can also watch the game live on the SPU Sports YouTube channel.
Residence Halls close
Wednesday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m. (Pacific Time)
Christmas Break for students
Wednesday, Nov. 24–Monday, Jan. 3
Thanksgiving break
Thursday–Friday, Nov. 26–27
Campus departments and offices closed.
Men's Basketball v. Point Loma
Saturday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Royal Brougham Pavilion
SPU Sports YouTube channel
Falcon men's basketball take on the Point Loma University Sea Lions. Visit the Falcon Athletics website for ticket information. Fans are permitted in the stands after showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the past 36 hours. You can also watch the game live on the SPU Sports YouTube channel.
Women's Basketball v. Central Washington
Thursday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Royal Brougham Pavilion
SPU Sports YouTube channel
Falcon women's basketball take on the Central Washington University Wildcats. Visit the Falcon Athletics website for ticket information. Visit the Falcon Athletics website for ticket information. Fans are permitted in the stands after showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the past 36 hours. You can also watch the game live on the SPU Sports YouTube channel.
Christmas week campus closure
Friday–Friday, December 24–31
Campus departments and offices closed.
Residence Halls reopen
Monday, Jan. 3, 1 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Winter Quarter begins
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022
Academic calendars
SPU academic calendars, including important deadlines, final exam schedules, holidays, and academic highlights for 2021–22.