In the Loop

2022 Commencement

Is your student graduating in June 2022? Congratulations! This year, Seattle Pacific University is planning in-person Commencement ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate students.

Find out what you need to know about the schedule of events, High Ceremony locations, and more at the Commencement website. This is where you'll find information about parking, Ivy Cutting, an FAQ, and much more. Visit the 2022 Commencement website.

Autumn Quarter 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 Autumn Quarter Dean’s List here.

2022 Homecoming and Family Weekend

The 2022 Homecoming and Family Weekend is coming up on Feb. 17–18, 2022. There will be both in-person and virtual opportunities for you to connect with your student and the SPU community!

In-person events include SPU’s winter theater production Pride and Prejudice, men's and women's basketball, campus tours, a scavenger hunt, virtual trivia for students and families, a parent prayer meet-up, and meals on campus with your student. Plus, check out virtual opportunities on this year's Homecoming and Family Weekend Hub website beginning Feb. 17!

For the schedule of events and details to participate, visit spu.edu/homecoming.

Acknowledging the lands of the Salish Coastal peoples

The next time you're at an official campus event such as Orientation or Undergraduate Commencement, you may hear a special announcement that recognizes the original inhabitants of the land on which the SPU campus now sits.

In Autumn Quarter 2021, a cross-campus committee established an official land acknowledgment statement to recognize the Coast Salish people who were the original inhabitants of the lands where SPU campuses are located (Queen Anne Hill, Whidbey Island, and Blakely Island).

Says Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence Sandy Mayo, "We recognize this work as vital to SPU’s ongoing commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and believe it can deepen our relationship to our history, mission, and indigenous neighbors."

Read the land acknowledgement statement here, and find ways to engage indigenous history both on campus and locally.

Video: The Seattle Pacific Seminary — Who we are

Watch a short video from Dean Brian Lugioyo as he talks about what makes the Seattle Pacific Seminary and the SPU School of Theology distinctive.

Podcast: Mentoring urban students and teens with Rick Newell

The latest SPU Voices Podcast features 1993 SPU alumnus Rick Newell who shares his journey through personal struggles early on in his tech career.

After hitting rock bottom, he felt called by God to "wake up," and he moved to Seattle where he began working at the Rotary Boys & Girls Club in the Central District. Through his interactions with young men at the club, he saw the hardships they had to overcome and came to firmly believe in the need for positive, near-peer, male role models. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript.

Reminders from Student Financial Services

Watch your mailbox — 2021 IRS form 1098-T is coming soon

The IRS 1098-T is a tax-related document that shows all account charges and financial aid payments that occurred in tax year 2021 for your student. Forms will be mailed by Jan. 31 to each student’s permanent address. The form can also be accessed electronically through the Banner Information System.

You can find more information regarding the 1098-T and other educational tax benefits on the Student Financial Services website. Please contact SFS if you have questions about your student’s 1098-T form once it’s received.

Handshake: A helping hand for student job searches

If your student is looking for employment while in college, Handshake is ready to help. This 24/7 online hub includes on- and off-campus jobs, internships, and career resources. Once students graduate, Handshake is still available to them as alumni. It also gives students access to global opportunities.