The Daily Bruin

Please send an e-mail to Peggy Kilburg in HR if you would like to nominate a support staff member or administrator for Employee of the Month for January. Your e-mail should include the person’s name, job title, a concise but specific summary of this person’s  recent contributions (past 30 days or so) to the university, its students, and/or its employees (what was done, who was impacted, etc.), and any other information that you believe makes this person deserving of this award.

Please submit your nomination by Friday, Jan. 22. The President’s Executive Leadership Team will then select the Employee(s) of the Month from the nominations submitted. The winner(s) will be announced at the all-employee meeting on Thursday, Jan. 28, and will receive a $100 gift card to The Allison.

Saturday, Jan. 2, 4 p.m. – Women’s Basketball vs. Puget Sound, Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym
Saturday, Jan. 2, 6 p.m. – Men’s Basketball vs. Puget Sound, Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym
Monday, Jan. 4, 6 p.m. – Women’s Basketball vs. Pacific, Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym
Monday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m. – Men’s Basketball vs. Pacific, Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym

The Bruin basketball teams open Northwest Conference play this Saturday and Monday. Please note the different tip-off times (two hours earlier than usual) on Saturday. For more information, call the sports information office at ext. 2926 or visit the university’s athletics web site at gfubruins.com.

Help George Fox University honor its 15th class of inductees at the Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Klages Dining Hall. Reception is at 3 p.m. and dinner at 3:30 p.m.

The 2010 inductees are:

• Jai Cook Men’s Soccer (1991-94)
• Mark Tyler, Baseball (1996-99)
• Mark Halland, Track & Field (1973-74)
• Manfred Tschan Men’s Soccer Coach (1988-2007)
• Bob Dexter, Meritorious Service
• 1998 Volleyball Team

Dinner: $25 for adults, $12 for 12 and under

R.S.V.P.: E-mail Patty Findley or call ext. 2910

The Voter’s Pamphlet for the Oregon Special Election on Jan. 26 is available on the table in the hallway of University Mail Services.

Stop by and get a copy for information regarding the election.

Start the new year with a wonderful lunch from Bon Appetit at the next staff lunch on Monday, Jan. 4, at noon in the Cap and Gown Room. Cost is $3.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Staff Development Committee

The phone system will be down while we change to a new voice provider Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The switchboard normally closes at 5 p.m. at which time outside calls receive a voicemail with instructions which will continue.

Newberg and Portland campus will be able to make internal calls to other campus numbers but incoming or outgoing EXTERNAL calls will not work during the change.

IT Service Desk

The one constant in life is change and this is true in the college bookstore industry.  We have seen a shift in student buying behavior which brings with it both challenges and exciting opportunities for a new way of serving our students, faculty, and staff.

Effective January 30, 2010 the Portland Center Bookstore will close its physical presence and transition to a web based service center.  This will allow the bookstore to move from a small space with limited hours that only offers textbooks and a small selection of other items to a website that will allow students to purchase all their textbooks plus imprinted clothing and gifts and a selection of supplies, academically priced software, consumer electronics and computer supplies.  The website will be available 24/7/365 for your shopping convenience.

As a student you may have several questions regarding what this means to you so here are a few answers up front.

-How will I know what textbooks are needed for my classes?
All book information will be listed online approximately six weeks before the start of each semester.

-How will I purchase my textbooks?
You will be able to purchase all your textbooks online at www.store.georgefox.edu  You will be able to purchase using Visa, MasterCard or charging to your Student Account.

-Once I˙ve purchased my textbooks how will I receive them?
You will have two options to choose from when purchasing your textbooks online.
1. You may have your order delivered via UPS or USPS to an address of your choosing.
2. You may have your order sent to the Portland or Salem Center to be picked up at the front counter at your convenience.

-What happens if I forgot my pen or notepad for class?
A custom designed vending machine that stocks school supplies such as pens, pencils, highlighters, tape, index cards, batteries, paper and other items will be available in the atrium area right outside the library.

These are just a few questions that might come up.  If you have others please visit John Stewart at the bookstore or email him at jstewart@georgefox.edu

We are excited about the opportunity to serve you in a brand new way!  We welcome your questions and input!

Over the past couple of years there has been a shift in customer buying behavior at our bookstores and with this comes both challenges and opportunities.

Effective Feb. 1, the Portland Center Bookstore will close its physical presence and transition to a Web-based service center at store.georgefox.edu.  This will allow the bookstore to move from a small space that offers just textbooks and a small selection of other items during limited hours to a Website available 24/7 that will allow students to purchase all their textbooks plus imprinted clothing, gifts, supplies, computer products and academically priced software.

Here’s how it will affect the following groups:

Students
Our Portland and Salem students will be able to shop online at any time and have their orders shipped to their home or delivered to either the Portland or Salem Center for pick up. For payment, we will take Visa or MasterCard or can charge a student account. A vending machine in the Portland Center will provide school supplies such as pens, pencils, batteries and paper.

Bookstore Personnel
John Stewart will move his office to the Newberg campus and transition to the position of marketing and e-commerce coordinator.  He will focus on growing the Bruin Bookstore e-commerce sales to increase revenue for the university.

Portland/Salem Faculty & Staff
John will be the contact for textbook questions and issues and will help departments with supply needs or special orders.

We are excited about the opportunity to serve our Portland/Salem students, faculty and staff in a new way.  If you have questions, please contact John Stewart at 503-554-6125 or at jstewart@georgefox.edu.

We welcome your questions and input.

Student supervisors, please submit the rest of your students’ December time sheets to HR right away — by noon on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

Please be sure the student’s name, ID number and cost center number is legible on each one. Also, don’t forget to sign them and be sure the students did as well. (If the student is not available to sign it this week, please send it without the signature and HR will contact the student.) Please do not send students to HR to sign their time sheets.

Federal Work Study regulations require that students delivering their own time sheets must have them in a sealed envelope.

If you happen to still have any paperwork to submit on a newly hired student, please hand-deliver it right away — no later than Monday, Jan 4. We need to set up students in the system before the time sheets arrive.

Thanks very much.

HR

The university will close Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 23-25, for the Christmas holiday. It will also be closed on Friday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. All offices, bookstores and libraries will be closed on those days.

Effective Jan 1, 2010, the mileage reimbursement rate will change from 55 to 50 cents per mile. This new rate is due to the IRS-announced reimbursement rate change.

There are now two reimbursement forms posted on the Financial Affairs “Common Forms” site. One is to be used to be reimbursed for miles driven in 2009; the other will now be used to be reimbursed for miles driven in 2010. Please be mindful of your travel dates to ensure that you are being reimbursed at the correct amount.

Questions? Contact Karon Bell at ext. 2162 or kbell@georgefox.edu.

The Center for Teaching and Learning is offering FoxTALE sessions for faculty during the week of Jan. 4, 2010.

FoxTALE Introduction – This session begins with logging in to FoxTALE and assumes no prior experience with FoxTALE. Learn to upload class files such as syllabi, set up discussion forums, and add assignments.

• Newberg – Wednesday, Jan. 6, 9 a.m. – noon,  Hoover 211 Computer Lab
• Portland – Thursday, Jan. 7, 9 a.m. – noon, PDS 210
• Online – Tuesday, Jan. 5, 9 – 10:30 a.m., iVocalize

FoxTALE Grade Book – This session reviews FoxTALE grade book features and describes how to set up different grading schemes.

• Newberg – Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1 – 2:30 p.m., Hoover 211 Computer Lab
• Portland – Thursday, Jan. 7, 1 – 2:30 p.m., PDS 210

FoxTALE Open Lab Time – A time for faculty to ask questions one-on-one. Come and go as you like.

• Newberg – Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2:30 – 4 p.m., Hoover 211 Computer Lab
• Portland – Thursday, Jan. 7, 2:30 – 4 p.m., PDS 210

If you plan to attend any of these sessions, please R.S.V.P. to Sheila Abercrombie and indicate which session.

Congratulations to Stephen Kenyon for attending the most spiritual life events this semester! Stephen attended 40 events out of the 21 needed. Have a Merry Christmas and wonderful break!

International Student Services is looking for families who would be interested in hosting two international students Jan. 5-10. These students will be starting their first semester at George Fox this spring and will be attending orientation during this time. A stipend will be provided to help defray some of the costs.

If you are interested in hosting students, please contact Dianna McIntyre (dmcintyre@georgefox.edu) or Alex Pia (apia@georgefox.edu). If you know of others who might be interested, please let us know so we may contact them.

Be sure to turn in your requests for library course reserves no later than Wednesday, Jan. 6, if you wish to have them processed before second semester starts. The form can be found on the library website.

Requests are processed in the order they are received and can take up to five days to complete. We would appreciate your help by getting your requests submitted promptly, as the beginning of the semester tends to get backed up. If you have any questions, feel free to call the library circulation desk at ext. 2410 or e-mail mlrcreserves@gmail.com.

Water will be shut off to the Villa Academic Complex starting Monday, Dec. 21, and will be off for the entire day. Please make sure to tell your departments so that they can plan accordingly, and use adjacent restroom facilities.

In order to replace a sewer line, water will be shut off between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Dec. 23, in the following buildings: MLRC, Minthorn and North Street Annex. Water will be off for approximately three days. Please use adjacent buildings for restrooms.

Thank you,
Plant Services

PGE is coordinating an electric service improvement, replacing decayed and damaged overhead conductors. In order to complete the project, electric service will be interrupted on Carlton Way and East Hancock Street east of River Street between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23. This service may disrupt traffic flow. PGE will provide flaggers during the work.

FoxTALE will be unavailable from 6 to 7 a.m. (Pacific Time) Monday, Dec. 21, for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Bruin Bookstore would like to congratulate the following graduating seniors for being door prize winners at the fall Exodus event.

• Xianouang Zhou won a Camelbak Bottle

• Shannon Hallman won a stainless steel thermos

• Tyler Billings won a $15 Subway gift card

• Linsey Wages won a $25 movie pass gift card

• Aaron Swank won a GFU hooded sweatshirt

• Stephanie McGann won an engraved wooden frame

And the grand prize winner was:

• Rochelle Miller, who won an iPod Touch

Congratulations seniors and good luck!