The Daily Bruin

This May, unplug and experience the monastic life.

The Monastic Life Retreat offers George Fox students a rare chance to immerse themselves in contemplative Christian traditions through direct participation in the daily rhythm of Western monasticism at Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey.

Over two weeks in May, students will join monks in prayer, work and study, practicing lectio divina and contemplative prayer, attending conferences led by different monks, and observing periods of communal silence.

Participants will also experience singing chants in the choir, community meals, and service activities, all while disconnecting from personal technology to deepen their spiritual journey in a monastic environment.

Here are some more details:

• Info & Application
• Apply by Sunday, Jan. 18
• Retreat dates are May 11-24
• Credit: 0-3 credits of THEO 485 Special Topics: Monastic Life Retreat
• Cost: $1,375 covers tuition and two weeks’ room and board
• Enrollment is limited due to abbey capacity, so apply soon!

For more information, contact retreat facilitator Bryan Boyd at bboyd@georgefox.edu.

The Office of Spiritual Life is looking for staff and faculty members to participate in the SpiL Mentoring Program this spring.

This program provides an opportunity for students to have meaningful conversations about faith and life while receiving encouragement and support from a George Fox staff or faculty member. Students in the program will be matched with a dedicated mentor, with whom they will have weekly meetings lasting approximately one hour, spanning a duration of eight weeks within the semester.

The program begins the week of Jan. 26 and ends the week of March 16.

To support you in your mentoring role, we will provide a booklet with weekly suggested spiritual formation practices for you to engage in with your mentee. Additionally, there will be a training session prior to the start of the program to ensure you feel prepared and equipped.

We are looking for staff and faculty who would like to serve as mentors. If you are interested, please fill out this application by Friday, Jan. 16. Your involvement will make a meaningful impact on our students’ lives!

The Office of Spiritual Life would like to invite students and employees to join together for a day of service, learning and reflection. The event is set for MLK Day on Monday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Fill out this form to register. Undergraduate students who participate will be eligible for elective chapel credit.

Contact spirituallife@georgefox.edu with any follow-up questions.

The Office of People and Culture is sending out compensation update emails soon. These messages will contain a PDF attachment. Because phishing scams often use salary updates as a trick to get your password, please take a moment to verify the message is safe.

• Check the Sender: The message must come from a georgefox.edu address.
• Check the Domain: If it comes from an external address (like @gmail.com) or a look-alike domain, do not click.

If you are unsure if a message is legitimate, please contact the Service Desk before opening the attachment. We can be reached at servicedesk@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2569.

The IT department is selling used Macs, PCs and Chromebooks at the Service Desk (Stevens Center, third floor) on a first-come, first-served basis. The sale runs through tomorrow (Friday).

Condition: Devices are factory reset to the highest compatible OS and sold “as-is” with no IT support or warranty. Best for basic web browsing and streaming.

• Accessories: Power supply included; desktops/all-in-ones also include a keyboard and mouse
• Payment: Debit/credit card only at time of purchase. No holds.

For more details, visit this website or contact servicedesk@georgefox.edu.

The finance office will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 5 for Christmas break. Deposits that need to have a December 2025 date must be brought to the finance office no later than 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. If it arrives later, it will go into a deposit for January 2026.

Please note: The finance office is now located at 1515 Portland Road (a.k.a. “Sleep Center”).

Please look around your desks and file cabinets to see if there are any lingering items that need to go to the bank. If you are taking extra time off during the Christmas/New Year holiday, please send your deposits over before you leave.

If you have any questions about deposits, please use our new email (deposits@georgefox.edu) or contact Heather Groenlund at 503-554-2173.

Thank you, and have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

As the seasons shift and the daylight hours shorten, you may notice changes in how you feel. You might find yourself fatigued, struggling with insomnia, or not enjoying activities that usually bring happiness.

For some, these changes may be signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that is brought on from a change in seasons. The important thing to remember is that you’re not alone, and there are steps you can take to help you cope.

• Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognize how you feel and reach out to family and friends for support. Don’t be afraid to speak to them – it’s important to be open and honest.
• Volunteer: Giving back can be very rewarding. Local organizations have many volunteer opportunities, and you may meet others with the same interests.
• Lean on Others: There are support groups in many communities that can help provide a sense of companionship all year long.
• Talk with a Licensed Therapist or Professional: If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of SAD, you have access to a variety of behavioral health options and providers who can support you.

As a Providence Health Plan member, you can choose the type of care that works best for you. Whether you’re looking for ways to relax or want to connect with a provider by text, voice, video or in-person, we have you covered. Check out your behavioral health suite of services flier in English and Spanish.

Don’t forget that you can call your Employee Assistance Program Canopy, 24/7, at 800-433-2320 to get help.

Before you enjoy your holiday break, give yourself the gift of financial clarity and peace of mind by scheduling a personal one-on-one consultation with our dedicated retirement specialist this coming spring semester.

Phillip Carbajal can help you find the best strategy to keep you on track, no matter where you are on your retirement journey. Review his spring 2026 consultations schedule and secure your slot today. His first availability is on Monday, Jan 13, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Klages Room 231.

Unwrapping a new phone this holiday season? Make sure you update your Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) settings to avoid getting locked out of your George Fox accounts.

How to Prepare Multi-Factor Authentication for a New Phone

If you have any issues setting this up, you will need to call the Service Desk at 503-554-2569 for assistance.

Please plan accordingly, as the Service Desk will be closed for the break:

• Closed: Dec. 24 through Jan. 4
• Regular Hours Resume: Jan. 5, 2026

Please be advised that the last Accounts Payable payment run before Christmas break is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19. To ensure your supplier invoices are included in this run, please submit them by the end of today (Monday).

Payment criteria: All invoices submitted by the deadline, accompanied by a completed Purchase Order (PO), will be processed for payment if their standard payment terms fall on or before Dec. 31.

If you have any questions, please contact Accounts Payable or Patrick Culligan at pculligan@georgefox.edu.

The finance office will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 5 for Christmas break. Deposits that need to have a December 2025 date must be brought to the finance office no later than 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. If it arrives later, it will go into a deposit for January 2026.

Please note: The finance office is now located at 1515 Portland Road (a.k.a. “Sleep Center”).

Please look around your desks and file cabinets to see if there are any lingering items that need to go to the bank. If you are taking extra time off during the Christmas/New Year holiday, please send your deposits over before you leave.

If you have any questions about deposits, please use our new email (deposits@georgefox.edu) or contact Heather Groenlund at 503-554-2173.

Thank you, and have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Your IT team has just sent out this month’s critical updates to your computer. To get them fully installed and working, save your work and restart your device as soon as possible.

Why restart?

• Security: These updates address the latest security vulnerabilities, ensuring the safety of your data and our network.
• Performance: Regular updates and restarts keep your computer running smoothly and prevent slowdowns.

IT Pro-Tip: While we send major updates in the third week of the month, the best thing you can do for your computer’s health is to restart it at least once a week. A weekly reboot keeps things running smoothly and prevents small issues from escalating into major problems. 

For optimal computer performance, don’t wait for our update push. Manually check for your own updates once a month.

Questions? Write servicedesk@georgefox.edu.

Plant Services and IT are excited to announce that cardlock access requests can now be submitted using the standard Electronic Key Request Form.

To submit a request:

1. Open the Key Request Form (my.GeorgeFox.edu – eForms)
2. Select “Physical Key” or “Card Access” from the key type drop-down menu
3. Select the building
4. Enter the room number of the location
5. For card access requests, add in the date range and time range for access (note: This field ONLY appears if you’ve selected “Card Access” in step 2)
6. Select the appropriate building monitor for the chosen location
7. Acknowledge the policy
8. Click “Submit”

Cardlock access requests will follow the same approval workflow as requesting physical keys. Once your request is approved and the permissions have been set up in the system, confirmation emails will be sent indicating that the access is active.

Please route all future card access requests through the updated electronic Key Request Form. This will ensure that your access request is properly tracked and processed. Thank you!

Employees, as we prepare for the upcoming tax season, complete these steps to ensure you get your W-2 form quickly.

1. Verify Your Address: Check that your mailing address is current in MyGeorgeFox for accurate year-end reporting.
   Where to Go: From the MyGeorgeFox homepage, go to the “Profile” tile and then “Addresses”
2. Go Paperless (Recommended!): Sign up for electronic W-2 delivery to get your form faster and more securely.
   Where to Go: From the MyGeorgeFox homepage, go to the “Payroll” tile and then “W-2/W-2c Consent” (check the box to consent)

Need help? Contact the payroll team at payroll@georgefox.edu.

Are you ready to be the difference?

We are looking for dedicated undergraduate leaders to serve as First-Year Experience (FYE) guides. FYE is an eight-week program designed to welcome incoming students and orient them to the Christ-centered mission of George Fox.

Through an engaging off-site retreat and weekly cohort meetings, new students make meaningful relational connections and are given a strong foundation for the rest of their college experience.

Why apply? Because you are the “X-Factor.” FYE guides serve a critical role in helping new students make personal connections with others and begin a process of spiritual formation and faith integration.

Your impact is measurable. While typical first-year students struggle with a drop in well-being, students in our FYE cohorts saw their satisfaction with life increase throughout the semester. They also saw a growth in an orientation toward serving others.

Your leadership meets the core need for relatedness, creating an environment of trust that makes growth possible. As one student noted, their guide helped make FYE “the place on campus where she felt the most safe.”

We aren’t looking for experts! We are looking for mentors who can model both vulnerability and competence. We need guides who can walk alongside students as they navigate the big questions like: What’s my story?, Where do I belong?, What kind of person do I long to become?, How do I follow God’s calling?, and How can I love others well?

Student guides receive one academic credit, a small ($250) stipend, and specialized training in spiritual formation, leadership and communication.

If you’re interested, please email Travis Pickell (tpickell@georgefox.edu) or Rebecca Sandberg (rsandberg@georgefox.edu). You can also indicate your interest on this general student leadership application.

You are invited to an Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) Forum at George Fox on Friday, Feb. 13.

Join us as we explore the profound connection between attention, skilled craft, and genuine freedom, drawing from philosopher-mechanic Matthew Crawford’s seminal work The World Beyond Your Head. We will examine the practices of skilled craftsmen to uncover a philosophy of attention that pushes back against a disembodied culture.

A Day of Discussion & Doing
This forum will be a mixture of seminar-style discussion and practical activities on a working farm and vineyard. Please be sure to wear work clothes!

All participants receive:

• A free copy of Crawford’s book The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction
• A free dinner at Lady Hill Farm

Space is limited, so sign up today! To learn more and/or to reserve your spot, email Travis Pickell at tpickell@georgefox.edu.

The IT department is selling used Macs, PCs and Chromebooks at the Service Desk (third floor of Stevens Center) on a first-come, first-served basis. The sale starts on Monday, Dec. 15.

Condition: Devices are factory reset to the highest compatible OS and sold “as is,” with no IT support or warranty. Best for basic web browsing and streaming.

• Accessories: Power supply included. Desktops and all-in-ones also include a keyboard and mouse.
• Payment: Debit/credit card only at time of purchase. No holds.

For more details, visit this website or contact servicedesk@georgefox.edu.

Workspace Studio

Gemini as a collaborator is great, but when will it actually do things? This answer is…now! Get a taste of agentic AI as a co-worker that can act on your behalf.

• Let Gemini highlight the most important emails from your unread backlog and send you a chat message with the details.
• Let Gemini check your documents and send you notes to prepare you for that important conversation on today’s calendar.
• Not sure how to get started? Just tell Gemini what you’d like to automate and it will build a starter flow for you. Examples are also provided.

Workspace Studio is available to everyone in the George Fox community!

AI Studio

Have you heard of “Vibe Coding?” With just a prompt, you can create your own app and include advanced AI tools!

Unlike our other Google Workspace AI tools, use of AI Studio is not automatically covered under our data protection agreement with Google, so its availability is initially limited. If you’d like to make an AI Studio app, please reach out to IT to get started! Learn more here.

Contact the IT Service Desk at servicedesk@georgefox.edu with any questions, or check the IT: AI website.

Bon Appétit’s locations will have shorter hours today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) as the semester concludes.

Today 

• Canyon Commons
  • Breakfast: 7 to 10 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Dinner: 5 to 6 p.m.
• Bridge Cafe
  • 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Maker’s Market
  • 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tomorrow 

• Brunch in Canyon Commons (final meal service of the semester): 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

All locations will be closed after tomorrow’s brunch and will reopen at the start of the spring semester. Canyon Commons will resume service on Friday, Jan. 9, with dinner from 5 to 6 p.m.

If you have questions, contact Katie Anderson at andersonk@georgefox.edu. For updated hours, please check the Bon Appétit website or their Instagram (@bonappetitgfu).

Spiritual Life welcomes you to swing by Barclay House before you head off for break to pick up a copy of the liturgy book we’ve been using in chapel this fall semester. They are free for students, faculty and staff. Feel free to pick up one for yourself and another for your family and friends!