The Daily Bruin

A message from IT and the Center for Teaching and Learning

To prepare for next semester:

1. Download fall grades into an Excel spreadsheet or text file as a backup. (Go to Grades under Administration.)

2. Back up your course and reset the course to clear out students, students’ uploaded files, and forum postings. Here are instructions.

3. Discontinue the use of the activity type “Journal.” Instead, create Online Text Assignments to replace all old Journal activities. Journals have been made obsolete by Moodle and are painfully slow in the current version. We will be discontinuing their use on January 14.

4. Request new courses from the Service Desk.

The Center for Teaching and Learning is offering an introductory FoxTALE workshop on Thursday, January 3, 9am – noon, in the CAI Lab, third floor of Stevens. Open lab time is also offered January 3, 1 – 4pm, in the CAI Lab. Please RSVP to Sheila Abercrombie if you would like to attend the morning class.

There will be no towel service in the Fitness Center From Friday 12/21 thru 1/7/08.  We do, however, have new anti-bacterial towels in dispensers to wipe down the equipment.  If you want a towel for your personal use you’ll need to bring one with you.  Thank you.

The Bruin Den will be open through Thursday, Dec. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The grill will close at 1 p.m. each day.

The Bruin Den will close on Friday, Dec. 21, and will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 9:30 a.m. Both the Bruin Den and Villa Cafe will resume regular schedules on Jan. 7.

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. – Men’s basketball vs. St. Martin’s, Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym

For more information, contact the sports information office at ext. 2926.

A senior capstone business project, Clean Sweep, is available for employees and students. The cleaning service will arrive with two crew members and all supplies needed to clean your home. The rate for the two-person cleaning team is $30 an hour. Services will include but are not limited to dusting, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning showers, cleaning toilets, wiping counters, dusting cobwebs, emptying trash bins, cleaning appliances, and cleaning windows. Customize the cleaning you want for your home.

Half of proceeds will be contributed to the Patrick Kibler Memorial fund. Contact the service at georgefoxcleansweep@gmail.com or call Kelsey at 503-991-1292.

The Moran Family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the administration, faculty, and student body of George Fox University for all the wonderful help and support that was so freely given in our time of great sorrow.

All of the kind words and deeds that were done on Cara’s behalf will be remembered for the rest of our lives.

Our best wishes and gratitude to a special group of people,
“Cara’s Loving Grandparents”
Butch & Darla Moran

Beginning Monday, Dec. 17, stop by the Pennington House to purchase the poinsettias used for the midyear graduation ceremony.

• Large (two stem): $6 each; pink and white available

• Small (one stem): $3 each; red and white available

Contact Vickie Timmons (University Relations) via e-mail or at ext. 2131 for more information. While supplies last.

Podcasts of the fall 2007 faculty teaching forums are available for viewing during the Christmas break. Below is a list of topics and presenters from the fall series. To see a description of a session or to view the podcast, go to the Center for Teaching and Learning blog.

• Putting Student Evaluations to Use (Becky Ankeny)

• Inspire! (Gloria Doherty)

• Teaching Evaluations and Outcome Assessment (Chris Koch)

• Beyond the pop quiz: Classroom assessment techniques (Caitlin Corning)

• The First Day of Class: Beginning with the End in Mind (Dwight Kimberly)

• Mid-Course Adjustments: Taking the Risk to Make Necessary Change (Dirk Barram)

• Managing the load: Teaching, Research, Service (Paul Chamberlain)

Employees are invited to attend an all-campus meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, in Hoover 105 (please note location change). The meeting will provide employees an opportunity to receive campus updates, be involved in planning processes, and dialogue with President Robin Baker. Your participation is strongly encouraged.

Following are Fitness Center hours for the Christmas break:

Monday, Dec. 17: 9–11 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 19: 9–11 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 21: 9–11 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22: 10 a.m. – noon
Sunday, Dec. 23: noon – 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 24: 10 a.m. – noon
Christmas Day: Closed
Wednesday, Dec. 26: 10 a.m. – noon
Thursday, Dec. 27: 6–7 a.m. (work day)
Friday, Dec. 28: 6–7 a.m. (work day)
Saturday, Dec. 29: 10 a.m. – noon
Sunday, Dec. 30: noon – 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 31: 10 a.m. – noon
Tuesday, Jan. 1: 10 a.m. – noon
Wednesday, Jan. 2: 6–7 a.m.; 9 – 11 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3: 6–7 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 4: 6–7 a.m.; 9–11 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5: 10 a.m. – noon
Sunday, Jan. 6: noon–2 p.m.

You can help make Christmas special for a Newberg family with two small boys (ages 4 and 8). A giving tree is located in the Stevens Center lobby. The family will pick up the decorated Christmas tree and gifts Friday, Dec. 14, by 5 p.m. Gifts for the children, gift certificates, food, etc. are welcomed.

Questions? Contact Danya Ochsner (University Relations) at ext. 2121.

The university will host its midyear commencement ceremony in the James and Lila Miller Gymnasium on the Newberg campus Saturday, Dec. 15. The commencement will start at 2 p.m., with audience seating at 1 p.m. Tickets are not required. Seating is limited to no more than 10 guests per graduate.

Nearly 190 students will take part in the ceremony. Graduates are to assemble at the Wheeler Sports Center at 1 p.m. For more information on the ceremony, visit the commencement website.

The University Store’s Christmas sale is running this week and next, concluding Friday, Dec. 21. Save 20 percent on George Fox imprinted items (except diploma frames), World of Good items, and Christmas products. You also save 10 percent on all Burt’s Bees, Prestige cosmetics, and all jewelry. Bookstore hours this week are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; next week, hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Center for Teaching and Learning is sponsoring an Introduction to FoxTALE workshop and open lab time for faculty on Thursday, Jan. 3, in the CAI Lab on the third floor of the Stevens Center. An introductory class will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, and consultants will be available during open lab time from 1 to 4 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Sheila Abercrombie (IT) if you would like to attend the morning class.

Security Services will set up lost and found tables from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the Bruin Den. This will be the last time to retrieve your lost items for this year. After 1:30 p.m., remaining items will be given to charitable causes. So, if you are missing items, be sure and stop by the tables.

Bon Appetit will host a Christmas banquet in the Klages Dining Room between 4:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, for all students on meal plans and other guests. Along with strolling carolers, eggnog, and hot apple cider, the menu includes roasted baron of beef, grilled chicken with wild mushroom demi sauce, assorted salads, and Christmas desserts.

Non-meal plan students and guests are welcome for $10 plus cans of food to be donated to Love Inc.

Thank you to all who have participated in the United Way workplace campaign. Pledges and contributions will be accepted in the Human Resources office through Dec. 15. All payroll deductions for pledges made to United Way will run through the calendar year beginning with the January 2008 paycheck.

For more information on the campaign, contact Sheri Philips (University Relations).

The nursing department has adopted another family for Christmas, and employees and students are welcome to help. The family includes a working father, a stay-at-home mom, two daughters (ages 5 and 7), and a baby on the way.

Nursing has set up a gift tree on the second floor of the Hoover Academic Building. On it are ornaments with a gift listed on each. To participate, take an ornament, purchase the gift, and give it (wrapped or unwrapped) to Elaine Smith (Nursing). All gifts must be turned in by Wednesday, Dec. 12, so they can be delivered Thursday, Dec. 13, to the family.

Nursing also is seeking a tree and decorations to donate to the family. If anyone is willing to donate these, contact us.

There is also a food bin located by the tree for nonperishable foods (canned, boxed, etc.) for the family. Money collected is going toward the purchase of a gift card so the family can purchase perishable foods (turkey, produce, etc.).

Questions? E-mail Dottie Massey or Megan Davidson.

This is for such a wonderful cause and we appreciate everyone’s help.

Thank you,

– The Nursing Department and The Nursing Association

President Robin and Ruth Baker cordially invite George Fox University friends and alumni to a traditional Christmas celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Pittock Mansion in Portland. The evening will include holiday music and festive hors d’ oeuvres and desserts. The cost is $21 per person.

Please R.S.V.P. and send payment to University Relations at Box #6049. For more information, call Amy Lorenz (University Relations) at ext. 2134 or contact her via e-mail. Online registration is also available at http://www.georgefox.edu/alumni/events.

The courier to the Portland and Salem centers will be leaving one hour early Friday morning, Dec 7. Please have any items for the Portland or Salem centers routed to Mail Services by 8:45 a.m. on the Newberg campus.

Portland and Salem personnel, please have your items ready by 9:30 a.m. and 10:20 a.m., respectively. We apologize for any inconvenience; we will be back to the normal hours on Monday, Dec.10.

Questions? Call Sherrie Frost (Mail Services) at ext. 2556.

– Mail Services