The Daily Bruin

The Monday, Oct. 15, strategic meeting for staff and administrators has had a time change. The two sessions, scheduled in Wood-Mar Auditorium, will now take place from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. and from 9:15 to 10 a.m. The second session was changed so the meetings would take place back-to-back.

The meetings are with Ian Symmonds of Ian Symmonds and Associates Inc. He will conduct informal focus groups with faculty, staff, and students that day. Ian Symmonds and Associates is a consulting firm that specializes in analysis-based strategic marketing and planning for a nationwide client base of independent schools, colleges, universities, and nonprofits. The firm has been selected by President Robin Baker and the board of trustees to guide the university through a strategic planning process to prepare the university for the future.

The 45-minute open sessions will address strategic issues facing the university, hopeful outcomes of the planning process, and key distinctive elements of the institution. The sessions are designed to give everyone a voice and an opportunity to contribute to the planning process.

All staff and administrators are encouraged to attend one of the Oct. 15 sessions.

Ian Symmonds of Ian Symmonds and Associates, Inc. will visit the Newberg campus on Monday, Oct. 15, to conduct informal focus groups with faculty, staff, and students.

Ian Symmonds and Associates is a consulting firm that specializes in analysis-based strategic marketing and planning for a nationwide client base of independent schools, colleges, universities, and nonprofits. The firm has been selected by President Robin Baker and the board of trustees to guide the university through a strategic planning process to prepare the university for the future.

For your convenience, two sessions will be held for all staff (staff and administrators) to attend. These 45-minute open sessions will address strategic issues facing the university, hopeful outcomes of the planning process, and key distinctive elements of the institution. The sessions are designed to give everyone a voice and an opportunity to contribute to the planning process. Faculty, staff, and students are all represented on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, with the intent to involve the whole university community in planning during the winter and spring.

Open sessions for all staff and administrators are scheduled in Wood-Mar Auditorium at the following times on Monday, Oct. 15:

8:30 – 9:15 a.m.

11 – 11:45 a.m.

All staff and administrators are encouraged to attend one of the sessions.

Corey Beals (Religious Studies) will present the 2007 Fall Faculty Lecture, “Relational Metaphysics and the Art of Disappearing,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in Hoover 105.

Beals will discuss postmodern Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas’ view of human nature – a view that suggests that the ethical relation with “the Other,” as he calls, is not derived from human nature but is what constitutes human nature. “In other words, what makes me human is that I am in relation with the ‘Other,’” Beals says. “This relation is not just a type of social contract where we agree not to kill each other, but it is a relation that requires me to be responsible for my neighbor.”

Beals suggests that those who harm others in the face of this relation do so by becoming “invisible to the ‘Other.’”

“The ways of becoming invisible are many, and this is the subject of this lecture,” Beals says.

If you have not already done so, please complete, check, and sign your September time sheet (support staff) or time-off report (administrators) and send it to your supervisor for signature. Both forms can be found at: http://www.georgefox.edu/offices/hr/forms.html.

Forms need to be sent to Human Resources (Box 6108) this week. If your supervisor is not available this week to sign, please send a copy to HR and keep the original until it has been signed.

George Fox will host a midyear commencement ceremony in the James and Lila Miller Gymnasium-Coleman Wheeler Sports Center 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. Visit the commencement website for additional event and general information.

For questions regarding commencement, contact Missy Terry via e-mail or at ext. 2141.

George Fox participates with three organizations that allow employee dependents to apply for tuition exchange with a variety of educational institutions. The link georgefox.edu/resources_for/employees/tuitionexchange.pdf provides information about tuition exchange policies and procedures. Feel free to download the attached document.

Employees must be at least three-quarters time to be eligible. Dependents must be admitted into the school for which they are applying before the tuition exchange application will be considered in early spring. Unlike tuition remission for dependents attending George Fox, there is no guarantee that your dependent will receive a tuition exchange scholarship.

If you have a dependent interested in applying for tuition exchange at another university, e-mail Missy Terry (Academic Affairs) the following information:

Dependent’s name:
Dependent’s mailing address:
Dependent’s SSN:
Dependent’s telephone number:
Which colleges/universities your dependent would like tuition exchange application sent to?
What year in college will your dependent be for the fall (freshman, sophomore, etc.)?

Applications are submitted by the Office of Academic Affairs between October and early spring. Tuition exchange award decisions are usually made in February or March.

The Staff Development Committee is hosting a staff lunch at noon Monday, Oct. 8, in the Cap and Gown Room. The event costs $3 per person and will include door prizes.

Friday, October 5

10:40am ~ Hoover 105

Terrie Boehr will be providing the gourmet food.

“Taste and see that the Lord is Good”

-Faculty Council

Corey Beals (Religious Studies) will present the 2007 Fall Faculty Lecture, “Relational Metaphysics and the Art of Disappearing,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in Hoover 105.

Beals will discuss postmodern Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas’ view of human nature – a view that suggests that the ethical relation with “the Other,” as he calls, is not derived from human nature but is what constitutes human nature. “In other words, what makes me human is that I am in relation with the ‘Other,’” Beals says. “This relation is not just a type of social contract where we agree not to kill each other, but it is a relation that requires me to be responsible for my neighbor.”

Beals suggests that those who harm others in the face of this relation do so by becoming “invisible to the ‘Other.’”

“The ways of becoming invisible are many, and this is the subject of this lecture,” Beals says.

Chris Koch (Psychology) will speak on “Teaching Evaluations and Outcome Assessment” at a faculty teaching forum from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Executive Dining Room on the Newberg campus.

Teaching evaluations should help inform instructors about their classroom practices. However, teaching evaluations also can be used to assess educational goals and outcomes shared by the entire George Fox community. This session will focus on how teaching evaluations can and should be used in the academic assessment of the university.

To reserve a lunch, e-mail Jere Witherspoon (Student Life) by 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9. Everyone is welcome to attend the session, whether bringing a lunch or reserving a lunch.

All faculty — full time, part time, and adjunct — are invited to faculty teaching forums. Video podcasts of the sessions will be available at the “Events and Resources” link on the Center for Teaching and Learning website.

Staff: Don’t forget the upcoming conference

Staff Development Conference
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007

Location
Tigard Community Friends Church

Schedule

8:30 a.m. Check-in and breakfast
9:15 a.m. Devotions, prayer, and worship
10 a.m. President Robin Baker
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Introductions, Jeopardy, Video
11:45 a.m. Lunch
1 p.m. Family Feud
1:30 p.m. Chuck Ferguson – author of Indomitable Spirit – Life-Changing Lessons in Leadership
2:30 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. Chuck Ferguson
3:45 p.m. Evaluations

Be on the lookout for magazine solicitors. They were at Linfield this week and may be the same individuals who solicited people last year and were wanted for ID theft. If you get approached, call Security Services at ext. 2090 immediately. Solicitation is not allowed on any George Fox campus.

Saturday, Oct. 6 – Volleyball vs. Linfield, 7 p.m., Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym

Sunday, Oct. 7 – Women’s Golf in George Fox 5-Way Tournament, noon, Chehalem Glenn Golf Course

Friday, Oct. 12 – Volleyball vs. Whitman, 7 p.m., Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym

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

The Staff Development Committee is hosting a staff lunch at noon Monday, Oct. 8, in the Cap and Gown Room. The event costs $3 per person and will include door prizes.

Courier service to the Portland Center has changed. Mail Services will be doing a run to the center in the morning, Monday through Friday, so please have your items to Mail Services by 9:45 a.m. each day. 

Bruin Directories are available for purchase by contacting Martha Byrne, ASC communications director. The cost for each directory is $4. They can be ordered now and will be ready for distribution in November. E-mail Martha your department name, the number of Bruins you wish to order, your account number, and your cost-center number.

Flautist Lisa Venable and pianist Tanya Raudszus will perform in recital as part of a benefit for international ministries at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the First United Methodist Church at 1205 Deborah St., in Newberg.

Admission is free. There will be a silent auction of original pottery and opportunities to give toward ministries in Mexico, the Philippines, and Africa. The event is sponsored by Elizabeth Todd and the senior capstone program.

Between today and Friday, Oct. 5, the fish in the general biology tanks in EHS are up for adoption. Next Tuesday, there will be a fresh batch up for adoption as well. Please bring containers to transport the fish.

Call Teresa Arnold (Biology) at ext. 2724 for more information. Or, stop by the biology/chemistry department office.

Please join the university community in thanking Amy Karjala (Development) for a decade of faithful service to George Fox University. A farewell reception is scheduled from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the Stevens Center lobby. Amy has accepted a position with Mission Increase in Lake Oswego.

Cards of appreciation are welcome.

Ed Higgins (Writing/Literature) will read original poetry at Chapters Books from 7 to 8 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 5. Chapters is located at 701 E. First St., in Newberg.