Tips to deal with stress and anxiety surrounding COVID-19

Tuesday, August 11th, 2020

Welcome to another edition of Wellness Wednesday!

Some of us have been dealing with a lot of changes, stress and anxiety for a few months now. However, we are not meant to carry these big burdens alone, and there are many things we can do to manage our stress levels that are in our control.

Please click the link below to see a list of specific things you can try to minimize the stress and anxiety related to the ongoing pandemic.

Dealing with COVID-19 Stress and Anxiety

Be well,
HR

Expense coding required for purchases related to COVID-19

Tuesday, August 11th, 2020

For any purchase made that relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, please include “COVID-19” in the “chartfield one” field in the coding string. This field can be entered for purchase requisitions, check requests, petty cash vouchers, or selected in Concur. Expenses would include personal protection equipment like masks, signage for keeping distance, cleaning equipment, computer software, etc.

Unfortunately, only one “chartfield one” can be used per transaction, and the COVID-19 code must take priority over another department designation.

If you have any questions about using this code with purchase requisitions, please contact Matt Hammar at ext. 2006 or mhammar@georgefox.edu. For any other questions about this coding, contact Cris Banton at ext. 2167 or cbanton@georgefox.edu.

Get your Zoom licensed account

Tuesday, August 11th, 2020

The university has a Zoom license for all staff and faculty. We will send out student license information at a later date.

To activate your license, take the following steps:

  • Go to login.georgefox.edu and sign in
  • Select the “Zoom” tile. It will open Zoom and your account will now be a fully licensed account.

You can always check the status of your account by logging in to Zoom, opening your profile and looking at “user type.” If it does not say “licensed,” then follow the steps above.

If you currently have a licensed Zoom account, please make sure to update to the latest version. To upgrade, open the Zoom app and left-click on your initials in the upper-right corner of the app, then select “Check for Updates.” Install if available.

Questions? Contact Josh Nauman at jnauman@georgefox.edu.

Childcare options available to university employees

Monday, August 10th, 2020

Dear George Fox parents,

We understand that a lot of us are facing limited or no access to childcare. HR has some good news for you! We are partnering with a local learning center that currently has openings. 

  • The learning center has been serving Newberg families for 30 years.
  • They are located five minutes away from our Newberg campus.
  • They are waving enrollment fees for George Fox employees.
  • They provide full- and part-time before and after elementary care, preschool and pre-K programs, as well as full day care for elementary students until classes resume at school.

Please click the links below for more details:
Open Bible Learning Center
Open Bible Elementary Care

To contact them, please call 503-538-4470 or visit their website.

If you expect missing work due to your child’s school not being available, please contact Aga Luptak to discuss leave options (503-554-2181 or aluptak@georgefox.edu).

Share your gift of words with service recipients

Monday, August 10th, 2020

Please take a moment to share the gift of words with our employees who are celebrating a “years of service” milestone. Feel free to thank them or share a favorite memory by adding a comment under their name on this form.

We’ll share your gift of words on cards, and present them at the all-community meeting this Friday, Aug. 14.

Please reach out to Kara Holcombe (kholcombe@georgefox.edu or ext. 2189) if you have any questions regarding the honorees.

Bookstore announces hours and online order pick-up schedule

Monday, August 10th, 2020

We in the Bruin Store are excited to welcome students back this fall! Students can place online orders at any time, at georgefoxshop.com, and are welcome to either have items shipped to them directly, or to pick up their books in the Bruin Store once they return to campus.

We will have modified hours beginning the week of Aug. 17, and specified online order pick-up hours based on the student’s last name (listed below). Any online orders can be picked up during these times, including both general merchandise and book purchases. All online order pick-ups will take place in the Bruin Store, where we will have enhanced COVID-19 distancing and cleanliness standards in place.

A limited number of people will be allowed in the store at once, recommended directions for aisles will be in place, masks will be required, and students will need to bring their ID cards and have their confirmation email ready to verify their orders.

Here is our Aug. 17-24 schedule:

  • Aug. 17-20: Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (students and families are welcome to pick up online orders at any time)
  • Aug. 21: Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last names A-M can pick up orders between 8 a.m. and noon; last names N-Z can pick up orders between 1 and 6 p.m.)
  • Aug. 22: Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last names A-M can pick up orders between 10 and 11:30 a.m.; last names N-Z can pick up orders between noon and 1:30 p.m.)
  • Aug. 23: Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last names A-M can pick up orders between noon and 1:30 p.m.; last names N-Z can pick up orders between 10 and 11:30 a.m.)
  • Aug. 24: We will return to our normal hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and students may pick up their online orders any time during business hours.

Questions? Contact Paige Jacobs at pjacobs@georgefox.edu.

Friday’s all-community meeting will be in person and live-streamed

Sunday, August 9th, 2020

Staff and administrators: Please mark you calendars for an all-community meeting at 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. this Friday, Aug. 14, in Stoffer Stadium. Please indicate which time slot you would like to attend at this all-community meeting sign-up link. Each session is identical but limited to 160 to align with COVID-19 regulations and to allow for six feet of distance. Face coverings will be required.

It has come to our attention that some employees do not feel comfortable in large groups. We understand, so we are not requiring but encouraging attendance.

For those who would prefer to stay in their offices, the meeting will be live-streamed at this link. We will be placing tape on the bleachers that are marked six feet apart and providing extra chairs on the track, again set up six feet apart.

Faculty are not expected to attend this meeting. The president will address faculty at the faculty retreat on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Two elm trees removed from quad had Dutch Elm Disease

Sunday, August 9th, 2020

Last week, crews removed two elm trees in front of the Edwards-Holman Science Center after they were diagnosed with Dutch Elm Disease. This is a highly contagious disease to which most elms succumb within a year of infection. There is no known cure. 

An American elm’s lifespan is typically 175 to 200 years. The two trees that were removed were approximately 125 years old.

The area will be leveled and restored. The contractor, General Tree, is donating two “Frontier” elm trees as replacements, one of which will most likely go in the same space (the area is not big enough for two full-sized elms and the pine tree). The other will be planted in a suitable location on campus. Crews will hold off on planting the new trees until late September or early October.

The new Ulmus Americana “Frontier” is a slightly smaller tree that has red leaves in the spring that transition to yellow-green during summer. It is resistant to Dutch Elm Disease and tolerant of urban conditions.

Our campus reaps the benefits of trees planted generations ago. Plant services will continue to care for them, but unfortunately, at some point, all trees become a hazard and need to be removed. It will then be up to us to replant and to care for the trees, for the enjoyment of the class of 2145.

Check out the free electronics gear from MPS

Sunday, August 9th, 2020

Been looking for a nice used VHS player? Been looking for a nice used VHS player with DVD? Of course you have. Need a home audio receiver? You got it.

Here’s what the university’s Media Production Services has for free pick-up:

  • VHS/DVD combo decks (limited number of remotes and cables): Sylvania VHS/DVD combo decks and Toshiba VHS/DVD combo decks
  • Yamaha AV receivers: RX-V363 (240W, with some remotes that may or may not work), RX-V361 (240W, no HDMI connection), RX-V367 (250W), RX-V365 (240W)

All equipment is sitting outside the back of the gravel driveway at the Hodgin House on Sheridan Street (next to Intercultural Life house). Swing by and grab what you want!

Note: All items are “as-is,” and normal operation is not guaranteed. While supplies last. Remote controls are limited and batteries are not included. All “sales” final.

Questions? Contact Casey Brooks at cbrooks@georgefox.edu.

Looking for a VHS player? DVD player? You’re in luck

Friday, August 7th, 2020

Been looking for a nice used VHS player? Been looking for a nice used VHS player with DVD? Of course you have. Need a home audio receiver? You got it.

Here’s what the university’s Media Production Services has for free pick-up:

  • VHS/DVD combo decks (limited number of remotes and cables): Sylvania VHS/DVD combo decks and Toshiba VHS/DVD combo decks
  • Yamaha AV receivers: RX-V363 (240W, with some remotes that may or may not work), RX-V361 (240W, no HDMI connection), RX-V367 (250W), RX-V365 (240W)

All equipment is sitting outside the back of the gravel driveway at the Hodgin House on Sheridan Street (next to Intercultural Life house). Swing by and grab what you want!

Note: All items are “as-is,” and normal operation is not guaranteed. While supplies last. Remote controls are limited and batteries are not included. All “sales” final.

Questions? Contact Casey Brooks at cbrooks@georgefox.edu.

Don’t forget to complete Hadlock waiver form

Thursday, August 6th, 2020

As we approach the new academic year, all guests of the Hadlock Student Center must resign the waiver for the 2020-21 academic year.

Please take a few moments to carefully read and complete the new waiver, which can be found in your MyGeorgeFox account. Once logged in, click on “Employee Resources,” then “University Forms” and then “Hadlock Waiver 2020” to access the form.

At this time we are actively planning to reopen sometime later this month and will post additional information in the coming weeks regarding updated policies and guidelines. We look forward to seeing you back in Hadlock this fall and helping you “find your fit.”

Questions? Contact studentcenter@georgefox.edu.

Share your gift of words with service recipients

Thursday, August 6th, 2020

Please take a moment to share the gift of words with our employees who are celebrating a “years of service” milestone. Feel free to thank them or share a favorite memory by adding a comment under their name on this form.

We’ll share your gift of words on cards, and present them at the all-community meeting on Friday, Aug. 14.

Please reach out to Kara Holcombe (kholcombe@georgefox.edu or ext. 2189) if you have any questions regarding the honorees.

Bruin Community Pantry in need of your support

Thursday, August 6th, 2020

Now more than ever, our community is in need of resources, especially food. Students returning to campus who are eligible to be on a lower meal plan will need access to the Bruin Community Pantry food bank to supplement their nutritional needs.

Since May, more than 600 students, alumni and their families who live locally have utilized the food bank. We anticipate that this number will increase once school starts. Please consider helping in one of two ways:

  1. Donate monthly through payroll deduction through the advancement office.
  2. Shop for and deliver the below items to the food bank in Roberts Center during its hours of operation (currently Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon).

Or, contact Jere Witherspoon (jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu) to meet you at the food bank. Here is a list of the items that are needed:

  • Pasta sauce
  • Tuna
  • Cereal
  • Gluten-free items
  • Top ramen
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Black beans
  • Soups
  • Canned meat
  • Granola bars
  • Microwave popcorn
  • Meals in a can
  • Crackers

Thank you for helping to stock up the food bank!

Staff and administrators: Plan to attend all-community meeting Aug. 14

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

Staff and administrators: Please mark you calendars for an all-community meeting at 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, in Stoffer Stadium. Each session is identical but limited to 160 to align with COVID-19 regulations and to allow for six feet of distance. We ask that you please wear a face covering. This replaces the meeting originally scheduled for Aug. 17.

Please indicate which time slot you would like to attend at this all-community meeting sign-up link. We ask that all staff and administrators plan to attend, unless you have received prior approval from your supervisor to be excused. The meeting will be recorded for those unable to attend.

Faculty are not expected to attend this meeting. The president will address faculty at the faculty retreat on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

FoxTALE upgrade scheduled Aug. 18

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

FoxTALE will be unavailable Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific Time) for scheduled maintenance and upgrade. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Questions? Email servicedesk@georgefox.edu or call 503-554-2569.

Bookstore announces hours and online order pick-up schedule

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

We in the Bruin Store are excited to welcome students back this fall! Students can place online orders at any time, at georgefoxshop.com, and are welcome to either have items shipped to them directly, or to pick up their books in the Bruin Store once they return to campus.

We will have modified hours beginning the week of Aug. 17, and specified online order pick-up hours based on the student’s last name (listed below). Any online orders can be picked up during these times, including both general merchandise and book purchases. All online order pick-ups will take place in the Bruin Store, where we will have enhanced COVID-19 distancing and cleanliness standards in place.

A limited number of people will be allowed in the store at once, recommended directions for aisles will be in place, masks will be required, and students will need to bring their ID cards and have their confirmation email ready to verify their orders.

Here is our Aug. 17-24 schedule:

  • Aug. 17-20: Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (students and families are welcome to pick up online orders at any time)
  • Aug. 21: Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last names A-M can pick up orders between 8 a.m. and noon; last names N-Z can pick up orders between 1 and 6 p.m.)
  • Aug. 22: Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last names A-M can pick up orders between 10 and 11:30 a.m.; last names N-Z can pick up orders between noon and 1:30 p.m.)
  • Aug. 23: Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last names A-M can pick up orders between noon and 1:30 p.m.; last names N-Z can pick up orders between 10 and 11:30 a.m.)
  • Aug. 24: We will return to our normal hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and students may pick up their online orders any time during business hours.

Questions? Contact Paige Jacobs at pjacobs@georgefox.edu.

Expense coding required for purchases related to COVID-19

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

For any purchase made that relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, please include “COVID-19” in the “chartfield one” field in the coding string. This field can be entered for purchase requisitions, check requests, petty cash vouchers, or selected in Concur. Expenses would include personal protection equipment like masks, signage for keeping distance, cleaning equipment, computer software, etc.

Unfortunately, only one “chartfield one” can be used per transaction, and the COVID-19 code must take priority over another department designation.

If you have any questions about using this code with purchase requisitions, please contact Matt Hammar at ext. 2006 or mhammar@georgefox.edu. For any other questions about this coding, contact Cris Banton at ext. 2167 or cbanton@georgefox.edu.

Join in suicide prevention event on Aug. 15

Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

George Fox faculty and students are invited to take part in a virtual interprofessional continuing medical education event addressing suicide prevention on Saturday, Aug. 15. It will take place over Zoom from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The event, hosted by the Interprofessional Primary Care Institute, is free to students and staff. It will feature experts from a variety of healthcare professions to discuss how interprofessional teams in school-based health centers and primary care clinics can work closely together to prevent adolescent suicide in our communities.

After rates of adolescent suicide in the U.S. stabilized from 2000 to 2007, suicide rates for ages 10 to 24 increased from 2007 (6.8 per 100,000 persons) to 2017 (10.6). While suicides increased across this age group, suicide rates most sharply increased for ages 10 to 14, nearly tripling from 2007 (0.9) to 2017 (2.5).

These increasing rates of adolescent suicide highlight the importance of prevention and intervention in schools, primary care and other community-based settings.

To learn more, contact Tammy O’Doherty (todohert@georgefox.edu).

Don’t forget to complete Hadlock waiver form

Tuesday, August 4th, 2020

As we approach the new academic year, all guests of the Hadlock Student Center must resign the waiver for the 2020-21 academic year.

Please take a few moments to carefully read and complete the new waiver, which can be found on our homepage or by logging on to your MyGeorgeFox account.

At this time we are actively planning to reopen sometime later this month and will post additional information in the coming weeks regarding updated policies and guidelines. We look forward to seeing you back in Hadlock this fall and helping you “find your fit.”

Questions? Contact studentcenter@georgefox.edu.

Share your gift of words with service recipients

Tuesday, August 4th, 2020

Please take a moment to share the gift of words with our employees who are celebrating a “years of service” milestone. Feel free to thank them or share a favorite memory by adding a comment under their name on this form.

We’ll share your gift of words on cards, and present them at the all-community meeting on Friday, Aug. 14.

Please reach out to Kara Holcombe (kholcombe@georgefox.edu or ext. 2189) if you have any questions regarding the honorees.