The Daily Bruin

As a key strategy for soul care of undergraduates during the pandemic, the Office for Spiritual Life is looking for 30 Life Group leaders for our nine-week fall Life Groups series (the weeks of Sept. 7 through Nov. 6).

Life Groups are small groups of undergraduate students who meet together for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Groups meet weekly for 60 to 90 minutes. This fall, all of our groups will be either Zoom groups or hybrid groups. (Hybrid groups will meet primarily via Zoom, but may occasionally meet outdoors as the weather, state and university regulations, and participant comfort permit.)

Throughout the pandemic, Life Groups through the Office for Spiritual Life will also be chapel credit-eligible in order to encourage students to engage in high-quality spiritual formation experiences that are participatory and offer ongoing community.

We welcome our employees, alumni, family members of George Fox employees and students, and members of our wonderful local churches to consider leading a group. Groups may also be co-led with an upperclassman student if the leader desires.

For more information and to sign up, visit this webpage or contact the Office for Spiritual Life at spirituallife@georgefox.edu.

Office moves/relocations have a process and policy. After discussing proposals with your dean or department head, submit the relocation form located at this link.

One form per person is needed, so that specific furniture move requests can be listed. Matt Hammar, the director of Purchasing, must approve all furniture moves and furniture requests.

After the relocation form is submitted, your executive team member will then approve the relocation request. After approval, Plant Services will schedule your move. (The form allows you to enter your proposed move date, but the actual date will be set by the scheduling team.)

This move process notifies Plant Services, Information Services, Mail Services and Institutional Technology (IT), including MPS and IT infrastructure. Please refer to the website with any questions. Thank you!

The city of Newberg will be doing some water meter testing on campus next week. During each appointed time, the water will be shut off at that particular meter for about 30 minutes.

Each meter tested has a scheduled time, and if the meter has a bypass valve, you may not notice an interruption in service.

Monday, July 20, testing:

• Morse Fields at 11:15 a.m. (no bypass valve)
• Roberts Center at noon (has a bypass valve, so you may not notice interruption)

Tuesday, July 21, testing:

• Hobson, Macy, Sutton at 7:30 a.m. (no bypass valve)
• George Fox campus buildings near Wood-Mar at 8:30 a.m. (has a bypass valve, so you may not notice interruption)
• Wheeler at 4:30 p.m. (no bypass valve)

Wednesday, July 22, testing:

• Ross at 11:30 a.m. (no bypass valve)

Thank you for your patience!

An all-employee meeting will be made available for viewing this morning (Wednesday) after 10 a.m. We will hear from Provost Andrea Scott and get an update on the new academic enterprise structure, from Brian Doak, director of George Fox Digital, and from President Robin Baker.

The meeting will be available at this link. As was the case last month, the password to join is provided on the meeting site.

This is a reminder that all purchases, regardless of the dollar amount or funding source, must be entered in PeopleSoft as a requisition PRIOR to any spending. Once your receive a PO from Purchasing, you have approval to place your order or complete your George Fox Visa transaction.

If you need assistance, please contact Purchasing at purchasing@georgefox.edu for requisition/PO questions or Kathi Becker at kbecker@georgefox.edu for George Fox Visa questions.

The university’s purchasing policy can be found here.

An all-employee meeting will be made available for viewing tomorrow (Wednesday) after 10 a.m. We will hear from Provost Andrea Scott and get an update on the new academic enterprise structure, from Brian Doak, director of George Fox Digital, and from President Robin Baker.

The meeting will be available at this link. As was the case last month, the password to join is provided on the meeting site.

Face shields are available for George Fox employees. They are available in the student life office on the third floor of the Stevens Center. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please drop by if you want to pick up a face shield.

For more information, please contact Jere Witherspoon at jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu.

The Department of Education recently released the final regulations for implementing protections of equal access to education under Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972. As federal laws, these regulations govern how institutions are required to respond to sexual assault and other forms of sexual harassment. These regulations are effective as of Aug. 14, 2020.

These regulations are significant, and we are carefully reviewing them over the coming weeks to determine what adjustments we need to make to our current policies and/or our processes for addressing reports of sexual assault and harassment.

The state of Oregon also has relevant legislation, and we need to consider how the federal and state regulations interact with one another. We will be certain to inform our community of any changes we need to make as a result of these new laws.

We recognize that many members of our community have been deeply impacted by sexual assault. It is important that you know that our commitment to preventing sexual assault, supporting those who report experiencing harm, and conducting fair, transparent and safe grievance processes for all parties continues to be a top priority for us. We remain steadfastly focused on continuing to build a supportive, safe and welcoming environment where everyone can learn, work and thrive.  

If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault, you are encouraged to connect to the resources at our institution or elsewhere that can best support you. Much of this information is on our website at georgefox.edu/titleix. We also have added a new video resource specific to George Fox on our Title IX website’s home page that addresses some common questions.

Our Title IX team’s contact information is on the Title IX website under â€œstaff.” Please contact the Office of Student Life (studentlife@georgefox.edu) if you have any questions or concerns.

The university’s employees and students are invited to attend a free virtual event that will discuss the topic of High-Impact Chronic Pain (HICP) on Saturday, July 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

HICP affects 11 to 20 million U.S. adults and interferes with work or other daily activities most days or every day. People with HICP often suffer from iatrogenic harms, including (but not limited to) prescription-induced opiate use disorders.

In this session, we will hear from experts representing a variety of professions to discuss the healthcare experiences of people with HICP and the evidence on what works to reduce iatrogenic harms and promote health. You don’t want to miss this interactive virtual event intended to strengthen the primary care workforce. 

Students and employees can attend for free, but you must register ASAP at this link. Please contact Tammy O’Doherty (todohert@georgefox.edu) with any questions.

As a key strategy for soul care of undergraduates during the pandemic, the Office for Spiritual Life is looking for 30 Life Group leaders for our nine-week fall Life Groups series (the weeks of Sept. 7 through Nov. 6).

Life Groups are small groups of undergraduate students who meet together for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Groups meet weekly for 60 to 90 minutes. This fall, all of our groups will be either Zoom groups or hybrid groups. (Hybrid groups will meet primarily via Zoom, but may occasionally meet outdoors as the weather, state and university regulations, and participant comfort permit.)

Throughout the pandemic, Life Groups through the Office for Spiritual Life will also be chapel credit-eligible in order to encourage students to engage in high-quality spiritual formation experiences that are participatory and offer ongoing community.

We welcome our employees, alumni, family members of George Fox employees and students, and members of our wonderful local churches to consider leading a group. Groups may also be co-led with an upperclassman student if the leader desires.

For more information and to sign up, visit this webpage or contact the Office for Spiritual Life at spirituallife@georgefox.edu.

Starting Monday, July 13, George Fox graduate and commuter students who do not plan to bring a vehicle to campus can request an exemption from being automatically charged the parking permit fee by completing the parking waiver form. Please read the waiver form thoroughly as you fill it out.

By signing this form you agree that you will not bring a vehicle and park on George Fox’s Newberg campus or the surrounding Good Neighbor areas (as specified in the parking policies) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

If your vehicle is found parked on campus during these times, the following will occur:

• You will be automatically issued and charged for a parking permit and be fined an additional $75 for parking an unregistered vehicle.
• You will be required to pick up the permit from Campus Public Safety and an officer will assist you in the proper placement of the permit.

Note: There may be additional fines for any other violations according to the parking policies of the university.

If you are taking four or fewer credit hours in a semester, you may be eligible for this waiver. However, you must obtain a special temporary permit from Campus Public Safety and display it appropriately to avoid the above-listed sanctions.

Questions? Call our office at 503-554-2090 during business hours, or email Elrike Shaw at eshaw@georgefox.edu.

Employees: Please pass this information along to students you know.

The vehicle registration portal opens up Monday, July 13, on MyGeorgeFox for juniors to register their vehicles for residential parking permits! Be sure to have your DMV registration slip in front of you, as you will need some of that information in order to register.

The portal will open on July 20 for sophomores and on July 27 for freshmen. The portal is currently open for seniors, commuters and graduate students.

Questions? Call our office at 503-554-2090 during business hours, or email Elrike Shaw at eshaw@georgefox.edu.

Employees: Please pass this information along to students you know.

As a key strategy for soul care of undergraduates during the pandemic, the Office for Spiritual Life is looking for several Life Group leaders for our nine-week fall Life Groups series (the weeks of Sept. 7 through Nov. 6).

Life Groups are small groups of undergraduate students who meet together for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Groups meet weekly for 60 to 90 minutes. This fall, all of our groups will be either Zoom groups or hybrid groups. (Hybrid groups will meet primarily via Zoom, but may occasionally meet outdoors as the weather, state and university regulations, and participant comfort permit.)

Throughout the pandemic, Life Groups through the Office for Spiritual Life will also be chapel credit-eligible in order to encourage students to engage in high-quality spiritual formation experiences that are participatory and offer ongoing community.

We welcome our employees, alumni, family members of George Fox employees and students, and members of our wonderful local churches to consider leading a group. Groups may also be co-led with an upperclassman student if the leader desires.

For more information and to sign up, visit this webpage or contact the Office for Spiritual Life at spirituallife@georgefox.edu.

Based upon current public health guidance, George Fox is adjusting its academic calendar to reduce class time during the influenza season and to minimize student travel to and from campus. 

• Monday, Aug. 24: First day of undergraduate and graduate classes
• Friday, Oct. 9: Mid-semester holiday (Newberg campus)
• Wednesday, Nov. 25: Last day of face-to-face instruction
• Thursday-Friday, Nov. 26-27: Thanksgiving break
• Monday-Friday: Nov. 30-Dec. 4: Final exams/presentations (most completed remotely)

Students in on-campus housing are welcome to stay on campus through the Thanksgiving holiday. Those who return home for the holiday will be asked to complete finals off campus. 

At this point, the university plans to start the spring semester in person on Jan. 11, 2021.

The Office for Spiritual Life invites you to engage in today’s Day of Prayer by praying and tending to your personal soul care. Please use your usual work hours today to spend some time in reflection and prayer for the spiritual well-being of the university community.

To assist you, we have created a devotional and a video, available on this webpage. If you have any questions, please contact the Office for Spiritual Life at spirituallife@georgefox.edu.

Please take the time to review your Concur account and submit ALL outstanding reports for the 2019-20 fiscal year today (Tuesday).

If you need help with this process, please contact Kathi Becker at ext. 2166 or kbecker@georgefox.edu.

The COVID-10 pandemic can take a toll on our mental health. Many of us have faced isolation and long periods of unhealthy stress. George Fox wants you to invest in your health. Below is the information on counseling options for our employees:

For those who have a Regence plan:

• Online doctor’s visits can be set up through MDLive by phone or app 24/7 for mental health concerns
• Call member services at 1-888-367-2116 or regence.com to schedule an appointment with their family or mental health provider
• Contact our local Providence outpatient program at 503-574-9235

For those who have a Kaiser plan:

• Call the Kaiser mental health dedicated line (503-249-3434) to schedule an appointment and get care advice
• Request to schedule a video or in-person appointment or get care advice at 1-503-813-2000, KP.org or by using the Kaiser phone app

We also encourage employees enrolled in the George Fox-sponsored life insurance to look into the Employee Assistance Program at ibhsolutions.com (access code LifeMap) or 1-866-750-1327. They provide many services at no cost to employees, including 24-hour crisis help, assistance with scheduling four free face-to-face in-person counseling sessions, as well as RBH eAccess to access online consultations with licensed counselors.

To find the Crisis Line for your county, please visit this website. 

Please contact Human Resources if you need assistance with accessing any of these resources: Aga Luptak at 503-554-2181 or aluptak@georgefox.edu.

Tomorrow (Wednesday), the employee community will be observing a Day of Prayer. The two-fold purpose for this day is:  

• To begin the new fiscal year and academic year prayerfully attentive to God’s direction
• To encourage the spiritual well-being of the employee community

Details: 

• Employees are encouraged to spend their usual work hours tomorrow in prayer and spiritual retreat. 
• Employees are welcome to enjoy their prayer retreat on-campus, off-campus, in their homes, or at an alternate site.  
• The university pastors will provide an optional video that can be used at the beginning of an employee’s prayer retreat as well as a devotional (available on this webpage) to guide employees through the Day of Prayer.

During the Day of Prayer, employees are encouraged to: 

• Have conversation with God about their work
• Pray for their colleagues, students and the university
• Attend to their personal soul care, talking with God about their own lives of faith, and experiencing the ministry of the Spirit

During the Day of Prayer, employees are discouraged from: 

• Using this prayer retreat day for team meetings/in-services
• Doing other work (responding to emails, working on projects, meeting with people, etc.)
• Keeping their cell phones on/active
• Using the day as a vacation day.  This is a soul care day, which may look a lot like a vacation day (a walk in the woods, journaling, reading, etc.) but should have an intentional spiritual formation focus and be directed by God.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office for Spiritual Life at spirituallife@georgefox.edu.

In lieu of a virtual camp, the George Fox coaching staff will host an on-campus track and field camp July 13-17 on the Newberg campus.

The camp will be divided into a 10 to 11:30 a.m. session for younger children (ages 7-13) and a noon to 1:30 p.m. session for middle and high schoolers (ages 13-19). Camp will be held at the track complex each day Monday through Friday.

For detailed information, please visit this link. Discounts will be given to families with multiple students attending.

Questions? Please email Adam Haldorson at ahaldorson@georgefox.edu or Mike Wilson at mwilson@georgefox.edu.

The vehicle registration portal opens up today (Monday) on MyGeorgeFox for grad students, all commuters and seniors to register their vehicles for parking permits! Be sure to have your DMV registration slip in front of you, as you will need some of that information in order to register.

The portal will open on Monday, July 13, for juniors to register, and on Monday, July 20, for sophomores. Freshmen can register starting on Monday, July 27.

Questions? Call our office at 503-554-2090 during business hours, or email Elrike Shaw at eshaw@georgefox.edu.

Employees: Please pass this information along to students you know.