The Daily Bruin

President Robin and Ruth Baker cordially invite employees to their home for a Christmas Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 8. There will be a chili bar, hors d’oeuvres, and sweet treats for everyone to enjoy. The Bakers’ home is at 701 E. Franklin St. in Newberg.

The Christmas Open House follows the 2:30 p.m. matinee performance of our Christmas Concert, “The Sounding Joy,” in Bauman Auditorium that Sunday. Sunday’s matinee performance is sold out, but you can still reserve two complimentary tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on either Friday, Dec. 6, or Saturday, Dec. 7.

Each employee should obtain their ticket using their George Fox email address. Once you select the seat you would like to reserve, you will then choose “employee comp” from a pricing option list. Employees and students can also attend a free family-friendly dress rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, after our Christmas Extravaganza.

Questions? Contact Carly Reumann at creumann@georgefox.edu.

Come join us for an information session about the Cuba missions trip spiritual life and the psychology department will be taking in May 2025, and ask any questions you have regarding the trip.

The session will take place in Canyon Commons 101 on Monday, Dec. 9, at noon. Students with a special interest in research could take lead in parts of the research and apply for a Richter Scholarship to fund summer work. Students with a special interest in using psychology, social work, and Spanish to serve the Lord are invited to apply.

Please also fill out the interest form for the trip, regardless of whether you can make it to the info session or not.

Email Kelly Chang at kchang@georgefox.edu if you have questions.

Talk with first-year engineering students from 5 to 6 p.m. as they display their oscillating air engine designs this Friday, Dec. 6, in the Maker Hub. Then, from 6 to 8 p.m., watch them compete with their air engines for maximum speed, coast, air efficiency, power and craftsmanship in our “Wobble-Off.” All are welcome!

Contact Jennifer McCollum at jmccollum@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

We’re excited to announce that in May of 2025 students and faculty from our Doctor of Physical Therapy program will be heading to Uganda for a medical service trip! Our well-established partnerships with local leaders in Uganda seek to meet the physical and educational needs that exist in these communities.

We will work alongside doctors, teachers and community leaders who have been our friends and partners for over 10 years. As we prepare to return, we need your help! This trip is being funded by donations and fundraisers, with our next one being through MOD Pizza on Monday, Dec. 9.

Visit the MOD Pizza in Newberg that day and use the code MODGIVES20 to support us (valid for dine-in, takeout or delivery). 

In previous trips, we have seen kids and adults receive health care for the first time in their lives, having walked hours through rural Uganda to our large medical clinics. We have seen teenagers with cerebral palsy walk for the first time and even start playing soccer with friends. We have helped Ugandans with amputations return to the professional world in previously lost careers. We have even saved the lives of kids with hydrocephalus, or adults with progressive cancers by identifying them and ensuring they get the medical care they need.

Thank you for your support!

Life can be stressful. Each day we attempt a balance of work, school, personal relationships, and environmental factors, all of which can feel overwhelming.

In this program we will discuss how we can perceive stress differently, but also how to balance and offset our stress for increased health and wellbeing. Reserve a seat for this Canopy EAP webinar on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m.  

Stretching your budget is a necessary step to achieving your financial goals. Learn smart ways to save on the things that impact your finances most, like food, healthcare, insurance and more.

Learn more by watching this free Canopy EAP webinar on either Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or Thursday, Dec. 19, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Identify the pros and cons of owning a home, an overview of the process, how to get prepared, various types of zero- and low-down loan programs, and more. Reserve a seat for this free Canopy EAP webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m.

The campus community, including students, employees and their families, are invited to join the university’s annual campus-wide Christmas Extravaganza this Thursday, Dec. 5! This is a wonderful time for everyone across the university to come together and celebrate the Christmas season.

The Extravaganza begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., followed by activities and attractions that include carriage rides, baby goats, s’mores, fire pits, “Santa’s Workshop” in the Maker Hub, ornament and cookie decorating, music performances in the chapel, lots of delicious treats, and more! The event will go until 7 p.m.

Come join in on the festivities!

All faculty: To kick off the spring term, Brian Doak and Travis Ross will host a workshop in Canyon Commons 103 on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon designed to help faculty develop AI-informed assignments for their courses. AI-informed can mean that:

1) Assignments include scaffolding and metacognitive processes that make AI irrelevant, or

2) Assignments consciously and thoughtfully incorporate AI into the learning outcomes

Lunch will be provided after the workshop through the servery. Please fill out this form by Monday, Dec. 23, so we can plan accordingly.

If you have any questions, reach out to Michelle Kang at mkang@georgefox.edu.

Our dedicated retirement specialist from Nationwide visits campus monthly to provide free, personalized consultations, and will be returning to Klages 231 tomorrow (Wednesday) from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Whether you’re just starting to save, nearing retirement, or anywhere in between, this is a great opportunity to get expert guidance on your retirement goals.

Click here to reserve your spot for a consultation. Don’t miss this chance to plan for your future with confidence.

Reach out to Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu if you have questions.

Are you a certified fitness instructor or personal trainer looking for part-time teaching or training opportunities next semester? The UREC team at Hadlock Student Center is looking to hire students and staff to meet the high demand for fitness services. Interested in applying? Fill out this form.

If you have questions, please email us at fitness@georgefox.edu.

The Office for Spiritual Life is looking for staff/faculty members to participate in our “SpiL Mentoring” program this spring.

This program will provide the 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 staff or faculty member, with whom they will have weekly meetings lasting approximately one hour, spanning a duration of eight weeks within the semester. The program will begin the week of Feb. 3 and end the week of March 24.

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’re looking for staff/faculty who would like to serve as mentors. If you’re interested, please fill out this application by Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Your involvement will make a meaningful impact on our students’ lives.

Contact Cyndi Murillo at cmurillo@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

Would you like to sell your art at the Christmas Extravaganza Holiday Hangout on Thursday, Dec. 5? All you need is $10 to rent a table and as much art as you would like to sell to fellow students, staff and the local community.

This year, Holiday Hangout is combining with the Christmas Extravaganza, which will feature a tree-lighting ceremony, carriage rides and lots of other fun activities. Our market will take place in Klages with tables for students and staff to sell their work. This event is attended by students, staff and Newberg locals, so all tables will receive lots of traffic.

Fill out this form to rent a table.

Events coming up:

• Christmas Extravaganza / Holiday Hangout: Thursday, Dec. 5, at 4:30 p.m. on the quad
• Late Night Breakfast: Monday, Dec. 9, at 9:30 p.m. in Canyon Commons

Contact activities@georgefox.edu with any questions.

We are still in need of several volunteers to serve as ushers at midyear commencement on Saturday, Dec. 14. We will hold two separate ceremonies in Bauman Auditorium: one for undergraduate students at 11 a.m. and one for graduate students at 3 p.m. Come help us greet our guests, hand out programs, direct graduates’ family and friends to their seats, and make graduation a special event for everyone!

It’s fun to be part of our students’ graduation experience, and all George Fox employees who volunteer to participate as ushers will receive a $50 gift card for each ceremony they assist with. Sign up for both ceremonies, and lunch will be provided too!

Please contact Laurie Fair at 503-554-2140 or lfair@georgefox.edu if you would like to volunteer to serve our grads and their families on this memorable day!

This is a friendly reminder that fall term rentals are due by Dec. 14 at the Bruin Bookstore. If you need to extend your rental or you would like to purchase your text, please stop by the bookstore.

If you have any questions, email Kristin McGuirk at kmcguirk@georgefox.edu.

Please note the accelerated payroll deadlines for December. Due to Christmas break, we will have fewer days to process the December payroll. Please have all check requests submitted and approved by Monday, Dec. 9. Employees with timesheets that span Nov. 16 through Dec. 15 should forecast their hours, lock, and have their timesheets approved by Dec. 9. Automated emails will be sent according to these accelerated deadlines.

Regular employee timesheets and student timesheets can be locked at the end of the month as usual. The student payday will be on Friday, Dec. 13, and the regular employee payday will be on Monday, Dec. 23.

Questions? Contact the payroll team at payroll@georgefox.edu.

Join us tomorrow (Wednesday) in Hoover 250 from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. for a time of worship, listening to God’s Spirit, and seeking to discern God’s truth together. Jay Miller will be hosting. Chapel credit will be offered.

Please reach out to Jay at jaym@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Help the residents of Friendsview bring in the Christmas season by decorating the lobby tomorrow (Wednesday) from 1 to 4 p.m. You can meet in the main lobby of Friendsview at the start of either of those times and come and go as you wish. If you would like to RSVP, sign up on the Helper Helper app.

If you have questions, contact Atalia Fisher at afisher23@georgefox.edu.

Finals week is almost upon us, including longer hours in the library for many. To bring a little fun to finals, you are cordially invited to join the library for Spirit Week. Dress according to each day’s theme and help us share a few extra smiles in our space.

• Friday, Dec. 6 – Flannel Friday
• Saturday, Dec. 7 – Funky Hat Saturday
• Sunday, Dec. 8 – Christmas Sweater Sunday
• Monday, Dec. 9 – Pajama Monday (Study Day)
• Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Uncasual Tuesday
• Wednesday, Dec. 11 – Crazy Sock Wednesday
• Thursday, Dec. 12 – Twin Thursday

Don’t forget that you can book study rooms on the library website, ask for multicolored whiteboard markers at the front desk, and that the 24-hour space will remain open throughout finals week. Keep an eye out for coffee near Whiteboard Wednesday and know that we’re cheering for you.

Share the joy of the Christmas season with George Fox Christmas cards! ‘Tis the season to send some cheer! George Fox Christmas cards for the 2024 season have been delivered, and 100 are still available.

The cost is approximately $1.40 per card, and envelopes are included. View the Christmas card cover and inside designs.

If your department wants to place an order, please email Brandy at bdonavant@georgefox.edu with your desired quantity and full accounting string (account code/fund code/department/program/operating unit).

May you be filled with the joy of Christmas this season!