The Daily Bruin

The holiday season is here. It’s a time for travel, celebration and connection. Whether you’re spending time with family and friends or taking time to recharge at home, Providence Health Plan wants to help you feel your best all season long with a variety of care options.

From virtual visits to urgent care, Providence Health Plan helps you get the care you need whenever you need it.

• ProvRN: Have a question? Speak with a registered nurse anytime, any day. It’s an easy first step to find out if you need in-person care. Have your member ID ready and call 503-574-6520 or 800-700-0481 (TTY 711). Available 24/7.
• *ExpressCare Virtual: Appointments at your fingertips! With ExpressCare Virtual, you can get on-demand care within minutes through your tablet, smartphone or computer to treat conditions like a cold, rash, pink eye and more. Available seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• *ExpressCare Clinics: Need care now? Get same-day, in-person appointments when your regular provider isn’t available to treat common conditions like colds, stomach aches and more. Available seven days a week at convenient locations.
• Primary Care: Your go-to for all things health. Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) is your partner in health and is the provider you see most often. Visit them for check-ups, managing chronic conditions, screenings and more.
• Urgent Care: Quick care when you need it. Urgent care is available when you can’t wait for a primary care appointment for minor injuries, cuts, burns, sprains, imaging and more. Find an urgent care near you at providencehealthplan.com/findaprovider.
• Emergency Care: Serious symptoms? When you need immediate care for something life-threatening, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Not sure where you should go for care? Check out this flyer to help you find the best option based on cost and your symptoms.

*ExpressCare Virtual and ExpressCare Clinic services are no cost with most plans. High-deductible health plan members must first meet their plan deductible, then services are covered in full.

We will have normal hours through tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) lunch in the main dining room. Tomorrow’s dinner service will close early at 6 p.m. If you ordered meals for the break, please pick them up before 5 p.m.

Bridge Cafe and Maker’s Market: Closing early tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Holiday closure: All locations will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28.

Weekend re-opening: We will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 29, for brunch and dinner, operating with shortened hours.

For the most up-to-date schedule, please check our Instagram or visit georgefox.cafebonappetit.com.

The Department of Art and Design is launching its sixth photo contest to remember John Bennett. John impacted our community for nearly 15 years until his passing in 2017.

If you are a current or former student of George Fox, submit your best “It’s All About the Light” photograph via this link.

The contest will close on Monday, Dec. 1. This year, three winners will receive gift certificates for ThinkTank camera bags.

Contact Adam Long at along@georgefox.edu for more information.

Are you ready to decorate for the Christmas season? While the use of artificial trees is encouraged, live Christmas trees may be used if the following specifications and safety rules are strictly followed.

Guidelines for Live Christmas Trees

• Registration: You must register your live tree prior to its arrival on campus via this registration form.
• Location: Live trees are not permitted in individual offices or residential living spaces.
• Placement: Trees may not block means of egress (hallways, doors or emergency doors). They must also be kept three or more feet away from heaters, radiators and other heat sources.
• Watering: Please check your tree’s water level daily and keep the tree stand full of fresh water at all times.
• Lights: Christmas tree lights must be turned off before leaving the office or every evening in residence halls.
• Sensitivity: Please be aware that live trees may cause sensitivity issues for some individuals.
• Removal deadline: Live trees must be removed before winter break (Dec. 12 for student areas and Dec. 23 for offices).
• Other decorations: For other decorating, follow these general safety guidelines. Take care to use UL-approved lights and never use open flames or candles.

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe festive environment! If you have any questions, contact Kim Knoernschild, our environmental health and safety specialist, at kknoernschild@georgefox.edu.

The university community is invited to a special worship chapel this morning (Tuesday) in Bauman Auditorium. Our worship ensemble and choir will be performing from 10:50 to 11:50 a.m. Please join us!

All are welcome, and it’s a great way to get some chapel credit toward the end of the year.

FoxLink is our new online hub that connects students with alumni and industry professionals for networking and mentorship. It’s a powerful way for your students to find guidance and connect with alumni in their field who have already “raised their hand” to help.

The platform is secure, exclusive to our community and designed to make trusted connections easy.

Sign up at foxlink.georgefox.edu today, select “Faculty/Staff” and explore it for yourself!

For questions and resources to share with students, reach out to Britnee Ely at bely@georgefox.edu.

For the month of November, the George Fox chapter of the Network of Enlightened Women is hosting a fundraiser for With Love Oregon. This nonprofit provides resources for families with foster or adopted children.

Please consider donating toys or making a financial donation. If you’re interested in contributing, reach out to Zoe Fortner at zfortner24@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. 8.

Employees with timesheets that span Nov. 16 to Dec. 15 should forecast their hours, lock and have their timesheets approved by Dec. 8. Automated emails will be sent according to these accelerated deadlines.

Regular employee and student timesheets can be locked at the end of the month as usual. The student payday will be on Monday, Dec. 15, and the regular employee payday will be on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Questions? Contact the Payroll Team at payroll@georgefox.edu.

Come visit the Bruin Bookstore to take advantage of these sales, in store or online. Happy Thanksgiving!

• Nov. 23 through Dec. 1: 20% off Owala water bottles and 25% off OnHand and Belkin accessories
• Nov. 25: Airpods 4 for $79
• Online only Nov. 28 through Dec. 1: Black Friday sale, 20% off one item, 25% off two items, 30% off three items.

Before you start shopping those Black Friday sales, here’s an item you should add to your Christmas list: YakTrax! These grippy straps wrap around your shoes and provide added traction for walking on ice. Don’t let slips and falls ruin your holiday plans. Tell Santa to get you a pair this winter!

Warning: Without special treads for ice you can expect loss of balance and potential strains, sprains or fractures, as most shoes do not have adequate traction for icy conditions.

This message is brought to you by your friends at Plant Services who care for the campus sidewalks.

If severe weather makes travel to or from campus unsafe this winter, the provost will make the decision to announce a shift to remote classes and work. In nearly all cases, classes will continue to be offered online and employees will work remotely.

In the case of a delayed in-person start, university offices will not open until an announced time in the day, most often 10 a.m. or noon. Students, faculty and staff are not required to report to campus prior to the announced start time, but are expected to attend class online or work remotely before the start time. If in-person classes are not held that day, students, faculty and staff are expected to attend class online or work remotely.

Those who cannot perform their duties at home should report to campus if they can arrive safely. If an employee cannot arrive safely or must remain home for any other reason, they may use a sick or vacation day to cover the absence. If no vacation time is available, the employee can make up hours during the same week or record the time off without pay.

The following is our process for announcing when there is a delayed in-person start or a shift to remote classes and work. The provost will make the decision by 6:30 a.m. for the Newberg campus and Portland Center for daytime classes or 2:15 p.m. for evening classes. Decisions on weekend classes and at the Redmond site will be made by the professor.

Stay notified: Here’s how to find out if a decision has been made when severe weather occurs:

• Visit the George Fox flashalert.net page. This is the first site updated. Enter your email address to create an account and receive notifications from FlashAlert Messenger.
• If you wish to receive a notification on your mobile device, download the FlashAlert smartphone app for iOS or Android. Either log in or create an account if you haven’t already.
• Listen to local radio and television stations or visit their websites (this info comes via FlashAlert).
• Call the George Fox University switchboard at (503) 538-8383.

More information on this change in procedure can be found on our winter weather policy page.

Have you noticed how Gemini keeps appearing in new places? Google continues to advance Gemini, and we’re here to help you keep up!

Gemini 3.0 Pro

Google has released Gemini 3.0, and it is automatically available to everyone in our George Fox community! At least for the moment (competition is good), Gemini 3.0 represents the state-of-the-art for publicly available AI capability.

• In Gemini chat, select “Thinking” mode to see what the new Gemini can do.
• Google “AI Mode” searches will automatically use Gemini 3.0.

See more in the official announcement.

Gemini in Chrome

Gemini can work directly within your Chrome web browser, including filling simple forms, navigating websites, and interacting with Google Workspace apps like Docs, Gmail, etc. See the Gemini button in the top right of your browser.

See more in the Gemini in Chrome announcement and learn more here.

As long as you are using Chrome and Gemini AI through your georgefox.edu account, the data is not used to train Google’s AI and is protected in our Google Workspace.

Contact us at servicedesk@georgefox.edu with any questions or check the George Fox IT: AI website.

If you have undergraduate students considering graduate school or careers in social work, please tell them about our upcoming Master of Social Work info meeting and open house.

This casual, drop-in event gives students a chance to learn about the MSW program, including program structure and practicum opportunities. The event is on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wright House (next to Roberts Center) on the Newberg campus.

More information and registration can be accessed here. If you have questions, contact msw@georgefox.edu.

The annual campus-wide Christmas Extravaganza is taking place on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. All staff and faculty are invited, and families are welcome!

A Christmas tree lighting service with carols and scripture reading will be held inside the chapel from 4:30 to 5 p.m. A countdown to light the Christmas tree outside the chapel will follow the service.

The extravaganza begins at 5 p.m. with seasonal activities for the whole family, including “Santa’s Workshop” in the Maker Hub, horse-drawn carriage rides, music performances in the chapel, festive treats and more!

Help spread health and wellness across the globe by supporting students and faculty from the university’s School of Physical Therapy as we travel to Uganda, Africa, this May.

We will be partnering with local leaders and advocacy groups to provide training, education and instruction in the treatment and management of children/people in need of physical therapy, working with patients in rural communities.

So, grab your friends and sign up for the 2025 Christmas Jingle 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 9 a.m.! The run will be around the George Fox campus, starting in Stoffer Stadium. Come join us dressed in your holiday cheer!

The cost is $20 for students, $30 for community members, and $10 for children under age 10. This includes a free T-shirt if you sign up by Thursday, Nov. 20. Sign up at this link. All proceeds will go toward our trip.

Questions? Contact Carleigh DeLapp at cdelapp20@georgefox.edu.

Student Life is currently soliciting applications for student leadership positions across campus. These roles offer students invaluable opportunities to develop critical skills, build community and make a tangible impact on the campus environment.

Your encouragement is vital! Research consistently shows that students are significantly more likely to apply for leadership roles when directly encouraged by a faculty or staff member they respect.

Please take a moment to identify and encourage students who you believe possess leadership potential. Let them know you see their potential and encourage them to apply. A small conversation can make a huge difference in a student’s educational and professional journey.

To learn more about these opportunities, visit our Student Life Leadership and Employment page. Applications are open and due by Tuesday, Jan. 13.

The Bruin Community Pantry extends heartfelt appreciation to the Wellness Committee for the recent campus wellness challenge.

The challenge did not only successfully encourage university-wide participation, but also served a greater good. We are humbled by the support shown by the community. Thank you!

The Bruin Community Pantry will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays Wednesday, Nov. 26, through Friday, Nov. 28. Our regular hours will resume on Monday, Dec. 1.

For more information, please check out our website.

The finance office will be hosting an open house focused on questions from you, and we invite all faculty, administrators and staff to join us between 2 and 4 p.m. this afternoon (Thursday) in the Millage Building (1515 Portland Road).

This will be an opportunity to ask questions, receive guidance, and learn more about navigating finance processes effectively. Multiple team members from finance, including accounts payable, purchasing and general ledger staff, will be present to provide one-on-one assistance and address any inquiries you may have.

Whether you are new to our university, need clarification on specific steps, or simply want to participate with festive food and fellowship, we encourage you to stop by and connect with us. We look forward to supporting you.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Samantha Prewitt at sprewitt@georgefox.edu. Thank you!