The Daily Bruin

Welcome our alumni and families back to campus in style! Our exclusive apparel for Homecoming and Family Weekend is available to order here until Friday, Sept. 11. This is a temporary, online-only opportunity, so don’t wait to grab your shirt or hat for the festivities.

The football game theme that weekend is “Blue Out,” so it’s the perfect opportunity to wear your new gear.

After the shop closes on Friday, Sept. 11, all orders will be produced and shipped straight to your door on Sept. 24, in time for Homecoming and Family Weekend Oct. 9–11.

Questions? Contact Britnee Ely at bely@georgefox.edu. 

Serve Day is a week away! We are excited for a great day of serving alongside one another as a George Fox community.

You will receive communication this week regarding your team number, serve site and additional details. Here is a look at the schedule for Serve Day on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

• 8 a.m.: Join us on the quad to pack a sack lunch. Lunch lines open at 8 a.m. and close at 9 a.m. Lunch is free for all participants.
• 9 a.m.: The kick-off ceremony on the quad begins! Meet with your site team at numbered stakes on the quad and get prepared for your day.
• 9:25 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Travel to and serve at your assigned site.
• 3 to 5 p.m.: Join us for a celebration on the quad.

A few additional reminders:

• Participation is required.
• Closed-toed shoes are a must.
• No location or transportation changes are allowed.
• Remember your water bottle, sunscreen, and any prescribed medications (e.g. EpiPen). Inform your Team Leader about your medications.

If you have any questions, contact serveday@georgefox.edu.

To help you navigate your path to retirement, we invite you to attend Nationwide’s complimentary virtual educational webinars hosted by local retirement specialists.

These interactive 45- to 60-minute sessions cover essential financial topics, including Social Security, living well in retirement, approaching retirement, and healthcare costs in retirement, leaving a legacy, navigating market volatility, and more.

To view the upcoming schedule and reserve your spot, visit the Teaching Webinars booking link today!

Whether you are aiming to buy your first home, sell, or refinance, the George Fox University Employee Homeownership Program is here to simplify the process and put money back in your pocket. Many participating employees save thousands of dollars off traditional loan and real estate fees through these exclusive benefits.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Sept. 23, and take advantage of these options:

• Information Webinar (noon): Discover key program perks, learn how to streamline your real estate journey, and calculate your potential savings.
• Private Consultation (1:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.): Have specific scenario questions? Book a personalized, one-on-one session with a dedicated benefits advisor.

Don’t miss out on this valuable workplace benefit! Click here to register for the webinar or to book your private advisor consultation.

Have questions before registering? Reach out to Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.

Join former Starbucks and Albertsons CEO Jim Donald and members of the George Fox MBA Advisory Board for an exclusive online conversation entitled “AI and Leadership—a Winning Combination.”

As AI tools become part of everyday workplace life, explore how trust, purpose and human intention shape leadership in an AI-enabled environment.

• Date: Monday, Sept. 21
• Time: 5:30 p.m. PDT
• Location: Online

Gain firsthand insight into George Fox’s reimagined, AI-integrated MBA program and participate in a live Q&A session. Register online here.

Questions? Contact Sean Aker, associate director of graduate admissions and MBA program admissions counselor, at saker@georgefox.edu.

All veterans – undergraduate, George Fox Digital, and graduate – are invited to the George Fox University Veterans’ Lunch at noon on Thursday, Sept. 10.

We will be meeting in the “president’s dining room.” When you enter Canyon Commons from the south entrance, you take the first hallway on your right and it’ll be the first door on your right.

We realize that schedules and geography may prevent you from coming. However, we wanted to let you know that you are welcome. Please do not feel that you need to be present the whole time. We are comfortable with you grabbing your food and going. There is no cost to attend.

Dr. Brian Snider will be moderating the introductions, welcome and conversation. 

Questions? Contact David Johnstone at djohnsto@georgefox.edu.

The Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference is seeking student and staff volunteers for shifts over its four-day run, from Thursday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 27.

The conference will host 250 international scholars and fans of C.S. Lewis’s writing, while also exploring the broader contributions of Inklings like J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and more. The conference is the largest C.S. Lewis gathering in the world, and a truly special biennial event on campus.

Volunteers receive free conference entry and a T-shirt. Please register here if interested!

Questions? Contact Twila LaMar at tlamar@georgefox.edu.

To enhance safety and accessibility on campus, the university has installed a new Evacu-Trac chair in the Medical Sciences Building. This specialized equipment allows for the quick and safe evacuation of individuals with mobility limitations down stairwells during an emergency.

If you work in the Medical Sciences Building, please attend a brief hands-on training session to learn how to operate the new equipment and assist students, colleagues, or guests in safely exiting the building if an emergency arises.

Training Details:

• Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9
• Time: 4:30 to 5 p.m.
• Location: Medical Sciences Building, third-floor west stair landing

Your participation helps us maintain a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We hope to see you there!

Contact Kim Knoernschild at kknoernschild@georgefox.edu with any questions.

There are just three in-person tickets remaining for this year’s Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, which marks the largest gathering of international Lewis scholars and fans in the world.

The conference is open to the public, so please feel free to share the registration link with family and friends, near and far. It will meet on the Newberg campus Sept. 24-27.

Unlimited online tickets are also available for purchase and viewing. George Fox staff and students have the option to attend for free, with the commitment to serving in a volunteer role. Volunteers can sign up here.

Questions? Contact Twila LaMar at tlamar@georgefox.edu.

Serve Day 2026 is on Wednesday, Sept. 16! As we are less than two weeks away, we are especially in need of more people to drive personal vehicles.

If you are willing to drive and not already scheduled to drive to a site, please email Megan Springer at mspringer@georgefox.edu. If you still have not completed your Serve Day survey, please do so as soon as possible here. 

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for a serve site, to lead, or drive during this important day of community and service. 

Thanks again for modeling for our students the way to serve with passion both at George Fox and beyond!

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our recent survey! We received an incredible response, and your insights, candid feedback, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

As promised, we randomly selected four participants to receive one of four gift cards to Grocery Outlet. The winners are: Elijah DeJong, Brooke Brown, Emily Kelly-Bernal and Ayden Stewart.

Each have been sent an email with instructions to receive their gift card. Please contact Jere Witherspoon at jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu if you have any questions.

Do you have graduate or AOD students who could use help with writing projects or citations? Do they seem to be feeling overwhelmed and stressed?

Encourage them to make an appointment with the Virtual Learning Center (VLC) for writing and general academic support. Meetings might include talking about time management, reviewing an assignment, discussing citation styles, or talking through the body paragraphs of their paper. We offer Google Meet or asynchronous 50-minute appointments.

To schedule an appointment, students should go to the TracClould icon at the bottom left corner of their Canvas course menu.

Questions? Email Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu or the VLC at vlc@georgefox.edu.

Let’s work together to help students succeed! The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is here to be a resource for students.

To make sure we’re ready to help, please let us know if you are assigning an ARC-required assignment or an extra credit opportunity. Knowing this helps us better prepare our consultants and anticipate an increase in student visits.

We also encourage you to send students our way for general support! We can assist them with:

• Writing: We can help students at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to putting the finishing touches on a paper.
• Academic Coaching: We can help students build crucial skills like effective time management and study strategies.

Your partnership makes a huge difference in helping us help students. Thank you for including us as a resource in your classes.

Contact Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu if you have a required assignment, would like to assign extra credit, or if you have questions.

Navigating Medicare doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re approaching retirement yourself or helping a parent or spouse figure out their options, expert help is on the way.

George Fox has partnered with SGIA Medicare Consulting to bring you exclusive, interactive virtual Medicare seminars. Bring your spouse, bring your parents, and get the clarity your whole family deserves—completely free!

What you’ll learn:

• Medicare Basics Demystified: Understand Parts A, B, C, and D without the confusing jargon.
• Smart Plan Comparison: Get a clear, unbiased breakdown of Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement plans.
• Timelines & Deadlines: Learn key enrollment windows so you avoid permanent financial penalties.
• Live Q&A: Get your personal, family-specific questions answered by trusted professionals in real time.

Click either of the links below to choose the session that fits your schedule:

Option 1: Tuesday, Sept. 22 | Noon
Option 2: Tuesday, Sept. 29 | 3 p.m.

Whether you need immediate coverage answers or just want a head start on planning for the future, don’t navigate it alone. Reserve a spot for you and your family members today!

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu. 

Whether you are looking to buy your first home, sell, or refinance, the George Fox University Employee Homeownership Program is designed to simplify the process and save you money. Most participating employees save thousands of dollars off traditional loan and real estate costs through these employer-sponsored benefits.

Attend the information webinar: Discover program perks, learn how to streamline your home buying or selling journey, and see how much you could save by attending a webinar at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Book a private consultation: Have specific scenario questions? Schedule a one-on-one session with a dedicated benefits advisor to get personalized guidance on Wednesday, Sept. 23, between 1:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Take advantage of this valuable workplace perk; click here to register for the upcoming webinar session or book your private advisor consultation! 

Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu. 

Bruinpalooza, our Homecoming and Family Weekend party on the quad, is happening on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.! This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your department, have fun, and engage with alumni, students and parents in our community.

We’d love for you to participate by hosting a booth at the big event. To find out more details and sign up, please fill out this form by Thursday, Sept. 10.

Reach out to Kelton Hedstrom in the alumni relations office at khedstrom@georgefox.edu with any questions.

In the university’s ongoing efforts to pursue operational excellence and simplify administrative workflows, the Office of People & Culture, in partnership with the finance office, is updating the process for engaging independent contractors (ICs).

Requests to engage independent contractors will need to be submitted through the Independent Contractor Evaluation Request Form located on the Independent Contractor website.

If your department intends to hire an independent contractor, please review the updated policy, workflow and action items. For a step-by-step overview of the new process, please reference the External User Guide: Independent Contractor Process Flow.

Join our virtual information session today (Wednesday), from 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Contact Beth Hampton-Gonzalez at bhampton@georgefox.edu with any questions.

Balancing your vocation with parenting requires a strong support system. Tap into dedicated childcare resources to find reliable, vetted support for your children, keeping your home life anchored and secure.

To learn more about your caregiver resources, go to the university’s Wellness page.

The university will have added over 250 new parking spaces this year with the expansion of the Morse parking lot (next to the ball fields) on Fulton and Villa. However, the first section of that lot will not be completed until mid-September, with the second portion not being completed until mid-October.

Because of these timelines, parking will be particularly challenging for the first two weeks of the term. While students have received specific parking guidelines and remain prohibited from employee lots, we kindly ask that staff refrain from using student spaces.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation! Questions? Contact Karen Toohey at ktoohey@georgefox.edu.

Navigating Medicare can feel complex, whether you are planning for your own future or assisting a family member.

To help make the process clear and simple, George Fox is partnering with SGIA Medicare Consulting to host virtual Medicare Assistance Program sessions designed specifically for our staff, faculty, and their families.

Spouses and parents of employees are warmly invited to attend these live presentations, which will cover the core components of Medicare, break down the key differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, and highlight essential enrollment timeframes so you never miss a deadline.

Join us for personalized guidance tailored to your family’s needs. There are two upcoming virtual meeting options: Tuesday, Sept. 22, at noon or Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m.

Whether you have immediate questions or simply want to prepare for the road ahead, this is a great opportunity to get trusted answers.

Click here for more information. Questions? Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu.