The Daily Bruin

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 death 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.

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.

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.

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 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!

Would you like to sell your art at the Christmas Extravaganza Holiday Hangout on Thursday, Dec. 4? It only costs $10 to rent a table to sell your art to 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. The art 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.

Check out the Early Black Friday Sale at the Bruin Bookstore before it ends this Saturday, Nov. 22!

• 25% off Campus United
• 20% off Nike
• 20% off select hats, apparel and gifts

Your IT team just sent out this month’s critical updates to your computer. To get them fully installed and working, save your work and restart your device as soon as possible.

Why restart?

• Security: These updates address the latest security vulnerabilities, ensuring the safety of your data and our network.
• Performance: Regular updates and restarts keep your computer running smoothly and prevent slowdowns.

IT Pro Tip: While we send major updates in the third week of the month, the best thing you can do for your computer’s health is to restart it at least once a week. A weekly reboot keeps things running smoothly and prevents small issues from escalating into major problems. 

For optimal computer performance, don’t wait for our update push. Manually check for your own updates once a month.

Questions? Contact servicedesk@georgefox.edu.

Did you know that Providence Basecamp offers more than 60 opportunities to move each week? Check out these virtual evening classes to support your movement goal. If you’re local to Portland, you can also find in-person evening classes!

Movement makes us healthier, stronger and better able to withstand life’s (literal) twists and turns through improved strength, agility and balance. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to “being in shape” – it’s about the level of fitness that keeps you engaged, happy and healthy. In other words, the level that allows you to do the things you love.

Healthcare is personal and everyone’s needs are unique. That’s why the Providence Health Plan Care Management program meets you where they are.

The Care Management team of experts are ready to assist with everything from diabetes management to provider coordination, health education, and more at no cost. Learn more here.

Is a new digital divide emerging – not just between those who can and can’t use AI, but between those who trust and distrust each other because of it?

Join us at noon tomorrow (Wednesday) for an interactive webinar that explores how AI is reshaping workplace relationships and what it means for trust – among colleagues, teams, and even between humans and machines.

Together, we’ll tackle two key questions:

• As AI joins the team, who do we trust more – the human or the machine?
• How is AI transforming trust between coworkers?

Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect, engage, and reimagine the future of workplace trust in the age of AI.

You can register here.