The Daily Bruin

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.

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.

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.

Are you interested in helping keep our campus safe and participating in campus safety initiatives? We are looking for members to join the George Fox Safety Committee!

Committee members’ responsibilities will include a one-year commitment and monthly meetings. Members will conduct quarterly building inspections, plan and lead safety drills, and participate in the annual Safety Fair, as well as other fun events throughout the year.

If you are interested, please complete this interest form. Questions? Contact Kim Knoernschild at kknoernschild@georgefox.edu.

Know of any great George Fox-related stories? Students making a difference in their communities? An inspiring account of someone who has overcome obstacles or has had an amazing faith journey? A professor who exemplifies the Be Known promise?

If so, we in marketing communications want to hear about it! Please complete this form with the name of the person you wish to highlight, their contact info (if possible), and a few details about what makes their story compelling. We’ll take it from there!

Some folks may be featured in our blog and/or on our website. Still others may be featured in a video or in our university magazine. In short, we’re looking for stories that communicate why George Fox is such a special place.

Thanks for taking the time to share these stories with us!

Did you know this Friday, Sept. 4, is National College Colors Day? You know what that means! Time to break out your blue-and-gold Bruin gear and show your school spirit this Friday.

We encourage you to wear your school colors with pride – and that goes for both students and employees!

Looking to play in the first intramural sports season of the year? The deadline to register a team is coming up this weekend! Here are the sports we are offering:

• 6-on-6 volleyball (competitive & recreational leagues)
• Flag football
• Pickleball
• Spikeball

Registration closes at midnight before each league starts! Create a team or join one with friends. Not sure who to play with? Join as a free agent! Sign up on IMLeagues, and contact Nate Freeman at freemann@georgefox.edu if you have 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 (Monday), from 10 to 10:45 a.m. We will also host a session on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 3 to 3:45 p.m.

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

The Hadlock Student Center is excited to announce we’ll be hosting GroupX classes for the semester! Here is the schedule:

• Mondays: Employee-only Functional Fitness (noon); Pilates (6 p.m.)
• Tuesdays: Lunchtime Yoga* (noon); Full Body Burn (5 p.m.)
• Wednesdays: Employee-Only Functional Fitness (noon); Spin (5:30 p.m.)
• Thursdays: Employee-Only Dance/Zumba* (4:30 p.m.); Pilates (6 p.m.); Thursday Night Groove (7:30 p.m.)
• Fridays: Yin Yoga (2 p.m.)
• Saturdays: Circuit Training (9 a.m.)

To find out more information about each class and register for classes, create/login in to your IM Leagues account here.

*Lunchtime yoga and employee-only dance/Zumba begin in week two.

If your gym locker in Wheeler Sports Center’s men’s or coaching locker room is currently hosting a mystery collection of forgotten socks or a pair of sneakers from the Obama administration, we need a quick favor.

We are conducting a full locker identification audit to reclaim space and finally address the lockers that haven’t been opened since the turn of the decade.

What you need to do:

• Head to the locker room: Swing by Wheeler’s men’s or coaching locker room
• Grab a tag: You’ll find labels and pens set up inside
• Label your locker: Write your name clearly and affix the tag to your locker
• Deadline: Friday, Sept. 4

Any locker left unlabelled after Friday, Sept. 4, will have its lock cut off. Remaining contents will either be donated to charity or safely disposed of.

Going forward, please email all inter-departmental charges (IDCs) and error correction forms to the following email address: idcs-error_correct@georgefox.edu.

Using this email address will improve our ability to process and track your IDCs and error correction requests. A win for everybody!

Sending paper copies of your forms through interoffice mail will no longer be necessary. Please contact Bruce Owen at bowen@georgefox.edu with any questions regarding this change.

Faculty and staff can access a variety of George Fox brand resources to make presentations and everyday communications professional and on-brand, from branded presentation templates, fonts and colors to email signatures, virtual meeting backgrounds, and ready-to-use designs.

Explore all the resources here. 

The library is pleased to deliver library materials to mailboxes for faculty who are located at the Portland Center. Library materials will be sent via campus courier. Faculty outside of Newberg may also receive materials through USPS at their home address (this does not require additional registration; visit this link for more information).

You can fill out the request form for Portland Center faculty courier service here. If you have questions, contact Sarah Willhite at lwillhite@georgefox.edu.

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.

Virtual information sessions will be held on the following dates:

• Session 1: Monday, Aug. 31, 10 to 10:45 a.m.
• Session 2: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 3 to 3:45 p.m.

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

Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for a dedicated home ownership webinar and private consultations, brought to you by George Fox University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in partnership with Advantage Home Plus.

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, refinance, or simply map out your long-term housing strategy, this event offers clear, objective guidance with zero sales pressure from advisors who operate purely as educators, not lenders.

Spaces are limited for these personalized sessions and expert-led presentation. Sign up here today to secure your spot and start making the most of your employee benefits!

Minutes matter when safety is on the line. Join us for an essential emergency preparedness training session designed specifically for building staff and faculty.

During this interactive hour, you’ll gain hands-on experience operating the Evacutrac evacuation chair, learn who to call first during a campus crisis, and review the standard procedures for reporting injuries.

Date: Today (Wednesday)
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Portland Center main lobby

Equip yourself with the knowledge to protect our campus community. We look forward to seeing you there!