Names of 2011-12 Service Award recipients announced

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Do you anticipate receiving a five-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, or 35-year service award this spring? If so, please check to be sure your name is included on one of the lists below.

Awards will be presented at our annual employee recognition event on Wednesday, May 2. If your name does not appear but you believe you should receive an award, or if your name is on the list and you don’t think you should receive an award this year, contact Peggy Kilburg (Human Resources) by e-mail and include any information you think may be helpful. (If you are a rehire, your previous benefits-eligible experience at George Fox counts toward your service award.)

Your help is most appreciated to ensure that the right employees are honored at this event. Only service at half-time or above is used in determining your years of service.

  • To receive a five-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 2006 and Sept. 1, 2007
  • To receive a 10-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 2001 and Sept. 1, 2002
  • To receive a 15-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 1996 and Sept. 1, 1997
  • To receive a 20-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 1991 and Sept. 1, 1992
  • To receive a 25-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 1986 and Sept. 1, 1987
  • To receive a 30-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 1981 and Sept. 1, 1982
  • To receive a 35-year award, your hire date is between Sept. 2, 1976 and Sept. 1, 1977

Five-Year: Ron Arnold, Ken Badley, Rita Boggs, Darryl Brown, Rae Casey, Keith Dempsey, Janeen Dillow, Jesse Dillow, Mike Foster, Bethany Goldman, Marcie Gowan, Robin Halverson, Marty Hunter, Lois Hutchinson, Jared Kamimae-Lanning, Robby Larson, Terah Moore, Helen Morse, James Oshiro, Thomas Peng, Terry Peters, Cathy Peterson, Steve Petzold, Rachel Powell, Tim Rahschulte, Valerie Rogers, Keith Schneider, Jane Scott, Seth Sikkema, Jim Smart, Lauri Smith, Mark Stone, Audrey Williamson

10-Year: Bryan Boyd, Carol Brazo, Susan Corbett-Furgal, Lori DeKruyf, Kristin Dixon, Kristina Findley, Janelle Freitag, Steve Gilday, Mary Johnson, Dave Johnstone, Judy Keeney, Loren Kerns, David Kerr, Mike Magill, Brian McLaughlin, Jean Miller, Jared Ocker, Tammy O’Doherty, Paul Otto, Joy Reimann, Cliff Rosenbohm, Elizabeth Todd, Larry Weber, Loren Wenz

15 Year: Dwayne Astleford, Debbie Berho, Andy Dunn, Mark McMinn, Roger Newell, Mark Terry, Dan van der Water

20-Year: George Byrtek, Gary Kilburg, Margi Macy, Dianna McIntyre, Rand Michael, Josh Nauman, Eilene Newman, Phil Smith

25-Year: Beth LaForce, Darryl McKenzie

30-Year: Steve Grant, Mark Weinert

35-Year: Paul Chamberlain, Tom Head

Spring Theological Conference begins today

Sunday, February 12th, 2012

Don’t forget this week’s Spring Theological Conference featuring Evvy Campbell. Campbell, a Wheaton college professor and former director with an international relief organization, will speak on campus and engage the university community in a conversation on the “holistic mission of God” Monday and Wednesday.

Campbell, an associate professor of intercultural studies emerita at Wheaton, will speak in chapel on Monday and Wednesday. Both services are scheduled from 10:40 to 11:30 a.m. in Bauman Auditorium. In addition, she will engage with students and other attendees in a conversation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the Cap and Gown Room. The topic of discussion will be “Engaging the Missional God: An Interactive Conversation.”

Monday evening’s session will allow students and faculty to engage in conversations about how they can participate in God’s work in the midst of those distinct callings. Each speaker will sit with students and share a part of his or her story in small groups, with conversation and discussion following. Students will rotate to hear three of the six speakers. The evening will also include worship, refreshments and prayer.

Speakers include: Brian Doak (Religious Studies), Evvy Campbell (guest speaker), Kris Kays (Psychology), Davida Brown (Chemistry), Nate Peach (Economics) and Marie Palm (Nursing).

For more information, contact Paula Hampton in the religious studies department at ext. 2650 or phampton@georgefox.edu.

Faculty/staff portrait session scheduled for Feb. 22

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Marketing Communications will host a staff/faculty portrait session from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in Room 101 of the Villa Academic Complex. These high-quality studio portraits will be used on the university website and will be available for professional promotional use.

Please e-mail or call Danette Newkirk (dnewkirk@georgefox.edu) at ext. 2125 to let us know what time you are planning to come. You may still come without prior notice.

All-employee meeting rescheduled for Feb. 16

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

An all-employee meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, Feb. 16, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Hoover 105. Please note this earlier date, as the meeting was originally scheduled for Feb. 23.

For those at the university’s regional sites, the meeting will be available at a stream site that you can access from MyGFU. Simply log into MyGFU and click the “Community Meeting Link” located under “Staff Resources/Faculty Resources.” It is the bottom link in that section.

In addition, a chat room has been set up, and a video recording of the meeting will be available for viewing in the days following the meeting at itunesu.georgefox.edu.

Be sure to check out President Baker’s recent blog posts

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Be sure to check out President Robin Baker’s latest blog posts, in which he shares his thoughts on a friend (Jim Steinfeld) who has passed away (“Honoring the Author of Our Story – Legacy of My Friend”) and the challenge colleges face in making an education affordable (“University Presidents Grapple with Affordability”).

Lunch event explores collaborative learning Feb. 9

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

A lunch event next Thursday, Feb. 9, will explore cooperative and collaborative learning structures that enhance student learning.

“February Lunch and Learn: Managing Cooperative Learning Groups” is scheduled from 11:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Cap and Gown Room A. Presenters Gary Kilburg (MAT/Director of The Mentoring Institute) and Tom Buchanan (MAT) will present.

Synposis
There is a significant body of research that suggests students learn effectively when they have opportunity to engage with their peers through the learning process. Employers identify “collaboration” as a 21st-century skill needed for today’s workplace. This session includes:

  • Looking at what research says about the benefits of this learning
  • Some of the parameters to keep in mind to structure effective collaborative learning
  • Modeling of structures and sharing among group members

R.S.V.P. to Brenda Burg (bburg@georgefox.edu) to reserve your lunch.

Check out Bruin Bookstore’s new products

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Come in and see the Bruin Bookstore’s new Columbia Sportswear and School House products. While you’re here, check out our sale items marked down 33 percent.

IT offers two instructional webinars Feb. 7 and 9

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

IT is offering two webinars during the week of Feb. 6:

  • Google Docs Sharing and Collaboration, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 4-4:30 p.m.
  • Foxfiles, Thursday, Feb. 9, 4-4:30 p.m.

Join IT throughout the spring for 30-minute webinars on FoxTALE, FoxFiles and Google Docs. View the schedule and sign up at this link. Information on how to join each webinar will be delivered via e-mail 24 hours prior to the webinar. We’ll continue to add webinars and post additional announcements.

Questions? Contact Sheila Abercrombie at sabercro@georgefox.edu or Kandie Comfort at kcomfort@georgefox.edu.

Faculty textbook notice

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Faculty: We are beginning our process of returning unsold textbooks to our vendors. Please notify your students that if they have not yet purchased a book for your class, they need to do that soon. We will have limited stock on hand after next week.

Questions? Contact Sandy Gidding at sgidding@georgefox.edu.

Thanks for your help.

– Bruin Bookstore

Call for February Employee of the Month nominations

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Another month is here, and with it comes the opportunity to submit a nomination for another Employee of the Month award recipient. If you know of someone whose recent contributions make him or her worthy of this honor, please take a few minutes to send an e-mail to Peggy Kilburg that includes a specific summary of the person’s contributions (past 30 days or so) and any other information that you believe makes this person deserving. Nominations are due Feb. 15.

The President’s Executive Leadership Team will select this month’s winner from the nominations submitted, and he or she will be awarded a $100 gift card to The Allison at our community meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Cards of Hope benefits victims of sex trafficking in Southeast Asia

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

A senior capstone group has organized Cards of Hope to benefit the Garden of Hope organization as it works to help rescue and rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. Take a look at our six standard photo greeting cards, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to Garden of Hope. Only $2 per card!

Visit this Facebook link to see the cards and order. We also offer a customizable card option that allows you to e-mail in any photo to be placed on a greeting card ($3 per card). E-mail orders with the photo you’d like and the quantity desired to: cardsofhopegfu@gmail.com.

Help us send hope to the women and men of Southeast Asia as we support Garden of Hope. To learn more, contact Joel Perri at jperri09@georgefox.edu.

Theatre’s ‘She Loves Me’ production opens Thursday

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Tickets are now available for the university’s winter musical production, She Loves Me. The play opens Thursday, Feb. 2, and runs Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 2-5, and again Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 9-12, in Wood-Mar Auditorium. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of the two Sunday (Feb. 5 and 12) performances, scheduled as 2 p.m. matinees.

Tickets are available at the box office between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and can be claimed by dropping by or calling 503-554-3844. Tickets are also available online at theatre.georgefox.edu. Employees get one complimentary ticket for any performance, and Thursday nights are free student nights. The box office is now located at the information desk on the first floor of the Stevens Center.

For a synopsis of the play, visit the theatre web page.

Workshop on working with students with disabilities set for Feb. 9

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

As part of the diversity education workshop series, the Office of Transitions and Inclusion is hosting a workshop on working with students with disabilities. The workshop will be facilitated by Rick Muthiah and will take place on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Hoover 210.

If you would like to attend, you must R.S.V.P. by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, to Joel Perez.

Staff Appreciation Day is coming

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

We appreciate our staff! Staff Appreciation Day is coming soon! Watch for a special delivery to your desk next week brought to you by your Staff Development Committee.

January student employee time sheets due in HR

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Student supervisors: Pay day for student employees is Wednesday, Feb. 15. For us to meet this deadline we need your students’ January time sheets by Friday, Feb. 3, by 3 p.m. If you are on the Newberg campus, please hand-deliver the time sheets. If you send them with a student, make sure you place them in a sealed envelope. Any time sheets received after this deadline may not get paid on the 15th.

Please be sure the student’s name, ID number and cost center number is legible on each one. Also, don’t forget to sign them and be sure the students did as well. Please do not send students to HR to sign their time sheets.

Thanks so much for helping us get our students paid in a timely manner!

– HR

Irv Brendlinger and daughter speak at symposium tonight

Monday, January 30th, 2012

The campus community is invited to join us for the Peace and Justice Symposium scheduled for tonight (Tuesday) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Quaker Heritage Room (upstairs of library).

Speakers will be George Fox’s own Irv Brendlinger, professor of church history and theology, and his daughter Carol Joy, who serves as the ecumenical campus minister for the Portland Campus Christian Ministry housed at the Spiritual Life Center at PSU.

Come join us as this father/daughter duo share stories relating to their interaction with peace and justice throughout their lives.

Questions? Contact Melanie Newell in the Center for Peace and Justice (ext. 2686).

Staying connected: You’re invited to follow @GFUValerie

Monday, January 30th, 2012

I’m out and about in the greater community representing George Fox University. You are invited to follow me on Twitter as I corporately engage on your behalf and all things Bruin.

@GFUValerie

– Valerie Rogers

Ankeny presents at next LACI event Monday

Friday, January 27th, 2012

This Monday, Jan. 30, Becky Ankeny, superintendent of the Northwest Yearly Meeting, will discuss what it means to be in the world, but not of it and how Christians can be set apart and yet still effectively interact with the culture around them.

Join us from 7 to 8 p.m. in Hoover 105. This is the latest installment of the university’s Liberal Arts and Critical Issues Program. Questions? Contact Caitlin Corning at ext. 2673 or ccorning@georgefox.edu.

Watch for your W-2

Friday, January 27th, 2012

W-2s were made available in campus boxes on Friday, Jan. 27 (except for those who normally receive their pay statements at their home addresses, including adjunct faculty and temporary employees). Student W-2s will be in their boxes by early next week, and they will receive a separate e-nnouncement to that effect.

Most of the information on these forms is easy to understand or explained in the teeny, tiny fine print on the reverse, but we thought it would be helpful to provide a little extra information about the items and amounts in the various boxes on the W-2. Please go here to find this information that will likely be useful when you or your tax preparer files your tax return.

Thank you,
– HR

Last call for tuition remission requests for 2012-13

Friday, January 27th, 2012

If you are a benefits-eligible employee and there is any possibility that you will use tuition remission during next academic year (fall 2012, spring 2013 and/or summer 2013 semesters), whether for yourself, a spouse, and/or dependent(s), a Tuition Remission Request Form for each person needs to be submitted NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1.

Please go to the Employee Benefits page on the HR website for the link to instructions for completing the Tuition Remission Request Form(s) and to the forms themselves. Please note: This year there is a separate form for the adult degree program and the elementary education degree-completion program.

And finally, please be sure to read this information before you begin completing a Tuition Remission Request Form.