The Daily Bruin

The finance office will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 for Christmas break. Deposits that need to have a December 2024 date must be brought to the finance office no later than noon on Friday, Dec. 20. If it arrives later, it will go into a deposit for January 2025.

Please note our new location is 1515 Portland Road, formerly known as the “Sleep Center.”

Please look around your desks and file cabinets to see if there are any lingering items that need to go to the bank. If you are taking extra time off during the Christmas and New Year holiday, please send your deposits over before you leave.

If you have any questions about deposits, please contact Heather Groenlund at 503-554-2173. Thank you, and have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Note: For all deposit-related inquiries, please use our new email: deposits@georgefox.edu. Thank you!

December brings a blend of emotions, as the holiday season can be both a time of joy and reflection. For many, it’s a season of celebration, warmth and anticipation, as we enjoy traditions and time with loved ones. Yet, it can also be a challenging period with the pressures of gift-giving, financial worries, or the absence of those we hold dear.

During this season, let’s take a moment to focus on the true source of peace and joy – God’s love and presence in our lives. Amid the busyness, we invite you to reflect on the blessings around you and seek renewal in the hope and comfort he provides.

To help you keep your spirits bright this season, we encourage you to take a moment to read this information. Inside, you’ll find practical tips and uplifting reminders to carry you through the holidays with grace and positivity. Know that you are supported, cared for, and never alone in this journey.

Give students a meaningful gift this Christmas. We are well on our way to reaching our goal of 30% employee giving. All we need now is you! Here are a few ideas of where you can give:

• The George Fox Scholarship Fund: This fund supports scholarships and a number of programs that aid students every day.
• Bruin Community Pantry: The BCP supports students who have limited access to healthy food and educates them on healthy eating habits through cooking demonstrations and educational programming.
• Student Emergency Fund: This fund supports students in need who are experiencing financial hardship.

To give through payroll deduction, fill out this form. Note: Login using the “Google” button with your George Fox email below the general login.

Thank you for standing with students this year! Email Kelton Hedstrom at khedstrom@georgefox.edu if you have questions.

Spring 2025 textbooks are now live online at the Bruin Bookstore. Visit our website to get ahead of the spring rush. Select “in store pick-up” and we will have your books ready for your return to campus!

Have a great finals week and happy holidays! See you in 2025!

The Bruin Bookstore will have adjusted hours for winter break:

• Dec. 14 (winter commencement): 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Dec. 16-20: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Dec. 23: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Dec. 24: Jan. 1 – Closed
• Jan. 2-3: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Spring term hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday) begin on Monday, Jan. 6.

There is a new exhibition in the library’s display cases: “Happy 400th Birthday, George Fox!” Come learn more about George Fox the person and about how our institution became known as George Fox University. This project was led by senior students Lydia Engel (English) and Gabrielle Simantel (history), and it will be displayed through the spring semester.

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

Experiencing ho-ho-ho-liday stress? Here’s how to avoid it. The holiday season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, it also brings unique challenges. From packed schedules and financial pressures to family dynamics and unrealistic expectations, the holidays can leave us feeling overwhelmed.

In this article, we’ll explore simple strategies to help you manage stress, prioritize your well-being, and rediscover the joy that makes this season truly special.

There are 40 Christmas cards still available if you would still like to have some for your department. The cost is about $1.06 per card.

Email Brandy at bdonavant@georgefox.edu if you’re interested in ordering some. Please remember to send your full accounting string in your request.

This is a reminder that the George Fox Mobile application will cease functioning at the end of this month. After this date, the mobile app will no longer be available or supported. Please note that you can find the same information that is available in the app on the George Fox website and MyGeorgeFox.

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 the end of the day today (Monday). Timesheets that span Nov. 16 through Dec. 15 should have hours forecasted, locked, and approved by today.

Regular employee timesheets and student timesheets can be locked at the end of the month as usual. The student payday will be on Friday, Dec. 13, and the regular employee payday will be on Monday, Dec. 23.

Questions? Contact the payroll team at payroll@georgefox.edu.

Thank you to the 100 participants who completed the Health Assessment in November. What an incredible commitment to well-being! Congratulations to our raffle winners:

• Mindful Movement Kit – Carlos Fernandez
• Family Fun Set – Michael Morikawa
• Relax and Renew Spa Set – Jenelle Stone
• Nature’s Retreat – Sarah Cox
• Wander Ready Kit – Caroline Wildhaber
• Mystery Basket (Smart Travel Solutions Basket) – Lynne Riffenburgh
• The Ultimate Cozy Retreat – Katie Maupin
• Nourish and Nurture Collection – Alex Rolfe

The winners have been notified directly with prize pick-up instructions. As you continue your health journey, don’t forget these valuable resources:

• Connect with a health coach (Providence Health Plan members).
• Explore life coaching services through our EAP program.
• Check out Providence Basecamp resources for all employees.

Great work everyone! Here’s to taking the next step in your wellness journey! Contact Aga Kasprzyk at akasprzyk@georgefox.edu if you have questions.

Join us tonight (Friday) for First Friday Art Walk in Newberg! This marks the last First Friday Art Walk of the semester. Current exhibitions “Heading Home: Glimpses of New Jerusalem” by Kieran Dodds in Lindgren Gallery and “other worlds” by Nicole Williford in Minthorne Gallery will close after this week.

Also, stop by Lemmons on your stroll between the galleries to check out and buy student artwork at the Holiday Art Market.

Contact Chandler Brutscher at cbrutscher@georgefox.edu for more information.

The Department of Art and Design invites you to shop student and alumni art during our Holiday Art Market! Come check out a variety of gifts like handmade ceramics, photographs, drawings, jewelry, stickers and more today (Friday) between noon and 7 p.m. or tomorrow (Saturday) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Shop handmade goods while enjoying complimentary hot chocolate, cider and cookies! It’s a festive event that supports our students and celebrates the season!

Contact Chandler Brutscher at cbrutscher@georgefox.edu if you have questions.

The campus community, including students, employees and their families, are invited to join the university’s annual campus-wide Christmas Extravaganza today (Thursday)! This is a wonderful time for everyone across the university to come together and celebrate the Christmas season.

The Extravaganza begins with a tree-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., followed by activities and attractions that include carriage rides, baby goats, s’mores, fire pits, “Santa’s Workshop” in the Maker Hub, ornament and cookie decorating, music performances in the chapel, lots of delicious treats, and more! The event will go until 7 p.m.

Come join in on the festivities!

Moms of younger kids are invited to a holiday lunch at noon on Monday, Dec. 16, in Canyon Commons. If you are a mom or a mom-to-be, please join us for fellowship and conversation. This is a great opportunity to connect with the community, share resources, and support one another. Please RSVP to the event invite.

Email Megan Fisher (mfisher@georgefox.edu) or Amanda Howard (ahoward@georgefox.edu) with any questions and to receive the invite.

Drinkware is on sale for 20% off at the Bruin Bookstore today (Thursday) through Monday, Dec. 9.

There are still a few volunteer shifts available for tomorrow’s Christmas Extravaganza. Please email Liz Garland in the president’s office at lgarland@georgefox.edu if you would like to sign up for a one-hour volunteer shift (5 to 6 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m.).

The annual campus-wide Christmas Extravaganza is a wonderful time for everyone across the university to come together and celebrate the Christmas season. We’re grateful to the volunteers who help make this event a success and a blessing to our campus community and their families.

President Robin and Ruth Baker cordially invite employees to their home for a Christmas Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 8. There will be a chili bar, hors d’oeuvres, and sweet treats for everyone to enjoy. The Bakers’ home is at 701 E. Franklin St. in Newberg.

The Christmas Open House follows the 2:30 p.m. matinee performance of our Christmas Concert, “The Sounding Joy,” in Bauman Auditorium that Sunday. Sunday’s matinee performance is sold out, but you can still reserve two complimentary tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on either Friday, Dec. 6, or Saturday, Dec. 7.

Each employee should obtain their ticket using their George Fox email address. Once you select the seat you would like to reserve, you will then choose “employee comp” from a pricing option list. Employees and students can also attend a free family-friendly dress rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, after our Christmas Extravaganza.

Questions? Contact Carly Reumann at creumann@georgefox.edu.

We’re excited to announce that in May of 2025 students and faculty from our Doctor of Physical Therapy program will be heading to Uganda for a medical service trip! Our well-established partnerships with local leaders in Uganda seek to meet the physical and educational needs that exist in these communities.

We will work alongside doctors, teachers and community leaders who have been our friends and partners for over 10 years. As we prepare to return, we need your help! This trip is being funded by donations and fundraisers, with our next one being through MOD Pizza on Monday, Dec. 9.

Visit the MOD Pizza in Newberg that day and use the code MODGIVES20 to support us (valid for dine-in, takeout or delivery). 

In previous trips, we have seen kids and adults receive health care for the first time in their lives, having walked hours through rural Uganda to our large medical clinics. We have seen teenagers with cerebral palsy walk for the first time and even start playing soccer with friends. We have helped Ugandans with amputations return to the professional world in previously lost careers. We have even saved the lives of kids with hydrocephalus, or adults with progressive cancers by identifying them and ensuring they get the medical care they need.

Thank you for your support!

Life can be stressful. Each day we attempt a balance of work, school, personal relationships, and environmental factors, all of which can feel overwhelming.

In this program we will discuss how we can perceive stress differently, but also how to balance and offset our stress for increased health and wellbeing. Reserve a seat for this Canopy EAP webinar on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m.