The Daily Bruin

Although the Newberg and Portland campuses are currently ice and snow-free, that might not be the case this weekend, as a wintry mix of weather is forecast for Saturday and Sunday before it turns to rain. As you return to school or work, please pay careful attention to your state’s Department of Transportation website and road cams to check the road conditions.

Many mountain passes have been requiring chains or traction tires, or have been closed due to adverse weather and travel conditions (I-5 in the Siskiyous). Here are the regulations regarding usage of chains in the state of Oregon.

The tripcheck.com website in Oregon is extremely helpful to view the actual mountain passes through the provided webcams. The CalTrans website also has webcams, as does the WashDot website. If you are traveling from central or eastern Oregon via Highway 20, please be advised that even though chains may or may not be required depending on when you travel, the road is plowed but is icy and rutted.

As always, you need to be prepared for winter driving conditions, and at a minimum should have the following

• Chains and something to kneel on when installing them
• One gallon of water per person
• High-energy food like trail mix, granola bars, etc.
• Several flashlights
• A mirror to signal for help if you run off the road
• Flares
• An ice scraper and de-icer
• Blankets
• Warm coats/hat/gloves
• A shovel
• Kitty litter or bird seed for traction should you become stuck.

A cell phone charger that works off the car’s battery is also recommended should you become stranded or delayed. A reflective vest is also highly recommended if you are traveling at night and have to stop to install chains.

Travel during the afternoon if at all possible when it is the warmest, and be prepared for slow traffic traveling at 20 to 30 mph over the mountain passes. If you are not a confident driver in snow or ice, then take public transportation back to school and retrieve your car at spring break when travel conditions will hopefully be much better!

Be safe!
– Security Services

If your financial aid has not disbursed to your student account yet, please be sure you are ready. Are you fully registered (not including wait-listed classes) and have your “confirmed” for spring? Both of these impact aid disbursement!

Expecting excess aid for books and living expenses? Have you granted Financial Aid Permissions so aid can cover all your charges? Have you signed up for Direct Deposit? These both impact our ability to process your charges, issue refunds quickly and clear account holds.

Questions? Contact Jenny Getsinger at jgetsing@georgefox.edu.

The Graduate School of Counseling at George Fox University is hosting its last information meeting before the Feb. 1 early application deadline for fall semester. If you’re considering a masters in school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or school psychology, then plan to join the meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Portland Center campus (Room 155A).

Please RSVP online here and contact Joel Moore with questions at jmoore@georgefox.edu or 503-554-6166.

Don’t forget the hours in the Bruin Store are shortened today (Friday), from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will resume normal semester hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday) starting on Monday, Jan. 9.

Also, do you have online textbook orders to pick up? Pick those up any day next week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the FoxHole.

Contact Michael Simmons (msimmons@georgefox.edu) with any questions.

Although the Newberg and Portland campuses are currently ice and snow-free, that might not be the case this weekend, as a wintry mix of weather is forecast for Saturday and Sunday before it turns to rain. As you return to school or work, please pay careful attention to your state’s Department of Transportation website and road cams to check the road conditions.

Many mountain passes have been requiring chains or traction tires, or have been closed due to adverse weather and travel conditions (I-5 in the Siskiyous). Here are the regulations regarding usage of chains in the state of Oregon.

The tripcheck.com website in Oregon is extremely helpful to view the actual mountain passes through the provided webcams. The CalTrans website also has webcams, as does the WashDot website. If you are traveling from central or eastern Oregon via Highway 20, please be advised that even though chains may or may not be required depending on when you travel, the road is plowed but is icy and rutted.

As always, you need to be prepared for winter driving conditions, and at a minimum should have the following

• Chains and something to kneel on when installing them
• One gallon of water per person
• High-energy food like trail mix, granola bars, etc.
• Several flashlights
• A mirror to signal for help if you run off the road
• Flares
• An ice scraper and de-icer
• Blankets
• Warm coats/hat/gloves
• A shovel
• Kitty litter or bird seed for traction should you become stuck.

A cell phone charger that works off the car’s battery is also recommended should you become stranded or delayed. A reflective vest is also highly recommended if you are traveling at night and have to stop to install chains.

Travel during the afternoon if at all possible when it is the warmest, and be prepared for slow traffic traveling at 20 to 30 mph over the mountain passes. If you are not a confident driver in snow or ice, then take public transportation back to school and retrieve your car at spring break when travel conditions will hopefully be much better!

Be safe!
– Security Services

Please note that, per IRS guidelines, as of Jan. 1, 2017, the new mileage reimbursement rate for 2017 is $0.535 per mile.

The Expense Reimbursement Request form has been updated to reflect this change. There are now two Expense Reimbursement Request forms available on the Finance Department – Forms webpage, so please select carefully using the following criteria:

• The “2017 Expense Reimbursement Request” form should be used for reimbursement of expenses incurred on or after Jan. 1, 2017.
• The “2016 Expense Reimbursement Request” form should be used for expenses incurred on or before Dec. 31, 2016.

As a friendly reminder, all expense reimbursement requests should be submitted to the finance department within 30 work days after completion of the trip or purchase.

Please contact Jen Klapp at ext. 2170 with any questions.

Thank you,
– The Finance Department

The Bruin Store has “George Fox University Class of 2016” teddy bears and T-shirts that must go! This week only we are offering a 50 percent discount on these items. There is a limited supply, so act quickly.

Contact Michael Simmons at msimmons@georegefox.edu for more information.

Due to an illness, the Bruin Store is adjusting its hours this week. Those new hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today (Thursday) and tomorrow. We will resume normal semester hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday) starting on Monday, Jan. 9.

Also, do you have online textbook orders to pick up? Pick those up any day next week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the FoxHole.

Contact Michael Simmons (msimmons@georgefox.edu) with any questions.

Thank you and Go Bruins!

The Bruin Store has “George Fox University Class of 2016” teddy bears and T-shirts that must go! This week only we are offering a 50 percent discount on these items. There is a limited supply, so act quickly.

Contact Michael Simmons at msimmons@georegefox.edu for more information.

Due to an illness, the Bruin Store is adjusting its hours this week. Those new hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) through Friday (Jan. 4-6). We will resume normal semester hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday) starting on Monday, Jan. 9.

Also, do you have online textbook orders to pick up? Pick those up any day next week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the FoxHole.

Contact Michael Simmons (msimmons@georgefox.edu) with any questions.

Thank you and Go Bruins!

Two memorial services are scheduled this week for Arthur Roberts, the longtime professor and administrator who dedicated more than six decades to George Fox.

At 6 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 6, North Valley Friends Church will host a meeting for worship at which people will have the opportunity to share their memories of Arthur. Then, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, the university will host a “Celebration of the Life of Arthur O. Roberts” in Bauman Auditorium. Music and slides will begin at 10 a.m., and a reception will follow.

To read more about Arthur, visit this page.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to support student scholarships at George Fox University in the name of the Arthur and Fern Roberts Tuition Grant. Giving can be done here.

Do you know that if you don’t sign up for Student Account Direct Deposit your refunds, including financial aid refunds, will be delayed? Please sign up now!

Also, any student who has previously received refund checks via their campus box, we are no longer able to send checks to your campus box so please sign up for Direct Deposit.

There are two steps to sign up. Go to your Student Center in MyGFU to access an easy link via your “To Do List.” If your “To Do List” is not updated after 48 hours, look for help at this link or stop by our office.

The university’s offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23, as well as Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 26-27, in observance of Christmas. In addition, offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.

Libraries on the Newberg and Portland campuses will be closed on those days as well.

Do you know that if you don’t sign up for Student Account Direct Deposit your refunds, including financial aid refunds, will be delayed? Please sign up now!

Also, any student who has previously received refund checks via their campus box, we are no longer able to send checks to your campus box so please sign up for Direct Deposit.

There are two steps to sign up. Go to your Student Center in MyGFU to access an easy link via your “To Do List.” If your “To Do List” is not updated after 48 hours, look for help at this link or stop by our office.

Mail and Print Services will be closing early Thursday, Dec. 23, at 3:30 p.m. Print Services will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s, while Mail Services and the courier service will operate on their normal schedule (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) during that time frame.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Richard Silver at 503-554-2551.

With the holidays quickly approaching, the finance department would like to bring to your attention the schedule for processing check requests and expense reimbursement requests to accommodate the short holiday weeks.

Please refer to the Forms page on the finance department website to view the Accounts Payable Holiday Payment Processing Schedule.

Happy Holidays!
– The Finance Team

The Bruin Store will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today (Saturday) for midyear commencement. Congratulations to all our graduates!

The Oregon Historical Society is featuring a special anniversary exhibit titled, “Vision, Mission, Values: 125 Years of George Fox University.” As the oldest Christian institution in Oregon, we have a lot of history to share!

The exhibit highlights key individuals who shaped our story, special places and unique artifacts from campus life over the past 125 years. It is open now and runs through Feb. 5.

The Oregon Historical Society is located at 1200 S.W. Park Ave., in Portland. More information is available at this link.

Please be sure to log into your time sheet to lock your December hours, before you head out of town. Failure to lock your time sheet will cause a delay in your January payroll. Be safe and enjoy your time off!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Kasondra Silva at ksilva@georgefox.edu.

Want some extra cash this Christmas break? Sell your textbooks back to the Bruin Store and get cash today! We are buying back textbooks from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (Friday).

Also, go to georgefoxshop.com to order your spring textbooks now. Just choose the in-store pick-up option and we’ll have them ready for when you arrive back on campus in January.

Contact Michael Simmons (msimmons@georgefox.edu) if you have any questions.

Go Bruins!