An eye on AI: Newest updates in Gemini

Sunday, April 19th, 2026

Google continues to provide new features and improved functionality for a more seamless access to Gemini in both the Plus license that all students, staff and faculty have, and the Pro license.

Here are the most recent updates:

  • In the Gemini app and beyond:
    • Add notebooks from NotebookLM as a data source in the Gemini app. This will provide more relevant responses that are grounded in the sources in your notebook. Click the Plus icon in your Gemini chat window.
    • Google Chat is now available as a data source in the Gemini app.
    • Conversation history in the Gemini side panel in your apps. View and resume your saved conversations in the History section. Smart features must be enabled in your Gmail settings.
    • Available in Docs for everyone.
    • Pro version also available in Gmail and Sheets
  • Expanded NotebookLM capabilities for Education Plus:
    • Increased source context: Support for more sources in each notebook.
    • More engagement: Send more chat queries per day.
    • Expanded study tools: Create more flashcard sets and quizzes.
    • More multimedia generation: Create more Video Overviews, Audio Overviews, infographics and slide decks.

Do you have a Mac computer? Click here to download the new Gemini for Mac app. (If you’re familiar with Anthropic’s Claude CoWork, this will be similar.)

  • Sign in with your George Fox account. This provides the same privacy protection as the rest of our Workspace apps.
  • Opens a Gemini Chat window anywhere on your Mac computer without opening a browser.
  • All chats are saved and will appear on your Gemini app webpage.
  • Works best if you have turned on your connected apps. This allows Gemini to search your email, docs, other files, etc. and give you the best response using data you already have.

Tip: To get more personalized responses, you can share your window with Gemini. In Gemini, click the Plus icon to see the option to share your window.

Contact us at servicedesk@georgefox.edu with any questions, or check the IT AI website.

Celebrate faculty winners at Awards Chapel tomorrow

Sunday, April 19th, 2026

Don’t miss the final chapel of the academic year, also known as Awards Chapel!

Please join us tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel as we celebrate our faculty award winners and the upcoming end of the academic year!

We’ll have a time of worship, hear from President Baker and Joseph Clair, associate provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors, and present faculty awards. Faculty winners of the Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Research & Scholarship, Outstanding Service, and Outstanding Faith and Integration awards will be announced.

Come celebrate with, and congratulate, our winning faculty members!

Questions? Contact Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.

Utilize new community resource: For Our Neighbor

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Current events and news regarding ICE-related activities can cause significant stress, fear and trauma. We want you to know that you are not alone. For Our Neighbor is a dedicated online resource hub created specifically to support George Fox students and staff navigating these heavy anxieties.

If you or someone you know is feeling impacted, please utilize these resources or reach out to forourneighbor@georgefox.edu.

Take time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Pam Fifer tomorrow

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

George Fox will celebrate Dr. Pam Fifer’s memory with a service held in Bauman Auditorium tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m. All are welcome to join us in honoring Dr. Fifer, who lost her battle with cancer on March 27.

As dean of the College of Nursing, she was a visionary leader who transformed the program through her pursuit of academic excellence, her commitment to mentorship, and her advocacy for the future of nursing education.

In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests that donations be made to the Pamela J. Fifer Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship at George Fox, ensuring her passion for nursing education continues to inspire generations of students. Click here to donate.

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

Celebrate faculty winners at Awards Chapel on Tuesday

Wednesday, April 15th, 2026

Don’t miss the final chapel of the academic year, also known as Awards Chapel!

Please join us TuesdayApril 21, at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel as we celebrate our faculty award winners and the upcoming end of the academic year!

We’ll have a time of worship, hear from President Baker and Joseph Clair, associate provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors, and present faculty awards. Faculty winners of the Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Research & Scholarship, Outstanding Service, and Outstanding Faith and Integration awards will be announced.

Come celebrate with, and congratulate, our winning faculty members!

Questions? Contact Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.

Reserve complimentary seats for Cornel West and Robert George’s talk on civic friendship tonight

Wednesday, April 15th, 2026

What does it look like when two of America’s most brilliant and outspoken minds — one a conservative lion of natural law theory, the other a prophetic voice of the Black radical tradition — sit down not as opponents, but as brothers in Christ?

Tonight (Thursday), at 7 p.m., the university invites you to “Civic Friendship in a Polarized Age,” a rare and remarkable dialogue between Princeton’s Robert George and Union Seminary’s Cornel West.

Students have the option of receiving elective chapel credit for attending. The event, originally scheduled for Canyon Commons, has been moved to Bauman Auditorium. There is no fee, but we request you please reserve your spot using this form.

Rooted not in the tired theater of political debate but in a shared Christian faith that calls all people to love their neighbors across every divide, this conversation will explore what genuine civic friendship demands of us in this fractured moment. Come expecting not a clash, but a covenant — a living demonstration that the gospel has always been, at its heart, a politics of reconciliation.

For more information, contact Carly Reumann creumann@georgefox.edu.

Registration for Pre-College Summer Institute is still open

Wednesday, April 15th, 2026

The Pre-College Summer Institute is a college immersive experience for high schoolers who have completed at least one year of high school. Students will stay overnight in the dorms, take classes during the day, and have evening activities available with other students. Visit this website for more information and to register your high schooler.

If you are a part of the George Fox community, use one of these discounts:

  • Employees: Use discount code BRUIN for a $400 discount.
  • Graduate Students: We invite you to also use the BRUIN discount code if you have kids who want to attend.
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Students: If you have a high school-age sibling, use the discount code SIBLING for a $400 discount.

Questions? Contact summercamps@georgefox.edu.

Note these upcoming Bruin Store events and rental return deadline

Tuesday, April 14th, 2026

Be sure to take note of these upcoming Bruin Store events and deadlines:

  • April 15-16: All discontinued Stanley and Hydro flask items are just $17.98.
  • April 23: Our Grad Appreciation Event, when we offer 20% off diploma frames, gifts and clothing
  • Now until May 1: Rental books are due at the Bruin Store by May 1

Questions? Contact Kristin McGuirk at kmcguirk@georgefox.edu.

Schedule your appointment with the VLC now

Tuesday, April 14th, 2026

Finals are almost here! Don’t wait until the Virtual Learning Center is fully booked; schedule your appointment now. We offer Zoom and asynchronous appointments.

To schedule an appointment, go to the TracCloud icon on your Canvas dashboard. If you have any questions, email Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu.

Attend ‘Dona Nobis Pacem,’ the Spring Symphony and Choral Concert

Sunday, April 12th, 2026

The Chehalem Symphony, Chehalem Chorus, and George Fox University choirs invite you to their Spring Concert, Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem. This combined performance will feature the student winners of the Concerto and Aria Competition, Maxwell Ball (tenor) and Michaela Gaines (trumpet).

There will be two performances: Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. 

George Fox students can attend for free, and employees receive two complimentary tickets by entering their George Fox email address when making reservations.

Reserve your tickets online, over the phone, or in person at the performing arts office in Ross 200. Tickets will also be available at the venue beginning one hour before each performance.

For more information, contact the Box Office at 503-554-3400 or boxoffice@georgefox.edu.

Celebrate faculty winners at Awards Chapel on April 21

Sunday, April 12th, 2026

Don’t miss the final chapel of the academic year, also known as Awards Chapel!

Please join us Tuesday, April 21, at 10:50 a.m. in the chapel as we celebrate our faculty award winners and the upcoming end of the academic year!

We’ll have a time of worship, hear from President Baker and Joseph Clair, associate provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors, and present faculty awards. Faculty winners of the Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Research & Scholarship, Outstanding Service, and Outstanding Faith and Integration awards will be announced.

Come celebrate with, and congratulate, our winning faculty members!

Questions? Contact Laurie Fair at lfair@georgefox.edu.

See three student-directed plays this Sunday

Thursday, April 9th, 2026

Alpha Psi Omega and the theatre department invite you to a night (or a matinee!) of student-directed one-act plays. The triple feature of Art in a Safe Space (directed by Kinsey Burke), Bitten (directed by Jonathan Beals), and The Door (directed by Atalia Fisher) will make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

These Second Stage shows run for one hour, and will be presented on Sunday, April 12, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Wood-Mar Auditorium, located on the third floor of EHS. No ticket is required for entry, and admission is free. See you there!

Please note that Second Stage performances are NOT intended for young audiences.

Questions? Contact Kylie Russell at krussell23@georgefox.edu.

Submit your votes online today for Give Day

Wednesday, April 8th, 2026

Portland Center students are invited to cast their vote for their favorite participating cause this Give Day through the festival vote. The cause with the most votes will unlock an additional $1,000 for their initiative.

Cast your vote via this Google Form before voting closes at 1 p.m. today (Thursday).

Questions? Contact Kelton Hedstrom at khedstrom@georgefox.edu.

Attend George Fox’s spring choral concert on Saturday

Wednesday, April 8th, 2026

The George Fox University Chamber Singers and Concert Choir invite you to their spring concert, “To The Sky!,” this Saturday, April 11, at 3 p.m. in Bauman Auditorium. The concert will feature student conductors Maxwell Ball, Reagan Medina and Maria Yin. Admission is free!

Questions? Contact Jenn Buygawan at jbuyagawan@georgefox.edu

Take time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Pam Fifer on April 18

Wednesday, April 8th, 2026

George Fox will celebrate Dr. Pam Fifer’s memory with a service held in Bauman Auditorium on Saturday, April 18, at 10 a.m. All are welcome to join us in honoring Dr. Fifer, who lost her battle with cancer on March 27.

As dean of the College of Nursing, she was a visionary leader who transformed the program through her pursuit of academic excellence, her commitment to mentorship, and her advocacy for the future of nursing education.

Her family will also hold a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Crossroads Community Church in Keizer. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Pamela J. Fifer Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship at George Fox, ensuring her passion for nursing education continues to inspire generations of students. Click here to donate.

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

Join us tonight to hear from Jim Donald, one of the ‘Top 25 CEOs in the World’

Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

Join us tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. in Canyon Commons to hear from Jim Donald, former CEO of Starbucks, who will share his insights on leading through change.

Donald will move beyond business theory to discuss the human element in a conversation he calls, “What They Don’t Teach You in Business School: Real-World Leadership for the Future.” This free event offers a masterclass in the human element of industry.

Donald will provide the “missing link” between classroom theory and the grit of “front-line” leadership – lessons he learned directly from legendary figures like Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. He will deep dive into an “old-school” playbook that validates the daily professional challenges of the modern age through the lens of a servant-leadership model.

Donald is a world-class executive and “Turnaround King” with a storied 50-year career in the retail and service industries. Recognized by the Best Practice Institute as one of the “Top 25 CEOs in the World,” Donald has held the top leadership mantle at some of the most recognizable brands in the world, including Starbucks, Albertsons, and Extended Stay Hotels.

For more information, contact Carly Reumann creumann@georgefox.edu.

Schedule a Virtual Learning Center appointment before finals

Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

The end of the semester moves fast, and Virtual Learning Center (VLC) appointments fill up even faster. Whether you need a final paper review or a strategy session for that big exam, the time to book is now.

Beat the rush, secure your spot, and walk into finals week with a plan. Your future self will thank you!

To schedule an appointment, go to the TracCloud icon on your Canvas dashboard. If you have any questions, please email Heather Harney at hharney@georgefox.edu.

Take note of the Student Account payment portal visual update

Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

Students and authorized payers: We’re updating the look of the Student Account payment portal to better align with George Fox University branding.

This update is visual only; there are no changes to functionality, or how you access or make payments. You will continue to use the same links and login process as before.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Accounts at studentaccounts@georgefox.edu.

Register your kids for George Fox Youth Football Camp

Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

Registration is now open for George Fox Youth Football Camp! It is open to kids from kindergarten through eighth grade. We will have games, competitions and prizes, and will learn the basic fundamentals of football.

Register here today. See you this summer!

Questions? Contact Spencer Crace at scrace@georgefox.edu.

Participate in a dissertation study on culture, stress and resilience

Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

Gabrielle Hernandez, a doctoral student in clinical psychology, is inviting students and community members ages 18 and older to participate in a research study on culture, stress and resilience.

This mixed-methods study examines how cultural orientation (collectivist vs. individualistic) relates to resilience and life stressors, with the goal of informing more culturally responsive and strengths-based mental health practices.

Participation involves completing a brief online survey, which takes approximately 15 to 25 minutes. All responses are anonymous, and participation is completely voluntary.

If you are 18 or older and interested in participating, please access the survey here and submit your response before May 31. Your participation will contribute to research aimed at improving culturally responsive mental health care.

Questions? Contact Gabrielle at ghernandez22@georgefox.edu.