The Daily Bruin

President Robin Baker, Chief Diversity Officer Rebecca Hernandez and Seminary Dean MaryKate Morse have shared a response to the racial tragedies unfolding across our country. 

The university is planning a time of prayer for our country. For those who wish to participate in a virtual prayer gathering, please contact Rebecca Hernandez (rhernandez@georgefox.edu).

COVID-19 has brought many challenges, including additional costs due to the disruption of campus operations. We know that many students have questions about the CARES Act and Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) that were allocated by the government as a result.

The Department of Education has issued guidance on disbursing these funds. George Fox University is working diligently to ensure that their regulations regarding disbursement of these funds are met.

The university is now sending out funds from the CARES Act to eligible students. If you have any questions about eligibility and these funds, please visit the CARES Act Grant FAQ.

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is now accepting applications for a new grant program aimed at helping Oregon veterans complete their educational goals.

The Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Program provides financial assistance to veterans who are unable to complete their education due to the unavailability of one or more required classes.

Eligible student veterans may receive grants of up to $5,000. Recipients must be a veteran eligible for GI Bill® benefits, must be an Oregon resident and must be enrolled in an Oregon-based academic program that is approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

For more information about the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Program, or to apply, visit the ODVA website. Questions may also be directed to ODVA’s Veteran Educational Bridge Grant coordinator, Scott Salazar, at ebg@odva.state.or.us or by phone at 503-373-2338. 

Important Notice: Make sure you upgrade to Zoom 5.0 as soon as possible. After May 30, 2020, all Zoom accounts that are on older versions will receive a forced upgrade when trying to join meetings, which may cause delays. 

To upgrade, open the Zoom app and left-click on your initials in the upper right corner of the app, then select “Check for Updates.” Install if available.

If you have any questions, please contact the Service Desk at servicedesk@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2569.

Have you or your family had a situation come up where your FAFSA information no longer correctly reflects your family financial picture? Our financial aid experts can evaluate your circumstance to see if any changes are applicable to your financial aid.

If you or your family has experienced a highly unusual circumstance that is not reflected on your FAFSA, such as loss of income, job loss, medical bills, etc., complete the 2020-21 Professional Judgment Assessment. A committee will review the circumstances, and your financial aid counselor will contact you regarding next steps.

In the event of job loss or reduction of income, we will make the final evaluation three months after the date of the loss or reduction, though our team can help give estimates and guidance in the meantime. 

Please note: Not all Professional Judgment Assessments result in additional financial aid. 

If anything else comes up, talk to us! We are here to help. You can reach out to us at finaid@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2302.

FoxTALE will be unavailable tomorrow (Wednesday) from 6 to 8 a.m. (Pacific Time) for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Questions? Email servicedesk@georgefox.edu or call 503-554-2569.

All university offices in Newberg and at regional sites will be closed this Monday, May 25, to observe the Memorial Day holiday.

The Department of Education recently released the final regulations for implementing protections of equal access to education under Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972. As federal laws, these regulations govern how institutions are required to respond to sexual assault and other forms of sexual harassment. These regulations are effective as of Aug. 14, 2020.

These regulations are significant, and we are carefully reviewing them over the coming weeks to determine what adjustments we need to make to our current policies and/or our processes for addressing reports of sexual assault and harassment.

The state of Oregon also has relevant legislation, and we need to consider how the federal and state regulations interact with one another. We will be certain to inform our community of any changes we need to make as a result of these new laws.

We recognize that many members of our community have been deeply impacted by sexual assault. It is important that you know that our commitment to preventing sexual assault, supporting those who report experiencing harm, and conducting fair, transparent and safe grievance processes for all parties continues to be a top priority for us. We remain steadfastly focused on continuing to build a supportive, safe and welcoming environment where everyone can learn, work and thrive.  

If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault, you are encouraged to connect to the resources at our institution or elsewhere that can best support you. Much of this information is on our website at georgefox.edu/titleix. We also have added a new video resource specific to George Fox on our Title IX website’s home page that addresses some common questions.

Our Title IX team’s contact information is on the Title IX website under “staff.” Please contact the Office of Student Life (studentlife@georgefox.edu) if you have any questions or concerns.

FoxTALE will be unavailable Wednesday, May 27, from 6 to 8 a.m. (Pacific Time) for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Questions? Email servicedesk@georgefox.edu or call 503-554-2569.

It’s time for a long overdue one-day flash sale at the Bruin Store! Today (Wednesday) only, get 25 percent off of your online order, including clothing, accessories, gifts, and collectibles. Use promo code MAYFLASH at georgefoxshop.com.

Note: Sale is online only, and exclusions apply. Questions? Contact Paige Jacobs at pjacobs@georgefox.edu.

If you could teach someone about COVID-19 and the quarantine 100 years from now, what would you share? What records and artifacts would you give them to learn from? In 100 years where would historians find these records?

We in archives invite George Fox students and employees to share your COVID-19 story with this submission form. How has this pandemic impacted your life? What has this experience been like for you? Sharing your experiences now will help people in the future understand what life was like during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have any questions, contact Rachel Thomas at rthomas@georgefox.edu.

If you could teach someone about COVID-19 and the quarantine 100 years from now, what would you share? What records and artifacts would you give them to learn from? In 100 years where would historians find these records?

We in archives invite George Fox students and employees to share your COVID-19 story with this submission form. How has this pandemic impacted your life? What has this experience been like for you? Sharing your experiences now will help people in the future understand what life was like during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have any questions, contact Rachel Thomas at rthomas@georgefox.edu.

If your contract ends soon and/or you will not be on campus through the summer, please bring over any cash or checks before you leave.

Please look around your desks and file cabinets to see if there are any lingering items that need to be deposited. Checks dated prior to June 30, 2020, must be deposited in the current fiscal year.

If you have any questions about deposits, please contact Heather Groenlund at 503-554-2173. Thank you and have a great summer!

George Fox is planning for students to return to physical classrooms at our teaching sites for the fall semester. We will do so thoughtfully and within the mandates from the governor’s office, but we will do everything in our power to offer our students in-person teaching rather than only remote delivery this fall.

Teams of George Fox employees are developing plans – in concert with the governor’s office and public health guidance – for the return to campus.

Over the last few weeks, automated emails have been sent reminding you of your upcoming rental books that need returned. In those emails, there are instructions to ship your books back, as well as instructions to print a prepaid shipping label that our company has provided. Please refer back to those emails and send your book in as soon as possible. 

When you ship your textbook(s) back, we will need you to include your first and last name, phone number, email address, and your rental patron ID number (which is also listed in your rental return reminder email). Without this information, we are unable to process your check-ins. 

Questions? Contact Paige Jacobs at pjacobs@georgefox.edu.

Now more than ever we all need to feel more comfortable working in the kitchen. Starting mid-May, live online cooking classes will be offered to all George Fox students, alumni and employees.

We will talk about how to use pantry food and elevate it with inexpensive ingredients from the produce, meat and dairy sections. From potatoes to rice, we will look at simple techniques that will give you many more options for healthy and nutritious food on a budget. You will learn to modify recipes for almost every dietary need.

Please complete this form if you are interested in participating in these classes. Whether you are in Alaska, California, Hawaii or Newberg, you can join in. All classes will be recorded for those who are unable to attend. There are no obligations!

Take advantage of these crazy days and learn to cook. You won’t be sorry! Classes will be taught by the Bruin Community Pantry’s Jere Witherspoon, and there may be special guests!

Questions? Contact Jere at jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu.

Around this time each year, with a class of seniors graduating, student loan repayment scams start to become more common. Here are a few tips and a resource so you can be on the lookout. 

Tips

• Know the names of your private and federal loan servicer. 
• Your lender will not call you about student loan forgiveness.
• Scammers will often use the promise of student loan discharge or forgiveness.
• You should never have to pay a fee to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan. Contact your lender directly if you have questions. 
• Watch out for third-party companies promising fast loan forgiveness, or use pressure tactics.

For more information on what to look out for, please go to this link. To find your federal loan servicer, please follow these steps:

• Go to Studentaid.gov
• Log in with your FSA username and password
• On your dashboard it will have their name
• You can also call 1-800-433-3243

You can always reach out to the financial aid office for more help at finaid@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2301.    

Graduating? Here’s how to return your books
To return checked-out library materials, you can either:

• Place them in the 24-hour book drop at either the Newberg or Portland campus libraries, or
• Mail them to:

George Fox University
Murdock Library
416 N. Meridian St.
Newberg, OR 97132

Need help paying for shipping? Contact us by Friday, May 15, to receive a prepaid mailing label. Please email your name, your address (including ZIP code), and the total weight of your packaged books to circadmin@georgefox.edu.

Not graduating yet? Here’s how to return your books
Non-graduating students can either:

• Place them in the 24-hour book drop at either the Newberg or Portland campus libraries, or
• Contact circadmin@georgefox.edu to have your due dates extended until Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Questions? Contact Patty Vanier at pvanier@georgefox.edu.

Graduating? Here’s how to return your books
To return checked-out library materials, you can either:

• Place them in the 24-hour book drop at either the Newberg or Portland campus libraries, or
• Mail them to:

George Fox University
Murdock Library
416 N. Meridian St.
Newberg, OR 97132

Need help paying for shipping? Contact us by Friday, May 15, to receive a prepaid mailing label. Please email your name, your address (including ZIP code), and the total weight of your packaged books to circadmin@georgefox.edu.

Not graduating yet? Here’s how to return your books
Non-graduating students can either:

• Place them in the 24-hour book drop at either the Newberg or Portland campus libraries, or
• Contact circadmin@georgefox.edu to have your due dates extended until Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Questions? Contact Patty Vanier at pvanier@georgefox.edu.

Physical activity is an inexpensive, powerful medicine that helps people but is underutilized. A continuing medical education event, Interprofessional Solutions for Physical Inactivity in Primary Care, will empower healthcare clinicians to activate the people they support.

Our presenters will review new CDC guidelines for physical activity alongside brief evidenced-based assessment and treatment approaches. The Patient-Reported Outcome Monitoring Information System (PROMIS) will be reviewed and utilized. 

The fee is $100 for professionals, $50 for residents, interns and students, and free for George Fox students! Register here for the course, and contact Tammy O’Doherty (todohert@georgefox.edu) if you would like more information.

Accreditation: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of OHSU School of Medicine and George Fox University. The OHSU School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Credit: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.