The Daily Bruin

Just a quick reminder that the Bridge Cafe is closed this week, May 11-15, due to various on-campus events. We will be back to our summer hours next week!

Come join us for another session on using AI with our Google Workspace apps. Learn about the newest updates with tips on how to get what we want from Gemini AI to help us in our everyday work at George Fox.

The session will run from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) in Canyon Commons 103.

Bring your laptop for some dedicated time to work on your AI skills. Bring your lunch and we’ll provide the cookies!

This session will be recorded and posted on our George Fox IT: AI website, along with the presentation slides.

Contact us at servicedesk@georgefox.edu with any questions, or check the George Fox IT: AI website, linked above.

In response to major price increases for Zoom meetings, IT reviewed Zoom usage as an opportunity to “right-size” our number of licenses and avoid the unexpected cost to the university.

IT found that a reduction in Pro-level licenses would likely be possible since most usage was with standard Zoom features and/or Google Meet would be an acceptable or better alternative. Working with leadership across the university, a new target number for licenses was identified and goes into effect on May 10.

What this means to you:

• Zoom Meeting services are automatically available to all individuals at the standard tier. Standard tier meetings are limited to 40 minutes.
• Zoom Meetings “Pro” licenses are available to anyone identified as needing specialized Zoom features.
• Google Meet is encouraged for all meetings that don’t require specialized Zoom features.
• Zoom Phone services remain the same and are not affected.

Being a Bruin comes with perks beyond your paycheck! To find a list of perks available to you, visit the Finances & Lifestyle section of our wellness webpage.

Please join the College of Physical Therapy for our 13th annual research symposium on Wednesday, May 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Medical Sciences Building (448 Werth Blvd.).

Physical therapy doctoral faculty and second-year students will showcase various rehabilitation research topics. Questions? Please contact Samantha Skaggs at sskaggs@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2451.

Take note that the employee-only Functional Fitness Class, taught by Carly Reumann, will continue to be held every Monday and Wednesday at noon throughout the summer!

Bring a coworker to Hadlock and join us for an all-levels circuit training class that uses a range of equipment, from dumbbells to bands and exercise balls. Sign up on IMLeagues here.

Want to increase your retirement savings or adjust your monthly contribution? To change your 403(b) contribution amount, head to the Retirement Plan section of the benefits site, and log into your George Fox retirement account.

Department of Human Services (DHS) representatives will be at the Bruin Community Pantry today (Thursday) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist people with signing up for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly known as food stamps).

No appointment is required. For more information, please contact Jere Witherspoon at jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu.

Representatives will be on campus on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Please note: While DHS has indicated their intention to attend, their participation is ultimately managed and provided by their office. If DHS is unable to attend on the scheduled day and time, this is outside of our control.

Are you aware of the movement classes available in the earlier mornings, evenings and weekends through the Providence Basecamp program?

Mornings

• Sunrise Yoga: Mondays/Wednesdays, 6 a.m.
• Morning Intentions: Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays (30 minutes), 6:30 a.m.
• HIIT: Mondays/Wednesdays (30 minutes), 7:15 a.m.
• Tai Chi (Beginner): Tuesdays/Thursdays, 8:30 a.m.

Evenings

• Tai Chi (Intermediate): Mondays, 5:30 p.m.
• Slow Flow Yoga: Mondays/Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.
• Meditation for Relaxation: Mondays/Thursdays (30 minutes), 6:30 p.m.
• Total Body Strength: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 6 p.m.
• Zumba: Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
• Hatha Yoga: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
• Candlelight Yoga: Sundays, 5:30 p.m.
• Yoga Nidra: Sundays (30 minutes), 6:30 p.m.

These classes are available to everyone. Registration is required. Find out more and register here.

Imagine someone by your side helping you crush goals, stick to heathy habits, maintain motivation, and discover resources that your life like a glove. A voice of encouragement, a source of fresh ideas, and a sprinkle of grace when you need it most.

Start at a nine-month “Journey Toward Sustainable Wellness” with Providence Basecamp Certified Health Coaching.

Health coaching is a collaborative partnership to help you develop personalized, sustainable lifestyle habits that align with your wellness goals and vision. Providence-certified health coaches elevate the experience in being credentialed as National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC).

This free, comprehensive program available to everyone and it includes:

• An initial lifestyle assessment
• Weekly communications and habit check-ins
• Access to supportive resources

In total, you’ll complete up to 12 live sessions with a certified health coach, experimenting with small, achievable goals that support your larger wellness vision.

To learn more and get started, complete your Interest Form.

Need to check a co-pay or see if a specific service is covered? You can access your detailed Plan Summaries anytime by logging into your Employee Navigator account.

It’s your secure portal to view exactly what’s included in your medical, dental, and vision plans at a glance. Access your documents in your Employee Navigator account via Benefits Page.

Know of any great George Fox-related stories? Students making a difference in their communities? An inspiring account of someone who has overcome obstacles or has had an amazing faith journey? A professor who exemplifies the Be Known promise?

If so, we in marketing communications want to hear about it! Please complete this form with the name of the person you wish to highlight, their contact info (if possible), and a few details about what makes their story compelling. We’ll take it from there!

Some folks may be featured in our blog and/or on our website. Still others may be featured in a video or in our university magazine. In short, we’re looking for stories that communicate why George Fox is such a special place.

Thanks for taking the time to share these stories with us!

In today’s fast-paced life, creativity is often viewed as a “nice-to-have” or a hobby, but research suggests it is actually a vital strategy for mental health.

Engaging in creative activities like drawing, music, or even mindful movement can significantly reduce cortisol levels – the hormone responsible for stress – in as little as 45 minutes. By stepping away from the screen to engage your “creative brain,” you aren’t just taking a break; you are actively lowering your risk of burnout and improving your cognitive performance.

Best of all, you don’t need to be a professional artist to reap these benefits; the simple act of making something is enough to trigger a sense of accomplishment and emotional regulation.

To bring more creativity into your workday at no cost, try personalizing your workspace with plants or visual art. During your lunch break, consider a “creative reset” by journaling, sketching, or even exploring the public art right here in our community.

Engaging with the arts fosters a sense of belonging and helps clear the mental clutter that accumulates during high-stress projects. Remember that your creativity is one of your most powerful tools for both professional success and personal well-being.

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.

Did you know that 65% of us will experience incapacity issues before we pass, or that 45% of Americans die without a will? Don’t let state law or complex court proceedings decide the future of your assets and well-being.

George Fox’s advancement office invites you to a free estate planning seminar to ensure your final wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected. Join us from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, May 28, in Canyon Commons. You can register at this link.

This comprehensive nuts-and-bolts overview will equip you with a plan to address both passing your estate and managing potential incapacity during your lifetime.

The event is being provided as a service to the community by the university and Stephen C. Palmer, attorney at law. If you have any questions, reach out to Tracy Fabel in the advancement office at tfabel@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2130.

If your contract ends soon and/or you will not be on campus over 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 must be deposited in the current fiscal year.

All deposits must be dropped off at the finance office before you leave campus for the summer. Our address is 1515 N. Portland Road.

If you have any questions about deposits, please contact Heather Groenlund at hgroenlund@georgefox.edu. Thank you and have a great summer!

On May 1, 2026, Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, publicly reported a cybersecurity incident affecting their Canvas services. The incident is still under investigation. Our IT team is actively monitoring for new updates from Instructure to assess for any impact to George Fox University. Instructure is providing public updates at status.instructure.com.

At this time, Instructure states that some identifying information at affected institutions was involved in the incident. Such information could include names, email addresses, student IDs, and messages among users. Instructure reports that there is no evidence that passwords, dates of birth, government identifiers, or financial information were involved.

This incident was not directed at George Fox University specifically. Instructure serves thousands of institutions worldwide. This is a vendor-level event that may impact multiple institutions. Canvas continues to operate normally.

What You Should Do

• Watch for phishing emails. Do not click links in unsolicited emails claiming to be from Canvas, Instructure or George Fox University.
• Access Canvas directly. Always log in to Canvas using official links or by typing https://georgefox.instructure.com directly into your browser.
• Report anything suspicious to the Service Desk at servicedesk@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2569.

Take advantage of free retirement consultations! Appointments are still available between 9:30 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, in Klages 231.

Our dedicated retirement specialist from Nationwide visits campus monthly to provide free, personalized consultations. Whether you’re just starting to save, nearing retirement, or anywhere in between, this is a great opportunity to get expert guidance on your retirement goals.

To schedule an in-person or virtual appointment, please use this scheduling link. You can also contact Phillip directly at 360-953-4841 or phillip.carbajal@nationwide.com.

Over the next few days, we’ll spend some time exploring our Benefits and Wellness webpages together. These sites are designed specifically for you, serving as your personal toolkit for a healthy, balanced life.

Today’s Tip: Start by bookmarking your two main hubs so they are always one click away, and spend a few minutes just exploring the pages:

• Your Benefits Home Base
• Your Wellness Resources

The Bridge Cafe is now open for summer hours, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’re mixing things up a bit this year location-wise. Start your week at the Bridge Cafe from Monday to Wednesday, then catch us on the quad at the Maker’s Market.

We will post menus each week in The Daily Bruin as well as on our Instagram stories (@bonappetitgfu). Lunch specials will be available starting at 11:30 a.m.

And, just a heads-up that we will be closed the week of May 11-15.

This week’s menu is as follows:

• Tuesday: Carne asada tacos
• Wednesday: Beef patty melt
• Thursday: Kielbasa cajun pasta toss

If you have any questions, please email Katie at andersonk@georgefox.edu.