University Service

• Discipline-based student organizations
• Student-organized student organizations

• Each unit determines a structure for supporting students in the capstone experience.
• Discuss options with your unit colleagues.

All faculty standing committees come into being or go out of existence by vote of the faculty. Under Article IV, Section 4 of the Bylaws to the Faculty Constitution, there are three kinds of committees: faculty-created standing committees, ad hoc committees, and university standing committees.

A major part of faculty governance at PLU is the faculty standing committee system. PLU uses nomination approach for candidates to be slated for election. Two (or more) candidates are chosen for faculty consideration, and then a faculty vote determines the final committee selection.

Timelines:

• Survey of interest for committees (March)
• Nominations (Mar-April)
• Campus Vote (April-May)
• Service (August-May – 3 year terms)

Eight faculty-created standing committees currently exist:

• Academic Performance and Integrity
• Core Curriculum
• Educational Policies
• Faculty Affairs
• Global Education
• Governance
• Instructional Resources
• Rank and Tenure

The following are non-elected committee opportunities:

• Interdisciplinary Program Committees
  • Chinese Studies
  • Environmental Studies
  • Global Studies
  • Holocaust and Genocide Studies
  • Innovation Studies
  • Native American and Indigenous Studies
  • Gender, Sexuality, and Race Studies
• Other committees
  • First-Year Experience Program Steering Committee
  • Peace Scholars Committee
  • Wild Hope Center for Vocation Steering Committee

The following represent a wide variety of opportunities:

• New Faculty Mentorship Program
  • serve as a mentor for new faculty members

• SGID Consultant
  • SGID (Small Group Instructional Dialogue) consultants consist of PLU faculty trained to guide students through a reflective process regarding their learning at mid-semester.

• Undergraduate Research and Project Showcase Planning Committee – plans and advertises the research program and call for papers (Fall-Spring)
  • Offer a student workshop: finding mentorship opportunities, abstract writing , poster/presentation creation, etc… (Fall-Spring depending on topic)
  • URS Abstract Reviewers help make decisions for student research participants (Feb-Mar)

Contact Office of the Provost (provost@plu.edu) for information on these opportunities.

There are a variety of events to support potential PLU students and help them see and experience the uniqueness of PLU Faculty. Most, if not all, of these events will be held virtually—however, there are often many ways for faculty to engage in these activities. Often, a call will come from your chair or dean to participate; dates are announced early fall.

Examples of events include:

• Summer Lute Life Days – Academic tabling and mock lectures are often needed. (2 days in July and August)
• Fall Preview Day – Academic info sessions are usually scheduled. (Usually first or second Sunday in October)
• Presidential Scholarship weekend – includes a reception on the Friday evening. Usually the last weekend in February.
• President’s & Regents’ Scholarship Interviews – 50 faculty members to interview on Saturday from 10:30-1pm, and faculty at the academic session on Saturday from 10:30 -12:30 pm. (Half Saturday: February).
• Lute OverKnights – Faculty who teach in specific time frames are invited to include students in their classes. Faculty members are also needed to staff the academic fair.

The University House is a wonderful place to meet colleagues from across campus and participate in interesting conversations. In addition, there are monthly talks by faculty and staff of topics of interest tied to your expertise (i.e., research) or your general interests (i.e., day hikes in the Cascades)

• U-House Programing (U-House board)
• U-House Leadership (President, VP, programming, etc.)
• Offer a Lunchtime Talk

The Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability would like to encourage faculty to spend time connecting in the Center. The center is open daily from early morning to night. There is no real schedule, it’s a place to visit and ENGAGE with students. Faculty do not have to DO anything other than SHOW UP and be present, however, there can be talks that can be presented here. (Year-long opportunities)

Campus Ministry

Council: One of the new things in Campus Ministry is the Interfaith Council (currently planning a interfaith-accessible Passover Seder, developing a prayer/meditation space on campus, and helping to host Interfaith National Day of Prayer).

Speaker: Opportunities for speaking at chapel or a Campus Ministry event also exist. Pastor Jen Rude is open to ideas and encourages interfaith creativity!

PLU Pantry: The PLU Pantry exists as an emergency resource to serve students, staff, and faculty who are experiencing food insecurity in any way.

Residential Life

Contact the Office of Residential Life (rlif@plu.edu) to learn more and offer your services

• Opportunity to engage in co-curricular life on campus

Human Resources

Contact the Gretchen Howell Director of Human Resources (crosgrgm@plu.edu) to learn more and offer your services

• Benefits Committee member, member at large positions available to interested individuals. (Monthly meetings, or a bit less, throughout the academic year.)
• Emcee the annual Christmas Luncheon and Celebration of Service hosted by the Office of the President, logistics coordinated through HR or join the planning team. HR maintains a list of possible emcees. (mid December)