Around Mason: Week of Jan. 26, 2021

January 25, 2021 / By
Lauren Reuscher

Faculty/Staff Announcements

Have something to share? Review announcement guidelines and submit an announcement from your unit to efiles@gmu.edu.

Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.

Campus Updates

Outstanding Achievement Awards: Call for Nominations

Nominate a colleague for one of 14 Outstanding Achievement Awards!

The Outstanding Achievement Awards honor Mason’s faculty and staff across many award categories and celebrate their hard work, dedication, and contributions to the university. You are invited to nominate a colleague for an award by the March 5 deadline.

Visit the Outstanding Achievement Awards website for more details. Note: Departmental awards may have different deadlines.

The Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony is scheduled for April 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Location is TBD.

Questions? Contact awards@gmu.edu.

Spring at the Hylton Center and the Center for the Arts

Spring at the Hylton Center Update
Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.
This virtual event will unveil the reimagined winter and spring season at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Executive Director Rick Davis and Director of Programming Adrienne Bryant Godwin share details of new digital performances you can enjoy from the comfort of your home and in-person events being planned for the second half of the 10th Anniversary Season, including the return of Hylton on the Hill. 

More details: hylton.calendar.gmu.edu/spring-at-the-hylton-center-update

Spring at the Center for the Arts Update
Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.
Mark your calendars for an upcoming Center for the Arts virtual event featuring updates to the winter and spring season. Director of Programming Adrienne Bryant Godwin will share new digital Mason Arts at Home performances you can enjoy from the comfort of your home and in-person events being planned for the second half of the 30th Anniversary Season.

More details: cfa.calendar.gmu.edu/spring-at-the-center-for-the-arts-update

Virtual Off-Campus Housing Fair

Contemporary Student Services will host a virtual off-campus housing fair on Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Faculty and staff should encourage students searching for off-campus housing to attend the event. The virtual event will be hosted at och.gmu.edu during the scheduled time frame.

For questions, reach out to Anthony (Tony) Berardo at aberardo@gmu.edu or 703-993-6299.

Mason Shuttles Update

A few reminders from Mason Shuttles:

  • A valid Mason ID is required to ride Mason Shuttles.
  • Due to COVID-19, non-Mason riders (guests) are not permitted to ride on Mason Shuttles until further notice.
  • All other COVID-19 procedures remain in place for the spring (e.g. face coverings, reduced vehicle capacity, seating from the back of the vehicle to reduce passing each other, and social distancing on board and while waiting).

Only the Fairfax/SciTech and Gunston Mason routes will operate during the spring semester. These routes will run Monday–Friday only, with no weekend service, starting Monday, Jan. 25. The Fairfax/SciTech route has departures every 75 minutes.

In partnership with Reston Limousine, Mason Shuttles is piloting a compressed natural gas (CNG) transit bus on Gunston Mason this semester.

The CUE bus is maintaining its regular schedule with departures from Rappahannock River Lane. All CUE bus routes end at Vienna Metro. The quickest CUE routes between Mason and Vienna Metro are Gold 1 (from Metro) and Gold 2 (from Mason).

Questions? Reach out to Parking and Transportation at 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu.

Training and Professional Development

Want Tips and Guidance for Teaching Online?

Want tips and guidance for teaching online? Subscribe to the Stearns Center Digital Learning’s Online Teaching Coaching Newsletter!

Whether you are new to teaching online or an experienced online instructor wanting additional guidance, Stearns Center Digital Learning invites you to subscribe to the Spring 2021 Biweekly Online Teaching Coaching email newsletter.

You will receive practical tips, news, and other information about online teaching.

Topics include:

  • Academic Integrity Online
  • Active Learning Strategies Online
  • Checking Your Online Course for Quality
  • Inclusive Teaching Online
  • And more

Subscribe to the newsletter today.

Questions?  Contact the Stearns Center at stearns@gmu.edu.

Register for Supervisor Boot Camp

The Supervisor Boot Camp program provides essential information, resources, and contacts to supervisors who are new to Mason or new to supervising.

The updated, virtual format includes five three-hour sessions over 10 weeks from 9 a.m. to noon. Sessions run Thursday, Feb. 11, through Thursday, April 8. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

Participants must supervise at least one employee. Space is limited. Registrations are first-come, first-served.

Contact Margaret Vu at mvu20@gmu.edu to reserve your space.

George Mason Toastmasters Continue to Zoom

Following guidance from Toastmasters International, George Mason Toastmasters have made the most of the current situation and continue to practice speaking and leadership skills while developing new skills using a virtual format.

The best way to experience Toastmasters is to attend as a guest. Zoom meetings are scheduled through the end of spring 2021. Meeting dates are available at toastmasters.gmu.edu.

For more information, contact Heather Aleknavage, vice president of membership, at haleknav@gmu.edu.

Resources for You

New Discounts for You

Make sure you frequently check the Mason Discounts page to see the discounts you receive as a Mason employee!

New discounts include:

  • AVIS Car Rental
  • BUDGET Car Rental
  • HERTZ Car Rental
  • Hotels.com
  • Corporate Shopping Employee Discounts 

Contact hr@gmu.edu with questions.

"This? Or That?" Well-Being Game

Would you choose this? Or that? Join the fun with your colleagues on Human Resources and Payroll's Instagram stories by playing the limited-time well-being game, "This? Or That?"

Each Thursday for eight weeks, participate in well-being themed polls that pit your favorite well-being options against each other.

The weekly themes are:

  • Exercise
  • Healthy Eating
  • Mindfulness
  • How You Prefer to Work
  • Social Media
  • Financial Favorites
  • George Mason
  • The DMV Area

Play at @GMUHRandPayroll!

Rx Racial Healing Circle

Mason students and employees are invited to build racial awareness, well-being, and community together in an upcoming Rx Racial Healing Circle.

Join online on either of the upcoming dates:

For questions or more information, contact Sherrene Delong at sdelong4@gmu.edu.

Guaranteed Ride Home

If you bike, carpool, vanpool, use mass transit (e.g. bus, metro) or walk to work at least two times per week, you always have a ride backup with Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH).  

Sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), GRH is free to sign up and free to use.

Once you register, you can use GRH up to four times per year. If a qualifying emergency arises, Commuter Connections will arrange transportation for you (e.g. taxi, car rental, transit). 

It’s a good idea to sign up before you need it. Conditions apply. For details and to register, visit transportation.gmu.edu/grh.

Contact Mason Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu with additional questions.

Well-Being Wednesdays by Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanent is offering Well-Being Wednesdays, a series of health education classes designed to help you build your overall physical and emotional well-being. 

Offered to members and non-members alike, upcoming sessions include topics like Get Moving and Keeping a Healthy Heart.

See the flyer for more information and registration. 

Questions? Contact worklife@gmu.edu.

Topics

Faculty/Staff Announcements
Faculty and Staff News
Around Mason (E-Files)