Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.
Campus Updates
9/11 Day of Service
The 9th Annual Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service will take place on Friday, Sept. 10. Mason students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are encouraged to participate.
A variety of service projects are available. This year’s event is designed to allow for flexibility and encourages participants to engage in service as they are able. We realize schedules are very busy and complex, so we are offering both in-person and virtual service opportunities.
For more information, visit 911day.gmu.edu.
Contact Lisa Snyder, Leadership Education and Development, at lsnyder2@gmu.edu with questions.
New Reservable Group Study Rooms in the Johnson Center
The Johnson Center recently renovated 20 reservable group study rooms for student use. These rooms are a great resource for students who need to complete group assignments, take a virtual class, hold student organization leadership meetings, and more!
Rooms are all equipped with TV and HDMI for easy screen sharing. Rooms are reservable up to two weeks in advance and are open from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.
Direct students to the following webpage to make reservations: studentcenters.gmu.edu/study-rooms
Contact Student Centers at scenters@gmu.edu or 703-993-2921 with questions.
Happy Heart Walk
Bring your walking shoes! It is time for Mason's annual Happy Heart Walk on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at noon.
This year marks the 13th year of the Happy Heart Walk. Join students, faculty, and staff either in-person or virtually to promote heart health.
Arrive at one of the in-person meeting locations on Sept. 29 at noon, or join the walk virtually on Facebook Live.
No matter how you participate, share your Happy Heart Walk photos on Twitter or Instagram with #HappyHeartWalk, and @GMUHRandPayroll may reshare them.
No need to register. Check out the flyer. Questions? Contact Tamira Colbert at tcolber2@gmu.edu.
The Mason Club Reopens at Southside Dining Hall
Mason Dining is proud to announce that the Mason Club, Mason’s faculty and staff dining room, is scheduled to reopen Sept. 7 in a new location, the Blackstone Room at Southside Dining Hall.
Membership, which costs $25 per semester, is open to all Mason employees, and card access is available 24 hours a day.
Members can purchase drinks, snacks, or all-you-care-to-eat dining. Payment options include debit/credit, Mason Money, or Byte meal plans. Byte meal plans can be purchased via Mason Dining’s website and provide a cost-effective option, with per-meal prices as low as $7.40. Regular door prices will range between $9.25 and $11.25 for meals, with a $5 drink/snack option for someone looking for lighter fare.
Read more about the Mason Club. Contact dining@gmu.edu or call 703-993-3313 with questions.
Try the Faculty/Staff Meal Plan
Looking for a flexible and affordable dining option? Try the Byte Meal Plan! It’s a great option, exclusive to Mason faculty and staff.
Simply purchase a plan with a fixed number of meals and eat at any dining hall on campus. The Byte Meal Plan has three different plans with the choice of 10, 25, and 50 meal swipes. Plans are priced as low as $7.40 per swipe.
To learn more or purchase this meal plan, visit mealplans.gmu.edu.
For questions, contact the Mason Card Office (located in SUB I, Room 1203) at 703-993-2870 or masonid@gmu.edu.
Vision Series Returns This Fall
The Office of the Provost will once again host the Mason Vision Series, which sheds light on the real world research and creativity that takes place every day on Mason campuses.
This semester, the series will be held both in person (Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 1201) and livestreamed through GMU-TV.
Climate Change: Science, Politics and Ethics
Monday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m
Distinguished University Professor Jagadish Shukla, Managing Director of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies
RSVP
Training and Professional Development
Innovations in Teaching & Learning Conference: Sept. 20–24
Save the date for the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning’s annual Innovations in Teaching & Learning (ITL) Conference from Sept. 20–24. ITL brings together Mason instructors from across disciplines to share teaching strategies through lively virtual interactive workshops and panels.
This year's keynote speaker is Tia Brown McNair, vice president for diversity, equity, and student success and executive director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities. McNair will share her insights and expertise on fostering equity and inclusive excellence in higher education.
McNair is lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education. Free access to the e-book is available courtesy of University Libraries.
Register and find out more at stearnscenter.gmu.edu/itl.
Records Management Courses: Fall 2021 Schedule
The fall schedule for records workshops has been posted online. If your department still needs to assign a Records Coordinator per University Policy 1102, workshops are available.
Offices needing to transfer or request records from the University Records Center should take the Infolinx Database training for the new processing system.
University Records Management is a compliance unit for Mason governing our public records. Improper handling can affect audits, accreditation, litigation, and more.
Registration is required to attend. Workshops are conducted via Zoom. See dates, times, and workshop descriptions at recordsmanagement.gmu.edu/workshop.php.
Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series
The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being (CWB) hosts the Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series, featuring discussions about the intersection between leadership and well-being.
The next event will feature Anjali Patel, author of Humanity at Work: Diversity, Inclusion, and Well-Being in an Increasingly Distributed Workforce.
Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series: Anjali Patel
Tuesday, Sept. 14, at noon
Register
Seasonal Self-Care Renewal Webinar
As we wind down from the busy summer months, we will recollect ourselves and begin to turn our focus inward for renewal. September is a time to focus on building our immunity for the winter months ahead, while still enjoying the bounty of beauty the cooler fall months bring us.
Join an upcoming webinar offered by Kaiser Permanente:
Mindful Mondays: Seasonal Self-Care Renewal Webinar
Monday, Sept. 13
Noon to 1 p.m.
Register
You do not need to be a Kaiser Permanente member to participate. Contact worklife@gmu.edu with questions.
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.
The Fall 2021 Biweekly Online Teaching Coaching email newsletter will include topics such as:
- Effective communication in your online class
- Time management for online teaching
- Online student engagement
- Inclusive and equitable teaching online
- And more
Subscribe today. Questions? Contact the Stearns Center at stearns@gmu.edu.
Resources for You
Support Group for Working Mothers at Mason
The Support Group for Working Mothers is one way faculty, staff, and students can come together, discuss the issues confronting working mothers, and perhaps motivate changes on campus.
The 20th year of group meetings kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. Meetings will continue virtually for the fall semester, but we may offer a couple of in-person meetings as well.
If you are interested in sharing stories and being part of an informal organization of working mothers, join us here:
https://gmu.zoom.us/j/91081740443?pwd=SG5Kem5uSUlRMGNybGhCWmdkRStDUT09
Meeting ID: 910 8174 0443
Passcode: 058387
Visit the website for more information. Contact Heather Aleknavage at haleknav@gmu.edu with questions.
Mason Recreation Faculty/Staff Membership Promotions
Mason Recreation is here to help you reach your goals, understand/implement healthy habits into daily life, and make your health and well-being a priority. To help you make the most out of the upcoming year, the following membership promotions are available until Sept. 30:
- First Time Faculty/ Staff Recreation Members: Enjoy a one-month free trial
- First Time “Payroll Deduction” Member: Receive one free personal training session
- Annual Membership Purchase: Get four months free (12 months for the price of eight)
For details, visit the Mason Recreation website. To take advantage of one of these offers and begin your Mason Recreation membership, email masonrec@gmu.edu.
Mindful Mason Moments: Virtual and In-Person Sessions
Mindful Mason Moments sessions, presented by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, give you an opportunity to take midday breaks in ways that can deepen your mindful awareness and overall well-being.
Starting in September, the sessions will continue via Zoom at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In-person sessions will also be offered on the Fairfax, Arlington, and SciTech campuses.
For more information and a schedule of sessions, visit the website.
College of Visual and Performing Arts Present: Arts Emerging
Arts Emerging
Saturday, Sept. 25, 5–9 p.m.
Fairfax Campus, Holton Plaza/Center for the Arts/Buchanan Hall
Tickets: $10
The arts are back at Mason! Join a family-friendly welcome back extravaganza full of arts, food, and community to celebrate the return of the arts to campus and the 20th anniversary of Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA).
The evening begins with showcases of student and alumni work and culminates with a program inside the Center for the Arts celebrating CVPA’s 20th anniversary. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Northern Virginia’s top food trucks.
Cheuse Center 5th Year Launch: The Cross Cultural Role of International Literature
Sunday, Sept. 12, 5 p.m.
Virtual Event
Register
Join the Cheuse Center for a discussion of international literature and culture in celebration of the center's fifth year of programming. This lively afternoon discussion will feature Azar Nafisi, author of New York Times bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran; Cuban-American writer, translator, and activist Achy Obejas; Lisa Page, director of creative writing at George Washington University; and editor, writer, and translator Michael Reynolds.