Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Deadline is close of business Wednesday for inclusion in the following Tuesday's edition.
Campus Updates
Enhancing the Mason Core: Virtual Town Hall
The Mason Core Committee will host a virtual town hall on Friday, Jan. 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. to present several potential models to enhance the Mason Core and to solicit feedback from the Mason community.
The session will be recorded for those unable to attend. Feedback may also be submitted via the survey available after the town hall.
Climate Action Plan Town Hall
The Mason community is invited to the next Climate Action Plan (CAP) Town Hall to suggest ideas, offer feedback, ask questions, and find out more about the CAP process. Learn how the future forecast of Mason's carbon emissions relates to the university's Master Plan.
The Carbon Neutrality Task Force, Dumont Janks, and Arup will provide an overview of the CAP process and share updates about progress made so far.
The town hall will also highlight resources and opportunities for the Mason community to further participate in the CAP process and provide feedback.
Climate Action Plan Town Hall
Friday, Jan. 28
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Register
February Staff Senate Meeting
The February Staff Senate meeting will feature David Farris, executive director of safety and emergency management. David will provide updates on Mason community COVID cases and our current COVID safety policies and protocols.
Wednesday, Feb. 2
10 a.m. to noon (Guest speaker will present from 11 a.m. to noon)
The general meeting will precede from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Hosted on Zoom
The Staff Senate will collect questions for consideration in advance. Submit questions/comments by Friday, Jan. 28. If time permits, the Staff Senate will also accept questions during the live session.
Reminder: Mason Shuttles Spring Service
Spring service began Monday, Jan. 24, on all routes except the On-Demand shuttle. On-Demand is moving to a weekend-only service starting Jan. 22. Fixed-route service has been added to help address the reduction in On-Demand service.
The West Campus shuttle will operate Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Student Townhouses have been added as a stop on the Sandy Creek to Metro shuttle for spring 2022.
The Arlington/Fairfax route will operate one bus (down from two) with service every two hours. A new stop will be added at Rappahannock River Lane. Both Sandy Creek to Metro and Gunston Mason are starting one hour later, at 7 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. respectively.
A complete list of changes is available at shuttle.gmu.edu. Spring schedules for each route will be available later this week.
Contact 703-993-2828 or shuttle@gmu.edu with questions.
Vision Series: Hack the Stars
The next installment of the Vision Series will feature Hakeem Oluseyi, astrophysicist, cosmologist, inventor, educator, science communicator, author, actor, humanitarian, and Visiting Robinson Professor, who will “Hack the Stars.”
Vision Series: Hack the Stars
Monday, Feb. 7, from 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Live streamed through GMU-TV
RSVP
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in the discussion by submitting questions via email to gmuprov@gmu.edu or via Twitter by using #VisionSeriesMason.
Training and Professional Development
Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series
The Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series presents Brian Levenson, author of Shift Your Mind: 9 Mental Shifts to Thrive in Preparation and Performance, in How to Cultivate 9 Mental Shifts to Supercharge Your Performance. Join this free, online event on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at noon.
Learn about the power of shifting between complementary mindsets, a technique that high achievers rely on for preparing effectively and delivering when it counts.
Virginia529 Webinar
Learn about saving for education with Virginia529. Join a Virginia529 webinar on Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to noon. During this webinar, you will learn how to:
- Save for future education expenses for your children, grandchildren, or yourself
- Save for tuition and other college costs, such as housing and textbooks
- Take advantage of tax-free earnings
- And most importantly, meet your savings goals!
By attending the session, you will have the chance to win $529 towards a new or existing Invest529 account. View the flyer for more information.
Register on the VA529 website.
Resources for You
Guaranteed Ride Home
Faculty and staff who bike, carpool, vanpool, use mass transit, or walk to work at least two times per week always have a ride backup with Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH).
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 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, call Commuter Connections, and they will arrange transportation for you (e.g. taxi, car rental, transit). It is a good idea to sign up before you need it.
Conditions apply. For details and to register, visit the Mason Parking and Transportation website.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko, music director
Kian Soltani, cello
Saturday, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Celebrate the diamond jubilee anniversary of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) with a program featuring one of the world’s most sought-after cellists, Kian Soltani. Under the direction of Vasily Petrenko, RPO is recognized as one of the world’s most forward-thinking and boundary-pushing symphony orchestras. This stunning concert of cherished works is the perfect performance to reconnect with live, classical music. A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Virginia Opera: Three Decembers
Saturday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m.
Center for the Arts
By Jake Heggie with libretto by Gene Scheer, Virginia Opera’s production of Three Decembers is a two-act chamber opera about family—the ones we are born into and those we create. Based on Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally’s unpublished play, Some Christmas Letters, this new addition to the repertoire grapples with contemporary issues wrapped in timeless music. Sung in English with English surtitles.
The Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Traveling far from the cultural hotspot of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea, the Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra will rouse spirits with an evening of innovative works that explore themes of resiliency and freedom. Formed in 1944 out of the ashes left from World War II, the orchestra has grown to become the largest music institution in eastern Poland and often features the most prominent Polish musicians and many world-famous artists.