Faculty/Staff Announcements
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Campus Updates
Board of Visitors Public Comment Registration Form to Remain Open until April 22
On Tuesday, April 5, the Board of Visitors conducted a meeting with an associated public comment session. This meeting included a presentation by Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Carol Kissal on Mason’s FY 2023 financial plan, which outlined proposals for tuition and mandatory fees. During this meeting, the Rector requested that the written public comment form remain open until April 22, 2022. For additional details on the meeting and the public comment process, visit the Board of Visitors website.
Get Ready to Participate in the Faculty and Staff Experience Survey
Mason has partnered with Gallup, a leading third-party survey administrator, to administer the Faculty and Staff Experience Survey. All faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to participate in this survey when it opens on Monday, April 18.
Learn more about how your responses will shape Mason’s future. If you have questions, browse the FAQ page.
Contact hrcomm@gmu.edu with questions.
General Faculty Meeting Scheduled for April 20
Join President Gregory Washington for this year’s General Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, April 20, from 3 to 4:15 p.m. This meeting, provided by the Faculty Handbook, is an opportunity to engage with and hear from the president, provost, and key university leaders in a public forum on institution-wide initiatives, as well as participate in discussions on several issues that are important to the general faculty. The event will be held both in-person (Merten Hall, Room 1201) and via Zoom.
Outstanding Achievement Award Recipients
These awards celebrate the hard work, dedication and achievements of faculty and staff across a number of categories and support Mason's values and mission. See the full list of this year's recipients.
Spring into Well-Being: April 18–22
Enjoy Mason’s annual well-being celebration, Spring into Well-Being, from Monday, April 18, to Friday, April 22. Individuals from the Mason Nation and beyond will have the opportunity to participate in well-being events.
Each day features a theme to help you thrive:
- Day 1: Kindness (#MasonChoosesKindness)
- Day 2: Physical Health
- Day 3: Strengths and Resilience
- Day 4: Mental Health
- Day 5: Thriving Together (community well-being)
Search “SIWB22” in Mason 360 to find all event details and register. Use the hashtag #SIWB22 to post about your Spring into Well-Being experiences on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Vision Series: Gabrielle Tayac
The next installment of the Mason Vision Series will be hosted on Wednesday, April 20, from 7 to 8 p.m. Gabrielle Tayac, historian and activist scholar, will discuss the topic of “Living Native American Histories Across Generations.”
The Mason Vision Series will be livestreamed through GMU-TV. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in the discussion by submitting questions via email or Twitter by using #VisionSeriesMason. RSVP today.
Victims' Rights Run/Walk
Join Mason’s Annual Victims' Rights Run/Walk (VRRW) 5K on Wednesday, April 27. In addition to the 5K, other activities are planned across Mason campuses—including yard games, yoga, and meditation. #5KYourOwnWay by choosing a physical activity that’s right for you.
Funds raised through VRRW will support student survivors through the Mason's Victims of Violence Fund. This fund provides Mason student survivors with trauma therapy, emergency housing, safety planning support, and many other resources. Learn more and register today.
Bike to Mason Days
We are back in person after three years! Whether you bike to campus regularly for school/work or are contemplating starting to bike, this event is open to all Mason cyclists.
- SciTech: Tuesday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Colgan Hall, Front Patio
- Fairfax: Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Merten Hall Lawn (noon: Safety Ride on Patriot Circle with Mason Police)
- Mason Square (formerly the Arlington Campus): Thursday, April 21, 3–7 p.m., Founders Plaza
Enjoy food, resource information, and fun giveaways. Register today. Contact transpo@gmu.edu with questions.
Save the Date for SpringFest
SpringFest is coming up! Join us on the Merten Hall Lawn on Tuesday, April 19, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for free food, giveaways, and more.
Engage with shopMason units like the Mason Bookstore, Dining, Mason Card Office, Student Centers, Coca-Cola, and several off-campus Mason Merchants and Patriot Perks members in this exciting outdoor event. Learn more.
Summer Mason Shuttles Schedules Coming Soon
Mason Shuttles summer service begins on Monday, May 23. Service will be Monday–Friday only. Schedules will be posted soon at shuttle.gmu.edu. Contact shuttle@gmu.edu with questions.
Reminder: Charter Buses on Campus
If your unit is hosting an event with any number of charter buses on campus, coordinate their visit with the Parking Services office. Even one charter bus needs to be accommodated for drop-off, pick-up, and parking.
Charter buses should not be advised to pick-up or drop-off at Rappahannock River Lane or the Sandy Creek Transit Center. Both locations are transit hubs, and there is not sufficient space to allow charter bus access.
Parking Services is happy to work with you during the event planning process to make arrangements. Contact them via email or phone at 703-993-2065.
Training and Professional Development
Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series Webinar
We are witnessing increased polarization in our relationships and society. Thankfully, we have a powerful practice with the potential to overcome that polarization: mindfulness. Join the next free Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series webinar on Tuesday, April 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m., when professor and mindfulness thought leader Rhonda Magee will present “Overcome Polarization and Build Community through Mindfulness.”
Professor Magee will show us how to develop mindfulness practices for inclusive and equitable communities in these challenging times. Register today.
Fiscal Transformation Boot Camp
Registration is now open for the 2022 Fiscal Transformation Boot Camp on April 27. Join Fiscal Services and the Chart of Accounts Redesign team for this immersive learning experience.
During this inaugural Boot Camp, participants will learn how individuals interact within the new Chart of Accounts (Chart P). The focus will be on the Chart of Accounts Redesign and introductory training to all levels of the Mason community as we embrace our new business structure.
The 2022 Boot Camp will be virtual, and each session will be recorded. This will allow you to actively participate in one session (per time slot) during the Boot Camp and review other sessions at your convenience after the event. Visit the website for more information.
Contact Jessi Adams with questions at 703-993-5966.
Leadercast 2022 Coming to the SciTech Campus
Leadercast 2022: The One Thing is coming to Beacon Hall on the SciTech Campus on Wednesday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Prince William Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Prince William are teaming up to host this annual simulcast event.
This year, 10 influential leaders will all answer the question: “What is the one thing that makes a leader worth following?”
Register today. For questions, contact Donna Tressler, SciTech Executive Office, at 703-993-8355.
Mental Health First Aid
Learn more about mental health, the stigma surrounding mental illness, and how you can help people dealing with a mental health crisis. Mason students and employees may register for the next Mental Health First Aid training, which will take place April 21–22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days, online. Read more information and register.
Money Smart Day
Strengthen your financial well-being on Money Smart Day, happening Wednesday, April 13. Learn smart financial strategies by attending virtual or in-person seminars. All sessions are free and open to Mason students, employees, and alumni.
Topics include health insurance, first-time home-buyers, salary negotiation, investments, student loan repayments, and more. View a complete list of sessions and register.
Resources for You
Shop Commemorative 50th Anniversary Merchandise
We are celebrating Mason’s first 50 years as an independent university by featuring a limited-time line of merchandise with commemorative 50th Anniversary logos and designs. The collection includes t-shirts, glassware, wine, home furnishings, and more! Shop today.
Contact Aliya Rinaldi, Operations and Business Services, with questions.
The Secret to Meal Prep Success: CommonHealth and WW Webinar
Get set up for success with WW’s free Meal Prep and Meal Planning Experience Webinar on Thursday, April 21, at 10:30 a.m. Register online.
Participants will learn:
- The benefits of meal planning and meal prepping
- How to master the grocery store
- How to build a successful week of meals
- Family inclusion
More than 2,200 state employees are on the new WW PersonalPoints™ plan that helps you lose weight while eating what you love and living your life fully. It’s based on your body, your goals, and the foods you love, meaning no two plans are the same.
Contact worklife@gmu.edu for more information.
Well-Being Wednesdays Kaiser Webinar: Benefits of Movement in Nature
This Kaiser Permanente webinar will review the physical and mental benefits of getting outside, ideas for ways to immerse yourself and exercise in nature, and safety tips to keep in mind. You do not need to be a Kaiser member to attend the webinar.
Webinar: Benefits of Movement in Nature
Wednesday, April 13, noon to 1 p.m.
Register
Contact worklife@gmu.edu with questions.
Bike Commuter Choice for Faculty/Staff
Do you live within a few miles of campus and think biking to work could be good for your well-being?
All faculty and staff are eligible to participate in the Bike Commuter Choice Program. The program has four tiers of support. The more you ride, the greater the financial incentive.
The introductory tier is just five rides per quarter. For details, visit bike.gmu.edu and select the Faculty/Staff Bike Commuter Choice Program. Questions? Email transpo@gmu.edu.
Upcoming Performances at Mason
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra
Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
GRAMMY Award-winning composer, conductor, and Mason Artist-in-Residence Maria Schneider leads Northern Virginia’s own Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra in a night of cool, expressive jazz. Witness jazz perfection, comprised of the most remarkable jazz performers in the metro region, in this highly anticipated event. “To call Schneider the most important woman in jazz is missing the point . . . She’s a major composer—period,” (TIME Magazine). A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier, located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Symphonic Band
Dewberry School of Music
Wednesday, April 20, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Watch the Symphonic Band present its spring concert, conducted by Professor Mark Camphouse and doctoral student Samantha Clarke. This concert will include traditional wind band repertoire in addition to solo works featuring two student soloists.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Zimmerman, music director and conductor
Featuring Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
The Center for the Arts is proud to co-present a thrilling classical music program by the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO), featuring piano virtuoso Simone Dinnerstein, who the Washington Post has praised as “an artist of strikingly original ideas and irrefutable integrity.” Under Christopher Zimmerman’s baton, the FSO continues to reach new heights.
Acrobuffos
Sunday, April 24, at 4 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center
Full of color, light, and laughter, Air Play is “a joy from start to finish,” raves the Sydney Morning Herald. Created by the husband and wife circus team of Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone, in collaboration with kinetic sculptor Daniel Wurtzel, Air Play is a whimsical, heartfelt, and funny homage to the magic of the invisible substance all around us: air! This performance is family-friendly.
Lila Downs
Sunday, April 24, at 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Lila Downs is one of the most influential artists in Latin America. Whether it’s a full-throated mariachi song, an achingly tender bolero, or sultry jazz tune, this GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter draws audiences in with her unmistakable charisma and inspiring storytelling. Singing in Spanish, English, and several Native American languages, Downs is known for her impressive range and joyous performances with her longtime band. A pre-performance discussion will take place in Monson Grand Tier 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Mason Jazz Vocal Night
Monday, April 25, at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts
Join Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio, and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook! With special guests Forest Park High School Platinum Vocal Jazz, directed by Lara Brittain.
The Jazz Workshop
Mason Jazz Studies
Wednesday, April 27, at 8 p.m.
de Laski Performing Arts Building, Room 3001
Join the Mason Jazz Workshop, directed by John Kocur, in their spring concert. The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in an atypical jazz ensemble, performing the music of Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, and more. This concert is free and open to the public.